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TEHRAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Civil Aviation Authority said Sunday that it has approved the resumption of international flights from Mashhad International Airport in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi starting Monday.

In a statement published on its official website, the authority said the decision follows an earlier announcement that eastern Iranian airspace has been reopened to international flights. It added that some airports resumed operations at 7 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Saturday.

The agency said no permission has yet been granted for the sale of tickets for domestic flights.

Iran shut down its airspace after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes starting on Feb. 28, halting civilian aviation operations across the country.

The aviation authority said that flight services at Iranian airports will gradually return to normal once technical and operational preparations are completed by military and civilian authorities. 
Austrian Ambassador to Ireland Melitta Schuber during her visit to East Glendalough School with student Zoe Clissmann. Photo: Michael Kelly

Austrian Ambassador to Ireland Melitta Schuber pictured with students during her visit to East Glendalough School. Photo: Michael Kelly

Austrian Ambassador to Ireland Melitta Schuber pictured with speaks with students during her visit to East Glendalough School. Photo: Michael Kelly

Principal Tim Hicks, Austrian Ambassador to Ireland Melitta Schuber pictured with school prefects and teachers during her visit to East Glendalough School. Photo: Michael Kelly

Wicklow students welcomed Austrian Ambassador to Ireland Melitta Schubert to East Glendalough School as part of a French Embassy in Ireland initiative celebrating the French-speaking world during March.

The visit formed part of a programme that sees ambassadors from OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie) member countries visit Irish schools to discuss the importance of the French language in their own countries.

Ambassador Schubert was greeted by principal Mr Hicks and the schools team of prefects before attending a whole-school assembly.

Students made presentations on Le Festival de la Francophonie and the schools Erasmus+ project promoting French, with students who travelled to France this year speaking about their experiences. Mr Hicks and Ms Coleman also shared their own language-learning experiences with students.

Ambassador Schubert spoke about the importance of learning languages and the role of the French language in Austria and in diplomatic life, before students asked questions about the languages she speaks and which she finds most difficult.

The ambassador was later brought on a school tour by prefect Clive Kirya and attended a sixth-year history class for a Q&A session on diplomatic life, the role of the embassy and the role of the ambassador.

The visit concluded with refreshments in the French classroom, attended by the Modern Foreign Languages staff, the principal and deputy principal, and sixth-year French students, who practised their conversation skills with Ambassador Schubert ahead of their Leaving Cert oral exam.

It was a very pleasant morning for students and staff, and one of which East Glendalough School is immensely proud, a school spokesperson said.
Peter Allen: What Frances Gilets Jaunes movement could teach Irelands fuel protesters

The French group enjoyed some wins, but violence on the streets marred demonstrations

A Gilets Jaunes protest near the Arc of Triomphe in Paris on November 24, 2018. Photo: Getty

Peter Allen Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

When in 2018 the Gilets Jaunes  the Yellow Vests  first took to the streets of France to protest against rising fuel prices, it felt like a spectacular uprising.
Starmer backs Cabinet Secretary who failed to tell him about Mandelson vetting

Allies of Foreign Office mandarin Olly Robbins question why he was sacked while Antonia Romeo was allowed to keep her job

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is understood to have thrown his weight behind Antonia Romeo, the Cabinet Secretary and most senior civil servant

Camilla Turner Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed the Cabinet Secretary after she failed to tell him for more than a fortnight that Peter Mandelson, had failed his security vetting.
Donald Trump reviews proposal to end war as Vladimir Putin hosts Iran minister



US president Donald Trump discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with Tehran with his top national security aides on Monday, with the conflict currently in a standoff and energy supplies from the region reduced.



Iranian sources disclosed Tehrans latest proposal earlier on Monday, which would set aside discussion of Irans nuclear programme until the war is ended and disputes over shipping from the Gulf are resolved. That is unlikely to satisfy Washington, which says nuclear issues must be dealt with from the outset.



Work has not halted to bridge gaps between the US and Iran, sources from mediator Pakistan said, despite the absence of face-to-face diplomacy after Mr Trump called off a trip by his envoys over the weekend.



Hopes of reviving peace efforts have receded since Mr Trump scrapped a visit on Saturday by his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, where Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi shuttled in and out twice over the weekend.



Mr Araghchi also visited Oman over the weekend and went to Russia day, where he met president Vladimir Putin and received words of support from a long-standing ally.



With the warring sides still seemingly far apart on issues including Irans nuclear ambitions and access through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, oil prices resumed their upward march yesterday, hitting a two-week high.



Mr Trump met his national security team on Monday morning.



I dont want to get ahead of the president or his national security team, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.



What I will reiterate is that the presidents red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.



Mr Araghchi told reporters in Russia that Mr Trump had requested negotiations because the US has not achieved any of its objectives.



Senior Iranian sources told Reuters the proposal carried by Mr Araghchi to Islamabad over the weekend envisioned talks in stages, with the nuclear issue to be set aside at the start.



A first step would require ending the US-Israeli war on Iran and providing guarantees that Washington cannot start it up again. Then negotiators would resolve the US blockade and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran aims to reopen under its control.



Only then would talks look at other issues, including the long-standing dispute over Irans nuclear programme, with Iran still seeking some kind of US acknowledgment of its right to enrich uranium for what it says are peaceful purposes.



In a sign that no face-to-face meetings are planned any time soon, streets reopened in Pakistans capital Islamabad, which had been locked down for a week in anticipation of talks that never took place. Pakistani officials said negotiations were still taking place remotely, but there were no plans to convene a meeting in person until the sides were close enough to sign a memorandum.



Although a ceasefire has paused the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, no agreement has been reached on terms to end a war that has killed thousands, driven up oil prices, fuelled inflation and darkened the outlook for global growth.



Iran has largely blocked all shipping apart from its own from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.



This month, the US began blockading Iranian ships. Six tankers loaded with Iranian oil have been forced back to Iran by the US blockade in recent days, ship-tracking data shows, underscoring the impact the war is having on traffic.



Between 125 and 140 ships usually crossed in and out of the strait daily before the war, but only seven have done so in the past day, according to Kpler ship-tracking data and satellite analysis from SynMax and none of them were carrying oil bound for the global market.



Fighting has intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes killed 14 people and wounded 37 in the south on Sunday, according to the health ministry, making it the deadliest day since a US-brokered ceasefire was agreed in mid-April.



Iran says it will not hold talks on the wider conflict unless a ceasefire also holds in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which fired across the border in support of Tehran.



German chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, Irans leadership was humiliating the US and getting US officials to travel to Pakistan and then leave without results, in an unusually abrupt rebuke over the conflict.



The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating



Mr Merz also said he not see what exit strategy the US was pursuing in the Iran war  comments that underlined deep divisions between Washington and its Nato allies, which had already been festering over Ukraine and other issues.



The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result, he said during a talk to students in the town of Marsberg.



An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible, Mr Merz said.



Steve Holland, Ariba Shahid and Parisa Hafezi

Reuters




Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said in an interview with the newspaper Real News on Sunday that "Mr. Androulakis (Nikos, main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change leader) is "rather cautiously asking for elections and, deep down, hoping his request will not be accepted.

After all, the Prime Minister has replied once again that elections will be held in 2027. The bigger problem for Mr. Androulakis than his own request

is that he makes it without providing two crucial answers: how, with what specific and costed programme, he would govern, and with whom."

On economic support for households amid uncertainty related to the outcome of the war, he stated:

"We have made it clear that we will not leave citizens unprotected against external crises, something we have already demonstrated in the past."

Regarding the Turkish leadership targeting the GreeceCyprusIsrael alliance, Marinakis said that Greece has always been, and will remain, a force for peace in the wider region.

He added that Greeces foreign policy is shaped independently, as is the case for any sovereign state, and that the country does not accept instructions or owe explanations to anyone.

   iefimerida.gr

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said in an interview with the newspaper Real News on Sunday that "Mr. Androulakis (Nikos, main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change leader) is "rather cautiously asking for elections and, deep down, hoping his request will not be accepted.

After all, the Prime Minister has replied once again that elections will be held in 2027. The bigger problem for Mr. Androulakis than his own request is that he makes it without providing two crucial answers: how, with what specific and costed programme, he would govern, and with whom."

On economic support for households amid uncertainty related to the outcome of the war, he stated:

"We have made it clear that we will not leave citizens unprotected against external crises, something we have already demonstrated in the past."

Regarding the Turkish leadership targeting the GreeceCyprusIsrael alliance, Marinakis said that Greece has always been, and will remain, a force for peace in the wider region.

He added that Greeces foreign policy is shaped independently, as is the case for any sovereign state, and that the country does not accept instructions or owe explanations to anyone.

   iefimerida.gr
The EU Military Committee meeting in Nicosia signals a shift toward a tougher geopolitical posture
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has come down hard on the Federal Governments reported plan to reintegrate nearly 800 repentant terrorists into Nigerian communities, warning that the move could weaken the fight against insurgency and put already traumatised communities at further risk.

The party said the issue goes beyond reintegration and raises serious questions about whether the government understands the threat, can guarantee justice, and has a clear plan to keep Nigerians safe.

The position was contained in a statement by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, who accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking clarity and resolve in confronting terrorism.

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The planned reintegration is part of ongoing efforts by authorities to deradicalise and rehabilitate former insurgents, a strategy that has sparked debate over balancing justice and reconciliation.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken note of reports that the Tinubu administration is proceeding with plans to reintegrate hundreds of so-called repentant terrorists into society.

Taken together with a pattern of official remarks over time describing such individuals as brothers and even prodigal sons, this decision points to a deeper and more troubling reality: a government that does not fully grasp the nature or scale of the threat it faces, Abdullahi said.

The party argued that soft language around insurgents risks downplaying the gravity of terrorism and blurring the line between justice and leniency.

Terrorism is not a family dispute. It is not a moral metaphor. It is a sustained and organised campaign of violence against the Nigerian state and its people, it said.

ADC warned that putting rehabilitation ahead of accountability could deepen the pain of victims and send the wrong message about the consequences of violence.

To respond to such a threat with language that softens its meaning, and policies that appear to prioritise rehabilitation ahead of accountability, is not compassion. It is weakness, Abdullahi said.

The party also pointed to what it described as a contradiction in the governments approach, saying authorities appear to be fighting terrorism on one hand while preparing to reintroduce former insurgents into society without clearly defined safeguards.

What Nigerians are witnessing is not a coherent security strategy. It is, at best, confusion dressed up as policy; at worst, a dangerous policy of political appeasement that compounds the tragedy of victims of terror.

The Tinubu administration has failed to answer the most basic questions that any serious government must confront in a matter of this magnitude. Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe for reintegration.

In the absence of these answers, what is being presented as a strategy begins to look like abdication, if not collaboration, the party said.

According to the ADC, the government cannot fight terror and appear to excuse it at the same time.

Reiterating its position, the party insisted that justice must remain central to any response to terrorism and warned against policies that could weaken accountability.

Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It is facilitation National security is not a guessing game, and it is not a space for sentiment to override judgment. It requires leadership that understands the stakes and is prepared to act with firmness and clarity, the ADC said.

The party maintained that anything short of a clear, transparent and victim-centred approach risks undermining both public trust and the fight against terrorism itself.
Yul Edochie, the Nollywood actor, says any person of Igbo extraction criticising their kins for supporting President Tinubus government is a coward.

In a post via X, the film star said such individuals are cowards for criticising their brother for supporting Tinubu.

He argued that such individuals do not challenge supporters from other regions or hold past leaders accountable in the same way.

He described their actions as selective and accused them of lacking the courage to confront others outside their group.

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Any Igbo man who is dragging his fellow Igbo man for supporting President Tinubu is a coward. Show me a video of you dragging Yorubas who are supporting Tinubu, he wrote.

Show me a video of you dragging Northerners who are supporting Tinubu. Show me a video of you dragging all the past leaders who couldnt fix Nigeria.

Show me a video of you dragging Northern celebrities that support Tinubu. None. You dont have liver to do it.

But when its your Igbo brother youll rush and set ring light to drag him.. Shame on you.

The actor is known to be a staunch supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In 2023, Yul Edochie publicly expressed his admiration for the president, describing himself as an Asiwaju baby.

During the nationwide protests between August 1 and 10, 2024 over economic hardship and the rising cost of living, he urged Nigerians to be patient, saying the administration would address the challenges.
Security officers are seen on duty near the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

ISLAMABAD, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks.

According to police sources, some 20,000 police personnel, supported by hundreds of elite commandos, including snipers, have been deployed on security duty across the twin cities.

Additional Punjab Highway Patrol, Dolphin Force and Quick Response Unit teams have also been placed on alert, while Safe City cameras and rooftop snipers are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance.

Similar arrangements were made before the first round of peace talks between the United States and Iran aimed at easing recent hostilities in the Middle East.

Security officials said advance teams from the United States, including security personnel, are arriving to coordinate arrangements for the expected talks.

Authorities have also suspended all public and goods transport in Rawalpindi and Islamabad as part of the security plan, while most entry points to the Red Zone have been sealed.

Major hotels, including the Serena Hotel and Marriott Hotel, have asked guests to vacate after the government requisitioned the properties for the talks, while hostels and guest houses in the capital were directed to close until further notice. 

A U.S. military aircraft flies over an area near the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua)

Security officers check a vehicle at a checkpoint in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

A policeman is seen on duty at a checkpoint in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

A U.S. military aircraft flies over an area near the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua)

A security officer is seen on duty near the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

A police car is seen at a checkpoint in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 19, 2026. Pakistan has placed its capital Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Police operatives in Ogun State have arrested a 43-year-old man found in possession of a fresh human head, two human palms, and other human remains concealed in a nylon bag, in what authorities have described as a case of unlawful possession of human parts and suspected ritual activities.

The suspect, identified as Idowu Ashafa, was intercepted in the early hours of Friday, April 17, 2026, during a routine patrol led by the Divisional Police Officer of the Igbesa Division, CSP Solotan Owolabi. He was allegedly exhuming remains from a grave at Ido Itekun Village in Igbesa when operatives moved in on him.

Confirming the arrest on Saturday, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi said the operation was conducted under the supervision of the Area Commander, ACP Folashade Tanaruno.

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The suspect was intercepted in possession of a fresh human head, two human palms, and other human remains concealed in a nylon bag, Babaseyi said in a statement. The instrument used in committing the act was recovered, while the scene was visited and documented.

The spokesperson added that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation and likely prosecution.

Babaseyi reaffirmed the commands commitment to ridding Ogun State of criminal elements, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
Turkey will train 200 Nigerian special forces as part of efforts to bolster the countrys defence system.

Christopher Musa, minister of defence, said the training is part of bilateral security agreements between both countries following discussions with Yasar Guler, his Turkish counterpart.

Musa spoke on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026) in Turkey on Saturday.

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We have a special forces training agreement. Turkiye has agreed to give us 200 special forces training, so as soon as I return, we are sending them here for training, a NAN report quoted the minister as saying.

We will continue to do a lot. There will be exercises. The first exercise is coming up later in the year. So, in so many areas of defence, we are going to work together.

Musa added that Nigeria and Turkey had also agreed on joint defence equipment production and the transfer of military technology.

Ive had a meeting with the Turkish Minister of Defence, where we shared a lot of ideas on how to improve on our relationship, defence-wise, the minister said.

Turkiye has improved dramatically with regard to the production of military hardware.

Nigeria is still developing, and we have agreed that we are going to partner together so that we have a co-production of some of these items.

Musa cited both countries ongoing fight against terrorism as a reason for collaboration.

Because of that, we will move into training, production and improving on our defence, industrial production, and exchange of officers and soldiers, the minister said.
An exterior view of Clara Barton Elementary School in Cherry Hill, one of the schools that could get an addition built to accommodate more students due to overcrowding. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Despite a looming budget crisis, the Cherry Hill school district is considering spending millions to build additions to ease overcrowding at two schools.

The school board last week debated the proposal first presented in February to add classrooms to Clara Barton Elementary and Rosa International Middle School.

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With a projected $29 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year, board member Renee Cherfane said a committee spearheading the Elementary Enrollment Balancing project confirmed that Superintendent Kwame Morton wanted to move forward.

However, during a presentation to the board at its work session, Cherfane said board members want more details about how many classrooms are needed and how those numbers were determined. The discussion transitioned to focus on the budget cut implications.

Other options under consideration

Cherfane said the committee also explored possibly imposing an enrollment cap at Rosa, which is the most overcrowded of the districts three middle schools.

Another possible option considered was redistricting and sending some elementary students to Henry Beck Middle, which has available space, she said. No details were provided on how that would work if approved by the board.

With unanswered questions, Cherfane said the committee was not ready for a board vote. But time is running out, she said.

The board must decide by August in order to submit bids for the additions to be completed for the 2028-29 school year, she said.

We cant really drag our feet any longer. This is the opportunity that we have as a board to start looking at this and figure out how we want to move forward, she said.

Board member Bridget Palmer said she had expected the committee to present a more sweeping plan with long-term solutions.

Were in a year and a situation where its a whole menu of terrible choices that are going to hurt people that give us all concern, that are causing us all to lose sleep at night, she said.

A date was not set for a board vote.

Why is enrollment balancing needed?

A demographic study conducted in 2024 showed that five of Cherry Hills 12 elementary schools are expected to have a total shortage of 337 seats in the 2028-29 school year. Barton and Rosa had the biggest need.

To meet an anticipated enrollment growth, the South Jersey school system considered adjusting the boundaries assigned to the elementary schools, much to the angst of parents who want to send their children to neighborhood schools, typically within two miles of where they live.

The board decided against redrawing the elementary boundaries and said it would consider additions to Barton and Rosa and monitor growth at the other schools.

Details about how much the project would cost have not been provided. Business administrator Jason Schimpf said the district would use $23 million in interest from a $363 million bond referendum approved in 2022 to pay for the project.

Schimpf said the district decided against using the interest to offset the deficit in the proposed budget. The board will vote April 28 on the budget, which calls for cutting 70 positions and eliminating programs.

The bond interest is a one-time infusion of funds, Schimpf said. The district has exhausted available surplus funds in previous years, he said.

We are not creating enough recurring revenue to pay and sustain our expenses, he said. When those bond proceeds are gone, we are going to be right back in this situation again.

Board shares more about budget cuts

Board member Miriam Stern asked whether transportation changes had been considered. Morton said changing bus routes would affect hundreds of families.

Morton said the only transportation options under consideration as budget cuts were reducing courtesy busing or reducing busing for afterschool activities.

Board president Gina Winters said possible busing changes may be a terrible idea and noted that the board should carefully weigh all options.

We are running out of options to balance the budget, Winters said. No one is going to be comfortable.

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 preliminary budget approved by the board last month would increase property taxes by $420 for a home assessed at the township average of $227,000.

Morton clarified last week that the district has no plans to eliminate its elementary world language and computer science programs. Spanish and computer science teachers have been reassigned. He said the district will change how it presents those subjects to meet state mandates for both.

We absolutely share in this frustration, Morton said. We dont want to be in this position at all.
Scientists are investigating whether the brain circuitry of the neurodevelopmental disorder autism and the brain degeneration of Alzheimer's could be somehow related. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Joseph Buxbaum was initially unconvinced. When early hints of a connection between autism and Alzheimers began to appear in the medical literature a few years ago, they struck him as implausible  one a condition of early brain development, the other driving decline in old age.

But the signals kept accumulating, and over time, his skepticism gave way to a new line of inquiry that could transform scientists understanding of the two diseases.

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I came to this kicking and screaming. I didnt want to believe it, said Buxbaum, a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and genetics/genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Autism has long been treated almost exclusively as a childhood condition, with little attention paid to how it evolves with age. First formally recognized as a distinct diagnosis in 1980, it went largely unidentified in older generations. Only recently  as awareness grew and the first large diagnosed cohort reaches middle age  have researchers begun to study autistic adults in later life.

The data remains sparse: An analysis published last year found that just a tiny fraction of the more than 40,000 autism papers published between 1980 and 2021 included people over 50. But the number of studies about aging with autism is growing rapidly. Advances in brain imaging, DNA sequencing, and molecular biology are revealing remarkable overlaps between autism and Alzheimers, scientists say  in genes, in neural circuitry, even in patterns of disease.

The idea that two conditions at opposite ends of life might be biologically linked is beginning to upend long-standing assumptions in brain science, blurring a divide that has shaped the field for decades. Now, some researchers have begun to see the two as intertwined: that understanding Alzheimers may require looking back to how the brain develops, and that insights into autism might, in turn, reshape how we understand Alzheimers itself.

Much of the research is still early, and in some cases conflicting and speculative, and it does not yet show that autism and Alzheimers are part of a single biological continuum. But the implications are profound: Both conditions remain mysterious and difficult to treat, and studying them together may open new paths for intervention.

There are strong indications that something is going on  that the traditional differences demarcate neurodevelopment versus neurodegeneration may be fairly artificial when it comes to biology, said Andy Shih, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, an advocacy group that funds research and is increasingly focused on this emerging area.

Unexpected risk

Separated by decades, both autism and Alzheimers take root in the same living circuitry  the human brain  a network of billions of neurons and trillions of synapses, constantly wiring and rewiring itself over a lifetime. In one, those connections form differently; in the other, they slowly come undone.

The connection first drew attention in the late 1990s to early 2000s, with unsettling findings: case reports of autistic adults developing dementia at a young age, followed more recently by larger, population-level studies suggesting elevated risk for this group.

Hard numbers are elusive. Many people now over 65 were never identified, making it difficult to estimate how many are on the spectrum. But if prevalence mirrors that seen in children  roughly 1 in 31  researchers say the number could be as high as 1.97 million. And with 1 out of 9 Americans that age with Alzheimers, the overlap could be roughly 220,000 people.

Brian Lee, an epidemiologist at Drexel University, pointed to a 2021 analysis of Medicaid records published in Autism Research which found that people with autism were about 2.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers and related dementias compared with the general population. (The work was replicated in 2025 in a JAMA research letter that reached similar findings using Medicaid and Medicare data.)

Autisms links to other brain disorders may extend beyond Alzheimers, with some studies pointing to a higher risk of Parkinsons disease  a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, causing tremors, stiffness, and slowed motion.

That work has led to a cascade of questions. Some are more practical, focused on individuals health over a lifetime. Do communication barriers make it harder to receive adequate medical attention? Are routines around exercise different? What are the long-term effects of medication? And could coordination challenges lead to more head injuries? Alongside all of this is another factor: higher lifetime stress.

The idea is that autism as a condition leads to lifestyle changes that might predispose neurodegeneration. Brian Lee

The idea is that autism as a condition leads to lifestyle changes that might predispose neurodegeneration, Lee said.

But health habits and environment alone do not seem to explain the pattern. Increasingly, researchers are finding that the overlap runs deeper  into the biology itself.

Faltering synapses

Nowhere is the overlap between autism and Alzheimers more apparent  nor more concrete  than in the growing list of shared genes. A 2025 review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences identified at least 148 genes in common, many of them tied to the same fundamental processes that shape and sustain the brain over time.

The list of shared genes is long  and still growing. MECP2, ADNP, GRIN2B, SCN2A, NLGN, CNTNAP2: Many of them are deeply involved in how brain cells connect, signal, and adapt over time.

Not all of their functions are fully understood, but taken together, they point to a common thread: Changes in the number, quality, and placement of synapses  the junctions where neurons communicate  may shape how minds take form and, later, unravel.

Among the common genes is SHANK3, one of the most well-known in autism.

In autism, mutations in SHANK3  which encodes a protein of the same name that acts as a kind of structural framework at synapses, helping neurons communicate  can disrupt those connections early in development, altering how neural circuits are built. In Alzheimers, levels of the same protein have been found to decline as the disease progresses, a shift that is associated with the gradual loss of connections.

Buxbaum, who has spent decades studying Alzheimers, is probing this overlap directly.

In his lab, mice engineered with SHANK3 mutations and autism-like characteristics are trained to navigate mazes  first to learn a location, then to relearn it after the rules change. As they age, the mice struggle to adapt, taking longer to relearn the task. The deficits echo a hallmark of Alzheimers: impaired cognitive flexibility.

Yet the mice present a paradox. Despite these impairments, they are unusually resistant to developing full-blown dementia-like pathology. So you have to double or triple down in introducing bad things into the mouse brain to even get something that looks like Alzheimers in a mouse, Buxbaum said.

While mouse brains are commonly studied in neuroscience, they still are critically different from human brains in a way that limits how experiments translate to people. But that resistance in mice may offer important clues. If researchers can understand what protects mouse brains, they may uncover mechanisms that could one day be harnessed for humans.

Cellular housekeeping

Even at rest, the brain is busy  and messy. Packed with roughly 170 billion cells, it is constantly generating waste that must be cleared away to keep its circuits running. Many of the shared genes between autism and Alzheimers point to a single system: cellular housekeeping.

Roughly half are linked to the mTOR pathway, which controls autophagy  the process by which cells clear debris, recycle components, and remove toxic proteins.

When that system falters, the profound consequences unfold slowly. Waste accumulates. Proteins misfold. Communication between neurons begins to break down. Over time, researchers theorize, these disruptions could both help alter brain development and lead to the kind of degeneration seen in Alzheimers.

In a largely interpretive paper published in January in Frontiers in Neuroscience, researchers described possible commonalities in MRI findings between autism and Alzheimers, particularly involving the glymphatic system  a brainwide network that helps clear metabolic waste, especially during sleep.

Patterns such as enlarged spaces around blood vessels and increased fluid around the brain were reported in both conditions, though these findings are preliminary. The work remains largely hypothesis-generating; while it may point to shared biological pathways, it does not establish a direct link between the two conditions.

William Phillips, a nuclear medicine physician at UT Health San Antonio who is an author of the study, said the findings caught his attention because the brains cleanup system is closely linked to smell. In Alzheimers, people often lose their sense of smell before memory problems begin  and although smell issues have been reported in autism, they have largely been dismissed as a sensory quirk rather than as a possible clue to brain health.

By concentrating on these mechanisms, the authors wrote, scientists might be able to develop integrated treatment strategies that address both disorders simultaneously, ultimately improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Brain architectures

With the rise of brain imaging, researchers can now watch these conditions unfold in living brains  and the patterns are beginning to look unexpectedly similar.

For years, research in both autism and Alzheimers focused on individual regions: which parts were larger or smaller, more or less active. Scientists were intrigued, for example, that Alzheimers is associated with the shrinking of a brain region known as the amygdala, a structure involved in emotion, fear, and social processing; in autism, the amygdala is often enlarged, although the findings have varied by age and study design.

Increasingly, though, attention has shifted to the connections between those regions  the networks that allow the brain to function as an integrated whole.

In two fields that have long operated separately, researchers have, in effect, converged on the same idea.

In autism, findings presented last year at the American Neuropsychiatric Associations annual conference suggest that the density and strength of synaptic connections may correlate with functioning; in some cases, more robust connectivity is associated with better functioning in daily life. In Alzheimers, by contrast, the loss of those same connections correlates very strongly with cognitive decline, and some believe it may be a better anatomical correlate than the buildup of amyloid plaques or tangles of a protein known as tau, long considered the diseases defining indicators.

How those brain connections evolve over time  and what that might reveal about aging in autism and its potential links to Alzheimers  is now becoming a central question, one that researchers like B. Blair Braden have begun to explore.

Braden directs the Autism and Brain Aging Laboratory at Arizona State University and has spent more than a decade recruiting dozens of adults with autism from the greater Phoenix area, asking them to return again and again for brain scans.

Her first major paper on the subject, published in 2022, pointed to changes in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory that shrinks with age in both autistic and non-autistic adults, but to a more severe extent and earlier for those with autism.

Braden has been struck by how the brain scans seemed to tell a similar story to the genetic and molecular work: Its kind of amazing to see how the results are coming together.

New hope

Whats emerging from this and other research labs is not just a shift in thinking, but the early outlines of new treatments.

Bradens work, along with findings from other labs, points to a reorientation for Alzheimers treatments: away from amyloid and tau alone and toward synapses and connectivity as potential targets.

Meanwhile, a separate line of research points back the other way: tau, a hallmark of Alzheimers, may also play a role in autism.

In San Francisco, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes reported in the journal Neuron in 2020 they were able to prevent core autism symptoms in mice that model some of the more severe presentations of the condition by decreasing levels of tau by 50%. Follow-up studies that will be published shortly showed that this effect was not temporary but lasted for a lifetime, said Lennart Mucke, the lead author of the study and a neuroscience professor at the University of California at San Francisco.

In the brain, tau acts as a kind of regulator of what Mucke called brain cell excitability. Reducing it, he said, may help the brain cool off or suppress a pathway that is overactive and creates abnormal brain connections.

Imagine an orchestra.  You want everyone to play in harmony, said Mucke, director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. If the conductor fails, theres dysregulation.

The work ahead in both autism and Alzheimers, he said, is learning how to bring that harmony back.
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HAVANA  Havanas broad avenues are empty at night. Theaters are closed. Bars and cafes have curtains lowered. Its hard to find lights in the streets or Cubans making money entertaining tourists.

Under the weight of an oil embargo imposed by the second administration of President Donald Trump, and the islands most severe economic crisis in decades, the citys once bustling nightlife has gone quiet.

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I feel empty inside when I see my streets empty, said Yusleydi Blanco, a 41-year-old accountant. I cant be happy when my country is sad.

Worse than the Special Period

Following a 2016 deal between then-Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro easing U.S. travel restrictions on Cuba, money flooded the island as tourism spiked. A small number of entrepreneurs opened newly allowed private businesses and bought imported modern vehicles that shared the streets with classic cars from the 1950s.

In 2018, a record 4.7 million tourists arrived on the island. Hotel accommodations were so saturated that travelers without lodging were seen sleeping in a park in the small western Cuban town of Vinales that draws thousands of tourists and rock climbers to its scenic limestone cliffs.

Today, gasoline sales are limited to 5 gallons per vehicle and owners can wait months for a turn at the pump. Buses now stop running at 6 p.m. and international airlines including Air France, Air Canada, and Iberia have stopped flying to Havana because they cant refuel there. The sound of cars has disappeared in the wealthy El Vedado neighborhood, where the soundscape of chirping birds has reemerged.

The Cuban government reported the arrival of 77,600 tourists in February, down from 178,000 on the same month a year ago.

This is worse than the Special Period, said 65-year-old parking attendant Dolores de la Caridad Mendez about the years of economic devastation that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cubas Cold War patron, in the 1990s.

Testing everyones stamina

In contrast with his Democratic predecessors, Trump has tightened economic sanctions against Cuba, demanding an end to political repression, a release of political prisoners, and a liberalization of the islands ailing economy.

The deepening crisis has led to persistent blackouts, cuts to the state-run food ration system, and severe shortages of water and medicine that have transformed daily life into an ordeal for many in the island of 10 million. Between 2021 and 2024, approximately 1.4 million Cubans left the island  mostly young people but also accomplished musicians, actors, dancers and other entertainers who fueled Havanas nightlife.

In January, the U.S. captured then-President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, which had been Cubas primary supplier of oil. The Trump administration severed that supply and threatened to impose tariffs on other countries that sold oil to Cuba, which went without a single shipment until a Russian tanker came in March.

For entrepreneurs and business owners across the island, life has become difficult as tourism plummeted and their hopes of selling cheaper goods to fellow Cubans dashed against the rocks of a vastly harder economic reality.

You wake up and youre ready to conquer the world, saying, Today Ill sell more than ever, said Yeni Perez, owner of the Old Havana cafe Entre Nos. Then not a single client comes in and you go home devastated.

The next day, she said, You say, Lets give it another chance. Its a time thats testing everyones stamina.
Villanova University students volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia to help rebuild homes as part of the Pope Leo Village in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday., April. 18, 2026. Read more

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Volunteers broke ground Saturday on the first homes of Pope Leo Village  a yearslong Habitat for Humanity housing initiative that will stretch across North Philadelphia and throughout the nation.

The philanthropic venture, funded by an anonymous donor who was inspired by the first American pontiff, will build or renovate 26 homes in Brewerytown and Sharswood and hundreds nationwide from Omaha, Neb., to Tampa, Fla. On Saturday, about a dozen volunteers from Villanova University  the popes alma mater  began rehabbing two homes on North Hollywood Street.

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Pope Leo XIVs life and witness remind us that our beliefs must always lead us outward to serve, to accompany, to advocate for the dignity of every person, Villanovas president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, said at a news conference. Donohue later blessed the construction site with holy water. This initiative reflects a fundamental truth: Housing is not simply a shelter  it is a moral issue, it is a matter of justice.

He added, When we invest in housing, we invest in human dignity and strengthening our communities.

The purpose of the faith-based Pope Leo Village is twofold: to create affordable and stable housing and to engage young people in volunteerism. Just after the conclave last year, the anonymous donor pitched the Pope Leo Village as a tribute to Leos spirit and ethos, according to Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia CEO Corinne OConnell. OConnell said she could not say how much the benefactor contributed but called the gift very generous.

Its humbling, its motivating, OConnell said as the project got underway. Over the next two years, new homes will be constructed and others rehabilitated, then ultimately sold to low- and moderate-income families, with affordable mortgages.

In a statement, the donor expressed hope that the initiative encourages young people and communities of faith to recognize housing as a social justice issue and service as a shared responsibility.

Wildcat volunteers Mary Kate Farrell, 22, and Ana Mamola, 21, said they were honored to be putting their Villanova education and Augustinian mission into action.

Affordable housing is something I definitely think about, Mamola, a junior, said. Giving a family an opportunity to have somewhere they can call their own is something thats really special, and its a unique opportunity that were able to contribute to.

Senior Farrell added: The legacy of the neighborhood, too  I think its so special that were making a house. Its going to be here for however many years to come and for however many families, too.

The timing of the initiatives launch was not lost on OConnell. Last week, President Donald Trump lashed out at the pope for his criticism of the war in Iran. On social media, the president called Leo WEAK on crime and terrible for Foreign Policy.

Its all the more fitting, and speaks to the importance of [the Pope Leo Village], OConnell mused.

In response to the president, Leo said he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.

 READ MORE: As Trump attacks Pope Leo XIV, Philly-area Catholics speak out against the presidents war

Donohue told The Inquirer that Leo, an Augustinian friar, is simply preaching the gospel.

Hes calling people to live that commitment and to really look at how theyre using their lives to serve others and to end violence in the world, Donohue said.

Thats his job. There are other people that have other jobs.
Workers remove the panels about slavery at the Presidents House Site in Independence National Historical Park on Jan. 22. The Trump administration deemed the memorial to nine people George Washington enslaved "inappropriate." Read more

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On Jan. 22, workers from the National Park Service arrived at Sixth and Market Streets in Philadelphia and used crowbars to rip down 34 interpretive panels telling the truth about slavery at Americas first White House.

Those panels stood at the very site where President George Washington, from 1790 to 1797, illegally enslaved nine African descendants in Philadelphia  nine of the 316 African descendants he held in bondage at his Mount Vernon, Va., plantation.

The Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), founded in 2002, led the effort to ensure this history would not be hidden. After eight years of relentless protesting, rallying, and petitioning, ATAC  working alongside a broad coalition of historians, activists, elected officials, and community members  forced the federal government to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That work led to the 2010 opening of the first slavery memorial of its kind on federal property in the United States.

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That memorial was never meant to be symbolic alone. It was intended to serve as a permanent public acknowledgment of a painful truth too often ignored  one that required courage, persistence, and collective action to bring to light in the first place.

And yet, despite that history, NPS never contacted ATAC  nor asked for our input  before removing the panels or proposing replacements. That omission is not just disrespectful, it is revealing. It signals a willingness to sideline the very voices and communities who fought to ensure this history was told accurately and completely.

On April 7, NPS posted nearly a dozen new digital panels online. These were not restorations. They were revisions  an attempt to soften and sanitize George Washingtons deep involvement in slavery, recasting a man who enslaved African men, women, and children from the age of 11 until his death as someone merely uncomfortable with the institution. They even suggest the enslaved in Philadelphia experienced a modicum of autonomy.

No one  no president, no administration  has the right to dictate what history we tell. The truth is not optional.

Lets be clear: There is no autonomy in enslavement.

If Washington felt discomfort, imagine the lived reality of the 316 African descendants he held in bondage. If NPS believes autonomy applies to human beings in chains, then it fundamentally misunderstands the brutality of slavery.

This is not restoration. It is revision.

It is an offensive attempt to distort American history at one of the only federal sites that directly acknowledges the lives of the nine enslaved African descendants held by Washington in Philadelphia. It also undermines the years of bipartisan support and public engagement that made this memorial possible, and that continues to affirm the importance of telling this history truthfully.

And it is exactly why ATACs work remains as necessary today as it was more than 20 years ago. We fought to create this memorial so the truth would be told  fully and honestly. We will not stand by while that truth is erased.

No one  no president, no administration  has the right to dictate what history we tell. The truth is not optional.

Although those in power may try to control the present  and distort the past  their efforts will not stand.

Because, as William Cullen Bryant wrote, and as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. later reminded us, Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again.

Michael Coard is a civil rights attorney and founder of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), which led the successful effort to establish the Presidents House slavery memorial at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.
Tired of bidding wars, this homeowner was ready to pause her search. Then, the perfect house came back on the market.

The buyers: Valerie Rossi, 40, healthcare consultant

The house: a 2,056-square-foot home in Cherry Hill with four bedrooms and three baths, built in 1957.

The price: listed for $435,000; purchased for $445,000

The agent: Jen Gabel, OCF Realty

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Valerie Rossi and her chihuahua, Luna, in the living room of her Cherry Hill home. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

The ask: In early 2024, Valerie Rossi found herself at a crossroads. Her Jersey City condo, which she bought in 2020 with a favorable 2.7% mortgage rate, had become a financial burden as property taxes soared to nearly $10,000. There was drama with her homeowners association (HOA) and her mom had recently become ill. It was enough to prompt Rossi to move to Philadelphia, where property taxes were lower, and her family was nearby.

She rented in the city for a year while she weighed whether to move to the suburbs. I didnt really want to be in a rowhouse with no backyard for my dog, Rossi said. In the fall of 2025, she started her search across the Delaware River in her hometown of Cherry Hill.

Guest powder room in the Cherry Hill home of Valerie Rossi. She painted the walls but kept the fixtures. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

She wanted a house with character, outdoor space for her Chihuahua, Luna, and a garage. A basement was a bonus, she said. An HOA was a deal-breaker.

The search: Once Rossi got serious, the search became a part-time job. I spent my life on Zillow, she said. She and her agent looked at more than 30 houses over roughly three months, usually spending both days each weekend touring homes. Rossi made five offers. None stuck.

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Her first offer was outbid by an all-cash buyer. The second one, she withdrew after discovering the house came with a $30,000 solar panel loan shed have to take on. The third place was a recently renovated home, but it lacked a dishwasher, which ultimately was a deal-breaker. A fourth seller wanted her to agree to an information-only inspection. I would have to be OK with things not being OK, said Rossi. Then there was a house in Collingswood that she loved, only to learn after making an offer that she would need flood insurance.

A 1957 sales brochure for the home  the Harrison model  passed along by the previous owners. When the Kingston Estates development was built, the area was all farmland and the town was called Delaware Township. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

By December, Rossi was cooked. She told her agent she needed to take a break and prepared to re-sign her lease.

I just did not want to jump into something  that wasnt going to work for me, Rossi explained.

Then, less than a week after she paused her search, a house shed considered before came back on the market. A friend had sent it to her months earlier, but it had gone under contract almost immediately. I was like, Why does that look familiar? Rossi said. She went to see it the very next evening.

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Even in the dark, she could tell it was the one.

The appeal: The house was near shopping, PATCO, and I-295. Its only 20 minutes from Philly, which Rossi says made the leap to the suburbs less daunting.

Rossi also liked that the house wasnt huge, but it gave her room to grow. It had a fenced yard for Luna, and a garage. It had been well maintained, even if it needed cosmetic updates.

The biggest thing I love is actually the fireplace, Rossi said.

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The brick fireplace, with its brown mantel, gave the room exactly the kind of warmth and character she had been looking for. Its very cozy, Rossi said.

Valerie Rossi's favorite feature of the house is the giant, brick fireplace in the recreation room. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

The deal: The house was listed for $435,000. Rossi offered $445,000 with a 30-day close. She bid over the asking price because the house seemed popular.

The night I came to see it, it was dark, but there was somebody right after me waiting outside, she said.

The sellers didnt accept right away. Instead, they held an open house the following weekend and asked for best and final offers that Monday. Rossi did not raise her price. She looked at another place in a nearby town, but her heart was set on the Cherry Hill house.

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I really hoped I would get it, Rossi said.

And she did. After the open house, the sellers accepted her offer. They just wanted to make me sweat for a minute, Rossi said.

The money: Rossi put 10% down  $44,500. The money came from the sale of her Jersey City condo, which she bought for $430,000 and sold for $489,000 four years later. She parked the proceeds in a high-yield savings account for the year and a half that she rented in Philly. The money from the condo sale also covered her closing costs, which Rossi said were close to $15,000.

Valerie Rossi and her chihuahua, Luna, in the large kitchen picture window of her Cherry Hill home. Rossi plans to build a patio and gardens in the backyard soon. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

The move: Rossi closed Jan. 9, and moved in on Jan. 24, just before the big snowstorm. Pineapple Movers handled the job in the bitter cold.

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It was negative degrees out when they were moving me, she said. Still, the move itself was smooth. They were in and out in three hours.

The painful part came the next day when she saw her new double driveway blanketed in 10 inches of snow. I was like, Oh boy, what am I gonna do with this? Rossi said. She ended up shoveling most of it herself, while a neighbor with a snowblower plowed her sidewalk.

Any reservations? Rossi knew from the start that she wanted to make changes to the house, but she regrets how quickly she tried to tackle them.

I shouldve sat for a little bit longer and prioritized things, she said, instead of rushing to do everything at once.

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She also wishes she had gotten the work done before she moved in. Living in the house while the contractors were there was very stressful, she said. There was dust everywhere and stuff everywhere. I felt like I was cleaning all the time.

The kitchen in Valerie Rossi's home. She kept the cabinets, but painted the walls, cleaned up the tile backsplash, and updated the hardware. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

Life after close: The upside of all that work right away, though, is that Rossis house already feels like hers. The contractors painted several rooms, including the family room, entryway, kitchen, and bathrooms. They also added recessed lighting in the family room, updated the entry light fixtures, replaced old switches, and swapped in matte black hardware, which Rossi loves. Everything is coming together, she said.

Up next is the backyard, but she isnt in a rush. I dont need to be making 20,000 lists, she said, laughing. I need to take a step back.

Did you recently buy a home? We want to hear about it. Email acovington@inquirer.com.
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TEHRAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday the United States has no justification to deprive Iran of its legal nuclear rights, the Iranian Students News Agency reported.

Pezeshkian said U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Iran should not exercise its nuclear rights is unreasonable, adding that Washington had not explained "what crime" Iran had committed.

He also said Iran is working to bring the conflict to an end "with dignity." 
Cork City Council is set to monitor the vehicles that pass through key points of the city each day as it seeks to improve its transport planning and climate-related analysis.

It has gone out to tender for a new contract for the monitoring solution across Cork, which will see 16 sensors across 12 locations tracking how people traverse through the city.

It includes sites at MacCurtain Street, Penrose Quay, Washington Street, and Infirmary Road, with other potential sites earmarked including the Lower Glanmire Road, Kinsale Road, and Carrigrohane Road.

The system shall provide continuous, bi-directional monitoring of multimodal categories across the designated sites, it said.

Read More New Luas Cork route unveiled with 27 stops as public consultation opens until June

CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB

This shall include detection and classification of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, measurement of bi-directional flows [and] minimum accuracy of over 95% across all detected modes.

This will include details of a vehicle such as its tax class, fuel type, and engine capacity to help track emissions. It will also integrate automatic number plate recognition data to help track the travel time between different sites.

Even though such details of vehicles are being captured, the council was clear that the contract would have to adhere to data protection laws, including anonymisation of vehicle registration numbers and no retention of identifiable personal data.

Must comply with GDPR

All components and systems must comply with GDPR and relevant Irish data legislation, it said.

No personal data, saved images or video footage shall be stored or retained.

While transport in Cork city is still heavily reliant on the private car, recent data has pointed to significant numbers of journeys taken through sustainable means.

Last month, the National Transport Authority said that walking, wheeling, and cycling in the Cork Metropolitan Area saved 13,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, which is equivalent to about 130,000 residents taking flights from Cork Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

In 2023, a UCC study suggested that road transport accounted for 29% of emissions in Cork city.

We know that transport emissions are substantive in Cork City and we also know that our car dependence rate is very high, the studys lead author Dr Marguerite Nyhan said.

It's important that we keep investing in public and zero-carbon transport modes and infrastructure. We need to ensure that our cities are walkable and have excellent cycling infrastructure.
A teenager who lost both legs in a tractor accident in West Cork last summer was among a host of young people honoured at a prestigious garda awards ceremony.

Feile OSullivan suffered catastrophic injuries in the accident in Allihies last July. Since then, she has undergone more than 60 surgeries at Crumlin children's hospital.

She is currently in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire.

She was among 17 award winners honoured at the 30th West Cork Garda Youth Awards in Kinsale, with her accident leading to an enormous public fundraising campaign that captured the hearts of people across Ireland and further afield.

She was honoured with one of four special achievement awards.

Since the accident, every report about Feile has highlighted her incredible positivity and determination," the judges said.

Read More Cork mother to walk in steps of medics who spotted rare conditions in her twins

"At just 13 years old she has shown a level of courage and resilience most adults would struggle to find.

Despite the life-altering situation she is now in, Feile is not letting the loss of her legs deter her from living her life to the full.

"While Feiles life has changed in ways few can imagine, those who know her will tell you that at her core, she hasnt changed  her spirit, her mindset, and her way of lifting those around her remain exactly the same.

Also honoured with a special achievement award was Siun de Brun from Ballineen and Kinsales Joey Hurley, who both showed incredible resilience in the face of tragedy.

Joey Hurley's Overall Award was accepted by Ger Rice, who received it from Chief Superintendent Vincent OSullivan and SuperValus Graham Smyth.

The judges' citation read: He transformed his grief into positive action, organising a major charity event, volunteering his time, and committing himself fully to supporting RNLI Kinsale.

"Joey undertook an extraordinary challenge  kayaking from the Bulman Bar to James Fort, running 10km to Charles Fort and back, before completing a final 1km crossing to the Bulman.

'Remarkable courage and resilience'

"Despite the recent loss of his beloved nana, Joey showed remarkable courage and resilience, pressing on in her honour. Joeys extraordinary fundraising of 24,800 will fund 15 additional volunteer crew members for RNLI Kinsale, directly strengthening frontline lifesaving services in our community.

Siblings Hannah and Patrick ODriscoll from Ballydehob were honoured for their volunteer work at Schull Community Hospital, where they have been visiting residents regularly for the past eight years. The visits on days including Christmas Day and St Patricks Day.

They have never sought any recognition for their visits, but its clear from the relationship that they developed with the residents that their selfless actions have truly made a difference," judges said.
Fake fundraising pages have been created following the deaths of Scarlett and Jason Faulkner in Limerick.

Aisling and Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, who is the partner of Scarlett's brother Thomas posted a video warning the public about the scams.

They said several fundraiser pages have been created using their identities on social media.

These pages are fake. The Faulkner family will be funding all their own funerals, they would never ask for any donations, they would never ask for any GoFundMe. We just want to let you know that, from Joanne and myself that there are fake pages that are being made," said Aisling Duffy, who does content creation under the name Aisling Unfiltered.

Joanne Duffy added: "It's a big family, they all have each other".

Sympathies poured in for the family of Scarlett Faulkner, after her brother, Jason Faulkner, tragically passed away on Sunday, 48 hours after her funeral was held.

Scarlett Faulkner died last Monday three weeks after she was allegedly assaulted at a roadside outside Birdhill village, north Tipperary.

A 16-year-old girl and a 40-year-old woman are before the courts charged in connection with the alleged attack on Ms Faulkner, on March 21 last.

Jason Faulkner, 30s, from Longpavement halting site, Limerick, was a pallbearer at his sisters funeral, held at St Munchins Church, last Friday.

Relatives and friends of Mr Faulkner shared messages on social media of their shock and sorrow at hearing of his death, and paid tributes to him.

Why god? Life is so cruel and shocking, Jason cousin, ur back with ur sister Scarlett, we will all love and miss yee forever, our hearts are in bits, stated one of many posts shared online.

Im lost for words, seen this boy carrying his poor sisters coffin at her funeral and now he's gone to heaven, Ive never seen sadder in my life, another post said.

Rest in peace to Banny & Marys son Jason, god help all he poor family only few days ago their daughter Scarlette died, god help ye all, said another post.
When 70-year-old Rosemary Adaser stepped back from years of campaigning for the rights of the mixed-race Irish, she believed her fight was finally over.

I was tired. I needed to step down, she said.

But retirement didnt last long. When she discovered that survivors of Irelands mother and baby institutions living in the UK could be financially penalised for accepting compensation, and risk losing vital British benefits, or having their redress treated as savings, she felt compelled to act.

I just said, no, this is not right, she said.

There are thousands of others. I thought to myself, I have to do something.

What followed was a return to campaigning, after she had set up the Association of Mixed-Race Irish (AMRI) and had worked tirelessly on its behalf for years.

Now aged 70, retirement did not last long for Rosemary Adaser: Upon learning that UK-based mother and baby home survivors could have pensions and other benefits cut due to their redress payments, she has resumed campaigning, including in Dublin on Monday. File picture

This time, she was now speaking up for 13,000 survivors of mother and baby homes across Britain, many of whom had been too afraid to apply for compensation at all. Official figures show only 770 applications have been made for the scheme in the UK, so Rosemary knew something was wrong.

There are 34,000 survivors eligible for the scheme but, between Ireland and the UK, only 7,000 have applied.

Rosemary is arriving in Dublin tomorrow, Monday, for a series of high-level meetings, just days after the UK government issued new guidance instructing local authorities not to treat Irish compensation payments as capital when assessing means-tested benefits.

The guidance applies to payments made under Irelands mother and baby institutions payment scheme and covers supports such as universal credit, housing benefit, social care, and pension credit.

Campaigners say the move offers immediate reassurance to thousands of survivors in Britain who feared losing essential financial support if they accepted compensation for the abuse they suffered in the institutions.

Rosemary, who risked losing 1,000 a month, has welcomed the development, but she remains cautious.

The move by the UK government is a win for all survivors in the UK, she said. But guidance alone is not enough if survivors are unaware of it or if it is applied inconsistently.

'Philomena's Law'

At the centre of the campaign is Philomenas Law. Tabled by Liam Conlon MP, the proposed legislation would permanently ensure compensation payments are disregarded for tax, benefits, and social care purposes.

Without it, Rosemary warns survivors remain vulnerable: Look at the low uptake and the applications made in the UK, I believe people are too scared to apply, she said.

When Irelands redress scheme opened in 2024, it was intended as recognition of the abuse suffered by women and children in mother and baby institutions. But for those living in the UK, the reality was very different.

She quickly realised that accepting compensation could cost her the very support she depends on.

If I applied for this scheme, whatever compensation I get will be treated as savings, she said.

It will be taxed first of all, and then whatever is left will be used against the benefits that I rely on to survive.

For Rosemary, who is retired and in poor health, that risk was too great.

Human rights barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Rosemary Adaser at Westminster in London. They are leading a campaign to ensure survivors of Irish mother and baby homes now living in the UK are not effectively penalised for redress paid by the Irish Government. File picture

I get housing allowance thats the only benefit I get, she said. But the compensation would be used up by the removal of my housing allowance. That is very unfair when the money in the beginning was for being abused and neglected.

The result has been widespread reluctance among survivors to engage with the scheme.

One of the most striking aspects of Rosemarys story is the contrast with her twin brother, who lives in Ireland.

My twin brother Anthony in Ireland has received his compensation in full, she said. He applied and received it in a matter of weeks. But here I am, having so much to worry about.

Rosemary Adaser aged 7 on her Communion day. File picture

The compensation scheme rolled out here  the largest of its kind at 800m  is not counted against benefits and comes with access to enhanced healthcare supports.

But in the UK, the situation has been very different and campaigners argue that this has created a two-tier system, where survivors of the same institutions are treated differently depending on where they live.

Rosemary, who was separated from her brother at six years old and put into St Josephs institution for girls in Co Kilkenny, points to the long-term impact of institutionalisation.

Those of us who were in institutions were let loose on the world semi-literate, she said. We were not able to look forward to careers or pensions.

Many survivors went into low-paid work, leaving them heavily dependent on state support in later life.

The group it predominantly affects is the retired group, she said. We dont have private pensions. We dont have a cushion.

For these survivors, compensation is not an optional extra.

'Philomena' writer, producer, and actor Steve Coogan and Philomena Lee meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2014. File picture

It would help me maintain my independence, my ability to live in my own home, she said.

But if youre on benefits, youre afraid theyll just cut you off.

Instead, survivors have been left navigating the system individually, council by council, survivor by survivor.

Her own willingness to speak publicly has been shaped by a lifetime of advocacy here in Ireland and by a determination to act for others.

Its never just me, she said. Some people cant speak out, but I am not staying quiet about this.

For years, she respected her twin brothers wish for privacy and never spoke publicly about him.

I left him out of everything, she said.

But when asked to support her campaign, he agreed to help, recognising the injustice at its core.

He said, this is simply galling.

Rosemary has been supported by leading human rights barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC who has played a key role in securing the recent guidance from the UK government.

'Philomena's Law' campaigners Rosemary Adaser, barrister and member of the British House of Lords Helena Kennedy, and barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher. File picture

Ms Gallagher described the move as an important and welcome interim step but stressed that it must be followed by legislation.

Survivors need more than interim measures, she said.

They need the certainty of a statutory guarantee.

She said Philomenas Law is essential to ensure that no survivor loses out and that any who has already been penalised are repaid.

But for many survivors like Rosemary Adaser, the issue is increasingly urgent.

Theres a time limit on this compensation, Rosemary said.

At the end of five years, you either use it or lose it. Some people have already died while waiting for protections to be put in place.

Time is ticking for all of us, she said.
President Donald Trump said that US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran, lifting hopes of extending a ceasefire set to expire this week even as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.

The prospect of talks on the horizon, which Iran did not immediately confirm, came as ships remain unable to transit the critical waterway amid threats from Iran and a US blockade on ships heading to and from Iranian ports.

Iranian officials said earlier on Sunday that they remained open to negotiation, but held firm that ships would not pass the strait while the US blockade remained in effect.

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late on Saturday.

In his post announcing official travel for another round of talks, Mr Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing at ships passing the strait and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran, if it does not take the deal that the US is offering.

Displaced people cross a destroyed bridge as they return to their villages following a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, in Tayr Felsay village, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

If they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, Mr Trump wrote.

He did not detail which officials that the US would be sending to a second round of in-person talks with Iran is Islamabad.

The White House and office of US vice president JD Vance, who led the first round of talks, did not immediately respond to messages on Sunday morning.

"...Were offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY..." - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/L4wQMJfGE6  The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 19, 2026

It remained unclear whether either side had shifted their stances on unresolved issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Irans nuclear enrichment programme, its regional proxies and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Qalibaf, who is Irans chief negotiator in talks with the US, said before Mr Trumps latest comments that Iran still was seeking peace despite the blockade and deep-seated distrust of Washington.

There will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy, he said, acknowledging that the gap between the two sides remained wide.

Tankers and bulk carriers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz (AP)

Iran had announced the straits reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But after Mr Trump said that the US blockade of Irans ports will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, Iran said it would continue enforcing its restrictions in the strait.

After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn around.

Their retreat returned the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil trade normally passes, to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict as the war entered its eighth week.

With days until the ceasefire in place between the US and Iran runs out, Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the US, and Pakistani mediators were working to arrange another round of direct negotiations in the coming days.

Pakistani authorities began tightening security in the capital, Islamabad.

A regional official involved in the mediation efforts said that mediators were finalising the preparations and that US advance security teams were already on the ground.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the preparations with the media.

(PA Graphics)

For the Islamic Republic, the straits closure  imposed after the US and Israel launched the Iran war on February 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear programme  is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Mr Trump.

For the US, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.

Though the ceasefire has held, the standoff in the strait threatens to plunge the region back into a war that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.

Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have also been killed.

Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker and a projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

Indias Foreign Ministry said it summoned Irans ambassador over the serious incident of firing on two India-flagged merchant ships, especially after Iran earlier let several India-bound ships through.

Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations, Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press, adding that the US is risking the whole ceasefire package.

Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait.

Irans deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh adjusts his glasses as he talks during an interview with the Associated Press in Turkey (Riza Ozel/AP)

The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

Since most supplies to US military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, the council said.

That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The renewed standoff over the strait came hours after Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that his country was working to bridge differences between the US and Iran.

Before Mr Trumps latest post on Sunday, Irans Supreme National Security Council said that new proposals from the US had been put forward during a visit to Iran by Pakistans army chief and were being reviewed.

Mr Khatibzadeh said that Iran will not hand over its stock of 440 kilograms of enriched uranium to the US, calling the idea a nonstarter.

Mr Khatibzadeh did not address other proposals for the enriched uranium, saying only that we are ready to address any concerns.
A gunman has killed eight children in domestic-related shootings at different homes in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The victims ranged in age from one to about 14-years-old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were people shot.

The gunman later died after a chase with officers who opened fire, Mr Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police.

Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes, which extended across three locations. Some of the children shot were related to the suspect, Mr Bordelon said.

This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen, he said.

At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

I just dont know what to say, my heart is just taken aback, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.

This is a tragic situation  maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had, said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in north-western Louisiana with about 180,000 residents.

Its a terrible morning.

Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police said no officers were harmed in the shooting following a police pursuit in to Bossier City on Sunday morning.

State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Donald Trump has said the US forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.

The US president, in a post on social media, said the ship was warned by a US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman to stop but it did not.

Our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom, Mr Trump wrote.

He said US marines had custody of the cargo ship, named Touska, and were seeing whats on board.

The seizure escalates a back-and-forth with Iran over traffic in the strait and comes as the US is preparing for a second round of in-person talks with Iran as a fragile ceasefire runs out in days.

Read More EU to push for jet-fuel diversification as Iran war threatens supply

Mr Trump said that US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks, lifting hopes of extending a ceasefire set to expire this week even as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a stand-off over the Strait of Hormuz.

The prospect of talks on the horizon, which Iran did not immediately confirm, came as ships remain unable to transit the critical waterway amid threats from Iran and the US blockade on ships heading to and from Iranian ports.

Iranian officials said earlier on Sunday that they remained open to negotiation but held firm that ships would not pass the strait while the US blockade remained in effect.

Displaced people cross a destroyed bridge as they return to their villages following a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, in Tayr Felsay village, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late on Saturday.

In his post announcing official travel for another round of talks, Mr Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing at ships passing the strait and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran, if it does not take the deal that the US is offering.

If they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, Mr Trump wrote.

He did not detail which officials that the US would be sending to a second round of in-person talks with Iran is Islamabad.

The White House and office of US vice president JD Vance, who led the first round of talks, did not immediately respond to messages on Sunday morning.

It remained unclear whether either side had shifted their stances on unresolved issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Irans nuclear enrichment programme, its regional proxies and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Qalibaf, who is Irans chief negotiator in talks with the US, said before Mr Trumps latest comments that Iran still was seeking peace despite the blockade and deep-seated distrust of Washington.

There will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy, he said, acknowledging that the gap between the two sides remained wide.

Iran had announced the straits reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But after Mr Trump said that the US blockade of Irans ports will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, Iran said it would continue enforcing its restrictions in the strait.

Tankers and bulk carriers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz (AP)

After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn around.

Their retreat returned the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil trade normally passes, to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict as the war entered its eighth week.

With days until the ceasefire in place between the US and Iran runs out, Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the US, and Pakistani mediators were working to arrange another round of direct negotiations in the coming days.

Pakistani authorities began tightening security in the capital, Islamabad.

A regional official involved in the mediation efforts said that mediators were finalising the preparations and that US advance security teams were already on the ground.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the preparations with the media.

(PA Graphics)

For the Islamic Republic, the straits closure  imposed after the US and Israel launched the Iran war on February 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear programme  is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Mr Trump.

For the US, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.

Though the ceasefire has held, the standoff in the strait threatens to plunge the region back into a war that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.

Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have also been killed.

Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker and a projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

Indias Foreign Ministry said it summoned Irans ambassador over the serious incident of firing on two India-flagged merchant ships, especially after Iran earlier let several India-bound ships through.

Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations, Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press, adding that the US is risking the whole ceasefire package.

Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait.

Irans deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh adjusts his glasses as he talks during an interview with the Associated Press in Turkey (Riza Ozel/AP)

The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

Since most supplies to US military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, the council said.

That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The renewed stan-doff over the strait came hours after Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that his country was working to bridge differences between the US and Iran.

Before Mr Trumps latest post on Sunday, Irans Supreme National Security Council said that new proposals from the US had been put forward during a visit to Iran by Pakistans army chief and were being reviewed.

Mr Khatibzadeh said that Iran will not hand over its stock of 440 kilograms of enriched uranium to the US, calling the idea a nonstarter.

Mr Khatibzadeh did not address other proposals for the enriched uranium, saying only that we are ready to address any concerns.
RAMALLAH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Industry Minister Arafat Asfour said on Sunday that Israeli authorities are preventing food products from the West Bank from entering East Jerusalem, warning of reciprocal measures if the situation is not resolved soon.

Asfour told the official Voice of Palestine radio station that Israel recently began blocking daily products, processed meats, and their derivatives from entering East Jerusalem.

He argued that Palestinian companies have the right to bring their products into East Jerusalem as part of the Palestinian territories, under the Paris Economic Agreement signed in 1994 between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel to regulate bilateral economic relations.

Asfour called the Israeli measure "politically motivated", claiming it demands entry approval under the guise of exports, which would imply Palestinian recognition of Israeli control over East Jerusalem.

He accused Israel of "manipulating the economic aspect" to strangle Palestinian companies and gain leverage.

Asfour noted that the Palestinian government is working with local and international bodies to counter the measure, but threatened retaliation, saying, "We will respond in kind by preventing Israeli products from entering Palestinian markets."

He expressed hope for a quick resolution, adding, "We do not want to engage in a trade war, as it would result in significant losses. However, if Palestinian manufacturers are forced to enter into such a conflict, they will proceed accordingly."

No official Israeli comment has been issued on the matter.

The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, while Israel insists on considering a unified Jerusalem its capital. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, a move not recognized by the international community. 
( Middle East Monitor )  Open conflict with the President of the United States was not something Pope Leo XIV expected when his Apostolic Journey took him to the largest country in Africa. The leader of some 1.4 billion Roman Catholics was in Algeria last week, following in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, his spiritual mentor, who was born there in the 4th Century AD.

Pope Leo was first received in the capital city of Algiers, at the Martyrs Memorial, where he paid tribute to the 1.5 million victims of the countrys eight-year war of independence from France, which ended in 1962. The Pope then visited the Algiers Grand Mosque  the third largest in the world after the ones in Mecca and Medina.

On April 14, there was a papal mass in Annaba, the northeastern port city which was called Hippone when Augustine wrote his most significant theological works. Celebrants packed Annabas magnificent Basilica of Saint Augustine  a building as revered by pilgrims from Algerias 48-million-strong Muslim population as it is by the 10,000 Catholics who live there.

As someone who spent many tranquil hours inside the Arab-Byzantine edifice as a child in my parents home city, I was among those looking forward to the Popes visit concentrating on interfaith dialogue and cooperation between people of all backgrounds.

Instead, Pope Leo was forced to respond to a fierce attack by President Donald Trump over America and Israels devastating war against Iran. It should not be necessary to reference any pontiff as a man of peace, but Trump is weak on facts, and was outraged that his military adventure was not being supported by the Vatican which  according to Trump  should stop catering to the Radical Left.

Catholicism is rooted in love and reconciliation, and the Chicago-born Pope pointed out that an Iran campaign which started off with the killing of some 100 school girls by an American Tomahawk missile in late February did not display an understanding of what the message of the Gospel is. The Pope called for an end to hostilities and to the continuous violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies.

In this sense, it was not just Trumps support for quasi-imperialism and contempt for legality that Pope Leo highlighted, but his sheer stupidity. In contrast to leaders who have helped forge great civilisations over the centuries, the convicted criminal is a divisive clown with next to no understanding of the ancient values that bind decent people.

Trumps latest catastrophic failing  the war in Iran  has seen him manipulated by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an indicted war criminal suspect accused of never-ending murderous attacks on civilians across the Middle East, including the Gaza genocide, and in Lebanon and Syria. In the words of Joe Kent, the director of Americas national counter-terrorism centre, who resigned in opposition to the Iran conflict : It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

Netanyahu has been claiming an imminent threat from Iran for the past three decades, and has always wanted to pulverise the country, with the help of the USA. His close friend Trump, the incumbent military chief of the worlds only superpower, was a monumentally useful idiot in pursuing such a reckless objective.

Sure enough, the death and destruction are multiplying, and the conflict is spreading, along with chronic damage to the global economy, as other countries protest against the folly. There is no sign of the reactionary Ayatollah regime in Iran crumbling. On the contrary, it appears to be becoming more ruthless, as it fights back.

In turn, it is Netanyahu who is acting like some kind of demonic guru as he accuses European countries of being afflicted by deep moral weakness because they oppose his non-stop warmongering.

Netanyahu added: Europe is losing control of its identity, of its values, of its responsibility to defend civilisation against barbarism.

This from the leader of an Israel that uses billions of dollars-worth of American weapons to constantly attack multiple neighbours. It slaughters with impunity, while refusing to own up to its own stockpile of nuclear warheads, because this would technically open it up to inspections and sanctions. Meanwhile, Israelis further continue to illegally occupy land belonging to other people, as heavily armed settlers move in to Palestinian territory with their armys support.

That Netanyahu should use the word barbarism as part of his decrepit propaganda is of particular significance to Algerians, a people who were regularly portrayed as savages by colonial invaders. France used a vast arsenal of genocidal weapons, including gas chambers and napalm, to ethnically cleanse territories before its defeat by Algerian nationalists. All the while, Berber and Arab Muslims were treated as something less than human, who could be exterminated in the interest of French security.

Words such as terrorists were deployed to describe those showing dissent against the invaders, while those who opted to stay in their own homes, and who were killed anyway, were conveniently branded human shields. Such cynical jargon remains as popular as ever with the Israelis, who need to try to justify the extermination of human life, including tens of thousands of children.

There is of course a notion of a just war in the teachings of all the three great Abrahamic religions  Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It was Saint Augustine himself who invented the first Catholic one, but none would apply to what Netanyahu and his oafish American lackeys are doing. Instead, Pope Leo has referred to a delusion of omnipotence that has manifested itself in Trump posting an image of himself apparently looking like Jesus, and Netanyahu acting like a manic preacher.



Papal Inauguration Mass in Vatican City, the Holy See, May 18, 2025. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett). Public Domain. Via Picryl

After his visit to Algeria, the Pope also posted the words: Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.

There was no specific reference to Trump and Netanyahu by this time, but there is no doubt that both warmongers exemplify the most abhorrent recesses of the human psyche, and it is not just learned theologians who condemn the evil they are spreading around the world.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

Via Middle East Monitor
By Meighen McCrae, Australian National University

(The Conversation)  The Iran war reminds us small strategic moves can mushroom into expanding military commitments. The United States decided to blockade Iranian ports by controlling access to and from the vital Strait of Hormuz, as a response to Irans asserting control over it  which it had long threatened to do if attacked.

In its list of conditions to end the war, Iran is for the first time demanding recognition of its sovereignty over the waterway  considered the worlds most critical energy corridor. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds key maritime choke points: strategic corridors where large volumes of global trade pass through extremely limited space.

A heavy price has often been paid for assuming this type of operation will be over quickly and easily.

Americas allies might wisely consider this history now  particularly as the April 25 anniversary of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, which aimed to open the way to the Black Sea during World War I, approaches.

Gallipoli was about controlling sea routes

By early 1915, Europes most powerful states  including Britain and its empire  had been at war for months, with no end in sight. Keeping Britain and Frances ally, Russia, in the fight meant delivering it a steady stream of munitions and other critical war materials.

The only realistic route lay through the Ottoman (Turkish) controlled Dardanelles, the straits linking the Mediterranean and Black Seas, between the peninsula of Gallipoli and Asia minor. And since the Ottoman Empire was already at war with Britain, France and Russia, this would necessitate Allied forces attempting to destroy Turkish resistance to force a way through.

After months of discussion, the Allies settled on a purely naval operation: no need for army support. It was mostly the brainchild of Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty.

If the cream of the Royal Navy needed to stay in home waters to contain the threat of a powerful German navy in the North Sea, obsolescent warships could carry the day. This side show, the Allies concluded, could be called off at any time.

Other leading government ministers and admirals, including the prime minister and secretary of state for war, supported Churchills plan  or appeared to. Privately, some had deep reservations.

Why did it fail?

When sailing in open water, naval forces are safe from most land-based weapons. However, when they are constrained in limited waters, such as maritime choke points, they become extremely vulnerable to attack from land (as well as from sea mines). An expensive warship can be damaged or destroyed by much cheaper land-based artillery.

British decision-makers underestimated Turkish defences and ignored disagreeable intelligence. With the outbreak of World War I, Turkish forces had set about reinforcing heavy artillery on both shores of the straits and laid mines in the waters.

When the Anglo-French fleet attempted to clear a path with minesweepers, the Turkish batteries rained fire on them, driving them off. Then, when the old battleships advanced to knock the guns out, they too came under artillery fire and rapidly fell prey to unswept sea mines, losing nearly one third of the armada.

As historian Jorn Leonhard wrote, With just one minelayer, the Turkish navy had successfully sealed the mouth of the Dardanelles.

Things got much worse. With British prestige now at stake, the Allies escalated their efforts. On April 25 1915, Allied (including Anzac) ground troops intervened in an attempt to finally crush the coastal defences.

As historian John H. Morrow Jr insightfully describes:

There they would remain for the next eight months, through bloody attacks and counter-attacks, as both sides launched ferocious and suicidal assaults against each other. The troops now mown down by shell or machine-gun and rifle fire fell in frenzied hand-to-hand combat, as men bit, punched, bludgeoned, and stabbed each other to death, all to no avail.

Though outnumbered, Turkish forces held superior positions and proved a formidable opponent. There were roughly 483,000 Allied and Turkish military casualties. The Allies were forced to withdraw.

4 lessons of Gallipoli

1. Beware of the allure of the dominant personality. Complex strategic decisions require broad consultation and a base in evidence that considers all crucial factors. Of course they should have known better at Gallipoli. But those decisions were considerably more thought out than the strategy employed so far in the US attack on Iran, which has been labelled by some as erratic.

2. Dont fall unto the trap of underestimating your enemy. Gunboat diplomacy (showing up and militarily threatening a weaker adversary) did not work in 1915 and so far it is not working in 2026. It is possible that US president Donald Trump was seduced by the ease of US military actions against Venezuela. But Washington has significantly underestimated Tehrans resolve and strategic position.

3. Mission creep: Once initial resources prove inadequate, powerful states are likely to scale up, not scale down, their efforts  the definition of the dreaded mission creep.

4. War is costly in terms of human life. This is a point often forgotten when calculating for a perceived easy win. Gallipoli led to horrific military casualties. The current war has left mostly civilian casualties. And if the conflict escalates, even if ostensibly at sea to control merchant shipping, further civilian casualties will occur.

Furthermore, we are yet to comprehend the scale of the harm being caused due to the wider economic costs of disrupting crucial energy and fertiliser supplies, not least to disadvantaged areas of the world.



Gallipoli Peninsula, Ottoman Empire, 1915, Catalogue reference: WO 317/1 (30). This image is part of the War Office photographic collection held at The National Archives. Public Domain. Via Picryl

Australians have options in the Iran war

Naval forces at maritime choke points are more vulnerable than ever. The proliferation of cheap, land-based systems such as drones and missiles means traditionally much weaker states  and even non-state actors  can effectively contest seaways against the most costly, sophisticated militaries.

We should be as critical of the current Iran war as we are of the Gallipoli campaign today. It is unlikely to be solved quickly, and not at all by military means alone.

The difference between 1915 and 2026 is that Australia is no longer automatically drawn in by the interests of others. Now, a sovereign Australia has the right to make its own decisions.

Correction: the original version of this article stated that Anzac ground troops first intervened at Gallipoli in 1916, but it was 1915. The article has been updated to reflect this.

Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Iran offered to open the Strait of Hormuz on Friday for the duration of the ceasefire negotiated with the U.S.

The Supreme National Security Council explained its reasoning on Saturday: it was decided that if the enemy observed the ceasefire on all fronts, the Strait of Hormuz would be temporarily and conditionally opened until the end of the ceasefire period, but only for the passage of commercial ships. The Strait would continue to be under the control of the Iranian armed forces, it said, and ships would move with their permission and via a route determined by Iran. Military vessels, and civilian vessels of belligerents would be excluded.

Then President Donald Trump shot his mouth off on social media and announced that even though the Iranians might be opening the Strait, the US would continue to blockade Iranian ships and ships coming from Iranian ports.

That post of Trumps did not go over well in Tehran, to say the least.

In response, Irans Supreme National Security Council announced measures to make sure that no military resupply vessels could make their way to the U.S. bases in the Gulf. Moreover, they seemed to raise the question of whether they would let any vessels through the Strait while negotiations are continuing:

As long as the enemy intends to disrupt the passage of vessels and to engage in tactics such as a naval blockade, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers it to constitute a violation of the ceasefire and will prevent any such conditional and limited opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Two merchant vessels heading from the Gulf toward the Strait came under fire from Iranian gunboats, and so turned around. When other crews heard about this incident, they also turned around, including an India-flagged oil supertanker carrying Iraqi petroleum, according to The Times of India. Another Indian tanker and Greek tankers also reversed course and are anchored off Qeshm island until they can clarify the situation.

On the other hand, the SNSC seems to have envisioned that such civilian vessels would be allowed to transit if they fully cooperated with the Iranian authorities and paid the $2 million toll Iran is now demanding, and so would permit passage upon

receiving complete information from passing vessels, issuing a certificate of passage in accordance with the announced regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, commensurate with war conditions, and paying the costs related to security, safety, and environmental protection services and on the routes announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I am wondering if the merchant ships were trying to sneak out of the Gulf without providing this information to Iran or without paying any tolls, and so got fired on.



File photo of container ship by George Bek: https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-photo-of-a-cargo-ship-sailing-in-ocean-18597927/

As for the Indian tankers, they may be overreacting to the incident, since Iran claims it has been permitting Indian vessels free passage and has not even been charging them tolls.

That is, Iran may not be trying to close the Strait strictly or to everyone, even now.

On a more hopeful note, the SNSC did acknowledge continued mediation efforts by Pakistani Field Marshall Asim Munir, who is in Tehran and said that new proposals have been put forward by the Americans, which the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently examining and to which it has not yet responded.

At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Said Khatibzadeh insisted that Iran would reject any settlement involving a further temporary ceasefire. Tehran wants a permanent solution.

The ongoing crisis could cost Europeans $100 billion because of high gasoline and diesel prices. Asia is also hurting, and there could be a bidding war between Asia and Europe over scarce petroleum and gas. The blockade also affects fertilizer and so grocery costs, the ability to produce computer chips, which require helium for cooling, and the availability of sulfur for mining and refining metals such as copper.






Saturday, April 18, 2026 - Drama has erupted on social media after an upcoming Kisumu-based deejay publicly accused his close friend of betrayal over an alleged affair involving his lover identified as Nyar Saddy.

In an emotional post that has since gone viral, the deejay narrated how a series of red flags led him to suspect foul play.

He claimed that the woman had earlier reported to him that his friend was making advances towards her, only for the two to later be spotted together at a club.

The situation escalated further when the same woman allegedly attempted to deceive him by claiming she was pregnant, a move he believes was meant to manipulate him into staying in the relationship.

Frustrated and hurt, the deejay did not hold back, calling out both his friend and the woman publicly while declaring that he had lost all the respect he once had for them.

He went on to sarcastically suggest that the two should just be together, insisting that he has all the proof of their alleged affair.

The woman at the centre of the scandal is involved with Ben 10s and is said to have a preference for deejays.

See her photos below.













The disgruntled Ben 10 who claims his best friend has snatched his mumama.



The disgruntled Ben 10 who claims his best friend has snatched his mumama.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
TRIPOLI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Red Crescent said Sunday that four undocumented migrants were rescued and six bodies recovered after a rubber boat capsized off the coast of the eastern city of Tobruk following an urgent distress call.

The group said search operations were continuing for additional missing people. It did not immediately provide details on the migrants' nationalities or how many had been on board.

Libya is a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East and seeking to reach Europe by sea. The country's long Mediterranean coastline has seen repeated shipwrecks in recent years, often involving overcrowded and unseaworthy boats operated by smugglers.

The International Organization for Migration said last week that 27,116 migrants had been intercepted and returned to Libya so far in 2025. It added that 1,314 migrants were killed or reported missing along the central Mediterranean route during the same period, one of the world's deadliest migration corridors. 






Saturday, April 18, 2026 - An army officer has shared an emotional account of his final interaction with KDF Captain Edwin Kaunga, who is accused of fatally stabbing his wife in a tragic incident in Nakuru.

Taking to his Facebook account, the officer expressed shock and disbelief, revealing that he had spoken to Kaunga just a week earlier while discussing a business deal.

He said he never imagined that their last conversation would precede such a devastating turn of events.

Edwin why this? We spoke just last week over a business deal. Why didnt you speak up? Why carry such heavy burdens alone when you had a shoulder to lean on? he lamented.

The officer described the incident as a painful reminder that silence can often mask deep emotional and psychological struggles, even among disciplined professionals in uniform.

He noted that colleagues, friends, and fellow servicemen must learn to check on each other beyond formal duties and ranks.

He further called on men to speak up when overwhelmed and seek help instead of suffering in silence.

Check out the officers emotional post

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, April 18, 2026 - There was a brief security scare during President William Rutos visit to Mandera after a loud blast interrupted an event.

In a video shared online, Ruto is seen quickly rising from his seat as Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale addressed the crowd, momentarily catching his security detail off guard.

His bodyguards quickly reassured him that everything was under control, after which he returned to his seat smiling, and the event proceeded without further disruption.

Reports indicate that the blast was caused by a tyre burst.

Watch the video>>> below

Insecurity is so high in Mandera,look at how Rais woke up mbio aliposikiiii "kuuu" hahahaha incompetence will affect all of us be it uko na pawa ama hauna pic.twitter.com/UMQFC8rpDm  Mary Njoroge (@Maryian96) April 18, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, April 18, 2026 - A netizen has sounded the alarm over a suspected gang in Eldoret accused of using drugs to incapacitate victims before robbing them.

In a post shared online, a concerned resident circulated photos of two alleged members - a man and a woman said to be of Indian origin - urging the public to spread the images for awareness.

Reports claim the group uses a substance popularly referred to as the devils breath.

Victims are allegedly sprayed with the drug, which disorients them, causes memory loss, and leaves them vulnerable to handing over cash and valuables without resistance.

The warning has sparked concern among locals, with calls for vigilance and swift action to curb the menace.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
PUNCHESTOWN Charity Race organiser James Nolan from Kilcullen has urged people to speak with their families about their wishes on organ donation, saying it is vital that loved ones know what to do should in the event of something happening to them.

It is so much easier if your family knows what your wishes are regarding organ donation, should anything happen to you, he said, emphasising that the central message behind the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund (PKRF) race is captured in its title: Have the conversation  say YES to Organ Donation.

He was speaking following the PKRF annual visit to the Varty Renal Unit at Tallaght University Hospital, participants in the upcoming race  the 35th  on Saturday 2 May, during the famous Kildare racing Festival.

Four of this years race jockeys  Alice Murphy, Kate OLeary, Lydia Dodds and Cormac McEvoy  took part in the visit, where they saw firsthand the challenges faced by kidney patients undergoing dialysis. Other Kilcullen people with James and Emma Nolan, included Sandra Wixtead, Owen Farrell and Nicky Egan.

All the visitors were simply blown away with the trip to the Dialysis Unit, James Nolan said. It gave them a great understanding of the hardship and the challenges that face kidney patients on a daily basis.

He added that a common theme among those on dialysis was their desire to receive a life-saving kidney transplant, which would allow them to return to a normal life and free them from having to attend hospital three times a week for treatment.

To date, the PKRF Charity Race has raised over 2 million, funding a range of projects aimed at improving the quality of life for dialysis patients and maximising the lifespan of those fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant.

James Nolan said that continuing to raise awareness about organ donation  and encouraging families to talk about it  remains at the heart of the races mission.

James is also the recipient of a donated kidney from his sister Catherine in 1987 and has devoted much of his spare time since promoting and encouraging organ donations. After founding the race, he took part in it 13 times, winning it in 2002.
When Brian Hayes walks into a government meeting, he is not there as an observer. He is there to make sure people with intellectual disabilities are heard at the highest levels of decision making.

Brian, Chair of the National Platform of Self-Advocates, has recently been appointed to lead the Disabled Persons Organisations (DPO) Group under the Department of Children, Equality and Disability.

The ground is designed to give organisations run by disabled people a direct and ongoing role in shaping national policy.

In his work, Brian has already been part of high-level discussions with senior decision-makers, including attending meetings with the Taoiseach and Government Ministers, where he brings forward the lived experience of people with intellectual disabilities.

For Brian, the appointment is part of a bigger mission. What we are working for is justice, not charity, he said.

SEE ALSO: 'I'll never forget when I did my first dive' - Proud member of Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club - Kilkenny Live

The National Platform of Self-Advocates is Irelands only national organisation run by and for people with intellectual disabilities. Its members speak for themselves, rather than relying on professionals or service providers to represent their views.

Over more than a decade as Chair, Brian has helped grow the organisation from a small grassroots movement into a national body with over 1,000 members.

In that time, he has brought their experiences into key policy discussions, including work with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and contributions to government consultations on personalised budgets and employment supports.

He has also played a role in shaping Irelands newly published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (2025-2030), working directly with officials to ensure the voices of people with intellectual disabilities were reflected in the final document.

His new role chairing the DPO Group marks a significant step forward for the wider disability rights movement. Unlike one-off consultations, the group is intended to provide a structured and ongoing channel between the Government and Disabled Persons Organisations.

That work often happens behind closed doors, in long meetings and detailed policy discussions. But Brian believes it is essential, commenting: People need someone in those rooms who understands their lives from the inside.

As Ireland continues to reform its approach to disability services, the shift from charity-based models to rights-based policy remains a central issue. For Brian and the National Platform, the goal is clear: a system in which people with intellectual disabilities are recognised not as recipients of care but as full citizens with equal rights.

And with a seat at the table, including at the highest levels of Government, he intends to make that case heard.

Lar Power, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council stated: Brians appointment is a testament to his leadership and lived experience, and we are extremely proud to have him as part of the Kilkenny County Council team. His work represents the very best of public service.

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Article funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
New figures show St Lukes Emergency Department recorded approximately 13,589 attendances for every Emergency Medical Consultant, despite international guidance recommending one consultant per 3,600  4,000 patients.

Senator Patricia Stephenson has called on the HSE to urgently address the consultant staffing shortfalls at St Lukes Hospital, warning current levels fall well short of international best practice and risk undermining patient care across Carlow-Kilkenny.

New figures show St Lukes Emergency Department recorded approximately 13,589 attendances for every Emergency Medical Consultant, despite international guidance recommending one consultant per 3,600  4,000 patients.

READ NEXT: Improvement scheme opens on key Kilkenny route to boost capacity and allow safe overtaking

Senator Patricia Stephenson has called on the HSE to urgently address the consultant staffing shortfalls at St Lukes Hospital, warning current levels fall well short of international best practice and risk undermining patient care across Carlow-Kilkenny.

Emergency Departments are the frontline of our health service, and they must be properly resourced, said Senator Stephenson.

The level of consultant staffing at St Lukes does not reflect the volume of patients being seen. This raises serious concerns about patient safety, staff burnout, and the overall sustainability of services.

CLICK HERE FOR KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS

Shockingly, St Lukes ranks as the third lowest hospital in the country for the Emergency Consultant to patient ratio. Given the large catchment area of St Lukes across the Southeast and Midlands this is very concerning.

Ive written to the HSE to ask how they intend to bring staffing at St Lukes in line with best practice. Patients and staff alike deserve confidence that the hospital is adequately resourced to meet demand.

Senator Stephenson also highlighted that the issue extends beyond Emergency Medicine, noting broader consultant vacancies across the hospital.

St Lukes plays a critical role in serving communities across Carlow and Kilkenny and the wider region, the senator said.

However, gaps exist across multiple consultant specialties, including cardiology, dermatology, rheumatology, neurology, and respiratory medicine. These shortages place additional pressure on already stretched staff and impact waiting times and patient outcomes.

Senator Stephenson concluded by emphasising the need for urgent and co-ordinated action.

This is not simply a workforce issue  it is about ensuring safe, timely, and high-quality care for people across the region. The HSE must act decisively to address these shortages.
A humanoid robot took on the challenge of bamboo pole dancing in south China's Guangxi, to welcome the "Sanyuesan," a traditional festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month by various ethnic groups in China, which falls on April 19 this year. #SanyuesanFestival #robot #BambooPoleDance
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BUDAPEST, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Peter Magyar, leader of Hungary's Tisza Party, hailed the near-final result of the 2026 parliamentary election in a Facebook post on Saturday, calling it "an unprecedented majority" and "an unprecedented mandate," while also describing it as "a great responsibility."

His post came after the National Election Office counted 99.99 percent of the votes. According to the near-final results, the Tisza Party received 53.18 percent of the vote and won 141 of the 199 seats in parliament.

The ruling coalition of Fidesz and the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, received 38.60 percent of the vote, securing 52 seats. The far-right Our Homeland Movement received 5.63 percent, representing six seats.

According to Hungary's leading local news portal Telex, some mail-in ballots are still being processed, but they are not expected to significantly affect the final results. 
JOHANNESBURG, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China's zero-tariff treatment for products from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing is expected to significantly expand market access for African exports and inject fresh momentum into Africa-China trade cooperation, a Johannesburg-based legal researcher has said.

"The removal of tariffs is expected to unlock growth across key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing, among others," Nkanyiso Ngqulunga told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Noting that China's expanding economic footprint is increasingly shaping global trade dynamics, he said African countries are seeking to better position themselves to benefit from access to China's growing market.

Agricultural exports, the researcher said, are likely to benefit first, such as citrus fruits, rooibos tea, and table grapes, which have seen rising demand among Chinese consumers.

"The initiative is expected to significantly enhance the competitiveness of these products in the Chinese market," he added.

Beyond agriculture, the new trade framework is also expected to support high-growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, in line with South Africa's broader strategy to diversify its export base beyond raw materials, he said.

"The arrangement could serve as a catalyst for technological advancement and industrialization in South Africa," Ngqulunga said, noting that stronger participation in global supply chains could enhance economic resilience and drive innovation.

Set to take effect on May 1, the zero-tariff policy forms part of China's broader efforts to strengthen economic cooperation with Africa and promote mutual development in an evolving global trade landscape, he said, adding that it aims to expand bilateral trade, facilitate two-way investment, and provide preferential access for African exports.

Noting that the initiative underscores China's commitment to multilateral trade and South-South cooperation, he said it offers African economies improved access to one of the world's largest consumer markets and supports long-term development goals.

"The zero-tariff framework offers a real opportunity for South Africa and other African economies to expand exports and diversify their trade portfolios," said Ngqulunga. 
Sean McCarthaigh

The vast majority of people living in Ireland regard tourism as a force for good, although three-quarters of them claim they have also felt negative impacts from local tourism activity.

New research commissioned by Failte Ireland shows public sentiment towards tourism remains strong, with 9 in 10 residents believing tourism is good for the country.

However, 76 per cent also said they had experienced some negative impacts from tourism in their own area  up two percentage points from a similar study in 2024.

The Residents Attitudes Towards Tourism report surveyed the views of over 3,800 adults living in the Republic last year.

It found that 32 per cent claimed tourists contributed to more litter and waste, with 29 per cent believing their journey times took longer because tourists added to traffic congestion.

According to the survey, 26 per cent also felt tourists were partially responsible for why they had greater difficulty in finding parking spaces, while 24 per cent linked higher daily living costs to tourism activity.

It also showed that 18 per cent believed tourists contributed to the problem of noise pollution, while 13 per cent felt the presence of tourists led to a reduced sense of personal safety.

Almost half of the respondents (47 per cent) said not enough action was being taken to address such issues.

At the same time, not all impacts were experienced equally as younger adults are more likely to think that tourists put pressure on both Ireland and their local area than older age groups.

Overall, a quarter of respondents claimed overseas tourists are putting too much pressure on their own area. One in five adults also have similar perceptions about the impact of domestic holidaymakers.

The report showed that Irish adults overwhelmingly acknowledge the positive impact that tourism has on the economy, Irish culture and heritage as well as on the broader social well-being of communities.

The survey highlighted that 88 per cent of people say they have personally benefited from tourism activity, mostly through employment opportunities and support for local businesses.

Other positive aspects of tourism cited by respondents included opportunities to participate in festivals and cultural events, a greater appreciation of natural and built environments and increased exposure to different cultures.

However, attitudes towards the environmental impact of tourism are more subdued, with only 55 per cent believing it has a positive effect on Irelands natural environment, while 13 per cent regard it as harmful.

Six out of 10 Irish people said they would like to be involved in local tourism development, with interest strongest among 18-29 year olds.

Areas of focus for tourism recommended by the survey were improvements to infrastructure, more local employment and more off-peak season tourism.

Failte Ireland said the findings underlined the need to balance tourism growth with community wellbeing.

Sustainable tourism relies on natural and public resources, shared infrastructure as well as communities positive predisposition to welcoming tourists in their area, said Failte Ireland.

It added: As tourism grows, it is important to engage with host communities about development plans and understand how tourism can benefit the local community, ensuring the destination is managed for local needs, before those of tourists.
WHEN a 19-year-old man was asked by gardai why he had, allegedly, produced an axe during a dispute, he informed them: I only done that because he stabbed my mother. Thats what Det Garda Sgt Martin OConnell informed Portlaoise District Court when Ashton OShea, 58 Hillview Drive, Knockmay, Portlaoise appeared before it charged with the production of an article during a dispute on 4 December at Heather Lane, Esker Hill, Portlaoise.

He was also summonsed with assault on 30 November at Laois Shopping Centre.

Det Sgt OConnell said the director of public prosecutions has directed that the case proceed by way of summary (district court level) on a guilty plea only and with the consent of the presiding judge.

Asked to outline the allegations in the case before whether to accept jurisdiction, Det Sgt OConnell said that at 7.10pm on 4 December that, during a dispute, Mr OShea, allegedly, produced an axe following a claim by him that his mother had been, allegedly, assaulted. He said part of the incident was captured on CCTV footage.

Regarding the alleged assault in the shopping centre, Judge Fay adjourned that case to 11 May.

She went on to ask to view the CCTV footage of the alleged incident at Esker Hills, which was shown to the court.

Judge Fay said she was not inclined to accept jurisdiction in the case.

However, before making a final decision on the matter, Mr OSheas solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked her to take into consideration the age of her client. She said the alleged incident arose from a provocation and there were no injuries. She said that the alleged incident was borderline on whether it should be sent to a higher court.

Judge Fay said that she was not accepting jurisdiction and remanded Mr OShea on his own bail to the 8 June sitting of the court for the service of a book of evidence and on condition that the defendant makes no contact by any means with Lorcan OBrien.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
POPE Leo X1V has almost reached the first year of his papacy. I suggest this has been a remarkable year, in his witness for Jesus Christ and in his gentle yet fearless concern for the people of God throughout the world. Leo is very much his own man, fuelled with a deep spirituality and keen intellect. Climate change, immigrants, war and inequality are major themes he has addressed with sincerity and deep faith. There's something about Leo I find deeply inspirational. Here in the West, there is a gentle but significant renewal of faith. In the parched lands of secularism, wellsprings of new Christian movements are emerging as green shoots. Leo, like his predecessors, errs on the side of compassion, tolerance and inclusion. He is universally seen as one of the most significant world leaders. Being the first American pope, he is a wonderful ambassador for his own native country in a time when many question the moral leadership of its current president.

Pope Leos ministry is fuelled with deep discernment and prayer. Two qualities stand out: calmness and confidence. The calmness seems to come from his overwhelming belief that most problems are less intractable the more people can really listen to one another (its a conviction that dove-tails nicely with the importance of listening to others, which is at the very core of the synodal approach as the best and only way being Church developed by pope Francis). Before debate or discussion or discerning solutions, he suggests, we need to listen, really listen by giving others our full and undivided attention.

From the very beginning, pope Leo has named peace as a fundamental priority for his ministry. When cardinal Prevost emerged as Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of St Peters and spoke in English, Italian and Spanish, first, slightly faltering words as if the emotion of the occasion was in danger of overwhelming him, then extraordinarily confident words to the massed thousands in St Peters Square and to the billions around the world. His first words to the crowd gathered in St Peters Square were words of peace directed to all the world:

Peace be with you all. Beloved brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who has given his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you.

President Trump has, oddly, accused pope Leo XIV of being political, as if the Vicar of Christ were a mayor or a governor. Here's someone else who would probably be criticised for being too lenient with criminals, even promising one a place a heaven: One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying: Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us. But the other rebuked him, saying: Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we, indeed, have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. He replied: Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23).

Pope Leo XIV has been vocal in recent weeks about the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, calling for peace, an off-ramp to end the war, and criticising certain rhetoric (including Trumps past comments suggesting a whole civilisation will die if Iran didnt comply). He has also previously questioned aspects of the Trump administrations immigration policies. President Trump posted a lengthy critique on Truth Social, calling pope Leo WEAK on Crime, terrible for foreign policy  a very liberal person who should stop catering to the radical left Not doing a very good job as pope. Trump shared publicly that he is not a big fan of the pontiff and suggested pope Leo should get his act together. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria (starting a ten-day trip to Africa), Pope Leo XIV pushed back calmly but firmly. I have no fear of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for. He emphasised that the Church is not political and focuses on peace-making (Blessed are the peacemakers), bridge-building, reconciliation and avoiding war where possible. The pope said he had no intention of entering a direct debate with Trump but would continue advocating for peace rooted in the Gospel. The tone from the Vatican side has been measured, framing the comments as a defence of core Christian teachings rather than a personal or political attack.

The exchange has drawn widespread media coverage, with some commentators noting it risks alienating Catholic conservatives or highlighting tensions over foreign policy (Iran), immigration and the role of religion in public life. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni (a Trump ally and Catholic) reportedly called Trumps remarks unacceptable. Trump refused to apologise, reiterating that the pope had said things that were wrong and defending US actions regarding Irans nuclear ambitions. This is an unusual high-profile clash between a sitting US president and the pope, amplified by the fact that Leo is American born. It stems primarily from differing views on the Iran conflict and broader issues like immigration, with both sides framing their positions in strong terms a Trump on strength and policy results, Leo on Gospel values of peace.

We live in a turbulent world where war and conflict are everyday events. I pray that we all will be instruments of peace. That world leaders will govern in a spirit of justice building right relationships and protecting the most vulnerable. May the Lord continue to bless pope Leo with courage and conviction.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

She was beautiful and independent, with a razor-sharp intellect. Her patrician upbringing was tempered by sensitivity and tenderness.

Add exquisite taste and a fashionably understated style of dress, and she became a thief of hearts, a woman simply irresistible to a lonely widower in a foreign land, a man destined to become the third president of the United States.

The morning you left us, all was wrong, even the sunshine was provoking, with which I never quarelled before, he wrote her. I took it into my head he shone only to throw light on our loss: to present a cheerfulness not at all in unison with my mind. I mounted my horse earlier than common. I took by instinct the road you had taken.

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It was Paris, the winter of 1788, and Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and now the U.S. ambassador to France, was smitten with the formidable Angelica Schuyler Church, the already married daughter of a Revolutionary War hero.

I think I have discovered a method of preventing this dejection of mind on any future parting, he wrote her on Feb. 17, the same day she left Paris to return to London.

It is this, he explained. When you come again I will employ myself solely in finding or fancying that you have some faults. & I will draw a veil over all your good qualities, if I can find one large enough.

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(The spellings and punctuation in Jeffersons letters are as they appeared in the original.)

Angelica Church likely came closest to meeting Jeffersons feminine ideal after his beloved wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson, died in 1782, when he was only 39, said Jefferson scholar William Howard Adams.

They were quite simpatico, Adams said in an interview.

Adams devotes a chapter to Jeffersons female friends in The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson to be published in the spring of 1997 by Yale University Press. He gave Associated Press an advance look at the chapter titled, The Women in His Life.

New insights into Jeffersons relationship with Angelica come from Jefferson letters recently purchased by the University of Virginia, the school he founded.

Angelica, sister-in-law of Jeffersons bitter personal enemy, Alexander Hamilton, corresponded with many of the young countrys most prominent figures, among them Hamilton, George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. Her family kept the letters she received, but in February contacted a book dealer in Hadley, Mass., about selling them.

The dealer offered them first to the University of Virginia, which paid $275,000 for a total of 13 letters from Jefferson and 64 more from Hamilton, Washington, Lafayette and some lesser lights.

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Angelica, 13 years younger than the tall red-haired Virginian, filled a real emotional need for Jefferson, says Adams, a fellow at the International Center for Jefferson Studies in Charlottesville.

A New Yorker, she replaced the beautiful and temperamental English artist Maria Cosway as the object of Jeffersons affections while he was ambassador to France, Adams says.

Ironically, Angelica and Maria were friends and had conversations about Jefferson, he says.

At one point, Angelica gave Jefferson a handsome silver tea urn, a perfect beauty, according to the recipient. Angelica said she hoped the urn will sometime at Monticello remind you of your friend.

A small portrait of Jefferson by painter John Trumbull enthralled both women, and each obtained copies from the artist.

Angelicas note accompanying the tea urn said that although Marias copy was better, she held a better likeness of Jefferson in her heart.

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Was Jefferson in love with either of the women, both of whom were married?

There is something going on, some sort of attraction between Jefferson and Angelica, says Jan Lewis, professor of history at Rutgers University and author of The Pursuit of Happiness: Family and Values in Jeffersons Virginia.

Lewis, however, believes that Jefferson was head over heels in love with Maria, not Angelica.

He was deeply depressed for years after his wifes death. Once he got to France, he pulled out of it, she says, primarily because of Maria.

Still, Jeffersons ardor for Angelica remained undiminished for many years after their first meeting in Paris in the winter of 1787. At the time, his infatuation with the flashier but more demanding and complex Maria was waning, and they eventually lost touch.

Six months after they met, Jefferson begs Angelica to return to Paris and in August 1788 he seductively proposes that she accompany him on a vacation to America.

Think of it, my friend, and let us begin a negotiation on the subject. You shall find in me all the spirit of accommodation with which Yoric began his with the fair Piedmontese.

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The characters Jefferson mentioned are in a sexually charged scene in Sentimental Journey, a best-selling novel of the day by English writer Laurence Sterne. Yoric is forced to share a room at a crowded Italian country inn with the lovely stranger Piedmontese, and the two eventually have sex.

The unexpected allusion in Jeffersons letter remains ambiguous, his intentions disguised but hinting at other possibilities, Adams says in his book.

In an earlier letter, Jefferson also urged Angelica to return with him to America: Lets go back together then. you intend it a visit; so do I. While you are indulging with your friends on the Hudson, I will go to see if Monticello remains in the same place, or I will attend you to the falls of Niagara, if you will go with me to the passage of the Potowmac, the Natural Bridge, etc., he wrote.

Said Lewis: If you were a guy trying to make an impression on a woman [in the late 18th century] you would take her to Niagara Falls or Natural Bridge.

A decade later, Jefferson was still trying. Writing from Philadelphia after Angelica arrived in New York, the vice president of the United States pines: Tho you have taken so great a step, there is still a wide space between us. I shall entertain the hope that we may meet at this place, as on a middle ground. perhaps you may find it not unpleasant in winter to get this much nearer the sun. but whether we meet or not, I shall for ever claim an esteem which continues to be very precious to me, and hope to be, at times, indulged with the mutual expression of it.

Adams says it is impossible to know for certain if Jefferson ever had a love affair with Angelica, Maria Cosway, or other women, including Sally Hemings, a slave at Monticello rumored to have had a long-term sexual relationship with her master.

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According to a story told by slaves, Jefferson swore to his dying wife that he would never remarry, and he didnt.

But Lewis said, It seems implausible that a man who enjoyed marriage so much would have become a celibate widower.
A man who was drunk and abusive at a Laois hotel has been given the chance to engage in restorative justice with the hotel staff.

Bernard Sweeney (45) of 76 Droim Chaoin, Rahoon, Galway, was accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at the Midlands Park Hotel, Jessop Street, Portlaoise on March 24, 2026.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused was highly intoxicated and irate when Gardai were called to the hotel at 1.25am.

He was making threats and being abusive towards members of the public in the hotel, said Sgt Kirby. He said the man had 37 previous convictions but estimated that 80 percent of these were road traffic related.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client, who was pleading guilty, had not been involved in public order offences in well over 10 years.

He said the man, who is in receipt of disability, was attending a nephews wedding on the date in question. He said the man wouldnt normally drink at all but had mixed his drink with medication.

Mr Meagher said his client returned to the hotel the following day and apologised. He said the man was genuinely remorseful over the incident.

Judge Susan Fay said this hotel in Portlaoise, these people are trying to provide a service and run a business. She described the matter as disturbing and said she wanted to refer the matter for restorative justice.

READ ALSO: Elderly forced to climb steep slope near retirement village

Judge Fay said the injured party in this case were the staff and management at the hotel and he could engage with them through the restorative justice process.

They might be able to make him understand the impact that behaviour had, said Judge Fay.

She granted legal aid, ordered restorative justice and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on July 6.
A Kildare North TD has told the Dail that the north of the county is one of the hardest places in Ireland in which to get a GP.

Deputy Joe Neville (FG) was speaking when 'Ceisteanna ar Pholasai no ar Reachtaiocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation' came before the House on Wednesday, April 15 last.

Deputy Neville said: I note the Minister is here. As the House knows, there is an urgent need to address the issue of GP access across Ireland.

Last night, I spoke on the Critical Infrastructure Bill. We need to view GP care as critical infrastructure in its way and incentivise its creation and extension.

I see this in my area of Kildare North, which is one of the hardest places in Ireland in which to get a GP, where people move into the county from other areas and are stuck using the GP from those areas before they can access new ones in north Kildare.

I have met doctors in my constituency who want to extend their practices and others who want to set up new practices, but we need to make it financially feasible.

Deputy Neville called on the government to put in place a refundable tax credit in the upcoming budget to go towards set-up costs or extension costs for premises, medical equipment and digital systems to assist in setting up and extending GP services.

Responding to Deputy Neville, Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill stated that the State currently supports GP practices to the tune of approximately 1bn per year.

However, she conceded, we need more.

READ NEXT: Plans for 27m solar farm in this Kildare region

Deputy MacNeill told Deputy Neville that in his area of North Kildare  where there has been particularly concentrated population growth at quick pace - more GP practices are needed.

The Minister said she will discuss the idea of a refundable tax credit with the Tanaiste and Minister for Finance.

She added: We need to look at every creative way to expand GP care. We are trying to recruit GPs to the HSE, but the State and private GP practices have a direct relationship - an important symbiosis - and we need to look at every lever we can use to increase GP capacity, either by extending or setting up new practices.

I will discuss the Deputy's suggestion of a refundable tax credit with the Tanaiste and Minister for Finance for the upcoming budget.
MADRID, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Spain will submit a proposal to the European Union (EU) on Tuesday to terminate its Association Agreement with Israel, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday, adding that "those who violate international law and the principles and values of the European Union cannot be partners of the EU."

Sanchez made the remarks at a campaign rally in Gibraleon, in the southern province of Huelva, ahead of regional elections in Andalusia.

"We will do so not because we have anything against the Israeli people, on the contrary, we are a people who are friends of the Israeli people, but because we do not agree with the actions being carried out by its government," he added.

At the campaign event, he also reiterated Spain's opposition to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, describing it as a major mistake.

Spain has in recent months adopted a more assertive stance on Middle East issues, calling for greater adherence to international law and multilateral principles in EU's external relations.

The Association Agreement has been in force since 2000 to provide the legal basis for the EU's trade relationship with Israel. 
The rising number of notices of termination in Leitrim and surrounding areas was discussed in the Seanad this week with young mothers and families in Leitrim among those who have been served notices.

Speaking in the Seanad, Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove said she believes that homelessness has become normalised. "We know that the biggest cause of homelessness is people being evicted from private rental, and we can see as a direct result of the residential tenancies Bill that 43% of homeless figures are made up of people who have been given notices to quit."

She said that this week, on the train to Dublin, she was approached by a young mother from Leitrim who works in a Government Department. "She has been issued with a notice of termination from a landlord whom she rented from for five years. The week before it was a family who have been in long-term rental through the local authority and the landlord decided to sell. The week before that it was a single woman who successfully maintained a tenancy for 14 years."

READ MORE: Leitrim TD raises 'serious problems' at Sligo University Hospital in Dail

She said she also spoke to a single man expressing suicidal ideation because of his homelessness2 situation. A friend of mine with children has lived in a tenancy for 14 years. Her children have lived with her and grown up there and they have been served with an eviction notice."

She noted that since 2016, homelessness levels have soared by almost 150%.

She concluded: "A construction company is something we have been calling for for a long time, and to go back on the reset clause. That has caused mayhem. This will never be normal. This has been caused by poor decision making on the part of the Minister of State's party and that of Fine Gael."
A GROUP of six men based in Newport and Murroe are set to drive their tractors from Malin Head to Mizen Head to raise money for the Irish Cancer society.

The men taking part are Paddy Finn, Sean White, Kieran Moore, Harry Sheedy, Paul Moloney and Tom Ryan, who are all members of the Murroe Vintage Tractor Run Committee.

Paddy Finn revealed that this is a cause close to everyone's heart. He said: I am especially proud to be part of this tractor run doing it in memory of my late father Ned. Ned died from cancer in 2008 and Paddy's uncle Willie Barry also passed away from cancer last Christmas.

READ MORE: Councillors gain first-hand insight into project delivery in County Limerick town

Paddy is looking forward to undertaking the long drive over three days from Donegal to Cork and said there's a bit of rivalry between the men in the group. There's three of us from Tipperary doing it, and there's three of us from Limerick doing it!

The local men will make their way from Donegal to Galway on Friday, April 24, cross over the ferry into Tarbert, Co Kerry on Saturday, April 25 before finally arriving in Cork on Sunday, April 26.

To donate to the fundraiser visit fundraise.cancer.ie/fundraisers/paddyfinn.
AN AMERICAN Presidents Trail on the island of Ireland is a major opportunity for heritage, tourism and community pride in a number of locations, said a TD.

Bruff is set to feature prominently as Thomas Fitzgerald - great grandfather of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th president of the United States - emigrated from Bruff in 1852.

Fine Gael Deputy Edward Timmins, who first proposed the initiative, said the trail recognises something many Irish communities already know, that the story of 23 American presidents have deep roots in Ireland.

The trail will shine a light on those connection and give visitors from across the world a new and compelling reason to explore Ireland beyond the usual tourist trail.

I proposed this shortly after I was elected to the Dail in early 2025. It has received support from many people as an initiative which will boost tourism and community spirit across the island, said Mr Timmins.

READ NEXT: Shannon Airport is 'United' with Transatlantic airline on its centenary

The initiative, brought to Cabinet by Tourism Minister and Limerick TD Patrick ODonovan, will identify, mark and celebrate the ancestral connections that numerous communities across Ireland share with former US Presidents.

The project is being advanced as part of the America250 Programme, a joint effort between the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The programme will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States later this year.

It will be delivered in partnership with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland and local authorities across the island, making it a genuinely all-island project.

Each ancestral site will be marked with a native tree and information panel, creating a network of living landmarks connecting Irish communities to the White House.

The all-island dimension of this project is particularly significant. This is heritage that belongs to the whole island, and it is fitting that it will be celebrated and promoted North and South, said Mr Timmins.

He said the trail has strong potential to drive tourism intro rural communities that may not currently feature on the itineraries of American visitors.

With millions of Americans claiming Irish heritage, the trail is well positioned to attract significant international interest as US Presidents Barack Obama, John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan all hold Irish links.

American visitors come to Ireland in huge numbers every year, and many of them are specifically looking for a connection to their roots.

This trail gives them a structured meaningful way to explore that connection, while also bringing footfall and economic benefits to communities right across the country.

Mr Timmins said hes going to continue to work with Mr ODonovan, local authorities and community groups to ensure the trail is developed and promoted effectively both in Ireland and in America.

He added he is hopeful of support from the shared island fund for the project as it aligns perfectly with its aims.
MEN, women and children headed off from Boher Community Centre on Good Friday to participate in the annual Team Limerick Clean-Up in their local area.

The dismal weather didnt put them off a couple of hours of hard work for the betterment of everybody living in Boher. Dozens upon dozens of bags of rubbish were filled.

Everybody arrived willing to give a hand with the clean up. Locals with vehicles equipped to gather the large amount of rubbish, drove around Boher to ensure all bags were brought back to Boher Community Centre for Mr Binman to collect.

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A MAN WHO got into a verbal altercation with the staff at a betting shop in the city was brought before Limerick District Court.

Mohammed Abdiqani, 24, of no fixed abode, damaged a TV to the value of 528 at BoyleSports on William Street, Limerick city on February 4, 2026.

Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters told the court that Mr Abdiqani believed his wallet to be stolen at the premises. The man then became aggressive.

According to garda evidence, the man wrestled and charged, and then broke the betting shops TV.

READ MORE: Scarlett Faulkners ex-partner refused compassionate bail to attend funeral

The sergeant told the court that Mr Abdiqani has no previous convictions.

Solicitor John Herbert, representing the man, told Judge Patricia Harney that Mr Abdiqani has been in Ireland for a year, and works as a kitchen porter.

Mr Herbert said that money is tight and that Mr Abdiqani felt he wasnt listened to at the betting shop.

The judge decided to give the man the benefit of the Probation Act, in light of his previous good record.



-Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Electricity prices in Ireland could rise by 8%, a minister has warned.

As the war in the Middle East continues, Irelands Minister for Energy Darragh OBrien said he believes electricity costs could increase by between 4 to 8%.

Ireland has seen already protests across the country over increases in fuel prices.

Mr OBrien told RTE Radios This Week that the situation is very volatile and that preparations should be made for all eventualities.

We havent seen increases in electricity or gas prices yet, we may see that from May, June, July period, he said.

In electricity, it will be single-digit increases but it again depends on each of the providers, looking at from 4-8/9% depending on the provider, gas more than that. But we are prepared for that.

We have to scenario plan, which we actually did in January, thats why we have targeted payments like the fuel allowances and expanded that, so about a quarter of households in the country, about 470,000 receive direct assistance in relation to their energy bills and we have extended that for a further month. Those measures are significant but we do have to retain the ability to respond further.

Asked about energy credits in the future, Mr OBrien said they are not ruling anything out at the moment but pointed out they had just brought in additional measures.

The 750m euro total package that weve brought in is one of the most significant in Europe, and I think people recognise that, he said.

We obviously are coming into a period of time where well see usage decline somewhat across households but I want to see things like deploying energy grants to make permanent changes to households and businesses, to protect against spikes in prices.

Meanwhile, speaking to media in Dublin on Sunday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he wants to look at a structural approach to energy.

Its not easy but we have to look because this stop-start, depending on when a fossil fuel crisis or shock happens, we take temporary measures, he said.

We will be having a look at this in terms of is there a structural way we can help to alleviate generally.
Two Shanghai governmentbacked brokerages plan to merge in a deal that will create a firm with around $86 billion in assets, underscoring Chinas push to consolidate the securities industry as it seeks to build worldclass investment banks.

Orient Securities Co. plans to acquire a 100% stake in Shanghai Securities through a combination of A-share issuance and cash, according to a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Sunday.

The two companies had combined assets of about 583 billion yuan at the end of 2025, according to latest financial statements. The proposed deal would further consolidate Shanghais government-backed brokerages, following the mega-merger that created Guotai Haitong Securities Co. in 2024.

Trading of Orient Securities A-shares will be suspended from Monday for a period of up to 10 trading days, according to the filing.

Orients largest shareholder is Shenergy Group Co., which held a 26.6% stake as of end-2025, while Shanghai Securities is 50% owned by Bailian Group Co., according to their latest financial reports. Both Shenergy and Bailian are 100% owned by Shanghais state-owned assets administrator.

Beijing is trying to develop its domestic investment banks to allow them to compete with global heavyweights such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley.

While the authorities have mulled combining the largest state-run investment banks for years, progress was slow until President Xi Jinping urged regulators in 2023 to push the consolidation of the industry into a few large brokerages. The securities watchdog also voiced its support for the move, with the goal of having two to three banks that can compete globally by 2035.

The momentum has picked up in the past year or so. Guotai Junan Securities Co. and Haitong Securities Co. unveiled a combination in 2024 to create a larger state-backed brokerage. China International Capital Corp. followed last December with a plan to absorb two smaller rivals in deals worth a combined $16 billion.

With assistance from Catherine Wong and Tian Ying.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he plans to convene Germanys national security council to discuss the global energy crisis, signaling increased concern about its impact on Europes biggest economy.

We will convene a meeting of the National Security Council in Berlin very shortly, Merz said in a speech at the Hannover Messe trade show Sunday, which he attended with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The council is empowered to take immediate action to ensure Germanys energy security if needed, Merz said.

The German economy and its citizens must be able to rely on the fact that the supply of central products such as gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel remain guaranteed, Merz said. At the moment, the market situation is tense, but the supply in Germany is secure.

Should the situation escalate, we are prepared with measures, Merz added. He didnt specify what action the government might take.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, like other global airlines, has announced cuts to to its flight schedule in response to dwindling jet fuel reserves. Merzs government has decided to reduce taxes on automotive fuel for two months to provide relief to drivers in Germany, where the average price of E10 premium gasoline has risen to some 2.10 ($2.47) per liter from about 1.73 euros in January.

The Handover trade show, considered the biggest industrial showcase of its kind worldwide, has been shadowed by Germanys sluggish growth as Merzs governing coalition has fallen short on pledges to spark the economy.

Lula touted Brazil as a reliable partner in a world of instability that could help the European Union to lower its energy costs. He attacked US President Donald Trump and the madness of the war against Iran.

Merz and Lula will head a meeting of their cabinets on Monday with the goal of strengthening their countries strategic partnership. Both sides will adopt a series of joint projects on raw materials, defense, digital transformation and climate.

Brazil is Germanys most important trading partner in South America with trade volume of more than 20 billion, according to government data. Brazil also plays a central role in Germanys efforts to become less dependent on China for rare-earth minerals.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The storied chip makers stock price has soared 88% so far this year, and more than tripled over the last 12 months. That has taken the companys market capitalization close to the $350 billion mark for the first time since 2000, when it was the undisputed leader of both designing and manufacturing the most advanced semiconductors on the planet. Intel also now trades for more than 130 times its projected earnings for this year, far above the peak multiple of 60 times that the stock briefly touched during the dot-com bubble.
Professor Zhu Fenghan, the lead editor of a sixty-volume compendium documenting more than 23,000 ancient Chinese bronze artifacts lost abroad, displays detailed contents in one of the books during a press conference for the books' release in east China's Shanghai, April 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

SHANGHAI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A sixty-volume compendium documenting more than 23,000 ancient Chinese bronze artifacts lost abroad was published on Sunday by Shanghai Classics Publishing House.

The books' publication marks China's first systematic investigation and sorting of the status of important bronze cultural relics scattered overseas.

The project began in 2012, when China's National Cultural Heritage Administration entrusted Peking University to assess the scale of the country's lost cultural relics.

Led by Professor Zhu Fenghan, the university's research team visited more than 260 institutions across over 10 countries to trace the scattered relics and related records, while also visiting collectors.

Zhu, also the lead editor of the books, said previous such surveys focused mainly on bronze bells, cauldrons and ritual vessels. This collection categorizes nearly 300 types of bronze artifacts, ranging from weapons, tools, lamps and mirror stands to irons, coal rakes and dice. One example is a human-shaped lamp stand currently at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Previously, scholars at home and abroad generally assumed that there were over 3,000 Chinese bronze wares in overseas collections. However, the "Collection of Chinese Bronzes in Overseas Collections" has expanded this figure by more than sevenfold.

"We have created an identity document for each piece of relics," Zhu said. The team found that only a few relics have clear records of legal trade, diplomatic gifts or legitimate export.

As the compendium points out, the primary channels for these bronzes leaving China from the late 19th century to mid-20th century were looting, smuggling and war plunder. Western collectors and dealers bought large numbers through agents inside China, forming an illegal supply chain.

Speaking at the press conference for the books' release, Zhu Ye, deputy director of the exchange department of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, called bronzes a core symbol of Chinese civilization. The compendium, she said, creates a cross-regional, traceable database that could support future recovery efforts.

Chinese cultural relics experts are generally concerned that the so-called absence of "chain of evidence" is the biggest bottleneck for recovery. Ge Liang, a bronze expert at the Shanghai Museum in east China, explained that it is difficult to find evidence to confirm "illegal acquisition."

Duan Yong, director of the Center for Research on Chinese Cultural Relics Abroad at Shanghai University, said China should pursue the return of bronzes and other relics step by step, focusing on priorities and rational negotiation. 

Professor Zhu Fenghan, the lead editor of a sixty-volume compendium documenting more than 23,000 ancient Chinese bronze artifacts lost abroad, poses for a photo during a press conference for the books' release in east China's Shanghai, April 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
Dipali Banka

Dipali Banka is a Mumbai-based journalist who treats corporate reporting less like a beat and more like a puzzle to be solved. This invariably means she has to read through annual reports and speak with leaders and analysts. She tracks policies, deals, and the pulse of industries spanning metals, mining, paints, and cement, alongside aviation. She started out as an intern at The Statesman and then completed her postgraduate diploma in journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, in 2025. Relentlessly curious at heart, Dipali is driven by the simple urge to understand how things work and who they impact. Armed with an enduring fascination for steel and aeroplanes, she moves through the churn of daily news with focus, turning complexity into clarity without losing the story. She is particularly committed to shaping numbers into objective narratives, having little appetite for vagueness that gets in her way.<br><br>Outside the newsroom, Dipali is an unapologetically loud presence who values long conversations and longer walks to unwind. She devours books of all kinds and can often be found indulging in the lyrical sway of contemporary ghazals. She ardently believes that her relationship with her bylines is more sacred than it would ever be with anyone across the human race.
Artificial intelligence is only two or three years away from replacing most human jobs.

Ben Goertzel, the father of AGI (artificial general intelligence), told Forbes that there is a fully independent human-level AI, which he believes is only 2-3 years away, "the vast majority of human jobs become obsolete".

Prompt engineering was the most important thing two years agobut not now, Goertzel said.

However, he noted that this won't happen overnight  once an AGI breakthrough occurs, there will be a transitional period before it fully rolls out and is adopted at scale, the AI pioneer and computer scientist said.

He added that it would be very similar to how AI became mainstream over the years  with Gen AI in 2022, it took a little while for organisations to fully adopt and implement it.

Also Read | AI pioneer Yann LeCun rejects Anthropics 50 percent job loss prediction

Which jobs are safe? Ben Goertzel said a few roles, like educators and teachers, will remain intact  unaffected by the AGI because a human touch remains critical.

AI-proof skills for a better professional future Ben Goertzel said that with the rise in AI-adoption, skills are changing rapidly  "No one can accurately predict which jobs will go first. Like, the fact that lawyers and graphic artists are going obsolete before plumbers or electricians or research mathematicians," he told Forbes.

But there are at least three skills, which Goertzel said the workers will need, ahead of the transitionary period, to enable them to be fully useful and remain relevant in the future of work:

1. Strong Human Relationship-Building Goertzel said that once super intelligence does come, assuming it comes out beneficially for our species, what were left with is ourselves, our own minds and bodies and our, our friends and family and our human relationships.

He reiterated that teaching occupations will outlast the AI era even at the advanced stage of AGI and ASI.

The ability to have access to a human connection or decision-maker is most critical in the AI era, he said. In that case, Goertzel said it is best to focus on building skills like:

Emotional intelligence

Rapport-building

Communication skills (at all levels)

Active listening 2. Ability To Pivot You need to be able to pivot rapidly and tap dance really fast, Goertzel told Forbes. Adaptability and agility are among the top skills required by employers today, according to Coursera and the World Economic Forum reports.

What this means:

Learning new skills every month

Invest in an upskilling course, or study for free, at least once a year

Stay abreast of industry news and critically reflect on how that might impact your work and organisation It is important to change and adjust to remain in touch with reality and be relevant, to be prepared for whats in store for you next.

The father of AGI noted that people who work in roles that can be performed by a computer smarter than you, you must be willing and ready to switch over to a career where human touch and connection remain critical.

3. Be Comfortable With Yourself Goertzel suggested that humans need to get to the place where we enjoy ourselves for who we are, embrace the beauty of whats around us, be fully present in the moment, and understand ourselves intimately so we can connect better with others  beyond work domains.
But the experiences of people like Yuner Jiang, who is preparing to finish graduate school at Columbia University in New York, show that Chinese disillusionment with the U.S. is real. Jiang, who arrived in the U.S. to attend high school a decade ago, said she is frustrated with the high cost of living in New York and by harassment she has faced on the subway as an Asian woman.
The U.S. military is using sea drones to help clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines that might be lurking there, in a quiet effort to ease Irans stranglehold on the waterway and begin reopening it to commercial shipping.

Iran on Saturday closed the strait again and fired on at least two vessels to protest the American blockade of its ports. Earlier, it said any shippers allowed to cross must use new traffic lanes that swing by Irans coast, warning of mines in the main channels of the strait.

The risk of getting attacked is the main deterrent to ship traffic, and U.S. officials have made contradictory comments about the number of mines and the risk they pose. But military analysts say clearing them is a necessary condition for ships to be able to sail again through the middle of the strategic waterway rather than the slower and more congested Iranian routes.

Sea drones, including uncrewed surface vessels and submarines, are an increasingly important part of the U.S. Navys countermine capabilities as it retires traditional minesweepers. They use sonar to scan the bottom of the ocean for mines without putting sailors at risk.

Youre less concerned about attrition, so sending them through the minefield is much more palatable, and if you lose some they can be replaced, said Scott Savitz, a senior engineer at Rand who previously provided on-site analytical support for the Navys mine warfare command and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

A U.S. defense official said the military was using a combination of manned and unmanned capabilities in the countermine operation, but declined to comment on operational specifics.

Though the Navys minehunting capabilities have declined in recent years, it maintains a range of options that include helicopters, littoral combat ships and even trained dolphins as a part of its marine mammals program. It also uses drones.

The Common Uncrewed Surface Vessel, a drone made by RTX that tows a new floating sonar system called the AQS-20, scans the bottom of the sea for mines, patrolling columns that are 100 feet wide at a time.

Battery-powered submarine drones, called the MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish and the Knifefish, made by General Dynamics can be dropped in the water from a small boat and then scan for mines in a pattern.

The military could do an initial scan for mines relatively quickly in the confines of the strait, military analysts said. After locating the mines, a second wave of sea robots could be sent out to destroy them by using explosives or by setting them off remotely.

You can get a small channel in that area surveyed in days not weeks using Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, said Kevin Donegan, a former U.S. Navy vice admiral and former commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf.

After clearing one lane, he said, Traffic can then begin to flow in this smaller channel that could be widened over time.

The minesweeping mission comes as the U.S. is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to turn the tables on the Iranian regime, which seized control of the strait during the war, causing a global oil-supply shock that has put pressure on the Trump administration to end the war.

Irans foreign minister said Friday the strait was now completely open, a declaration hailed by President Trump. But on Saturday the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the waterway was again closed and fired on at least two civilian ships, underscoring that traffic in the strait for now will be subject to Irans decisions.

Of the 27 large trading ships that have crossed the strait since April 13, some 15 used the mandated route, which hugs the Iranian coastline, according to Lloyds List Intelligence.

If youre the U.S. and you can start to check for mines and start moving your own ships up and down the strait, and the Iranians can start to see that their grip over the strait is starting to loosen, they might be more inclined to go to the negotiating table, said Bryan Clark, a former senior official with the U.S. Navy and now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a think tank.

U.S. officials, citing American intelligence, said in March that Iran had deployed mines in the strait, but the scale of threat has remained unclear. Clark, the former navy official, said that Iran had likely laid fewer mines than expected because of American military pressure that prevented Tehran from using large minelaying ships.

They were probably a small number of mines that you could deploy from small vessels of opportunity, so fishing boats, small cargo boats that go up and down the strait, Clark said. Its much more kind of a clandestine deployment with vessels of opportunity that happens in the dead of night. And thats probably more like a dozen or two dozen.

Minesweeping is one step that the U.S. can take to prepare the way for military convoys that could protect ships crossing in and out of the strait. It would take weeks, if not months, to begin clearing the backlog in the Gulf.

Convoys would likely only move five or 10 ships at a time, far fewer than the roughly 130 a day that crossed before the war. As of March there were at least 1,129 vessels in the Gulf that had made at least one port call outside the Gulf in the past year, according to the shipping consulting firm Clarksons.

Any operation to open the strait also would hand another challenge to a Navy already under strain from long deployments.

The U.S. last conducted military escorts for ships in the Persian Gulf during the 1980s so-called Tanker War with Iran. At the time, the Navy had more than 500 active ships compared with a battle force of around 292 ships now, according to the U.S. Naval Institute, a nonprofit.

Trump in a social-media post on Friday said, Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!

Shipping industry leaders warned that the statement wasnt accurate. Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at Bimco, one of the worlds largest international shipowners associations, said credible reports indicate a risk of mines, and shipping should consider avoidance of the area.
Varuni Khosla

Varuni Khosla is a journalist with Mint, where she covers the consumer economy with a focus on hospitality and tourism, luxury, the business of sports, art, and the alcohol and food and beverage industries. Based in New Delhi, she reports on how brands and cultural sectors grow, shape consumer demand and compete in one of the worlds fastest-evolving markets.<br><br>Varuni has been a journalist since 2009 and brings more than 17 years of experience reporting on Indias business landscape. She specialises in covering the industries shaping Indias consumption economy, and is widely recognised as a key voice in these areas.<br><br>Over the years, she has closely tracked the rise of Indias luxury and hospitality sectors, the transformation of advertising and marketing as brands respond to digital platforms and changing audiences, and the economics of sport, from sponsorships and leagues to the expanding commercial ecosystems around teams, athletes and media rights. Her reporting on the business of art explores the growing global market for South Asian art and the role of collectors, galleries and auction houses.<br><br>Her stories frequently draw on exclusive conversations with founders, executives and industry leaders, combining market data with on-the-ground reporting to offer readers insight into the companies and trends shaping Indias evolving consumption economy.
Apoorva Ajith

Apoorva is a Mumbai-based journalist at Mint who covers the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), tracking the pulse of Indias capital markets, regulatory developments and the people who operate within them. She holds a postgraduate diploma in business and financial journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, where she developed a strong foundation in markets, companies, and economic policy. She began her journalism journey with an internship at Bloomberg, where she worked across beats such as real estate, infrastructure, capital markets, and deals, which helped her understanding of business and finance.<br><br>She is guided by the belief that everything in this world can be explained in simple and fewer words, and that idea shapes how she approaches her writing. She aims to cut through complexity and present nuanced regulatory and financial developments in a way that is both accessible and meaningful to readers.<br><br>When she is not tracking market chatter, Apoorva can usually be found deep into a fiction novel or out on a long run. She is also a trained classical dancer in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kathakali.
Multibagger stock Rathi Steel and Power will remain in focus after the company said it has been awarded the GreenPro ecolabel certification by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Rathi Steel and Power share price closed 2.09% lower, ended the session at 21.52 apiece.

Rathi Steel and Power award details In an exchange filing on April 17, the company said that it has received GreenPro ecolabel certification for its Rathi Powertech brand of TMT rebars manufactured at its Ghaziabad Unit.

According to the filing, the GreenPro certification, a Type-1 Ecolabel, applies specifically to the Fe 550 grade of TMT rebars manufactured at RSPLs advanced facility in Ghaziabad. This recognition by CII GreenPro marks a significant milestone for RSPL, strengthening its dedication to sustainable production and environmental responsibility.

The advantages extend equally to users and designers. RSPLs certified products contribute valuable credits toward both national and international green building certifications, such as LEED and IGBC, while promoting a toxin-free environment for end users.

Additionally, for structural designers, the certification ensures superior-quality, long-lasting steel, simplifies due diligence, enhances cost efficiency, and helps speed up construction timelines. Overall, GreenPro certification positions RSPL in line with global sustainability benchmarks, creating value for both stakeholders and the environment.

This accomplishment also reflects the broader industry transition toward green steel and lower carbon emissions. Since its inception, RSPL has continuously modernized its manufacturing processes to support eco-friendly industrial practices.

"Achieving the GreenPro certification is a powerful validation of our unwavering commitment to sustainability and the future of green steel. We have continuously invested in upgrading our facilities to ensure that our operations and products are environmentally responsible and sustainable. This is a proud moment for our entire team. This milestone is even more important, as it extends benefits to our customers in terms of green certification compliances, branding etc., said Sh Udit Rathi, Promoter at Rathi Steel and Power Limited.

Rathi Steel and Power share price trend Multibagger stock Rathi Steel and Power has remained volatile in the near-term. The stock has delivered over 25% returns in a month, however, has fallen nearly 19% in three months.

Furthermore, the stock has descended 13.26% in six months and 32.31% in a year.

Looking at the broader level, the stock has delivered multibagger returns of whopping 924% in five years and 506.20% in ten years.
In Every Room Has a View (2025), Sujit Sarafs novel about prosperous Indian-Americans living in Silicon Valley, a dark comedy unfolds as the central characters set out on a search for a Hindu priest in San Francisco. Eventually the jeans-clad pandit they zero in on takes far too many liberties with Vedic rituals, much to their chagrin. A similar anxiety pervades the opening pages of The Fire Sacrifice by Susham Bedi, originally published in 1989 as Hawan and recently translated into English by Jerry Pinto.

In the world of Hindi literature, Bedi (1945-2020) is known as one of the pioneering chroniclers of the NRI experience, depicting the inherent in-betweenness of her immigrant characters lives. In addition to her novels, Bedi was known for her work as a foreign correspondent in the 1970s and 1980s, bringing slices of European and American life to Indian readers.

Guddo, an immigrant to New York following the death of her husband, is searching high and low for the ingredients required to organise the titular hawan. To calm herself, she repeats a Sanskrit mantra she has chanted since childhooda self-soothing action she will repeat during stressful moments in the novel. The Sanskrit words she repeats are ancient and immutable, immune to change at a time of upheaval in Guddos lifeshe has brought her youngest son Raju with her to the US, but her daughters Anima and Tanima are back home in India, living in a hostel and finishing their medical education. Her sisters Gita and Pinky, who had already migrated to America by the time Guddo arrived, are initially helpful but even fraternal ties are tested by the social and economic challenges of migration.

The professional and personal trajectories of Guddo, her children and her siblings families, form the bulk of the novel. Bedi is excellent at giving readers a realistic, down-to-earth portrayal of everyday life in 1980s New York, The now-familiar beats of the Indian-American experience are all herethe punishing experience of working-class jobs, the academic and personal freedoms of the American university campus, discrimination at the workplace, and being turned into convenient villains for bigoted, economically marginalised Ronald Reagan voters.

At the heart of it all is Guddosmart, resourceful, resilient but also a flawed human being who Bedi depicts without sentimental excess. For example, Guddo is convinced that a mans worth is assessed mostly by his financial and social standing. Some of her fondest memories of her life in India involve her status as the wife of an engineer, a senior government officer.

Much later, she regrets this world view because it leads to her rushing her daughter Anima into an unhappy marriage. There are other little hypocrisies that Bedi teases out gently and not without compassionGuddo is judgmental of Indian women wearing pants and skirts before she realises that American clothes flatter her own figure as well.

View full Image View full Image The Fire Sacrifice: By Susham Bedi, translated by Jerry Pinto, Speaking Tiger, 232 pages,  499.

Through the characters of the next generation, Bedi turns the novel into a crystal ball, foreshadowing what feels like every major NRI issue depicted in 21st century pop culture. Guddos niece Radhika turns into the archetypal self-loathing Indian, speaking with an exaggerated twang, dismissing the women of her family as sheep, and demanding that her family call her Laura Johnson instead.

Radhikas sister Kanikas attempts to assimilate are different but in the end, equally in vain. Her straight-As and budding medical career, we learn, are not nearly enough to offset the transgression she has in mindshe has fallen for Michel, a fellow doctor who happens to be African-American.

Guddos son Raju becomes a precursor of the Indian-American geek (think Rajesh Koothrapalli in The Big Bang Theory) with his computer skills, suspected neurodivergence, and fixation on video games (hes besotted with Donkey Kong, a nice, era-appropriate touch).

Repeatedly, Bedi comes up with passages that begin as an offhand observation but become laser-focused in terms of politics and sociology. Be it her take on cultural appropriation or gender relations, she is sharply prescient. Bedi shows, for example, how men use the fault lines of the immigrant experience as excuses for the way they treat the women in their lives. In the second half of the novel, a taxi driver called Arun shocks Guddo with his two-faced behaviour. Arun has no compunctions about being in a live-in relationship with a white woman who is also his landlady. At the same time, he encourages his parents to look for an Indian bride for him, confessing to Guddo that hes just stringing along his current girlfriend.

Jerry Pintos translation is elegant, and he never uses a three-dollar word for the heck of it. When the occasion, sentence structure and or lexicon call for some flamboyance on the translators part, he is more than up to the task.

Bedi belongs to a line of Indian-American writers like Usha Priyamvada, Bharati Mukherjee and Chitra Banerjee Divakarunicreators of ambitious, multi-modal NRI lives. In other novels like Lautnaa and Navbhum, she depicts the clash between Indian and American values, especially in romance and marriage. But The Fire Sacrifice is her magnum opus, where her craft, sensibilities and politics come together in the most harmonious manner.

Aditya Mani Jha is a Delhi-based writer.

Also Read | Why Mahadevi Varmas prose pieces feel radically modern today
Savitri, a 48-year-old street vendor, trades utensils for old garments, going door-to-door in densely populated localities of Delhi. Her already strenuous workwalking or crammed into buses with a headload of over 20kg for 10 hours a dayintensifies in the heat.

In June last year, Savitri, whose husband is also a street vendor, suffered a heat stroke and was unable to work for two weeks. Faced with income loss, she borrowed 2,000 from her relatives and picked utensils worth 5,000 on credit from a shop owner. Ten months later, she is yet to fully repay the money.

We find fewer customers on hotter days and get exhausted quickly due to heat and humidity. What we earn and save during winters gets spent during summers, says Savitri, sitting at the Raghubir Nagar centre of SEWA (Self Employed Womens Association), where street vendors from that neighbourhood meet to discuss issues and learn about new schemes. Her work hours are halved by the heat of peak summer and care responsibilities at home increase due to heat-related illnesses among family members.

Extreme heat is no longer just a public health concern but it is also eroding incomes and pushing outdoor informal workers in India, particularly women street vendors, into cycles of debt. India is among the countries most exposed to rising heat, and heatwaves are projected to become longer and more frequent. Nearly 90% of Indias workforce is employed in the informal economy, which gives them no protection from climate-induced income shock.

Research released in February by Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), a global network that supports the movement of workers in informal employment, especially women, shows that heat stress is significantly disrupting work patterns and earnings among street vendors in Delhi. Loss of livelihood resulted in debt increasing for both women and men vendors, but it rose at higher rates for women.

WIEGO and its partners, including SEWA and Delhi-based not-for-profit organisation Janpahal, conducted two survey rounds at the same vending sites in Delhi last year: first before peak summer (25 March9 April) and then in mid-July, about a month after temperatures exceeded 46 degrees Celsius. In the second round, as temperatures rose, 96% of vendors reported fewer customers and 90% reduced work hours. Alarmingly, 79%four times the first roundsought medical care for heat-related illness affecting themselves or their families.

With falling earnings and rising medical costs, 81% reported increased debt, up from 37% in the first round. While debt rose for both men and women, the increase was sharper for women (about 50 percentage points versus 40 for men).

Shalini Sinha from WIEGOs urban policies programme says women vendors start at a disadvantage and heat compounds factors like stock losses and low customer footfall. In the absence of infrastructure like drinking water and unpaid toilets, their cost of business goes up and profit margin goes down, she says. Women vendors access to credit, social protection or shock absorbers to deal with crises like these are non-existent. Many need to borrow from loan sharks which is an added financial burden. They lose a lot and they have very few mechanisms to fall back on, she adds.

HEAT EXHAUSTION Used clothes purchased by vendors like Savitri are resold at markets such as the Ghoda Mandi in Raghubir Nagar of West Delhi. One reseller, Mamata, 37, took a 50,000 bank loan last summer to cover her childrens school fees, household expenses and medical bills after her husband, who is also a door-to-door vendor like Savitri, fell ill from heat exhaustion. Both Mamata and Savitri say they also rely on multiple small loans of 500 from siblings, relatives and neighbours during the summer months. Neither has applied for the PM SVANidhi scheme, a government programme offering working capital loans to street vendors. The only difference is unlike Savitri, Mamata works at the fixed market, Ghoda Mandi, from 4-11am daily.

Clothes vendors come to buy from us before their days work begins. Night-time heat is rising, and since ours is an open, unshaded market, we feel it just as intensely, she says.

Also Read | Climate change tracker: From a snowless Himalaya to Hothouse Earth

A study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in May 2024 showed that megacities in India are not cooling down at night. If temperatures remain high overnight, people get little chance to recover from daytime heat, which exerts prolonged stress on the body, says the study titled Decoding the Urban Heat Stress among Indian Cities.

It is already so hot, I dont know what will become of us in June/July, says Geeta, 58, a veteran street vendor, who currently works as the supervisor of SEWAs vendor programme in New Delhi. Ahead of summer, she is helping train women vendors on how to protect themselves from heat, including the importance of staying hydrated and what to do in case of a health emergency.

POLICY FOCUS Vishwas Chitale, fellow at Delhi-based public policy think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), says heat action plans (HAPs) must evolve from documents to implementation frameworks that combine infrastructure, social protection and data-driven planning to protect both lives and livelihoods. Local authorities should integrate heat risk into urban planning, ensure shaded rest areas and hydration at work sites, adjust working hours, and strengthen heat early warning systems tailored to vulnerable groups, he says. HAPs are structured frameworks to tackle heat and its impacts on citizens using a coordinated strategy. This includes timely weather forecasts and early warnings, public awareness, healthcare preparedness, and protective measures to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat, especially among vulnerable populations.

Estimates by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2024 show that globally 70% of all workers are exposed to excessive heat. According to another ILO report of 2019, India is projected to lose 5.8% of working hours in 2030 due to heat stress.

Aditya Valiathan Pillai, visiting fellow at the independent research organisation Sustainable Futures Collaboratives, says it is important to address heat as a cross-sectoral issue, including its economic implications, rather than viewing it solely as a health issue. It is important that we take the heat debate out of just a conversation on health and broaden it to include how extreme heat is impacting health, livelihoods and well-being in general. The economic threat is driving the health threat and vice-versa, he adds.

If you are thinking about insurance due to heat loss at the farm level, it is not a direct health intervention but it has a very big impact on health and nutrition, he says, adding that infrastructure gaps at housing and market sites should be plugged.

Also Read | The Himalaya is on the verge of an ecosystem collapse

WIEGOs report flags acute infrastructure deficit in its findings. More than 70% of vendors lacked access to basic amenities like toilets, clean water and shade. Sinha adds that as part of building resilient cities, the focus should be on designing climate-resilient vending zones. This includes market sites having infrastructure provisions like cooling, shade, clean toilets, rest areas and storage facilities.

Mamata echoes similar views. Despite how hot it gets and how much we sweat, most women vendors dont drink water while out on work because there are no clean public toilets. Not even in fixed market sites. Something must be done about it, she says.

Most women vendors at the centre spoke with concern about this years summer and the impending heat. They expressed concern about returning to a cycle of reduced work hours, lesser earnings, heat exhaustion and more borrowing.

When asked about how she is preparing for summer, Mamata says, Gareeb insaan ki koi taiyyari nahi hoti. Garmi se bachne ke liye hum na toh bhagwan se lad sakte hai, na sarkaaron se (The poor can never be prepared. To save ourselves from heat, we can neither fight God nor governments).
How blue is Krishna? The poet can get away by responding with a metaphor, calling the dark god Ghanashyam, a storm cloud. Krishna, passionate lover, desired by many and desiring many, is the dark cloud, writes the poet, about to descend on the beloved, likened implicitly to the thirsty chataka bird. The word Krishna itself means dark, and he is also called Shyam, which covers a range of darkness, from blue black to grey, with much in between, even the green of the tenderest grass.

The painter, however, working within the conventions of traditional Indian art, has to put colour on form. What goes into the making of Krishnas blues on paper or palm leaf? Into the colour of a storm cloud? A 17th-century Pahari miniature painting, originating in Basohli in Jammu and Kashmir titled Krishna Loosens His Beloveds Belt, can be seen as a perfect realisation of the gods cloud colour in an image. The same smalt and lead-white pigments, making for a dark, glowering grey, have been used to paint both Krishna and the sky, according to Mapping Color in History (MCH), a digital humanities project at Harvard University, which was conceived in 2018. It is a searchable database of Asian art that analyses paintings to identify colour pigments used in them.

The MCH website allows access to more than 200 paintings and illustrations from Asia, from the 12th to the 19th centuries, along with the analysis of the colours used in them, their date and places of origin. The study of pigments in artworks throws light on cultural practices and social and trade exchanges between places, which can uncover forgotten histories.

The analysis of the 28 colours used in the Pahari painting with Krishna has another striking feature, termed jaw-dropping by the project members: the luminous, shimmering green in the painting is no paint, it was found, but the crushed wings of a green beetle.

Most of the images currently in the database are from South Asia, including miniature paintings and illustrations in manuscripts. Currently most of these, other than the palm leaf manuscripts, have been composed on paper. Images from Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Thailand and Japan are also part of the database.

The database contains illustrations from texts such as Rasikapriya (Connoisseurs Delights) by Keshava Das, the poet who mentioned Krishna as Ghanashyam (a common epithet) and the chataka birds. Rasikapriya, the Braj Bhasha classic composed in 1591 in the central Indian kingdom of Orchha, was extremely popular and illustrated many times. The illustrations of Rasikapriya in the database are from several manuscripts. One, dated 1615, is titled Toilet of the Nayaka. It shows the man, the nayaka, dressing up, not the nayika, the woman.

View full Image View full Image Krishna Loosens His Beloved's Belt, c.1660-1670. ( Mapping Color in History )

Most pigment databases are based on European and Western art, says Jinah Kim, principal investigator and project director, MCH. She is the George P. Bickford professor of Indian and South Asian Art and professor of South Asian Studies at Harvard University. Kim, who is from Seoul, South Korea, was recently in Kolkata, where she spoke on From Vision to Matter: Color and Artisanal Intelligence in South Asian Painting at Jadunath Sarkar Resource Centre and Museum. She conducted the research for her first book on illustrated palm-leaf manuscripts and the Buddhist book-cult in South Asia in Kolkata, the city she considers her home away from home. She also speaks fluent Bengali.

Kim had always felt drawn to the vibrant primary colours dominant in Indian traditional art and to the materiality of colours, she says in an email after her last visit to Kolkata. A painting is seen as a flat object, but a lot of work goes into the making of it beyond its surface and the materials used in it. I wanted to find a way to map these elements for my own sake, to understand whats changing, whats appearing, Kim had said in Kolkata.

Her interest led to the genesis of the MCH, a collaborative project that combines history, aesthetics and technology. The analysis of pigments, she says, points at, first, the availability and trade of new pigments, and second, historical changes in aesthetics, which may be influenced by material availability of certain artists materials as well as politics of the time.

One question she asks pertains to the change in the Indian colour register during the Mughal era: Pastel shades appear in the work of the Mughal Imperial Workshop, when more vibrant primary colours are used in Buddhist, Jain and Hindu paintings. You start seeing pink, pastel shades, very subtle tonalities that appear in the Mughal work, versus Rajput Mewar work, which is very vibrant, says Kim. The Rajput paintings dazzle with their oranges, yellows, blues and greens, the Mughal paintings, in contrast, soothe.

We find four major blue pigments used in India: ultramarine, azurite, smalt (cobalt-containing glassy blue pigment), and indigo. Indigo is almost consistently used throughout time in India, so far the most prevalent blue colourant in our database, Kim adds. She believes the MCH project may have stumbled upon a significant discovery, which seem to indicate a previously unknown cultural exchange between India and Central Asia, obscured by a pigment imported later from Europe.

Scientists at the Harvard Art Museums and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, whose collections of paintings form a bulk of the database, were able to spot differences between the composition of smalt, the cobalt-containing bright blue pigment, in a Jain manuscript dated 1497, and those found in the later paintings from the Rajput courts. The use of the pigment in Indian painting had long been attributed to Europe, says Kim. The pigment that was seen on materials from India in the 17th century matched closely with the ones made in Europe. But the pigment on the 15th century Jain manuscript was seen to have a very different signature. She also found a Harvard-based study from the 1960s that identified smalt on a wall painting from earlier than the 15th century in Central Asia, in Chinese territory today, suggesting that smalt was in use in India before it came from Europe.

View full Image View full Image Verbascum Plants, 1224. ( Mapping Color in History. )

MCH is a work in progress, Kim says, and hopes it will contribute to meaningful research. For the general viewer it brings another kind of comfort. Browsing through the database is pure joy. The images are exquisite, and it is exciting to search them by pigment, colour, date, or any criterion of ones choice, as each search throws up an enriching, complex intertextuality that suggests everything is connected, especially through art. As art historian Ananda Coomaraswamy wrote about the illustrations of the Rasikapriya manuscript with the image of Nayakas toilet: The manuscript itself is of historical importance as one of a purely Hindu character, but with illustrations in an unmistakably Mughal style, and certainly datable a little before or after AD 1600. Considered simply as Mughal paintings and as works of art, the fine quality of the pictures cannot be overlooked.

The first image that comes up on Mapping History, without any customised search, is Verbascum Plants. Dated 1224, it comes from Iraq, a beautiful watercolour in delicate shades, from a manuscript of the De Materia Medica by Greek physician Dioscorides (AD 40-90), with the text in Arabic translated from the original Greek.

The image is created with two birds in a symmetrical composition on the leaves of the plant Verbascum (mullein), which, properly concocted, soothes coughs, toothaches, eye inflammations, and ulcers, says the accompanying note from Harvard Art Museums. The world could do with some soothing nowand such exchanges.
KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A poultry farm costing 1.2 million U.S. dollars has been established in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province, reported the official news agency Bakhtar on Sunday.

Covering 6 acres of land outside the provincial capital Mazar-i-Sharif, the poultry farm has created job opportunities for 30 people, the media outlet said, adding that the government would encourage the private sector to invest and create job opportunities for more people.

Aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in the poultry field, Bakhtar added that the Afghan government would continue to support the private sector and call upon domestic and foreign companies to invest in Afghanistan and thus help to rebuild the post-war country.

Although the media outlet did not provide more details, the post-war Afghanistan, according to officials, is near to achieving self-reliance in the field of poultry and fish products. 
(Bloomberg) -- Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was at a near standstill early Sunday after Iran reversed its decision to reopen the waterway and fired on vessels attempting to pass, warning it would block transits as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained.

The standoff over Hormuz  through which about a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas transited before the US-Israeli war on Iran  threatens to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and undermine expectations of an imminent peace deal touted by US President Donald Trump. Hormuz is one of several unresolved issues in peace talks, including Irans nuclear program and Israels ongoing invasion of Lebanon.

Ships are awaiting instructions from Irans armed forces to determine whether they can pass through the route, Irans semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.

Still, late Saturday, Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in talks with the US earlier this month in Pakistan, said that while gaps remain significant, the negotiations are making progress. He added that Irans armed forces are prepared to act even as discussions take place.

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, he said in a televised address, referring to the US naval blockade.

Meanwhile, the US military is preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters in the coming days to pressure Iran into reopening Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, citing anonymous American officials. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment about the Journals reporting.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy issued a statement Saturday afternoon warning vessels not to leave their anchorages in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and that approaching the strait will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted.

They wanted to close up the strait again like theyve been doing for years and they cant blackmail us, Trump told reporters Saturday about Iran, although the strait was fully open until the US and Israel began their bombing campaign seven weeks ago. Well have some information by the end of the day, you know. Were talking to them. Were taking a tough stand.

Lebanon Ceasefire Fraying

There were also signs the ceasefire in Lebanon  linked to Irans decision to allow Hormuz traffic  may be fraying. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck saboteurs approaching its troops in violation of the truce. The developments upend rising optimism that the US and Iran were nearing a broad agreement to end the war that has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted energy exports from the Persian Gulf.

On Saturday, Israel struck what it called a terrorist cell in south Lebanon, where its invasion has killed around 2,000 people and displaced over 1 million. President Emmanuel Macron also said a French soldier was killed in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and suggested Hezbollah  the Iranian proxy that Israel is fighting  was to blame.

Trump said Saturday there were very good conversations going on with Iran. A day earlier, he said the US would work with the Islamic Republic to recover the countrys nuclear dust.

But Esmail Baghaei, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, told state television that enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Irans soil, and it wont be transferred anywhere under any circumstances.

The material  which the US says was buried deep underground after its bombing of Irans nuclear facilities during last years 12-day war  lies at the core of efforts to end the conflict, and its fate is central to any broader deal.

Momentum for a lasting peace had been building late last week. Cracks began to emerge Saturday with Irans criticism of the continued US blockade.

The UK Navy soon after said a tanker was approached by IRGC gunboats before being fired at, adding that the vessel and its crew were safe. A container ship was hit by an unknown projectile in a separate incident off the coast of Oman, it said.

Irans Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the countrys navy stands ready to make enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats in a statement marking National Army Day. It wasnt clear if his message was in direct response to developments surrounding Hormuz.

Iran is in control of the strait and will secure its rights either at the negotiating table or in the field, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.

While a deal appears to be in sight that may bring an end to the current round of US-Iran hostilities and relief to energy markets, its unlikely to result in a full or lasting peace, Bloomberg Economics analysts including Jennifer Welch wrote in a report. We assess any deal will be limited and fragile.

Deal Confusion

Trump told Bloomberg in a phone interview on Friday that Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and most of the main points in discussions with the country are finalized.

The president also floated in the interview the threat of resuming strikes on Iran once the current ceasefire expires within days. Maybe I wont extend it, so you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again, he said.

Trumps comments and Tehrans declaration on Hormuz on Friday were the latest signs the two sides were working behind the scenes on a deal after their first round of direct talks in Pakistan recently failed to yield an agreement.

The war saw Iran retaliate against US bases across the region and strike oil and gas infrastructure belonging to American allies in the Gulf, triggering a global energy crisis.

GLOBAL REACT: US-Iran Deal in Sight  Lasting Peace Still Remote

Oil, fuel and natural gas prices plunged on hopes that the latest developments would mean an end to the war and more energy supplies could transit safely through Hormuz. Brent crude dropped 9% on Friday to around $90 a barrel. Diesel prices in the US and Europe also fell.

In a notable shift, real-world oil prices also eased significantly alongside headline futures prices. On Friday, dated Brent, the worlds most important physical price, fell below $100 a barrel for the first time since March 11. Stocks extended their rally on speculation the war would soon end.

One proposal under discussion is for the US to release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium, Axios reported, citing two US officials and two other unidentified sources briefed on the talks.

Trump pushed back on that idea in the phone interview, repeatedly saying no when asked if he would release the $20 billion.

--With assistance from Weilun Soon, Sara Gharaibeh, Kate Sullivan, Omar Tamo, Valentine Baldassari and Patrick Sykes.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
At least 18 people were reportedly killed, while six others sustained serious injuries in a massive Virudhnagar firecracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu, police said on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.

The explosion occurred at the 'Vanaja' fireworks factory owned by Muthumanickam, in Kattanarpatti near Virudhnagar. The place is located within the Vachakarapatti police station limits.

Citing police and rescue officials, the report said that at least four of the six injured are currently in critical condition and are receiving treatment at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital.

Initial investigations revealed that the unit has a license from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur, and more than 100 labourers were engaged in work in the complex.

The blast is believed to have originated in the front verandah of the factory, where workers were allegedly handling raw material and giving finishing to the firecrackers. As per the report, the impact of the blast was so severe that at least three rooms were reduced to rubble, with several adjacent structures being completely levelled.

Speaking to PTI, a police official said, "We have recovered 18 bodies so far, many of which were charred beyond recognition," and added that of the six injured, three are women and have sustained over 60 per cent burn injuries.

Also Read | What sparked Goa nightclub fire? Probe suggests firecrackers used inside venue

Rescue operations hampered As per sources, the fire and rescue services personnel battled the flames for several hours, with rescue operations being significantly disrupted as crackers continued to burst long after the initial explosion. Authorities fear that more workers might be trapped under the debris.

As the search and rescue operation continues, further details are awaited.

This incident marks the deadliest industrial accident in the region this year. It comes just days after a similar blast in the Vembakottai area of the same district that claimed four lives.

Leaders condole loss of lives Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his sorrow and said he rushed two ministers to the site to expedite rescue operations. In a post on X, he wrote, "The tragic news of the deaths of several people in the firecracker unit explosion that occurred in Kattanarpatti, Virudhunagar district, causes immense sorrow. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives".

He added, "I have requested Ministers K K S S R Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to rush to the scene immediately to expedite and monitor the rescue operations and to offer solace to the affected families."

Further, Stalin said that he had contacted the district collector, instructing him to coordinate all necessary assistance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences. In a post on X, his office wrote, "The accident that occurred in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu is deeply distressing. I convey my deepest condolences to those grieving the loss of their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover swiftly."

Meanwhile, Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said, Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the firecracker factory explosion at Kattanarpatti, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu. These were workers who left home in the morning to earn a living for their families. My thoughts are with the grieving families, and I wish a swift recovery to all those injured.

Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Tamil Nadu's Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami also condoled the loss of lives but also slammed Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the accident. In a post on X, he wrote, The news of more than 15 people losing their lives in a firecracker factory explosion at Kattanapatti near Virudhunagar delivers profound shock and grief.



He added, In the past five years under the DMK regime, firecracker factory accidents and loss of lives have become a recurring saga. Despite my consistently pointing this out, the DMK government under Stalin has taken no steps whatsoever to ensure the safety of firecracker factories. Instead, they merely conducted a photo-op in a shiny room under the guise of a firecracker factory.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently arrested a Deputy Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) Airworthiness Directorate arm, along with the senior vice president of a major corporate group in connection with a 2.5-lakh bribery case to facilitate the import of drones for another private company, the central agency said in a press note on Sunday.

Also Read | Kejriwal says he wont get justice if same judge hears plea against his release

Citing officials, PTI reported that in an operation on Saturday, the CBI arrested M Devula, Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate, DGCA, and Bharat Mathur, who is also associated with an aerospace company involved in drone technology- Asteria Aerospace Ltd.

Devula, Mathur, and Asteria Aerospace have been booked under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The major corporate group where Mathur worked is not named as an accused in the first information report (FIR). According to Asteria's 202425 financial statements, it is the ultimate parent company of Asteria Aerospace.

What is the case? According to a CBI spokesperson, Devula, the accused DGCA official, allegedly demanded undue advantage from private persons in exchange for issuing approvals and permissions for applications with the DGCA for a private aerospace company.

It said, "The CBI arrested Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate, DGCA, Headquarters, New Delhi, along with a representative of a private company in a bribery case of 2.5 lakh, resulting in the seizure of the entire amount."

The statement noted that the agency carried out searches at the premises of Devula and other accused across four locations in Delhi, which resulted in the seizure of cash worth 37 lakh, gold and silver coins, and multiple digital devices.

What did the CBI FIR reveal? According to the agency's FIR, the case was registered based on inputs received from a reliable source, which claimed that the DGCA official was allegedly involved in corrupt and illegal activities in connivance with private entities in matters relating to the grant of approvals and permissions in exchange for undue advantage.

The FIR added that the agency received further information that Mathur contacted Devula on March 18 to enquire about the status of certain applications regarding the import of drones of Asteria Aerospace Ltd.

Days later, Devula allegedly asked Mathur about the number of applications involved, to which Mathur confirmed that there were three applications concerning Asteria Aerospace Ltd, it noted, and added, "It was settled among them that five lakh per file has to be delivered as a bribe for processing the file for approval."

Further, Devula met Mathur earlier this week, where the accused public servant assured completion of the work on the same day and that a confirmation regarding the same would be provided by the end of the day.

"A source also informed that M Devula has asked Bharat Mathur to deliver the illegal gratification at Essex Farms, near IIT Delhi Flyover by the evening of 18.04.2026," the FIR mentioned.
Hours after a shooting incident was reported involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, on Sunday, emphasised the strength of India-Iran relations.

According to news agency ANI, Ilahi, who called for peace in the region, said, "Our relationship with India is very strong... India has benefited from the good relationship between Iran and India in getting their oil and tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister of India had very successful conversations with the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, and the EAM had several successful conversations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran."

Ilahi noted that the relationship between the two countries is rooted in 5,000 years of history and added, "Iranians are connected to India by culture, civilisation, education, humanity, and philosophy. Our relationship is very strong and will continue to grow stronger."

Two Indian-flagged vessels attacked in Hormuz Ilahi's remarks came after two Indian-flagged vessels were shot at by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. While no casualties were reported and the vessels were not damaged either, the two ships had to turn back after the incident, which occurred in the northeast of Oman.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement noted that following the incident, New Delhi summoned the Iranian ambassador and conveyed India's deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Also Read | MEA summons Iran envoy after India- flagged tanker shot at near Hormuz

Commenting on the incident, Ilahi reiterated the relationship between the two countries, adding that he was unaware of the event, but hoped that it "will be okay and will be solved."

Ilahi calls for de-escalation in the war Calling for de-escalation in the war, Ilahi said that the Islamic Republic doesn't want this war and it only wants peace. He further expressed hope that the other side will also follow peace. Ilahi's word echoed President Masoud Pezeshkian's remarks. Earlier today, Pezeshkian claimed that Tehran isn't seeking war and is only acting in self-defence against the attack by the US and Israel, reiterating his country's commitment to peace and regional stability, Al Jazeera reported.

The Iranian President accused Washington and Tel Aviv of targeting civilian infrastructure, terming such actions violations of international law and evidence of double standards on human rights.

Quoting Pezeshkian, news agency ISNA said, "We have not attacked any country, and in the current situation we do not intend to attack any party, and we are simply defending ourselves legitimately." He added, "It should not be suggested that Iran is seeking war. On the contrary, we are peace-loving, and what we are doing is legitimate self-defence. Just as every human being reacts to aggression, a nation also defends itself against attack.

US demanded something else in Pakistan: Ilahi Commenting on the US-Iran negotiations, which occurred last week in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, Ilahi noted that the Islamic Republic handed over a 10-point plan to Washington, which was supposed to be the base of negotiations and was accepted by the US. He added that the US Vice President JD Vance-led delegation was supposed to come and negotiate based on the already presented plan; however, when they came to Pakistan and negotiations commenced, they started demanding something else. Ilahi said that the US refused to negotiate based on the previously presented plan, and as a result, the talks failed. According to him, "Iran has received some other proposal from the US, and maybe they will negotiate later. But up to now, there has been no achievement of that negotiation."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is receiving widespread applause on social media for fulfilling a 15-year-old cancer patients final wish. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck shared the heartfelt story on X, where it has since gone viral.

The girl, Liv Perrotto, had always yearned to meet the tech billionaire and had also written down several questions before she passed away. According to Beck, Liv did get the chance to meet Musk but was too exhausted from treatment to speak with him and asked him to call back later. Unfortunately, she died before the call could take place.

Also Read | Elon Musk renews debate around Covid-19 vaccine safety

Understanding how important this was to her, Liv left eight questions on her bedside table. Her mother, Rebecca Perrotto, later shared the list with Beck, hoping Musk would see it.

Here is the list of questions: 1. Are you going to make your own phone?

2. Are you expanding the Tesla Diner to new areas?

3. Will there be any new games with upcoming Tesla updates?

4. What is your favourite anime?

5. Have you ever been to Japan? What was your favourite place or thing there?

6. Do you know who Hatsune Miku is?

7. Was Ani inspired by Misa from Death Note?

8. Can you make Asteroid (the Shiba Inu zero-gravity indicator she designed for the Polaris Dawn mission) the mascot for SpaceX?

Musk fulfilled the wish by replying directly to Becks post, answering all eight questions one by one. The post went on to receive nearly two million views and tens of thousands of likes. Reacting to his responses, Rebecca said, I wish she were here to see this.

Here's how social media users reacted: The thread quickly spread across X, with users describing it as heartbreaking and beautiful and praising Musk for taking the time to respond to each point.

Someday, because of Elon, and people like him, our children won't have to die of cancer, one user wrote.

Also Read | Tesla sales rise after brutal year of Musk boycotts but still fall short of expectations

At a time when so much negativity and chaos is rampant, this is such a heartwarming reminder of kindness and humanity in life. Well done, another user wrote.
Eight children were killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport, media outlets reported on Sunday (April 19), citing local police.

Police Chief Wayne Smith said the incident occurred around 6 a.m., with victims ranging in age from one to about 14 years old.

Authorities said a total of 10 people were shot in the incident. The crime scene spanned three separate locations, complicating the investigation and response.

This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen, Smith said, underscoring the scale and severity of the violence.

Some of the children who were shot were believed to be related to the suspect, police said, pointing to a possible domestic context behind the attack.

Suspect killed after police chase Officials confirmed that the suspected shooter was fatally shot by police following a vehicle pursuit that extended into Bossier City. No law enforcement officers were injured during the confrontation.

The sequence of eventsfrom the initial shooting to the pursuit and final confrontationis now a central focus of the investigation.

State police take over probe The Louisiana State Police said its detectives have been requested by local authorities to lead the investigation. Officials are continuing to piece together the timeline and circumstances surrounding the shooting.

In a statement, state police confirmed that no officers were harmed and urged members of the public to come forward with any information, photos, or videos that could assist investigators.

Community in shock The incident has left the local community reeling, with authorities describing it as one of the most severe cases they have encountered. Further details are expected as investigators continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

Also Read | Several injured near University of Iowa after wild brawl leads to mass shooting
Several people have been reported injured in a possible mass shooting incident near the University of Iowa's campus after a wild brawl occurred early on Sunday, AFP reported.

Reports, citing the Iowa City Police Department, said that police were responding to a large fight at the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City at approximately 1:45 am (local time) when arriving officers heard gunshots ring out. Further, the investigation is currently underway, with the University of Iowa stating in an alert that there were "confirmed victims." However, it did not provide any additional details on casualties.

NBC News reported that a video shared on social media appeared to capture a confrontation before the shooting, involving a large group of people. In the footage, several individuals are seen hitting and kicking others while onlookers call for the violence to stop.

It remains uncertain when the gunfire started, but other clips circulating online show a large crowd running away from the area.

University of Iowa warns to avoid the area The university, in an alert posted on its website, said, "First responders on scene. Confirmed victims. Please continue to avoid the area." It also said the gunshots were reported near College and Clinton streets in the heart of the Midwest college town.

Also Read | Three killed, 14 injured in mass shooting at Texas bar

Iowa Police launches investigation The Iowa City Police have launched an investigation into the shooting, asking for witnesses to come forward and give their accounts, along with any security camera footage. Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Iowa City officials, in a statement, said, "The Iowa City Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday," adding that no arrests have been made so far. It further noted, "At this time, multiple victims have been taken to area hospitals to be treated for wounds suffered in the shooting," with their conditions being unknown.

According to the New York Post, while the number of victims or their severity remains unknown, unconfirmed reports suggest that at least six people were hospitalised.

US' long history of gun violence The United States, where firearms are readily available in multiple states, has a long history of gun violence that kills thousands of people every year, AFP reported. Earlier this month, two street takeover incidents were reported in Los Angeles, where a shooting erupted on the scene. While one incident was reported at Compton and Gage avenues in the Florence-Firestone area, another was reported at Del Mar and Garvey avenues in Rosemead.

Earlier in March, the Guardian reported that a 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school before fatally shooting himself, according to authorities, who were still investigating what led to the attack. According to an Education Week analysis, the incident was the fifth school shooting with injuries or deaths in the US this year to date.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.  George Jean Nathan

LiveMint's quote of the day by George Jean Nathan, a titan of American cultural criticism, is a classic indictment of political apathy. It suggests that the quality of a government is a direct reflection of the participation, or lack thereof, of its most reasonable and ethical constituents.

As West Bengal and Tamil Nadu head for Assembly elections in a few days, this quote serves as a reminder that the easiest way for bad leadership to thrive is for good people to do nothing  Democracy is a use it or lose it system.

The votes polled in Puducherry, Assam and Kerala Assembly elections will be counted on May 4, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The counting of votes polled in bypolls will also be counted on May 4.

What does it mean? At its core, George Jean Nathan's quote highlights a mathematical and moral paradox in any working democracy:

Power of absence : In any election, the winner is determined by the majority of votes cast, not the majority of the population. When "good" citizens, those who are informed, ethical, or moderate, stay home, they effectively lower the "price" of victory.

: In any election, the winner is determined by the majority of votes cast, not the majority of the population. When "good" citizens, those who are informed, ethical, or moderate, stay home, they effectively lower the "price" of victory. Vacuum effect : Political power never remains empty. If thoughtful people opt out of the process, that space is immediately filled by those with more extreme, self-serving, or narrow agendas.

: Political power never remains empty. If thoughtful people opt out of the process, that space is immediately filled by those with more extreme, self-serving, or narrow agendas. Complicity through silence: Nathan argues that "goodness" is not a passive trait. You cannot be a truly "good citizen" if you ignore the primary mechanism that protects the society you live in. By not voting, you are essentially providing a "silent endorsement" to whoever wins, including the "bad" officials.

How is it relevant today? In today's global political landscape, this quote feels more like a warning than a mere observation. Here is why it remains critically relevant today:

"Voter Fatigue" and burnout We live in an era of 24/7 news cycles and intense polarisation. Many citizens feel "exhausted" by politics and choose to "opt out" for their mental health. Nathans quote reminds us that while the fatigue is real, the consequences of withdrawing are even more taxingresulting in leadership that may ignore the needs of the exhausted majority.

Power of "thin" majorities In recent years, many major global elections and referendums have been decided by razor-thin marginssometimes less than 1%. In these scenarios, the "good citizens" who stayed home were quite literally the deciding factor.

The quote emphasises that there is no such thing as "not voting"; there is only "letting someone else decide for you."

Combatting extremism Algorithms and social media often amplify extreme voices. Moderate, centrist, or nuanced perspectives are frequently drowned out. If these "good citizens" feel their voice doesn't matter and skip the polls, they allow candidates who cater only to the "loudest" and often most radical fringes to take power.

Accountability crisis With the rise of misinformation and AI-generated content, it is harder than ever to discern "good" from "bad." However, Nathans quote suggests that the effort to discern and vote is a civic duty.

If citizens stop trying to hold officials accountable at the ballot box, the standard for what constitutes a "good official" continues to drop.

Where does the quote come from? The quote is an aphorism that appeared as part of George Jean Nathan's broader social commentary. This specific line is often cited as coming from his editorial work or his 1920s-era columns, where he analysed the "American mind."

He was famously cynical about democracy and often claimed to be "indifferent" to politics. However, this quote reveals his belief that if a system is failing, the fault lies not just with the "bad" leaders, but with the "good" people who have surrendered their agency.

Who was George Jean Nathan George Jean Nathan (18821958) was a titan of American cultural criticism. While he is primarily remembered as the most influential drama critic of the early 20th century, he was also a prolific editor and a sharp-witted social commentator.

He is most famous for his close professional association with H.L. Mencken. Together, they edited The Smart Set and co-founded The American Mercury, two of the most influential literary magazines of the 1920s.

Nathan believed that the role of a critic was not to be a cheerleader but to be a "destructive" forceto tear down mediocre, "hokum" plays so that truly great art, like that of Eugene O'Neill, whom he championed, could thrive.
US Vice President JD Vance has said he is grateful after Pope Leo XIV moved to defuse tensions with President Donald Trump, following days of public back-and-forth between the Vatican and the White House over remarks linked to the Iran conflict.

Pope Leo said on Saturday that he had no interest in a public dispute with the US administration.

It is not in my interest at all to debate the president, he said, adding that his focus remains on peace, justice and brotherhood.

He also noted: Much of what has been written since then has been commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said.

Pope Leo XIV said on Saturday that media coverage of his recent Africa visit had created a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects.

He added that his speech had been prepared weeks earlier and was not intended as a response to Trump, pushing back on interpretations that it directly targeted US policy.

Vance: Grateful for Popes clarification Vance, who met the pope during a Vatican visit in 2025 and is Catholic, welcomed the clarification.

While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict  and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen  the reality is often much more complicated, Vance said.

He added: Pope Leo preaches the Gospel, as he should The president  and the entire administration  work to apply those moral principles in a messy world. He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his.

Earlier warning from Vance Tensions had initially surfaced after Vance suggested the pope should be careful when commenting on theological and political issues, reflecting unease within the administration over Vatican statements.

Pope criticised manipulation of religion The controversy began after Pope Leo delivered remarks in Cameroon criticising those who manipulate religion for political or military gain.

He said: Jesus told us, blessed are the peacemakers. But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.

The comments were widely interpreted as referencing global conflicts, including US policy on Iran.

Warning against escalation and civilisation rhetoric The pope also condemned rhetoric suggesting extreme escalation, calling references to US President Donald Trump targeting Irans whole civilization truly unacceptable.

Trump responded sharply, calling the pope WEAK on crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy, escalating the public exchange between Washington and the Vatican.

Also Read | Tehran Mocks Trump After US Warships Menu Menu Go Viral
Iran has rejected plans for a second round of peace talks with the United States, according to a report by Islamic Republic News Agency. The decision marks a setback for diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions as a fragile ceasefire nears its expiry.

The agency cited multiple reasons for Tehrans refusal, including what it described as excessive demands from Washington, unrealistic expectations, shifting positions, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade.

Contradiction with US position The development comes shortly after US President Donald Trump said a new round of negotiations would take place. My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan  they will be there tomorrow evening for negotiations, he said on Truth Social.

A US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, had been expected to travel to Islamabad for the talks.

Irans alleged rejection now casts uncertainty over whether the planned discussions will proceed at all.

Rising rhetoric from Washington Tensions have intensified in recent days, with Trump issuing stark warnings to Tehran. He said the United States could target key infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if Iran fails to agree to what he described as a reasonable deal.

The remarks signal a hardening stance from Washington even as diplomatic channels remain open, underscoring the fragile nature of the current situation.

The two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to expire on Wednesday.

Although the ceasefire has largely held, tensions have risen in recent days after Iran reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US naval blockade of violating the truce.

And, Trump accused Irans Revolutionary Guard of violating the ceasefire, alleging that forces opened fire on ships transiting the waterway, including a French vessel and a UK-flagged freighter.

The diplomatic standoff comes as a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran is set to expire on Wednesday.

Ceasefire nearing expiry The United States and Iran held first direct talks in Islamabad on April 1112 in an effort to end their conflict, but the discussions ended without a breakthrough. Following the failed first round, Pakistan renewed diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of negotiations aimed at reaching a possible agreement.

From April 15, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye, while Chief of Defence Staff Asim Munir spent three days in Iran to build consensus on key issues.

Also Read | Tehran Mocks Trump After US Warships Menu Menu Go Viral
MALE, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Maldivian Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has ordered government-owned companies to reduce their workforce by 33 percent, state-owned PSM News reported on Sunday.

PSM News reported that the directive has already been sent to the Privatization and Corporatization Board.

The ministry said the decision aims to cut operating costs and strengthen controls on government spending.

The measures are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of state-owned companies and align their operations with the government's public finance and operational policies, it noted.

The ministry said it will monitor progress and compliance, while companies must report regularly on the implementation of the measures.

The directive builds on earlier cost-cutting measures, including limits on hiring and promotions, controls on salaries and benefits, reductions in overtime, cancellations of non-essential events, and cuts to travel and discretionary spending, PSM News reported. 
North Korea launched ballistic missiles toward waters off its east coast, authorities in South Korea and Japan said.

Multiple unidentified ballistic missiles were fired from the Sinpo area of North Korea at around 6:10 a.m. local time Sunday, according to a statement from South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff.

While strengthening surveillance and maintaining heightened readiness for further launches, South Korea, the US, and Japan are closely sharing information and maintaining full preparedness, it said.

Japans Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, speaking during a visit to Australia, said the ministry is collecting and analyzing information, while maintaining a high level of vigilance.

The missiles are believed to have fallen near the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, with no impact confirmed within Japans territory or exclusive economic zone, its defense ministry said. There were no immediate reports of damage to aircraft or vessels in the area.

Pyongyang last launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward waters off its eastern coast on April 8.

The latest launch comes as the war in Iran drags on, heightening security concerns in east Asia as the US shifts its focus to the Middle East.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been deepening strategic ties with Russias Vladimir Putin and continues close coordination with China, underscoring a growing alignment among the three nations against a US-led security order.

In recent months, Kim has unveiled the Hwasong-20, an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to reach the US mainland. He ordered the modernization of his countrys missile and artillery production, signaling a push to expand both nuclear and conventional weapons.

In its latest annual threat-assessment report, the US intelligence authorities said North Korea had successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland and gained valuable war-fighting experience and military technology from Russia for participating in combat operations against Ukraine.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said this month that the agency has observed a very serious increase in North Koreas nuclear output capability.

While President Lee Jae Myung has sought to ease tensions with Pyongyang, North Korea has largely brushed aside his outreach, maintaining that Seoul remains hostile.

When President Donald Trump visited the region for the EC meetings in late October, he said he was open to meeting Kim if the timing could be arranged.

Sundays launches and North Koreas continued development of new missiles underscore the threat it poses to its neighbors, amid concerns over Pyongyangs security cooperation with Russia. Kim said days after Trumps inauguration that confrontation with hostile nations was inevitable as he visited a factory and laboratory making weapons-grade nuclear materials.

Many of the projectiles tested in recent years have been of a group known as Hwasong-11, a family of short-range ballistic missiles that can hold hefty payloads including nuclear warheads. The US and South Korea have accused Kim of sending scores of this type of missile to Russia to help Putin in his war efforts.

In return, Russia has sent aid that has propped up North Koreas economy and helped Kim advance his weapons programs, Seoul and Washington have said.

With assistance from Takashi Hirokawa, Keiko Ujikane and Se Young Lee.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
US President Donald Trump strongly endorsed Israel, describing it as a key strategic ally amid rising tensions in the region.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America. They are Courageous, Bold, Loyal, and Smart and, unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress, Israel fights hard, and knows how to WIN!

These declarations arrive against a backdrop of intensifying friction involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Kamala Harris slams Trump over Iran war Former US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday made a strong political statement, alleging that Trump was pulled into the war with Iran due to the influence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking at a womens luncheon at Detroits Huntington Place during the Michigan Democratic Party endorsement convention, she also criticised Trump for damaging the United States relationships with its allies, calling him an insecure man during her remarks.

Harris said, Trump entered a war  and he got pulled into it by Bibi Netanyahu, let's be clear about that  that the American people didn't want. Among the many consequences of it is jacking up the price of gas.

Trump says Iran got a little cute Trump said on Saturday that Iran "got a little cute" but that "very good" conversations were happening, and more information would come by day's end. "They can't blackmail us," he added, AP reported.

On Friday, Trump said the US will go into Iran and "get all the nuclear dust," referring to the enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by US military strikes last year.

The regional landscape remains fraught with complexities, particularly concerning negotiations over ceasefire protocols and the security of maritime operations within the Strait of Hormuz.

While the communication stopped short of identifying specific nations, it appeared to establish a clear distinction between Israeli steadfastness and the perceived wavering of other international partners.

What's happening in Iran? Iran reversed its move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, firing at a tanker attempting to pass and warning it would keep blocking transit as long as the U.S. blockade on its ports continues.

The uncertainty around the vital shipping route risked worsening the global energy crisis and raising the chances of renewed conflict, even as mediators signaled optimism about a possible deal.

Irans joint military command said control of the strait had returned to strict oversight by its armed forces.

Meanwhile, two Revolutionary Guard gunboats fired on a passing tanker, though the vessel and crew were reported safe. Shipping trackers said multiple vessels, including an Indian-flagged supertanker, were forced to turn back, AP reported.

Iran says any attempt to pass through Strait of Hotmuz As reported by AFP, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without permission will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted.

Only a few oil and gas tankers managed to cross the strait early Saturday during a brief reopening, according to tracking data. Later in the day, most vessels pulled back, with maritime tracking platforms showing minimal movement through the crucial waterway, AFP reported.

A UK maritime security agency reported that the Revolutionary Guards opened fire on one tanker, while security firm Vanguard Tech said the force also threatened to destroy an empty cruise ship attempting to leave the Gulf.

Also Read | Strait of Hormuz to stay closed until port blockade lifts, Iran says

In a separate incident, the UK agency said it received information about a vessel struck by an unidentified projectile, which damaged shipping containers but did not trigger a fire.

Trump entered a war  and he got pulled into it by Bibi Netanyahu, let's be clear about that.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran said the stockpile, believed to be buried deep under rubble after U.S. bombing during last Junes 12-day war "was not going to be transferred anywhere, adding that surrendering it to the US has never been raised in negotiations.

The Middle East war began on February 28 with a large-scale wave of surprise strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, even as Washington and Tehran were still engaged in ongoing negotiations.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday, posted a long-worded note on Truth Social, stating that he hopes 'Iran will take US' deal.' He said that US representatives would be in Islamabad, Pakistan on Monday (20 April) evening, for Negotiations.

My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan  They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations, wrote Trump.

Theyll come down fast, theyll come down easy and, if they dont take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. ITS TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END! he added.

Donald Trump's post comes days after US and Iranian representatives met in Islamabad for the first round of talks  that ended with no breakthrough. That time, Washington proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran suggested a halt of three to five years, Reuters reported  citing people familiar with the proposals.

Still far from final discussion - What Iran said? The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States. On Saturday, the Islamic Republic reversed course on reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway after the US said the move would not end its blockade, reported AP.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address on Saturday night that there had been "progress" with Washington "but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain".

"We are still far from the final discussion," said Ghalibaf, one of Tehran's negotiators in the talks aimed at ending the conflict, reported AFP.

On Saturday, two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil were attacked while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

Indian-flagged vessels attacked near Hormuz India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the incident in a statement released on Saturday.

While no casualties were reported and the vessels were not damaged either, the two ships had to turn back after the incident, which occurred in the northeast of Oman.
I am not saying poverty induces no transgressions at all. I suspect most people are capable of petty theft and poverty can create a moral basis to take the risk. This is why leaving petty cash in a car just to check if the driver or cleaner is honest is indecent. Anyone in misery can be lured to commit petty theft. Even in this indecent test, the poor fare well. Maybe they have figured it is a trick. An Indian saheb is more likely leave his Aadhaar in the city square than 10 in the car.
Iran moved to restrict vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to the continued US naval blockade, undermining expectations of an imminent peace deal touted by President Donald Trump.

The Islamic Republic on Saturday broadcast to ships that the waterway was closed to maritime traffic, and one supertanker reported gunfire, according to owners of vessels in the area who asked not to be identified because of the security situation.

Chaos in the Strait of Hormuz  through which about a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas transited before the US-Israel war on Iran began in February  erupted a day after Iran said the waterway would reopen to commercial vessels. Earlier in the day, Iran rejected a US demand to keep a naval blockade in place until a deal is signed, calling it maritime banditry.

The developments upend rising optimism that the sides were nearing a broad agreement to end a seven-week war that has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted energy exports from the Persian Gulf.

On Friday, President Trump said a deal with Iran may be imminent, adding that he would work with Iran to recover the countrys nuclear dust.

But Esmail Baghaei, the countrys Foreign Ministry spokesman, told state television that enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Irans soil, and it wont be transferred anywhere under any circumstances.

The material  which the US says was buried deep underground after its bombing of Irans nuclear facilities during last years 12-day war  lies at the core of efforts to end the conflict, and its fate is central to any broader deal.

Momentum for a lasting peace had been building, with Tehran saying Friday that Hormuz is open for commercial shipping after Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Cracks began to emerge Saturday with Irans criticism of the continued US blockade.

The UK Navy soon after said a tanker was approached by Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp gun boats before being fired at, saying that the vessel and its crew were safe.

Several oil tankers made a U-turn Saturday after appearing to try to transit the narrow waterway. It wasnt immediately clear why they changed course.

Others still sought to seize the opportunity provided by the Friday announcement. The FPMC C Lord, a very large crude carrier laden with Qatari and Saudi crude, sailed south of the Iranian island of Larak and was heading into the Gulf of Oman around mid-Saturday, indicating its destination as Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates.

A handful of other oil carriers are also pointing toward the waterway. Earlier, three LNG carriers and an oil-product tanker  some of them sanctioned by the US  headed east into the Gulf of Oman, while a Pakistan-flagged products tanker followed not far behind. Several LNG carriers were also nearing the strait.

While a deal appears to be in sight that may bring an end to the current round of US-Iran hostilities and relief to energy markets, its unlikely to result in a full or lasting peace, Bloomberg Economics analysts including Jennifer Welch wrote in a report. We assess any deal will be limited and fragile.

Trump told Bloomberg in a phone interview on Friday that Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and most of the main points in discussions with the country are finalized.

He denied that the US would release any frozen funds to the Islamic Republic  a key demand of Tehran that he has long decried.

I just think its something that should happen. Its something that only makes sense to happen. And I think it will. Well see what happens, Trump said separately on the prospect of reaching a deal with Iran, as he was returning to Washington from a Phoenix event. I think that is going to be very beneficial. And the main thing is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.

The president also floated the threat of resuming strikes on Iran once the current ceasefire expires next week. Maybe I wont extend it, so you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again, he said.

Trumps comments and Tehrans declaration on Hormuz on Friday were the latest signs the two sides were working behind the scenes on a deal after their first round of direct talks in Pakistan last week failed to yield an agreement.

The war saw Iran retaliate against US bases across the region and strike oil and gas infrastructure belonging to American allies in the Gulf, triggering a global energy crisis.

GLOBAL REACT: US-Iran Deal in Sight  Lasting Peace Still Remote

Oil, fuel and natural gas prices plunged on hopes that the latest developments would mean an end to the war and more energy supplies could transit safely through Hormuz. Brent crude dropped 9% on Friday to around $90 a barrel, wiping out most of the gains it posted since the onset of the war. Diesel prices in the US and Europe were also lower.

In a notable shift, real-world oil prices also eased significantly alongside headline futures prices. On Friday, dated Brent, the worlds most important physical price, fell below $100 a barrel for the first time since March 11. Stocks extended their rally on speculation the war would soon end.

One proposal under discussion is for the US to release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium, Axios reported, citing two US officials and two additional sources briefed on the talks whom it didnt identify.

Trump pushed back on that idea in the phone interview, repeatedly saying no when asked if he would release the $20 billion.

Pakistani and US officials suggested another round of talks were in the works. Asked if he would travel to Pakistan to sign an agreement, Trump said, I may. Iran said it has yet to agree to another round of negotiations.

Many traders and analysts remain skeptical that meaningful crude flows can resume quickly. The US has said the blockade imposed earlier this week on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports remains in place.

In the phone interview, Trump said the US-Iran discussions are a totally separate deal from the Lebanon ceasefire. Still, Israels military campaign in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, had been a major impediment to a broader deal. That ceasefire was holding on Saturday.

With assistance from Sara Gharaibeh.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Months ahead of the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, rumours about Apple's flagship show no signs of slowing down. While Apple continues to stay mum on the official presence or the features of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, leaks have given us a good hint of what upgrades to expect from the Apple flagship. However, a new report has also given us a potential first look at the colour variants of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Also Read | Sridhar Vembu's blueprint for coders to survive the generative AI era

iPhone 18 Pro Max colour options: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had earlier hinted that orange may not be Apple's favourite colour for the iPhone 18 Pro Max this year and the company could be favouring a "Dark Red" colour variant. However, a new report by Macworld, while quoting sources familiar with Apple's supply chain, notes that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could arrive in Light Blue (Pantone 2121), Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), Dark Grey (Pantone 426C), and Silver (Pantone 427C) colour variants.

The report also notes that since the iPhone 18 Pro lineup has not gone into mass production yet, Apple still has time to change these colours. Notably, Macworld had also reported last year that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could arrive in a black or steel grey variant, but Apple never officially unveiled that colour.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: What to expect? Apple could pair the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch ProMotion OLED displays as last year. The iPhone 18 Pro series could also get up to a 35 percent smaller Dynamic Island cutout compared to its predecessor.

The tech giant is also said to be ditching the dual-tone look from last year in favour of a unified back glass and aluminium frame look.

The phones are likely to run on the A20 chip, built on TSMC's 2nm process, with a reportedly 15 percent faster speed and 30 percent more efficiency compared to their predecessor.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max could feature the biggest battery ever on an iPhone at 5,1005,200mAh. The phone could also come with Apple's in-house C2 modem, ditching the Qualcomm modem on its predecessor.

View full Image View full Image Rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max colours ( Macworld )

iPhone 18 Pro Max price: Apple is likely to launch the iPhone 18 Pro lineup alongside the iPhone Fold/Ultra during its September launch window. The phone could come at the same price as last year, with reports suggesting that Apple is planning to absorb the increased prices of memory chips and manufacturing.

Also Read | AI is a gold mine for spammers and scammers, but Google is using it as a tool to fight back
Former Meta AI Chief Scientist Yann Lecun has criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for his remarks that AI will lead to reduction in 50% of all tech jobs. Lecun noted that AI lab CEOs inlcuding himself, OpenAI chief Sam Altman, Yoshua Bengio, and Geoffrey Hinton (widely regarded as Godfather of AI) are not the right experts on how the technology will affect jobs and economy.

Instead, Lecun noted that the economists can be a better judge of how AI will affect the job market.

Dario is wrong. He knows absolutely nothing about the effects of technological revolutions on the labor market. Don't listen to him, Sam, Yoshua, Geoff, or me on this topic. Listen to economists who have spent their career studying this

When a user in replies pointed out that the clip of Dario was from an interview around 6 months back, Lecun responded writing, It's still wrong, destructive, and dangerous.:

Notably, Lecun had also recently criticized Anthropic for spreading fear about its Mythos AI model which it revealed earlier in the month but refused to release to the public due to cybersecurity risks.

Replying to a post on X, Lecun wrote, Mythos drama = BS from self-delusion.

Dario Amodei's warning on AI replacing humans: Notably, this is not the first time that Amodei has warned about the impact of AI on the job market. The Anthropic CEO has been known to make statements warning about the potential risks of the technology that his company is at the forefront of.

In an interview last year, Amodei had called for the end of sugar-coating by AI companies on what the technology could bring next including mass layoffs across technology, finance, law and other white-collar jobs. Amodei has warned that AI coudl wipe off nearly 50% of the entry-level white collar jobs in the next one to five years.

In his essay The Adolescence of Technology written earlier this year, Amodei had warned that AI isnt a substitute for specific human jobs but rather a general labor substitute for humans.

I suspect well have powerful AI (which would be, technologically speaking, enough to do most or all jobs, not just entry level) in much less than 5 years. he wrote

Not everyone agrees with Dario:

Anthropic's critics have warned that the company's commitment to safety may be a calculated business strategy instead. In a leaked memo OpenAI's Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser wrote, Anthropic's narrative is "built on fear, restriction, and the idea that a small group of elites should control AI."

Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had also criticized Anthropic's policy and said last year that he "pretty much disagree[s] with almost everything" on the topic said by Dario Amodei.
Former Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu has said that software engineers need to focus on domain expertise in order to thrive in the era of artificial intelligence. With the rise of new technology, Vembue stressed that programming skills still remain foundational, they are no longer enough on their own.

Here is what I tell our software engineers on how to thrive in the AI era: be very good domain experts. Programming skills are the foundation (and we definitely don't want to lose them) but deep domain knowledge is what customers pay for, along with reliability, security, support and compliance. Vembu wrote in a post on X

AI productivity gains are hotly debated: While AI powered coding tools like Codex and Claude Code are being widely adopted across industries, Vembu says that the productivity gains from AI are still hotly debated and instead urged his team to not obsess over programmer productivity and instead focus on how to offer a much better experience to customers using the power of AI.

The productivity gains from AI are still hotly debated: we definitely get to a working prototype much faster but a finished product has a lot more to it and not all the stages can be sped up by AI. Vembu noted

That is why I advise our technical teams to not obsess about programmer productivity as a metric but focus on how we can offer a far better experience to customers using AI. There is a lot of needless or incidental complexity in software that can be eliminated by AI. he added

The recent advice by Vembu comes just a couple of months after the 58 year old techie had stirred a controversy by suggesting that those writing code for a living to start considering alternative livelihoods.

He has also earlier warned that if the self worth of individuals is solely depedent on economic output, then AI could a serious threat to them. Vembu has also earlier noted that activities like caring for children or elderly, teaching and mentoring, farming, classical music and arts will remain largely unaffected even with AI coming into effect

Notably, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had famously said earlier in the year that he wants his engineers to stop coding at all and instead use AI tools like cursor as they focus their time on "undiscovered problems".

"Nothing would give me more joy than if none of our engineers were coding at all," Huang had said.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has warned that Chinese AI models like DeepSeek running on the country's domestic chips could be a horrible outcome for the United States. In a recent podcast appearance, Huang argued against completely cutting off the Chinese market, stating that the creation of an independent tech ecosystem in the country could ultimately end up displacing US technology standards globally.

Also Read | AI pioneer Yann LeCun rejects Anthropics 50 percent job loss prediction

As AI diffuses out into the rest of the world, their standards, their tech stack, will become superior to ours, because their models are open, Huang said in a recent appearance on the Dwarkesh podcast.

Horrible outcome for US: While discussing the rapid advancement of Chinese AI research, Huang pointed to DeepSeek as a major breakthrough.

"DeepSeek is not an inconsequential advance," Huang noted, adding that "the day that DeepSeek comes out on Huawei first, that is a horrible outcome for our nation."

The 63-year-old Nvidia chief also went on to explain that if an open-source model like DeepSeek is optimised specifically for Huawei's architecture, it would put American hardware at a severe disadvantage.

"I'm going to give you the bad news, that AI models around the world are developed and they run best on non-American hardware," Huang said. "That is bad news for us."

If the next years are critical, then we have to make sure that all of the world's AI models are built on the American tech stack, he added.

Huang noted that the AI industry is built on five layers and that the US needs to maintain its dominance across all of them, including the foundational chip layer.

Huang on sending chips to China: During one heated moment in the podcast, the host Dwarkesh compared AI compute to "enriched uranium", arguing that while the technology has positive uses, it should not be exported due to its potential to empower hostile nations with cyber-offensive capabilities. Patel also noted that some industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, support strict export controls for this reason.

Huang, however, firmly rejected the comparison, calling it a "lousy" and "illogical analogy". He argued that comparing AI chips to nuclear weapons is "lunacy", noting that microprocessors and DRAM are already widely exported and manufactured globally.

Instead of isolating the market, Huang argued that the US must combat the threat of cyber-attacks through international dialogue with researchers and foreign governments to establish safety boundaries. He warned that scaring the public into treating AI like a "nuclear bomb" does a fundamental disservice to the United States and the technology sector.
After triggering a selloff in stocks of SaaS companies earlier this year with Claude Code, Anthropic has a new AI tool that is now threatening the shares of software design companies like Adobe and Figma. The Dario Amodei-led startup has unveiled a new AI tool called Claude Design, which the company says can create polished visual assets ranging from interactive prototypes to pitch decks, all with a simple text prompt.

The launch sent shockwaves through the design software market, with Adobe shares dropping roughly 1.5% and Figma seeing a 7% decline in secondary markets following the news. The market reaction comes just days after Anthropic's Chief Product Officer resigned from Figmas board on April 14.

What is Claude Design? Claude Design is powered by Anthropic's latest Claude Opus 4.7 model and is aimed at helping experienced designers and non-designers produce and explore visual work. In order to start a new project with Claude Design, users only need to upload an image or a document like DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX, or even just point Claude directly at an existing codebase.

Anthropic says Claude Design builds a first draft of the requested design, and then users can refine it via inline comments, direct edits, or custom sliders until they get it right. The tool is also capable of applying a team's design system to every project automatically in order to make sure that the created design is consistent with the rest of the company's designs.

Also Read | ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok confidently generate dangerous medical advice

"During onboarding, Claude builds a design system for your team by reading your codebase and design files," Anthropic explained in its blog post. "Every project after that uses your colours, typography, and components automatically".

Anthropic also shared a few realistic ways in which its new Claude Design tool is already being used by teams:

Realistic prototypes: Turning static mockups into shareable, interactive prototypes for user testing without requiring code review.

Pitch decks: Allowing founders to go from a rough outline to a complete, on-brand presentation in minutes.

Frontier design: Building complex, code-powered prototypes that incorporate voice, video, 3D elements, and shaders.

Marketing collateral: Marketers can use Claude Design to create landing pages, social media assets, and campaign visuals and then bring in designers to add extra polish.

How to use Claude Design: Open the Claude app or website.

Create a project and add any relevant context like DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, or a screenshot.

Review what Claude generates on the canvas.

Iterate using chat messages and inline comments. When a project is finished, users can export the designs to Canva, PDF, PPTX, or standalone HTML files. The new tool also features a seamless handoff to Anthropic's coding assistant, Claude Code.

Also Read | AI is a gold mine for spammers and scammers, but Google is using it as a tool to fight back

"When a design is ready to build, Claude packages everything into a handoff bundle that you can pass to Claude Code with a single instruction," the company noted.

Who can use Claude Design? Claude Design is available at no extra cost for existing Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers. However, it does draw from a user's subscription limits. Anthropic says users have the option to enable "extra usage" to continue beyond those limits.
SANAA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group warned on Saturday that the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait could be closed.

Houthi official Hussein al-Ezzi made the remarks in a post on X, noting the possibility of measures that would affect one of the world's most critical maritime routes.

"If Sanaa makes the decision to close the Bab al-Mandeb, no force would be able to reopen it," he said.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, is a vital shipping corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of global trade, including energy supplies, passes through the narrow waterway.

The Houthi official urged Washington and its allies to "end all actions and policies that stand in the way of peace" and to respect what he described as the legitimate rights of the Yemeni people.

The warning follows Iran's decision on Saturday to reimpose restrictions on maritime traffic in response to the ongoing U.S. naval blockade. 
Meetings platform Zoom has partnered with Sam Altman's human ID verification company World to verify that the participants in meetings are actual humans and not AI-generated avatars. The new integration, dubbed World ID Deep Face, is aimed at combating the rising threat of deepfakes and AI-driven impersonation fraud.

Designed for enterprises and regulated industries, this integration adds an additional layer of assurance to conversations, helping organisations reduce the risk of impersonation during critical moments such as financial approvals, healthcare consultations, and executive decision-making sessions, Zoom said in a blog post.

Also Read | ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok confidently generate dangerous medical advice

Citing Deloitte estimates, Zoom noted that AI-enabled fraud losses in the US alone could skyrocket to $40 billion by 2027. The new initiative by Zoom comes at a time when AI video and photo generation models have become more sophisticated, blurring the lines between reality and AI-driven content while also giving a powerful tool in the hands of bad actors.

The World ID uses an orb-shaped device for iris scans and issues a unique proof-of-humanity identifier.

How does World ID Deep Face work? In a blog post, Zoom explained that unlike traditional deepfake detection that solely analyses video feeds for synthetic manipulation, its new approach actively verifies human liveness and presence.

The company detailed the full process for the verification:

Enrollment: Users must first verify their identity using an Orb, the advanced camera developed by Tools for Humanity, to receive a verified World ID.

Meeting Verification: When joining a protected Zoom call, the company will run a quick check within the World App to confirm a match between the live Zoom video frame, the original Orb image, and an on-device facial authentication selfie.

In-Call Display: Once successfully authenticated, a Verified Human badge appears on the user's video tile and profile, signalling to other attendees that they are a confirmed human participant.

Also Read | AI is a gold mine for spammers and scammers, but Google is using it as a tool to fight back

Zoom says the integration also features a "Deep Face Waiting Room", which mandates that participants prove their human identity before being allowed into the call. Furthermore, meeting hosts have the option to trigger on-demand verification checks for any participant mid-meeting.

World to verify if you are dating a human: Along with Zoom, Tinder also announced that it will be using World's ID scanning system globally, after a pilot programme in Japan. Users of the popular dating service will be asked to verify with an Orb to receive a badge showing they are real humans and, in select markets like the US and Japan, they will also receive perks such as five free profile "Boosts".
Red White & Blue Thrift Stores is opening its first San Antonio location this week. But there's a catch. Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA

So, youve heard the news repeatedly from MySA that a new national thrift store chain, which is lauding a big claim as the best thrift store in the USA, is coming to town. But before you gear up for opening day on Thursday, April 23, you may want to run by the ATM. We know cash?

In visiting Red White & Blue Thrift Stores new digs on the Northeast Side of San Antonio  its very first foray into the Alamo City  MySA was surprised (if not left scratching our heads) over a one of a few signs plastered across the front door. Interviewees take the side door and a sign announcing the opening date are no brainers, but what do you mean cash only?

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Cash only. ATM inside, one of the signs along the glass storefront read, protruding out from the aisles and aisles of clothes ready for bargain hunters. Small fee applies.

Shoppers excited for a brand new national thrift chain making its first foray into San Antonio should be ready to hit the ATM before snagging any deals. Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA

Turns out, there are lots of Red White & Blue Thrift Stores across the country that dont accept credit or debit cards. Of course, you can get your cash once youre there. But who wants to shell out an extra few bucks for an out-of-network ATM? However, it could come in handy after seeing some of the pricier items listed on social media platforms.

On Reddit, one puzzled shopper in Tampa found it insane his local thrift was asking up to $3,000 for a Fender guitar but only accepting cash. But there are far more accounts of reasonably, if not low, priced items at their locations across various cities. For the most part, folks say the ATM fee in-store isnt exorbitant  weve seen those $4 or $5 shady corner store ATM fees  but also suggest stopping by your local bank.

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MySA reached out to Red White & Blue Thrift Stores for comment, asking why some locations are cash only and how much money on average folks should prepare to bring, but did not hear back by publication time. A good rule of thumb based on modern thrifting prices, the average shopper could get by on $20 to $60. Worst case scenario, you fall in love with something pricier and have to put up the couple bucks at the in-store ATM or you leave with some cash in your pocket to put back in your bank account.

The self-proclaimed "best thrift store in the USA" is just about to open its first San Antonio location. Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA

Regardless, its an exciting addition to Walzem Road which is beginning to see a bit of a shopping center renaissance as new businesses plant roots. 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. But Red White & Blue Thrift Stores is joining the herd and may be bringing some special deals.

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The 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

The $1.8 million renovation project for Red White & Blue Thrift took over the old Goodwill storefront in Windcrest. So, were nixing one beloved  though sometimes debated  chain for San Antonios first foray into a different national competitor. This new discount retailer is different from other San Antonio staples in a major way: Red, White & Blue Thrift is openly marketed as for-profit, while many, if not all, of San Antonios beloved brands are nonprofits serving the community.

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Guardiola /

A man accused in 2020 of killing his stepfather pled guilty to murder in the 341st District Court last week, where Judge Backie Palomo sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

David Guardiola Jr. was accused of killing Juan Manuel Vazquez on Oct. 14, 2020.

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Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and an optional fine of up to $10,000.

According to court documents, on Sept. 2, 2025, Guardiola waived the formal reading of the indictment, entered a not guilty plea and requested pretrial settings, moving the case forward toward trial.

During a pretrial hearing on April 9, 2026, Guardiola rejected the plea offer in open court and requested a jury trial. Palomo paused the proceedings and allowed him time to confer further with his defense attorney. After that consultation, the case was recalled the same day.

When proceedings resumed, Guardiola accepted the agreement and pled guilty to the murder charge. Then the state presented at least one exhibit that was admitted into evidence, and the court accepted the negotiated plea.

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Palomo administered the oath, and he confirmed he is a U.S. citizen, waived the formal reading of the indictment and entered a guilty plea to the murder charge. He also waived his right to a jury trial.

Palomo then formally found him guilty and immediately sentenced him to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

As part of the agreement, a related case was dismissed, and he received credit for time already served, including time spent in a state hospital, with credit applied first to court costs and fees and then toward his sentence.

Also, victim impact statements and letters from family members were ordered to be included in the official record.

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Following sentencing, a clemency letter from the defendant's mother was filed, according to court documents.

Background

On Oct. 14, a hysterical woman called police and said her son had killed her husband. She then disconnected the line. Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Segovia Drive in the Santa Rita neighborhood. A man identified as Guardiola met officers outside the front of the house.

Authorities identified the woman who called police as Guardiola's mother. Police secured the scene and found a man lying dead on the bathroom floor, who was identified as Vazquez. Vazquez was Guardiola's stepfather, according to court documents. Crimes Against Persons detectives took over the investigation.

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Guardiola was arrested on Oct. 14, 2020, in connection with a fatal assault reported in south Laredo, according to authorities.

Guardiola was charged with murder after fatally stabbing his stepfather, Juan Manuel Vazquez, because he claimed his stepfather accused him of wanting to have sex with his half-sister, according to an arrest affidavit.

Guardiola allegedly agreed to provide his account of what had occurred. Guardiola stated that between 2-3 a.m. Oct. 11, he had an argument with his stepfather, Vazquez.

Guardiola stated Vazquez accused him of wanting to have sex with his half-sister, states the arrest affidavit.

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Guardiola alleged he had a heated argument with Vazquez, but it did not lead to anything physical. Earlier in the day on Oct. 14, Vazquez brought up the matter again that Guardiola wanted to have sex with his half-sister, according to court documents. Guardiola stated that an argument ensued from the accusation.

Guardiola stated the argument escalated to the point that Vazquez got a vacuum cleaner and used it to hit Guardiola, states the affidavit.

A struggle ensued in which Vazquez allegedly grabbed Guardiola around the neck in a headlock.

"Guardiola stated he believed Vazquez wanted to kill him, so he took out a hunting knife he had in his pocket and stabbed Vazquez. Once Vazquez released Guardiola, Guardiola stabbed Vazquez several more times. Guardiola stated Vazquez fell to the ground, where he stabbed him several more times," states the affidavit.

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Guardiola added that he tried to help Vazquez, but Vazquez was no longer breathing, according to the affidavit. Guardiola called his mother and told her to call police.

Guardiola stated he waited for police to arrive so he could provide his account of the incident and claimed self-defense, states the affidavit. Guardiola further stated he tried to clean the scene so arriving officers would not slip and fall on the blood on the floor.

Officers arrived to find an unresponsive Vazquez inside the residence. Laredo Fire Department crews said they responded to the assault report and found Vazquez with multiple injuries to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities then spoke to Guardiola's mother.

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"Upon interviewing (the mother), she stated her son had been previously diagnosed with a mental disorder. This statement was also mentioned in the initial call she placed," states the affidavit.

The mother further stated that Guardiola told her, that he did what he had to do, the affidavit states.

Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that Guardiola Jr. and the deceased male were involved in an argument that eventually escalated into physical violence, police said in a statement.

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Investigators arrested Guardiola after consulting with the Webb County District Attorney's Office.
George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse on Oct. 31, 2025. David Gomez Jr./Laredo Morning Times

A yearslong international human smuggling case is moving forward in Laredo federal court, where a Bangladeshi man is set to face charges this week.

Saiful Islam, 39, is accused of helping coordinate a human smuggling network spanning multiple countries.

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Authorities allege he facilitated the movement of numerous migrants from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and elsewhere in South America through Central America and Mexico to the U.S. border for payment.

Migrants were ultimately taken to the southern border and told to cross into the United States by wading across the Rio Grande or climbing border fencing.

The charges include conspiracy to bring a migrant to the United States, multiple counts of bringing migrants to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to encourage and induce illegal entry. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Federal authorities describe cases like this as targeting organizers who coordinate smuggling routes across multiple countries, rather than lower-level drivers or couriers typically caught at the border.

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Court records show a federal grand jury indicted Islam in August 2020, and the case was immediately sealed as authorities worked with international partners to locate and arrest him.

A warrant remained active for years before it was executed April 10, when Islam was taken into custody and brought to the United States.

He was arrested in Houston after being extradited from Brazil, and the case was unsealed shortly afterward.

Islam was scheduled to make his initial appearance last week in Laredo before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos, but the hearing was postponed after he told the court through a Spanish interpreter that he needed a Bangladesh interpreter.

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A judge reset the hearing and ordered Islam held in custody.

The case is being prosecuted in the Laredo Division of the Southern District of Texas by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez and Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry.

Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix led a multi-agency investigation with assistance from HSI Laredo, as well as international partners and INTERPOL.
Laredo Stroke Support hosted an Alzheimers awareness talk for residents to learn about warning signs and available resources. Connecticut Public Broadcasting/Connecticut Public Broadcasting

April attendance for Laredo Stroke Support saw a record turnout at its monthly meeting, welcoming residents to learn about the 10 Signs of Alzheimers with guest speaker Dora Reyes.

Reyes, a health educator in the Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias program at the city of Laredo Health Department, spoke on the signs to look for when it comes to the brain disorder.

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We were honored to have Dora Reyes from the Public Health Department present on the 10 signs of Alzheimers and help raise awareness in our community, Laredo Stroke Support said.

Signs discussed included memory loss that disrupts daily life, challenges in planning or solving problems, difficulty in completing familiar tasks, confusion with time or place, trouble understanding visual images, new problems with words or speaking and writing, misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps, decreased or poor judgement, withdrawal from work or social activities, and changes in mood or personality.

Ultimately, she recommended that residents visit a neurologist or get tested if they are experiencing any of these signs. She also recommended that individuals attend the Memory Cafe at the Laredo Joe A. Guerra Public Library.

As part of the presentation, Reyes distributed pamphlets with resources on Alzheimers and dementia while offering snacks and goodies  such as an H-E-B Sweet & Salty Granola Bar  which contain nuts that assist in cognitive function.

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She also provided a bag that contained an emergency kit, a notepad and pen, highlighters, flashlights, wipes, a coloring book and word puzzles.
Cuidando Lo Nuestro is a weekly community spotlight presented in partnership with United Way of Laredo, highlighting local service, volunteer efforts and resources for families. Zach Davis/Laredo Morning Times Peggy M. Duncan, United Way of Laredo Executive Director Courtesy/United Way of Laredo

Happy Sunday! I received an invitation to attend a virtual event from the Texas Health and Human Services Community Partner Program (CPP). I shared the invitation with our United Way of Laredo family of agencies. Today, I would like to share it with everyone else in the community. I feel its important because many times people are not sure where to turn for state resources.

The Texas Health and Human Service (HHSC) Community Partner Program (CPP) connects the Texas Health and Human Services with organizations across the state to help Texans access food, cash assistance, and health care. Community partners assist individuals with applying for, renewing, and managing benefits through www.YourTexasBenefits.com and the Your Texas Benefits Mobile App, promoting self-service and self- sufficiency through trusted local support.

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CPP will be having a virtual open house on Thursday, April 23rd from 10am to noon. The event is designed to provide non-profit agencies and community-based organizations the opportunity to learn more about the CPP program, connect with local partners, and discover how collaborations can help more Texans access essential resources.

The invitations for the event notes Who can become a Community Partner? A wide range of community based and government organizations such as, faith-based organizations, health centers, clinics, food banks, educational institutions, libraries, health departments and local mental health centers. By becoming a Partner with CPP, you can help pave the way for positive change in communities across Texas.

Partners gain access to a dynamic network of groups, with a range of benefits including: Community Engagement, Resource Sharing, Expanded Impact, Visibility & Recognition, Access to Funding Opportunities, Professional Development, and Advocacy & Influence.

Community Engagement: offers a platform to actively engage with communities across Texas, fostering meaningful connections and understanding. Resource Sharing: allows you to benefit from shared resources, expertise and best practices, empowering your organization to address community challenges more effectively. Expand Impact: allows you to collaborate on initiatives that leverage the collective strengths of partners, potentially expanding the reach and impact of your programs and services. Visibility and Recognition: helps you to gain exposure and recognition for your organizations commitment to community engagement through CPPs promotional channels and events. Access to Funding Opportunities: You can tap into funding streams and grant opportunities available exclusively to CPP partners, supporting your organizations sustainability and growth. Professional Development: You can participate in training workshops, seminars, and networking events designed to enhance your teams skills and capacity for community-driven initiatives. Advocacy & Influence: You can join with CPP to advocate for policies and initiatives that help Texas communities.

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For more information visit them at www.TexasCommunityPartnerProgram.com or email them at CPP@hhs.texas.gov.

Mark your calendar

LAREDO LITTLE THEATRE: ROCK OF AGES MUSICAL PRODUCTION

The show will run April 16-26. Visit their website for times and ticket information at www.laredolittletheatre.org.

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SCAN: PLAY DAY

You are invited to join SCAN for an afternoon of fund with activities, arts & crafts, music and more. Families of all ages are welcome to this free event on Wednesday, April 22nd from 3:30 to 6:30 pm at the Peg Energy Stadium. For more information call 956.608.3852 .

VOLUNTEER SERVICE COUNCIL FOR BORDER REGION: ALL WE NEED IS LOVE & A DASH OF STYLE 34TH ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW

The event will be on Wednesday, April 22nd at the Laredo Country Club $100 per seat or $1,000 a table. For more information contact Claudia Arredondo at 956.612.4664 or Juanita Zepeda at 956.235.3599.

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LAREDO CRIME STOPPERS: DINE TO SUPPORT - EVERY THURSDAY IN APRIL

Enjoy a delicious meal while giving back! Every Thursday in April, 10% of your check will go to support the Laredo Crime Stoppers at P.F. Changs located at 2608 NE Bob Bullock Loop from 11am to 10pm. Present the flyer to support the cause whether you dine in or pick up. To get a copy of the flyer find Laredo Crime Stoppers on Facebook, Instagram or visit their website.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (ACS): RELAY FOR LIFE

The ACS is registering teams for its annual event to raise funds for cancer research, programs and services. The event takes place on Friday, April 24th at the UISD Student Activity Center 6 pm to 1 am. Schools, community clubs, organizations, agencies and families are invited to join. To register a team, visit www.relayforlife.org/webbtx or call Laura Nanez at 956.286.6955.

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AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (AHEC): GENETICS CONFERENCE

All parents and families are welcome to attend this resource fair for children with disabilities and autism. Friday, April 24th from 8am to 1pm at the Laredo Public Health office located at 2600 Cedar Ave.

For more information call 956.712.0037.

IMAGINARIUM OF SOUTH TEXAS: HEB FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT

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Join us for the HEB Free Family Fun Night on Friday, April 24th from 6-9 pm at the Imaginarium located the main campus of Laredo College (West End Washington Street) Building P-149. For more information, please call 956.728.0404.

UNITED WAY OF LAREDO; THATS HOW WE ROLL: BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Join us on Saturday, April 25th at Jett Bowl North from 12pm  3pm for our 3rd Annual Bowling Tournament. Registration for teams of five is $300. For a team and lane sponsorship $500. Trophies will be awarded for 1st-3rd place and for Best and Worst bowlers. For more information call 956.723.9113.

KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF LAREDO: BE A HERO FOR KIDNEY HEALTH

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May 5th Jett Bowl North from 6pm to 9pm. For more information visit their website www.helpkfol.com or follow them on Facebook.

R.B. COWL REHABILITATION CENTER: MOTHER'S DAY TO BLOOM

Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center (RBC) will be offering respite services for Parents/Caregivers of children with disabilities ages 5-11 on Saturday, May 2nd from 8am to 3pm. Registration is required. To ensure each participant receives full attention and enjoys a meaningful experience, space will be limited. Parents & Caregivers interested in the respite care camp may register their child or children at our Open House Registration to be held on Wednesday, April 22nd at RBC (located at 1220 N. Malinche) between 3:30 and 5pm. For more information, call RBC at 956.722.2431.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF LAREDO: 2026 BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

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This years Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureates are Joe Arciniega  Community Leaders, Oscar Omar Lopez - Tejas Financial Advisors, Primo, Rick, Elizabeth & Kandy Walker  S E Legacy Development. The event will be on Thursday, May 7th @ 7pm at the Laredo Country Club. For more information, please contact Oralia Bernal at 956.725.3464 or at obernal@jast.org.

If you have an upcoming community event or information on a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization you would like to share, email me at 956cuidandolonuestro@gmail.com.
Sacred Heart Sisters Isidra, Lourdes and Teresa pose for a photo with Michael Lezcano, Ernesto Lopez, Lupita Zepeda and Tommy Rodriguez. Courtesy Photos/Lezcano Law

A local attorney donated $35,000 to Sacred Heart Childrens Home this week to support services for children in need of care.

Michael Lezcano of Lezcano Law Firm, PLLC, presented the donation at the Laredo-based facility, which provides shelter, meals, education and daily support for children.

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Lezcano, whose firm handles accident and injury cases, said the contribution is intended to help the organization continue its work serving children who need a safe and stable environment.

Staff at Sacred Heart Childrens Home, including its caregivers and leadership, were recognized for their role in providing support to residents.
The United ISD Board of Trustees holds a workshop to discuss cost-saving measures amid a budget deficit and declining enrollment on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in the UISD Boardroom. Courtesy/UISD Lety Juarez, a taxpayer, addresses United ISD trustees during a workshop on cost-saving measures amid a budget deficit and declining enrollment on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Courtesy/UISD

The recommendation to reduce high salaries and personnel, as well as the findings of the focus group and the opposition to school closures, were among the topics discussed during the public comment period at the United ISD Board workshop Wednesday in the UISD boardroom.

As the district continues to consider consolidating Matias De Llano and Amparo Gutierrez Elementary schools, the findings of the focus group drew divided opinions. While some expressed support, alleging the board should follow the path outlined in the results to prevent TEA from taking over the district, others supported reducing payroll.

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Michelle Molina  a UISD trustee representing District 6, suggested the district give serious consideration to an idea from the focus group to relocate certain grade groups to close other campuses. The idea involved moving sixth graders into elementary schools and ninth graders into the middle schools. That would free up four ninth-grade campuses, which could then be used to relocate administrative facilities and sell those buildings.

These guys came together and started doing homework and making calls and investing a lot of time and energy away from their jobs and families after hours, Molina said. These ideas came out of that committee. If that is possible, then you again are looking at reduction by attrition and savings.

Dianelle Martinez, UISD trustee for District 7, said this decision cannot be rushed. She said the district should do due diligence on the ninth-grade campus idea and any other potential solutions before it commits to closing any campus.

We continue to ask administration month to month, give us more. Schools should be last, she said. If youre saying we need to close schools this year, then we have to see everything.

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Please come back and bring us more alternatives as to what campuses can be consolidated. If you are so stuck on, we have to close schools because everybody else is doing it, then yes, Im ready to make the hard decision. But Im ready to make a thoughtful, informed decision, not a rushed one.

Along with potential campus closures and an early notice of separation incentive program, UISD detailed additional cost-saving efforts during the meeting. The methods and their estimated savings included:

Reduction in contract days - $887,221 (3 days)

Stipends/Extra duty 50% reduction - $2.9 million

Hiring freeze and current vacancies - $2.9 million

Modification of transportation routes for efficiency - $820,196.02

Review current contracts for coordination or modification of services - $1.5 million

Freeze out district employee travel/capital outlay - $450,000

Reduction in overtime costs - $433,000

Consolidate underutilized programs - $2 million

Energy consumption/utility costs - $106,000

Summer school programs - $2 million

While the 10 measures have a combined estimated savings of $13,996,417.02, UISD said during the meeting it was operating on a total cost-savings estimate of $10.5 million.

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David Perez, a 27-year educator with UISD and president of the United Classroom Teachers Association, spoke about the findings of the focus group and urged board members to listen to the recommendations of UISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gerardo Cruz when he reports on them.

The focus group was composed of a diverse group of citizens, UISD staff and community business leaders, he said. Each board member was allowed to select two members of their choice, and the rest were selected by administration.

Perez said the committee reached a consensus on the path the district should follow.

I really hope that the board considers what Dr. (Gerardo) Cruz will present to you, he said. The future of UISD will hinge on what this board does or fails to do. If you make the right decision next week, UISD has a fighting chance of recovering from its current financial situation. If you don't do enough, or nothing at all, there will be consequences throughout the district, the city of Laredo and Webb County.

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He said if the decision is insufficient, the district would have to lay off about 450 employees.

This figure will probably include many of my association's teachers, he said. As United CTA president, I would strongly oppose this.

Perez reminded the board that if the Texas Education Agency takes control of the district, the elected board of trustees has no power.

If your actions or lack thereof are insufficient, TEA will likely step in and the board members will have no authority anymore, he said. The TEA superintendent will not have any loyalty to the staff or parents. He or she will likely make much harsher cuts to right the ship.

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I respectfully ask you to listen to Dr. Cruz's report with open minds. You will have a week to come to your final decision. Please put aside emotions and politics and make the correct and logical decision for the sake of our district's future.

Joe Barron, who said he and his family have been part of UISD for most of their lives, spoke about the focus group and said everyone agreed something had to be done.

I think everyone agreed on one thing: something need to be done, he said. Doing nothing is worse than doing too little. You need to consider everything. There are hard decisions coming. People will be affected. Buildings will be closed. But not doing anything is worse. You won't be able to make payroll. You won't be able to keep the lights on.

If five schools need to close, then close them. If it's three, two or seven  come up with a plan.

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He cited the inaction of other districts and said UISD's problem was not new.

You've had this problem for years. It's time to act, he said. The committee made a recommendation based on the information provided. Take that recommendation seriously.

Jorge Mendoza, who was part of the focus group, disagreed with what others said.

I was part of the focus group. I don't think I heard the same thing others heard. There was no consensus. There was no vote, he said. At the end, Dr. Cruz said he recommended five schools, and people just said fine, but that was two minutes out of three hours.

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He said that based on his own research, the district needs to reduce $25 million to $30 million.

Closing two schools saves about $4.5 million  that is not enough. I do not agree with closing schools, he said. 87% of expenses are payroll. That is where reductions need to happen. If not, the TEA will come in and do it  and they wont care who is affected.

These are tough choices, but action should have been taken last year.

Leti Juarez, a taxpayer, echoed Barrons words, stating that the real issue is payroll, not school closures.

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The district says closing schools will stabilize the fund balance, she said. I know that we have to do something, but remember: the elephant in the room is payroll.

She told the board members she understood doing nothing was not an option and asked where they were two years ago, when they should have been making these choices.

I recommend that you develop a comprehensive 5-year financial plan that outlines where the district will stand financially  specifically regarding its fund balance  at the end of each year, she said. I do not want to be here next year saying: We pay these people a lot of money, yet they arent giving us all the details  because if they dont, well be back here next year closing even more schools.

Edna Olmeda, a former educator, said that if the district cuts the salaries of central office employees earning $90,000 or more, it could save millions.

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If they cut $20,000 from the salaries of the approximately 250 employees earning $90,000, they could save millions. That would leave a salary of $70,000, which is the salary of a veteran educator, she said. If we cut $100,000 from the superintendents salary because enrollment is down, that would add to the savings. Other cuts could be discretionary funds, non-essential programs, convocations, highly paid attorneys, stipends, board members discretionary funds and I could go on with a list of savings.

She said the cuts are being made in the wrong place and should not come at the expense of students and essential staff.

If you cannot make the difficult decisions at the top, then you should step down because we are watching and we will remember at election time, she said.

Other speakers included Jean Belmares, who was also a member of the committee and said the decision, although emotional, must be logical; and Christina Villarreal, a UISD educator who urged the board of trustees to move forward with the recommended school closures, keeping in mind that a schools true foundation is its people and not its brick and mortar.

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While these structures hold memories, they are ultimately just buildings, she said. They can be replaced, renovated, or let go  but the well-being of our educators is irreplaceable. By consolidating our resources, we can prioritize the lives and mental health of our teachers and staff, ensuring they have the support and stability they need to thrive.

We must stop overvaluing square footage and start investing in human beings who bring education to life. I urge you to move beyond politics and focus on the long-term vitality of the district.

The next UISD regular board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at the SAC Auditorium. The agenda for the meeting includes discussion and possible action regarding the retirement of Matias De Llano and Amparo Gutierrez along with exploration of additional campus and administrative building closures.
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, has been tapped chief medical officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas Tribune

Dr. Jennifer Shuford, head of Texas public health agency, has been tapped to serve as chief medical officer at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Donald Trump included Shuford among a slate of proposed leaders for the federal agency, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday.

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Trumps other executive appointments include: Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, Sean Slovenski as the CDC deputy director and chief operating officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The U.S. Senate has to approve Schwartzs nomination before she can step in, but Shuford wont have to as chief medical officer. The Texas Department of State Health Services, where Shuford serves as commissioner, has not responded to immediate requests for comment, including on when she plans to leave Texas.

Trump cited his nominations collective "knowledge, experience, and TOP degrees" which he said would "restore the GOLD STANDARD OF SCIENCE at the CDC."

Some of the agencys top leaders have left the CDC over its changes to longstanding public health practices, including to the vaccine schedule that reduced the importance of certain childhood immunization recommendations. National public health watchers say they are more hopeful about the agencys future with the recent nominations of people with scientific backgrounds and no apparent ties to anti-vaccine movements, including Shuford.

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Shuford was an infectious disease physician based in Austin before joining the DSHS in 2017. She currently serves on the DSHS Preventive Medicine and Public Health Residency Program and is a member of Travis County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, and Infectious Disease Society of America.

Before stepping in as a commissioner in 2022, Shuford served as the chief state epidemiologist at the health department and was credited with supporting the states public health response through the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, she helped lead the state through the West Texas measles outbreak last year that infected 762 people and killed two children, the nations largest in 30 years. The agency spent more than $10 million to combat the outbreak, covering vaccination and testing clinics and an awareness campaign.

That vaccine is highly effective and was the reason why measles was eliminated from the United States in the year 2000, Shuford said on Texas Standard last year, during the height of the outbreak. We know that that vaccine works, and thats the best protection that we can get to communities at any time of a persons lifetime, but especially during an outbreak.

Shufords steadfast support for vaccines over the years differs from Kennedy, whose tone on shots has shifted, from being adamantly against them to saying they contribute to community immunity in an essay on Fox News last year.

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Joseph Kanter, CEO of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, which regularly supports the importance of vaccines, said the organization applauds Shufords appointment.

She is widely respected within the public health and governmental leadership communities, he said in a news release, adding that she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to evidence-based public health.

Debra Houry left the position of CDCs chief medical officer last August telling NPR that she saw an erosion of our science and the data and a lack of trust in it.

Houry left her position alongside two others who disagreed with the direction of the agency under the leadership of Kennedy.

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Houry, in a scathing essay in TIME Magazine in December attributed Kennedys leadership to recent measles outbreaks and increases of children dying from vaccine-preventable diseases.

These are not failures of clinicians or health departments, she wrote. They are failures of federal leadership: predictable outcomes when trusted scientific voices are replaced by ideological leaders. The nations public-health infrastructure is destabilized.

Disclosure: Texas Medical Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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HAIKOU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) concluded on Saturday in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. It drew 3,413 premium consumer brands from 67 countries and regions, with international exhibits making up 65 percent of the total, a sharp increase of 20 percentage points from the previous edition.

The strong turnout reflects the growing demand among Chinese consumers for high-quality and diverse products, as the country keeps opening its market wider.

According to the organizer, the total exhibition area reached 143,000 square meters, up 13,000 square meters from the previous edition. The cumulative number of visitors exceeded 340,000, with single-day attendance surpassing 60,000, both setting new records. Meanwhile, over 200 new products made their debut, double last year's number, covering fields like healthcare, jewelry and digital technology.

To boost supply-procurement efficiency and better serve global supply chains, this year's CICPE upgraded its online supply-demand matching platform and launched a 1,000-square-meter buyer service center for the first time, offering full-process matchmaking services to exhibitors and buyers. The expo also hosted over 10 dedicated matchmaking events, attracting some 65,000 professional buyers, among whom 3,000 were from overseas, triple the number of last year.

At a more profound level, this consumption upgrade is reshaping the global supply chain landscape -- driving international brands to pivot from "entering China" to "adapting to China," allowing them to respond more quickly to consumer preferences while maintaining proximity to the local market.

"Despite rising global uncertainties, the CICPE has grown in scale year by year, consistently attracting international brands for debuts. The concentration of new product launches at this year's expo, in particular, shows how much international brands value China's consumer market," said Andrew Wu, president of Dun & Bradstreet China.

Moreover, bolstered by the latest five-year plan's (2026-2030) clear mandate to boost consumption, China's stable consumer demand will undoubtedly encourage more international companies to invest more and expand their presence in the market.

"China is not just a growing market. It is a platform for innovation, competition, research and development, partnership, and learning," Sean Stein, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said at the launch event of the sixth CICPE on Monday. "So American companies are not only selling in China, they're investing in China, they're building in China. And most importantly, they are partnering with Chinese companies, both in China and around the world."

At this year's expo, the Volkswagen Group made a prominent appearance with its brand portfolio, including Bentley, Lamborghini and Audi, focusing on new energy and intelligent mobility to further deepen its presence in China and align with Chinese consumer demand.

"The product portfolio not only shows the group's continuously updated product lineup and steadily enhanced technological strength, but also underscores our firm commitment to deeply cultivating the Chinese market," said Su Bahong, vice president of Volkswagen Group China.

With over 70 leading enterprises having set up operations in Hainan thanks to the first five CICPE editions, the expo is emerging as a key link for global companies to tap into China's opportunities, and for Chinese brands looking to expand into international markets.

Meanwhile, this year's CICPE also featured, for the first time, a 360-square-meter Taiwan exhibition area, where about 20 Taiwanese companies presented 24 brands. The initiative is designed to promote Taiwan specialty products globally and help more Taiwan businesses integrate into the dual-circulation development pattern that connects the domestic and international markets, said Yin Libo, a senior Hainan official.

Many Taiwanese businesspeople expressed their willingness to further cultivate the mainland market, and Yin said Taiwan businesses are welcome to share in the FTP's opportunities.

More than 2,900 Taiwan-invested enterprises had been registered in Hainan by the end of 2025, with actual Taiwan investment totaling about 5.9 billion U.S. dollars, according to the provincial authority.

Chinese trendy e-commerce platform Poizon, an exhibitor for six consecutive years, saw its AI authentication zone become a major attraction this year, allowing visitors to upload product photos and receive instant professional authentication reports. According to Chen Yuyao, a booth staff member, the platform has provided over 1.37 billion authentication services, covering nearly 3,000 brands across 26 major categories. Its "authenticate-before-ship" model has created a strong guarantee for quality consumption.

"China's tech innovation is integrating into all consumption scenarios, including retail, mobility and healthcare, enhancing consumer experiences while pushing global supply chains to become more digital, intelligent and efficient," Wu said.

The policy dividends of the Hainan Free Trade Port's (FTP) are providing institutional support for linking global supply chains. Meiyu Pearl, a CICPE exhibitor at this year's expo, has directly benefited from the "tariff exemption for value-added processing" policy under the Hainan FTP's island-wide special customs operations. By integrating global sourcing, local processing and global sales into a single chain, the company has cut costs, boosted competitiveness and is now leveraging the expo to accelerate its entry into the global jewelry trade cycle.

Kuang Xianming, deputy head of the China Institute for Reform and Development, said the shift from "buying global" to "linking global" demonstrates the strengths of China's super-sized market and its high-level opening-up. The CICPE will continue to amplify its platform effect, using consumption upgrades to optimize supply chains and promote efficient allocation of global resources and market integration, thereby contributing to world economic prosperity. 
Former state pathologist-turned-crime-novelist Dr Marie Cassidy said many Irish writers had contacted her over the years asking her 'the best ways to kill people' and she never expected she would be the one creating the stories and violent acts.

The respected academic will be one of the headline guests when she is in conversation with well-known journalist Paul Williams at this weekend's Granard Booktown Festival and attendees can gain unique insights into her fascinating career.

Dr Cassidy will be in conversation with award-winning crime journalist Paul Williams today at 7.45pm at the School Hall and it is expected to be one of the highlights of the festival.

Dr Cassidy moved to Ireland from Glasgow to become the deputy state pathologist in 1998 and she dealt with hundreds of murders and she performed thousands of postmortems up until her retirement in 2018.

She said she is looking forward to attending the event in Granard and she praised the line-up of guests and authors.

"Yes, they seem to have done very well and attracted people there so yes it should be good."

Read: Granard Booktown Festival to bring renowned authors to Longford

She published her best-selling memoir 'Beyond the Tape: The Life and Many Deaths of a State Pathologist' in 2020 with Hachette Books Ireland, which offered fascinating insights into forensic science.

The publishing company then surprised her by asking her if she would consider writing her first fiction book and she subsequently penned 'Body of Truth', a crime thriller which follows Dr Terry O'Brien, a Scottish pathologist working in Ireland.

Dr Cassidy said she considered it and she decided to give it a go.

"It's something completely different for me, that I've now gone into writing, which I never thought I would ever do, not in a million years.

It's just something that, like most things in my life, it just kind of happened."

Dr Cassidy said the opportunity came along and her background and experience following a career of more than 30 years dealing with murders and carrying out postmortems was the catalyst for it.

"I think that's why they suggested I do it because I had that.

"It wasn't something I thought about doing until I was asked if I would like to have a go.

"But I had spent a lot of time with a lot of the Irish writers because whenever they were wanting to know the best ways to kill people they would come to me and just check that they'd got it right, making sure they were accurate.

"So, I had been on the fringes of that world but I never thought I would be part of it.

"It came as a big shock to me when I was offered a deal to have a go at writing myself and I realised these people are very clever.

"They make it look easy and it's not."

Read: Man accused of having knife charged in connection with South Longford aggravated burglary

Dr Cassidy said Paul Williams was one of the writers who contacted her when he was working on one of his books and she believes their conversation will be enjoyable.

"For his first book it was Jack Harbison he spoke to and then he came to me when he was writing one of his other ones."

"I've known Paul for a long time and we got on well together so we're just hoping it'll be a lot of fun."

Dr Cassidy believes she was very fortunate to break into writing novels.

"I know a lot of people want to write and they can't get their foot in the door and I was just very fortunate that after I had done my memoir they said, 'Well, why don't you try that'.

"I said I'd try it but I can't guarantee it will be any good."

Dr Cassidy said she did not have a structured or disciplined daily or weekly routine for writing her novels and her writing process and her approach was more 'haphazard'.

"I've spoken to so many writers about how they go about it and to be fair most are very different.

"I'm not that way inclined, I must say.

"And I never was, even when I was in my normal job and I had to write reports.

"There's some days you'll sit down with that paper and you'll go, 'Ah Jesus this is a waste of time, I can't think of anything'.

"And I had always learned that you put it aside and then you come back to it.

"So, that's the way I've been doing it with this writing."

Read: A lotto luck in Longford: Paddy strikes it lucky by winning Cashel GAA lotto jackpot

Dr Cassidy described her writing process style as being a bit of a trial and error process.

"I have spurts where I do things and then I might go, 'Na I'm not happy with that' and I go away and talk to myself for a few days or a couple of weeks and then think, 'That's where I need to go, that's what I should have said', and then I go off again.

"So, it's very haphazard, but don't tell the editor that," she laughed.

Dr Cassidy said she is amazed to have three books written and she suggested she was trying to find a formula that was not there for a crime thriller when she embarked on her first fiction.

"The memoir was fine. But the first fiction was painful because I really was a novice and I had no idea and because I'm a scientist I kept thinking when it comes to things like thrillers and crime there's a formula in there, there must be...It can't just be that there are these magnificent writers who are word crafters [can do this] and I've got to find this formula.

"So, I spent my first one trying to get my head around how you do that because there is a way of writing these types of books that keeps people interested and keeps bringing them back.

"And I thought it's there somewhere, I've just got to find it," she laughs.

Read: Plans lodged to turn a Longford village post office into apartment unit

Dr Cassidy said she had the stories but when she submitted her first draft of her first crime novel to her author the feedback she received was that it needed some changes and more graphic detail.

"They just looked at it and said 'That's a bit too cosy crime, that's not what people expect from you'.

"I was going, 'Ah God, but I like cosy crime. I said I know I've spent my life dealing with mass murderers and all the rest of it but I'm not really into violence at all.

"I thought 'Okay I'll give it another go so I went away and I rewrote a few bits and pieces and brought it back and they went, 'Ah hold on, that's a wee bit too much now'."

Dr Cassidy said they eventually compromised on a 'happy medium' for the description of the violence and details.

She said her second novel 'Deadly Evidence' was so much easier because she had an idea what the formula was.

"All through my life all I've been doing is learning and sort of researching so doing the writing is no different.

"I'd be doing my research and I'd be talking to people and when they would say things I'd go, 'Gosh that would be a great idea to do it that way or end it like that and I'll keep all of this so I've just been sucking everybody dry.

"The second one was so much easier and I enjoyed it much more."

Read: Watch: Gone in 30 seconds! Rapid sale of Longford property at auction

Dr Cassidy described the premise of her novel 'Deadly Evidence' and said it is a crime thriller with pathologist Dr Terry O'Brien working in Ireland.

"She gets involved in the investigation of a detective who has been murdered and she is a great one for looking for patterns and seeing if she can work out what is going on apart from what the Gardai think.

"And at this time of her career she is now involved in cold case reviews and she starts to have a look at them and see similarities and she starts to pull a lot of cases together that some people thought were suspicious, but they may not be a murder.

Dr Cassidy was appointed deputy state pathologist in 1998 following the high-profile nature of the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder case and after the 28-hour delay for the then-state pathologist Jack Harbison to reach the scene highlighted the need for additional resources

Asked if she could hypothetically return to her state pathologist job for one day on a murder case she either worked on or is aware of in the history of the State, given the advances in forensic pathology, Dr Cassidy responded quickly.

Read: WATCH: 'Expect significant delays' - Traffic at standstill across Ireland amid fuel protest

"The one I would go back to and it's the one that led to me coming over to Ireland and it was the Sophie Toscan du Plantier one because I would have really loved to have gone back and looked at that in more forensic detail knowing what we know now and the techniques we can use now.

"And even how we investigate murders now is so completely different.

"I was the knee-jerk reaction to that because they realised Jack Harbison couldn't cover the whole country."

For the full Sunday schedule for the Granard Booktown Festival click here Sunday schedule
Longford Senator Paraic Brady has said a Longford haulier recently told him it was costing him more than 1,100 per day to go to work and run his lorry per day.

The Fine Gael representative was speaking after the fuel price protests, including the slow-moving convoys along the N4 bypass in the county town and throughout the region, were what he described as a 'wake-up call' for the Government.

The Drumlish-based politician stated there is now 'less of a gap' between working people, whose disposable income has fallen sharply, and individuals on social welfare, which has led to unrest and it needs to be addressed.

Senator Brady stated he recently spoke to a Longford haulier who claimed it was costing him more than 1,160 to run a lorry per day with fuel costs of 567 and additional expenses such as wages, PRSI, repayments along with a lorry and trailer loan and maintenance costs.

Senator Brady said 'we need to look after the people that get up in the morning and go to work' as a priority.

"You see, there's not enough of a divide at this moment in time between the working class man and the man that is not working that is on social welfare.

"Government tends to look after social welfare a lot more than they look after the working class man."

Senator Brady said if there are any lessons to be learned out of this it is that "middle Ireland and the working-class people in Ireland have said enough is enough and I do think as a Government we didn't listen".

He added: "Now that people have spoken we have no other choice than to listen to them and it's up to us to make changes that alleviate their concerns and their plight.

"That is why you're put in there, to change policy that makes a change in people's lives.

"And lets hope we are still fit to do that and still keep an economy strong because after all our economy is strong.

"But the backbone of our economy is our farmers our hauliers and our working-class people and we must never forget that."

READ NEXT: Longford farmers push for fairer prices and stronger supports

The Fine Gael Oireachtas member said he believes the 505 million in Government measures announced on Sunday evening had been relatively well received but the finer details were still being studied by farmers, hauliers and the wider public.

"I think people are weighing things up and giving us a chance to see what's in this package and they actually need to sit down and see what's in it for them."

The measures announced by the Government have reduced the excise on green diesel by a further 2.4c bringing the total reduction to 7.4c and they have also announced a further 10c cut in excise on diesel bringing the total reduction on diesel to 32c.

Senator Brady also referred to the Government's 100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs who will benefit from a support rate equivalent of about 20c per litre, but he added there has been some 'confusion'.

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"People are saying to me that there's only 4.4c of a reduction on a litre of green diesel, but actually, there's 27.4c on a litre of green diesel.

"There is a scheme [the Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme] at this moment in time, where there is a 20c reduction on all purchases of diesel.

"So if you bought a thousand litres of diesel last year in the month of March, and it cost whatever it cost, and you buy a thousand litres this year, you get 274.00 back on your purchase this year.

"I do think that when farmers and contractors realise what's in it for them [they will be satisfied].

"I think the lorry contractors are also reasonably happy with the announcements."

Senator Brady said sometimes when you are in government you need a wake-up call and this is the 'biggest wake-up call that anybody can get'.
Longford-Westmeath TD Robert Troy has announced the Government will for the first time deliver a sector-wide approach to futureproof the credit union movement and allow the sector to overcome challenges and meet opportunities.

The Strategy Project, a Programme for Government commitment, will develop a 'cohesive and collaborative strategy' for the credit union sector in Ireland and allow the sector to overcome challenges and meet opportunities.

Two independent chairs have been appointed who will lead the governance structures underpinning the strategys delivery.

Dr Orlaigh Quinn has been appointed Chair of the Project Governance Board. Dr Quinn is a former Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment.

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Tom Allen has been appointed Chair of the Strategy Committee having recently retired as CEO of North Midlands Credit Union.

Commenting on the commencement of the project, Minister Troy said he was delighted to formally kick off the process to develop a cohesive and collaborative strategy for the credit union sector in Ireland.

"This is an ambitious programme of work which will take considerable effort to implement over the coming 12 months.

"From my engagement with the sector I am confident that there is a strong understanding of the need for such a strategy so that the credit union movement can meet the opportunities and challenges ahead.

"This is a strategy which the sector will own, and through the support of the Department of Finance and myself it has the potential to futureproof the sector for years to come.

"It will require hard work, compromise, and a clear direction, but with the expertise assembled and the input from the sector it can be a defining moment for the credit union movement.

"It is important to recognise the work of the representative bodies to date, as well as welcome the appointment of both independent chairs who will bring considerable expertise to the process.

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The Project Governance Board will commence work immediately to agree the Terms of Reference, governance arrangements, and a workplan for engagement with credit unions and their members.

This phase represents the initial setup of the project. Participation from credit union CEOs, Directors, and suitably qualified staff will be required at later stages.

Further details on the project scope, timelines and participation arrangements will be communicated in due course.

Once these elements are approved, the Strategy Committee will begin its work of strategy development. The overall project is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.

Tanaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, said, Along with Minister Troy, I strongly welcome the commencement of this important strategy for the credit union sector.

"Credit unions are at the heart of communities across Ireland. They have built an unrivalled track record in supporting families and businesses in so many different ways.

"The process being launched today provides a real opportunity to support the continued growth of our Credit Unions.

"It is particularly important that this strategy is sector-led, ensuring that the voices and experience within the movement shape its future direction, with Government providing the necessary support to enable that ambition.
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An FDD visual that tracks Iranian and Iraqi militia attacks against regional states shows the number and types of incidents since February 28.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran has largely held since April 8, and large-scale Iranian barrages targeting Middle Eastern states have ended. However, some attacks, particularly against Iraqi Kurdistan, have continued.

Across nine primarily Arab statesSaudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and OmanIran and its allied proxy militias deployed thousands of aerial systems beginning on February 28. Reported and estimated attacks included:

The UAE alone faced 2,256 drones and 563 missiles, totaling 2,819 incoming systems.

Kuwait followed in the number of attacks received, weathering 852 drones and 369 missiles, for a total of 1,221 systems.

Saudi Arabia faced approximately 612 drones and 68 missiles, totaling 680 aerial systems, according to calculations by FDDs Long War Journal.

Qatar recorded 69 incoming drones, 196 missiles, and two aircraft, totaling 267 systems.

Jordan experienced 125 drones and 166 missiles, for a total of 291 systems.

Bahrain, while not reporting total incoming launches, intercepted at least 523 drones and 194 missiles, indicating a similarly substantial threat environment.

Iraq, Oman, and Syria have not publicized the total number of systems that attacked them.

The United Arab Emirates was the primary target by a wide margin, absorbing more than double the total attacks faced by Kuwait and nearly 10 times as many as Qatar. The 2,819 systems targeting the UAE are consistent with an Iranian campaign aimed at vital economic and logistical infrastructure.

In the case of Saudi Arabia, the campaign against the kingdom was overwhelmingly drone-heavy, with a nine-to-one ratio of drones to missiles. However, the missile component of Irans attacks, despite being smaller, repeatedly targeted high-value military and energy infrastructure, including Prince Sultan Air Base in Riyadh and key facilities across the Eastern Province. Drone waves repeatedly targeted the Shaybah oil field, the Ras Tanura refinery, pipeline infrastructure toward Yanbu, and more facilities in the Eastern Province.

In Kuwait, Iranian drones and missiles have struck Kuwait International Airport, damaging radar systems and fuel storage, as well as Ali al Salem Air Base, which hosts US personnel, where missile strikes caused significant runway damage. Additional attacks targeted Ahmed al Jaber Air Base, naval facilities such as the Mohammed al Ahmad Naval Base, and key energy infrastructure, including fuel depots and the Mina al Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries. Civilian and government targets were also hit, including residential buildings, desalination plants, and the ministries complex in Kuwait City. Additionally, Kuwaits geographic proximity to Iraq meant that some of these attacks originated from the neighboring state.

Qatars data gives the clearest insight into both targeting and defensive outcomes. With 69 drones, 196 missiles, and two aircraft directed toward its territory, Qatar faced a lower volume of attacks267 total systems. However, it experienced a disproportionately high number of missile strikes compared to drone strikes. A notable repeated target was Al Udeid Air Base, which is the largest US military facility in the Middle East.

In Bahrain, Iranian drones and missiles struck the support office of the US Fifth Fleet. Energy infrastructure was also targeted, including the Bapco refinery, fuel storage sites, and industrial facilities, along with ports and maritime assets, including Salman Port and Khalifa Bin Salman Port. At the same time, Bahrain saw extensive strikes on civilian and commercial infrastructure. Drones hit residential buildings , as well as the Crowne Plaza hotel, wounding US personnel. Attacks extended to Bahrain International Airport, telecommunications infrastructure such as Batelco, and even cloud-linked infrastructure supporting Amazon services.

In Oman, Iranian drones struck or attempted to hit key maritime and energy infrastructure. These targets included the ports of Duqm and Salalah, as well as fuel storage facilities. Some attacks caused fires and casualties, resulting in deaths and injuries of foreign workers. Others were intercepted or caused limited damage. Oman, despite its close relationship with Iran, was not insulated from the campaign.

Jordan, which is significantly further from Iran than the Arab Gulf states, was targeted less than most other countries, with 125 drones and 166 missiles directed at it. The targeting profile was centered overwhelmingly on the Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base in Azraq, which hosts American and European forces. Multiple incidents involved ballistic missile strikes or attempted strikes on the base, including confirmed impacts and repeated explosions reported in and around the facility. German sources indicated that Iranian missiles hit sections of the base housing US and German personnel. Jordanian reporting shows a pattern of repeated missile-focused engagements, regularly involving fewer drones.

Attacks in Syria were limited in volume, focusing almost exclusively on US-linked military installations. Available reporting indicates that attacks were carried out primarily by Iran-backed militias, often operating from Iraq, and, in some cases, were claimed by front groups, such as the Syrian Popular Resistance and the Islamic Resistance in Syria. At least five rockets struck the Kharab al Jir base in northeastern Syria. Drone attacks targeted the Tanf garrison in the southeast, but Syrian authorities reported that all incoming drones were intercepted. Additional drone strikes hit the Qasrak base, which was the last remaining US military base in the country until April 15, when US forces withdrew to Jordan, ending a 12-year presence in Syria.

Iraq, particularly Iraqi Kurdistan, was among the conflicts most active fronts. Iran-backed militias and, at times, the Islamic Republic itself, repeatedly targeted US diplomatic and military facilities, Iraqi and Kurdish security sites, energy infrastructure, and Iranian-Kurdish opposition camps. In federal Iraq, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center was attacked consistently with drones, rockets, and missiles. The US Embassy in Baghdad, Balad Air Base, Ain al Asad Air Base, K1 Air Base, Camp Taji, and Iraqi intelligence and military facilities also came under repeated fire. Oil infrastructure was also targeted, with strikes hitting the Rumaila, Majnoon, West Qurna, Buzurgan, and Artawi oil fields, as well as port facilities in Umm Qasr.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, attacks concentrated on Erbil International Airport, the US consulate, Harir Air Base, Peshmerga bases, foreign diplomatic facilities, energy sites, such as Sarsang, and Iranian-Kurdish opposition camps and headquarters. Some attacks were claimed by Iran-backed Iraqi militia fronts, including Saraya Awliya al Dam and Ashab al Kaf. Others were more directly attributed to the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially the missile and drone strikes against Kurdish opposition targets.

Most importantly, the US-Iran ceasefire did not end this front. Even after April 8, attacks have continued in Iraqi Kurdistan:

On April 9, a drone attack was reported in Erbil.

On April 10, explosions from attacks were heard in Khalifan and Harir in Erbil Governorate.

On April 14, two drones were intercepted over Khalifan, while separate drone strikes hit Surdash Camp and Azadi Camp, in Sulaymaniyah Governorate and Erbil Governorate, respectively.

On April 15, several drones struck the PDKI camp in Degala in Diyala Governorate.

On April 16, attacks escalated again with a missile strike on Komala headquarters in Zirgewez, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, a drone strike on Pakshar Camp in Erbil, a missile strike on the Kurdistan Revolutionary Party headquarters in Sulaymaniyah, a drone attack in the Alana Valley, and several drones targeting a PDKI camp in Koysinjaq, Erbil Governorate.

On April 17, the violence continued with a drone attack on a PDKI civilian camp in Jezhnikan that killed a child and injured another person, followed by a missile strike on a PDKI camp in Sidekan that killed two Peshmerga fighters. Both locations are in Erbil Governorate.

Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant.
RAMALLAH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A European Union official said Sunday that efforts are underway to secure the release of Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel, warning of mounting financial pressure on the Palestinian Authority.

Shadi Othman, media officer at the EU Office in Jerusalem, told reporters in Ramallah that the bloc is working with regional and international partners to address the dispute, saying that without the funds, "the Palestinian government cannot meet all its obligations."

He said the issue remains on the agenda in talks between Israel and EU member states, but added that "unfortunately, there has been no progress recently."

Othman said the Palestinian Authority's fiscal crisis is "deepening and worsening," with direct impacts on public services and citizens, and urged a solution.

While noting continued European financial support, he said it cannot resolve the core problem, stressing that the resumption of withheld clearance revenues is essential.

The revenues, collected by Israel under the Paris Economic Protocol on imports entering Palestinian territories, are transferred to the Palestinian Authority, minus a 2.5-percent fee.

Since November 2021, the Palestinian Authority has been unable to pay full public sector salaries, with payments ranging between 50 and 90 percent.

Othman said a donor conference in Brussels on Monday will take place at a "very difficult time," amid worsening finances and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa will lead the delegation, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Omar Awadallah, who said about 5 billion U.S. dollars in revenues are being withheld.

He said donor countries could help ease the crisis by supporting the Palestinian Authority and pressing for an end to Israel's economic measures. 
When Kim Day recently won Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year, the English painter could hardly have anticipated the whirlwind that would follow  sold-out work, a National Gallery commission, and an unexpected love affair with the west of Ireland.

Its been amazing  quite hectic, if Im being honest, but its a good kind of hectic, she says. Everything I had been working on is now gone, so Im starting from scratch. Its really nice to have a clean slate and start a new set of work.

The win brought with it a prestigious commission from the National Gallery of Ireland  the first of its kind the institution had ever undertaken. Dr Brendan Rooney, who oversees a collection widely regarded as the most comprehensive holding of Irish art in the world, approached Day with a specific challenge: to paint Croagh Patrick, the legendary mountain on Mayos western seaboard, and explore a gap in the landscapes artistic depiction.

For Day, it meant travelling somewhere she had never been before  despite having lived in Belfast and travelled widely across Ireland.

Id never been across to Westport, she admits. So it was a really wonderful discovery, just realising how beautiful it is. Going up Croagh Patrick, travelling around Achill Island  it was just tremendous. And the welcome was so warm.

READ MORE: Mayo islander shares the story behind his striking series of paintings

Privilege

IT felt like a real privilege to meet all these amazing people and see their experience of living around Croagh Patrick. It was an amazing experience all round.

One of the people she met was Fr John Kenny, who made quite an impression when he met her wearing a Kylo Ren costume.

She was just taken aback as the last thing youd expect to see coming down off Croagh Patrick was Kylo Ren, the Westport Parish Administrator laughs.

He uses the costume for fundraising events and it was a nod to her career in the film industry, which includes working on a Star Wars film.

He says that it was only after seeing the program that I realised how deeply spiritual and how deeply appreciative she was of her visit to the mountain.

She covered all the vital aspects of what the mountain means to people, and certainly means to her as an artist, he reflects.

The resulting painting, which now hangs in the National Gallery in Dublin, made a striking artistic choice  one that immediately divided opinion. The summit of Croagh Patrick is nowhere to be seen.

That was very much a conscious decision, Day explains. I knew people might not like it, but I really wanted to tell the story. This is about human journeys  whether physical or emotional. There really is no destination as such. Its just the journey were all going through.

Dotting the path are lights representing the thousands of pilgrims who have climbed the mountain across the centuries. I wanted to capture the sense of the soul of the people who have traversed that path, she says. The light and energy of people  that was the way to express it.

In traditional landscape painting, cutting the summit from a mountain would be considered a significant breach of convention, and Day was well aware of that. In terms of traditional painting, its something you would never, ever do. But I wanted to be brave enough to make that choice. I wanted to say something more than just produce a beautiful image. There are so many images of Croagh Patrick already. I wanted to say something about us as people  about the light and dark within us, about why people make that journey.

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A bit Marmite

THE reaction has been, in her own words, a bit Marmite. Some viewers have embraced the paintings philosophical depth; others have been considerably less forgiving. Day takes it all in her stride. I think its better to have a Marmite reaction than for people to just say, Oh, thats nice. People remember it. Art has that effect. Im quite happy to get the positive and the negative.

Fr Kenny was at the official unveiling in the National Gallery and his initial reaction was to understand her statement that a frame cant capture a mountain. His second thought was to see it as a good thing, because if people want to see the summit, you have to come to Westport. And if you really want to see the summit, you have to climb the mountain.

For Kim, seeing the painting in the Gallery remains something of an out-of-body experience for the artist, who has had to rely on photographs sent by well-wishers to view it in situ. I still have to pinch myself, she laughs. Its one of those slightly surreal situations. I feel very, very lucky.

As for Mayo itself, Day is emphatic that her time there has not ended. She plans to return, paintbrush in hand, for a far longer stay.

For any landscape artist wanting a real challenge and fuel for their work, Mayo is the place, she says. The light changes constantly, the cloud formations, the variety of landscapes  it gives you literally everything you could possibly want. I would quite happily go out there and paint for a few months. That would be wonderful.

MORE

Kim Days painting of Croagh Patrick is currently on display at the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
Do you remember the wave of criticism Akshay Kumar faced after the release of Samrat Prithviraj? A large section of the audience had labelled his performance as weightless, both in terms of physical transformation and emotional impact. Many felt that his portrayal lacked the intensity, gravitas, and conviction expected from a legendary warrior like Prithviraj Chauhan. Years later, Akshay has finally addressed the backlash, offering his perspective on the choices that drew criticism, particularly his clean-shaven look. Speaking on a recent podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, while promoting his latest release Bhooth Bangla, the actor explained the practical challenges behind such decisions.

 YRF He shared that he often juggles multiple film projects simultaneously, which limits his ability to undergo drastic physical changes for each role. Responding to the criticism about not sporting a moustache for Samrat Prithviraj, Akshay pointed out that maintaining such a look consistently isnt always feasible when switching between characters across films. At the same time, he emphasised that performance should ultimately take precedence over appearance. According to him, while audiences may focus on physical details, what truly matters is how convincingly an actor brings a character to life through acting.

But Akshay Kumars statement has started his trolling once again, as one of the users said, It's just an excuse .... when you play a role like Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, you have to give your time and your thoughts on that role ...

Another user commented, Lame excuse and openly keh raha hai that it's just acting! Are sahab it's not just acting, you have to look convincing!

One user reacted, This is his biggest problem,he doesnt realise its not about a fake moustache its about not giving enough time to prepare for the roles and making it worth the acting. Akshay Khanna wore a fake wig in Dhurandhar but no one cared because the acting was superlative & scene stealing.

Another user reacted, Other actors turn themselves into their roles and characters.. Then there is Akshay Kumar who turns every character into Akshay kumar.
WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Central Command said on Saturday that dock landing ship USS Rushmore is conducting blockade operations in the Arabian Sea.

Earlier Saturday, it said on social media that a guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney is patrolling regional waters in support of the blockade operations. Meanwhile, an amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans is monitoring shipping.

The move came as the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.

On Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the strait had been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade would "remain in full force." In response, Iran warned of closing the strategic waterway again if the U.S. blockade continues. 
The Big Rapids City Commission will consider a purchase agreement for the former Hanchett property during its meeting April 20. Pioneer file photo

BIG RAPIDS  The Big Rapids city commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 20 in the commissioners room of the Big Rapids City Hall, 226 S. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids.

SALE OF HANCHETT PROPERTY

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During the meeting the board will consider a resolution to accept a purchase agreement for 906 N. State St. from DeShano Development Corporation.

Per the resolution, the city is agreeing to the sale and purchase agreement for the former Hanchett property in the amount of $250,000 for the construction of a residential development for residents ages 55 and older.

The purchase price of $250,000 is contingent upon the developer securing a Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Brownfield Redevelopment grant.

If sufficient grant funding is not received, the purchase price is $100,000, the resolution states.

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RECOGNITIONS

During the meeting, the board will present a Greater Federation of Womens Clubs Day Proclamation declaring April 24, 2026, as GFWC Federation Day in honor of the organizations contributions to the community.

The board will also present the Arbor Day Proclamation declaring April 24, 2026, as Arbor Day, a special day set aside for tree planting and other environmental conservation initiatives.

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The board will also present resident Beth Hoeh with the City of Big Rapids Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing Hoeh for her contributions to the community.

OTHER BUSINESS

The following items are also on the agenda for consideration and action:

A resolution accepting agreement with the Sergeants Unit of the Police Officers Labor Council;

A resolution accepting agreement with the Supervisory (Patrol) Unit of the Police Officers Labor Council;

A resolution approving the contract with Mead & Hunt for professional engineering services for design reconstruction for two West Taxi Lanes at Roben-Hood Airport;

A resolution approving the increase in Mechanic Service Fee for aircraft maintenance performed at Roben-Hood Airport;

A resolution authorizing a Special Land Use Permit for a drive-through facility at 900 Water Tower Road for Consumers Credit Union;

A resolution awarding the bid for the 2026 Street Resurfacing Project;

A resolution extending the agreement with Plummers Environmental Disposal for a one year extension for sanitary/storm sewer cleaning and televising;

A resolution approving a change order from Grand Traverse Construction to replace the north and south digester diffuser membranes, air headers, and laterals at the WWTP; and

A resolution accepting a proposal from Fleis & VandenBrink for professional engineering services for the Water System Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan Update.

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The Big Rapids city commission meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of every month at the Big Rapids City Hall, 226 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Meetings are livestreamed on the citys You Tube channel. To access the live stream visit cityofbr.org and go to meetings and agendas or enter city of Big Rapids in the You Tube search bar.
Dwight and Nancy Bartle pose for a picture at their Sanilac County farm in a Tribune file photo. Recently, Dwight was recognized as the No. 3 grower in the Dryland Soft Red Winter Wheat category by the Michigan Wheat Program. Tribune File Photo

A Sanilac County farmer was recently honored as one of Michigan's top-yielding wheat growers.

Dwight Bartle of Bartle Farm in Brown City was recognized as the no. 3 grower in Dryland Soft Red Winter Wheat category by the Michigan Wheat Program.

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The organization recently honored the states top-yielding wheat growers for the past growing season.

The growers honored included entries in the Michigan Wheat Yield Contest that were revealed at the Michigan Wheat Winter Grower Meeting, with one receiving a second-place showing in the National Wheat Yield Contest.

The Michigan Wheat Program supports grower participation in both the state and national yield competitions, which recognize growers who find new ways to ramp up production.

The National Wheat Foundations contest aims to promote knowledge sharing among growers, encourage experimentation with new technologies, and support innovative ideas to increase wheat yields.

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When a Michigan wheat farmer enters the foundation contest, he or she is automatically entered into the Michigan Wheat Program State Yield Competition, which seeks to identify the states Wheat Warriors, also known as the best producers.

A member of the Michigan Wheat Program board, Dwight Bartle said he is most interested in soil health and the ability to attain consistent high yields. He wanted to join the board to work with others to achieve a balance of production and profitability.

Bartle believes the future of Michigan wheat is to continue our path of research to ensure wheat is a sustainable crop in Michigan.

WINNERS IN 2025 MICHIGAN WHEAT YIELD CONTEST

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1. Clearview Farms, Nick Suwyn, Allegan County at 162.1 bu./acre

2. Dick Suwyn, Kent County at 154.7 bu./acre

3. Bartle Farms, Dwight Bartle, Sanilac County at 148.2 bu./acre

Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat

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1. Clearview Farms, Nick Suwyn, Barry County at 185.6 bu./acre

Overall State Winner for Michigan

Nick Suwyn, of Barry County, for his Irrigated Soft Red Winter Wheat yield at 185.6 bu./acre.

Wheat growers feeling bullish about this winter wheat crop are reminded to register for the 2026 National Wheat Yield Contest. Registration is now open, with a due date of May 15 for winter wheat.

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To enter the national (and Michigan) contest, visit www.wheatcontest.org. This is a new website, and growers will need to register and get an account before putting in their entries. There is a fee of $100 per entry, but many times growers can get this covered by one of the contests partners, such as John Deere, Croplan, DynaGro or BASF.

National winners are judged in winter wheat dryland and winter wheat irrigated categories. There is an additional dryland category for percentage over the county average. Top national winners receive a trip to the Commodity Classic. Contestants are all asked to save a 10-pound sample of wheat for quality analysis, should they be determined to be a national winner.

The contest will provide shipping instructions for the sample, which will be analyzed for milling and baking quality. Soft red will be baked into a sugar cookie and soft white into a sponge cake.

Michigan follows the foundation's rules and procedures for entering, collecting data and reporting yields. Winners in the Michigan state contest will be selected in the categories of irrigated and dryland wheat, regardless of whether they are entering red or white winter wheat.

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Michigan winners are based on actual yield and are announced at the Michigan Wheat Programs Annual Meeting held each winter. The top winner in each category receives a trip to Michigans Great Lakes Crop Summit held in January.

The Michigan Wheat Program is funded by 8,000 farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigans 83 counties. The program's board seeks to promote the states wheat industry by funding and supporting the strategic priorities of wheat farmers working with input suppliers, seed producers, millers, end users and consumers.

Research on wheat production practices and grower education has been a continued focus for the organization.
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Although using the term military revolution to describe changes in warfare between 1560 and 1660 (or some variant of those dates) is controversial, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that something exceptionally radical occurred in this period in relation to war at sea.

On 7 October 1571, at Lepanto off the Greek coast, two massive fleets  one Western Christian, the other Ottoman Turkish  collided in one of the greatest naval battles in history. Some 500 vessels were involved, of which around 200 were lost, and the cost in casualties is estimated at 50,000 in total.

The battle was almost entirely lacking in tactical finesse: the two fleets simply crashed into each other head-on and engaged in a chaotic and ferocious melee that went on for hours.

Interestingly, what seems to have decided matters was the predominance of galleons over galleys in the Christian fleet, and their higher proportion of cannon and muskets. Lepanto was a medieval battle, but it heralded a new way of war  based on gunpowder weapons arranged in floating batteries.

When the English and Dutch republics fought the first in a series of Anglo-Dutch wars between 1652 and 1654, the galleys and archers were long gone. Every ship was a man-o-war  powered by sails, stacked with cannon.

But the tendency for battles to degenerate into chaotic close-quarter melees remained, with each captain tending to bring his ship alongside an enemy vessel, blast it with broadsides, and then, more often than not, seek to storm it by grappling and sending over boarding parties. Each naval battle was a series of private duels. Tactics lagged behind technology.
President Donald Trumps latest executive order to accelerate medical treatments for serious mental illness, notably psychedelics, was described by one advocate to Military.com as a turning point for the military veteran community.

Trumps executive order signed on Saturday calls on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to facilitate access to psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, psilocybin, ketamine, LSD and MDMA, for eligible patients suffering from major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorders. Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said newer methods have become necessary beyond reliance on prescription medicines.

Todays order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life, Trump said Saturday in the Oval Office, joined by others including RFK Jr. and podcast host Joe Rogan, the latter of whom Trump said had sent some information to the president about such treatments.

The order could set a new standard for how drugs under the Schedule I banner of the Controlled Substances Act could be reclassified pending successful trials by medical professionals.

Marine Corps combat veteran Matt Metzger, who grows his own mushrooms for microdosing psilocybin, displays prepared doses in packets Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Psilocybin, for example, has long been known as the main ingredient in magic mushrooms. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes that and Ibogaine, both currently Schedule I drugs among others, as having "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Trumps executive order also calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate at least $50 million from existing funds to support and partner with state governments that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses, including through federal funding, technical assistance and data sharing.

'Important Moment for Mental Health'

Currently, according to the White House, more than 14 million American adults have a serious mental illness, defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interferes with a persons life and ability to function, while roughly 8 million are on prescription medication for such conditions.

The presidents executive order represents a meaningful turning point in how our nation approaches brain health within the military community, particularly for veterans navigating treatment-resistant PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, and substance use disorders, Tom Feegel, CEO of Beond, told Military.com.

Beond is a clinical neuro-health center focused on ibogaine-assisted protocols designed to support neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, and long-term mental optimization.

Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound derived from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, which studies have cited as productive in interrupting opioid and cocaine addiction, reducing withdrawal symptoms, and treating PTSD or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

President Donald Trump closes his eyes while listening in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

A Stanford study from January 2026 found that ibogaine, when combined with magnesium for heart safety, effectively reduces PTSD, anxiety and depression and improves functioning in veterans with TBI.

Feegel said veterans for too long have had to seek treatments within a system largely centered on symptom management, often involving years of pharmaceutical dependence with inconsistent outcomes.

Now, an order like this could begin to change that age-old model by what he described as the acceleration of scientific validation and potential access to next-generation neurotherapeutics that operate at the level of brain chemistry, neural signaling and neuroplasticity.

Just as importantly, it reinforces that access must be built on medical excellence, physician oversight, measurable standards, and accountable systems worthy of those who served.

Its not just ibogaine but psilocybin and ketamine that could have major impacts and reduce long-held stigmas, said Jay Godfrey, CEO and co-founder of Nushama, described as the largest psychedelic wellness center in the western world that has administered over 15,000 ketamine journeys for mood disorders.

At Nushama, our focus is on delivering care safely and ethically in alignment with evolving evidence and regulatory requirements, Godfrey told Military.com. Were investing in experienced clinical teams, appropriate facilities and patient-safety protocols to support responsible translation from research to practice where permitted.

Were especially committed to supporting veterans and others living with service-related PTSD and trauma, and to expanding access as the science and policy landscape allow. This is an important moment for mental health in America, and were prepared to contribute.

A 'Meaningful Step' in US Policy

The executive order and what is being asked of the federal government to facilitate and usher in what perhaps could be a new era of medical advancement begs a major question: how will this positively affect the military community?

Military.com has previously reported on myriad efforts on Capitol Hill, in both the House and Senate, to advance legislation mirroring some of what is called for in Trumps new directive.

Other reporting has shown that the federal government itself may be turning a new leaf as many of these substanceswhether its MDMA or LSDhave long been listed nationally as being among the most illicit substances, drawing decades of scrutiny.

Casey Tylek, a U.S. Army veteran, stands for a portrait at his home in Leominster, Mass., on July 13, 2024. Tylek credits MDMA-assisted therapy with resolving anger, anxiety and trauma stemming from a rocket attack in in Iraq. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

But as countless states have recreationally legalized cannabis (24 states plus the District of Columbia currently allow it), tides have shifted albeit slowly. Having a U.S. president tout the benefits of such substances may lead to a sea change in time.

This is a meaningful step, especially for veterans who havent responded to existing treatments, Nikita Tsimmer, co-founder of Fountain Health, told Military.com.

Fountain Health is launching the first precision psychiatry clinic integrating biomarker testing, ketamine therapy and longevity science.

Lets remember that psychedelics alone arent a solutiontheyre a tool, he added. While this is the right step, we still treat mental health as primarily psychological, when in many cases its biological and systemic.

Without addressing things like inflammation, metabolic health, and nervous system regulation, we risk repeating the same pattern: a new intervention layered onto an outdated model.

Proof That Lives Can Be Saved

For some like Jay Kopelman, CEO of the Mission to Live Foundation that funds veteran scholarships for ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT and psilocybin treatments, the issue hits home.

Hes a military veteran who has personally benefited twice from ibogaine, saying that through the murkiness of stigmas and federal drugs law, We now see a future free from veteran suicide.

This not only will save veteran lives, but the lives of those suffering from substance use disorders,We at Mission to Live Foundation, where weve raised millions of dollars to send veterans and first responders to receive treatment outside the United States, are thrilled that there is now a fast-tracked opportunity to research this incredible medicine.

As the CEO and a veteran who has experienced this incredible medicine twice, I can attest that this will save lives. It certainly saved mine.

Feegel described a twofold impact from this legislation, one being the establishing of a clear federal mandate that includes the collaboration of major agencies critical to evaluating such emerging modalities.

The other, he said, is how it opens the door to near-term access through mechanisms such as Right to Try and accelerated clinical programs. The executive order mentions Right to Try, the 2018 federal act that essentially allows patients with life-threatening conditions and minimal treatment options to use drugs that lack FDA oversight.

Today, many veterans are forced to leave the United States to pursue treatments that show significant promise, Feegel said, adding that veterans particularly should have access when conventional interventions have broadly failed. This executive order begins to address that gap by helping create controlled, medically supervised pathways closer to homewhere American veterans should be able to seek world-class care.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  When Alina Dotsenko returned to her museum after Ukrainian forces retook the southern city of Kherson from Russian forces in late 2022, she found thousands of artworks had vanished.

I walked in and saw empty storage rooms, empty shelves. My legs gave way, and I just sat down by the wall, like a child, the Kherson Art Museum director said.

Before Russias full-scale invasion in early 2022, the museum held more than 14,000 works in a collection ranging from America to Japan. As the Russians retreated, they loaded much of it onto trucks and took it to Russian-annexed Crimea, according to Dotsenko and video filmed by residents.

The fate of nearly 10,000 pieces remains unknown.

Ukraine is again raising its voice over the looting as Russia seeks to return to the world's cultural stage. Next month's Venice Biennale plans to allow Russian representatives to take part for the first time since 2022. Ukraine has said the event must not become a stage for whitewashing the war crimes that Russia commits daily against the Ukrainian people and our cultural heritage.

A rare documented case of looting

The Kherson case stands out because Ukraine knows exactly what was lost.

Years before the war, Dotsenko began photographing every item in the museums holdings, creating a digital archive. When Russian forces occupied Kherson, she hid the hard drives containing it. After Ukrainian troops returned, she retrieved them.

Today, that archive forms the most detailed record of looted cultural property during the war, allowing prosecutors to work with Interpol to trace missing works and pursue those responsible.

Across much of Ukraine, however, such documentation does not exist. And cultural losses can only be pursued in court if they can be proved, item by item.

The Russian Culture Ministry did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment on the alleged removal of items from Ukrainian museums. In the past, Russian-appointed officials in occupied territories described the removal as protective measures.

Kirill Stremousov, the former Russia-installed deputy administrator in Kherson who died shortly before Ukrainian forces liberated the city, said removed statues would definitely return once fighting stopped.

Carrying catalogs through checkpoints

Halyna Chumak, former director of the Donetsk Regional Art Museum, fled Russian-controlled Donetsk in 2014, carrying what she could: catalogs documenting a fraction of the museums roughly 15,000 artworks.

She spent a year transporting the catalogs through checkpoints into Ukrainian-controlled territory, leaving most behind as she tried not to draw attention from pro-Russian forces who searched her at each crossing.

Those catalogs covering just over 1,000 items are the only surviving evidence. More than a decade later, Ukrainian entrepreneur Oleksandr Velychko is digitizing them.

It took his team over three painstaking months to process about 400 works. Once completed, the database will be given to Ukrainian authorities, providing a partial legal basis to claim ownership of missing items.

Prosecutors turn to open-source intelligence

Officials say many cases across Ukraine resemble Donetsk more than Kherson.

Anna Sosonska, deputy head of a war crimes unit at Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office, said her department is handling 23 criminal proceedings involving cultural crimes, covering 174 episodes of looting, damage and destruction.

The Kherson museum case is among the priorities, she said, largely because of Dotsenkos digital archive.

Sosonska said Russian forces often remove inventory books and other documentation from museums, making it harder to establish what was taken.

Prosecutors sometimes rely on open-source intelligence, tracking artworks through photos, auction records and other online traces  a labor-intensive process that cannot reconstruct entire collections.

It takes time, but Sosonska noted that cultural crimes fall under international law and have no statute of limitations.

The scale of looting remains unknown

Ukrainian officials say the scale of looting far exceeds what can be documented.

According to Ukraines Culture Ministry, Russia as of March had destroyed or damaged 1,707 cultural heritage sites and 2,503 cultural infrastructure facilities including events spaces and galleries, notably the Mariupol Drama Theatre.

The ministry said over 2.1 million museum objects remain in Russian-occupied territories. Of the territories Ukraine has retaken since 2022, over 35,000 museum items are confirmed to have been looted.

Large parts of Ukraine have been under Russian occupation since 2014, and much original documentation has been lost, destroyed or removed.

Russia has moved to formalize control over seized collections. In 2023, it amended legislation to incorporate 77 Ukrainian museums in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions into its national catalog, a step critics say effectively prohibits the return of looted works.

Appointed as Ukraine's culture minister in October 2025, Tetiana Berezhna said digitalization will be a key priority for her office to preserve collections.

If we had digitalized them beforehand, then we would know how many objects were stolen and what they look like, she said.

One case of accountability

A recent case in Europe has drawn attention to the possibility of accountability.

In March, a Polish court ruled that Oleksandr Butiahin, a Russian national, can be extradited to Ukraine over allegations he conducted illegal excavations in Crimea, removing artifacts from a site Ukraine considers its cultural heritage.

Butiahin was detained in Poland last year at Ukraines request. The court's decision remains subject to appeal.

Sosonska described the case as the first time a Russian national could face prosecution for crimes against Ukraines cultural heritage linked to occupied territory.

For museum workers like Dotsenko, the issue remains deeply personal.

She spoke with The Associated Press at an exhibition in Kyiv featuring reproductions of the paintings taken from the Kherson museum.

While these works are still in captivity, we all hope the situation will be resolved in favor of the Kherson Art Museum. I didnt dedicate 50 years of my life to this museum for nothing, she said.  AP journalist Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report
Baby herons are seen at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Eurasian spoonbills rest in Shahu Lake in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Herons fly over reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows nests of herons at the Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A heron rests at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

An Eurasian spoonbill holding a reed in mouth flies over the Shahu Lake in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Herons return to their nest at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A black-winged stilt forges in Shahu Lake in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

A heron flies among reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Herons are pictured among reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A heron flies among reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Cormorants fly over reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A baby heron is seen at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Eurasian spoonbills fly over Shahu Lake in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Red-crested pochards fly over Shahu Lake in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows the Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A heron flies over reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

An Eurasian spoonbill forges in Shahu Lake in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Herons rest among reeds at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 18, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A heron returns to its nest at Shahu scenic area in Pingluo County of Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. From March to October each year, the Shahu scenic area serves as an important breeding habitat for migratory birds, featuring vast expanses of water, abundant plankton, fish and shrimp, and a variety of ecosystems.

In recent years, the area has continuously advanced the systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, restored lakes previously used for aquaculture, converted farmlands back into wetlands, and improved both water quality and the overall ecological environment. The number of birds species in the area has grown from 178 in 2011 to 216. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)
The idea that artificial intelligence could reshape the workforce has been around for years, often framed in the kind of unsettling scenarios popularized by sci-fi series like Black Mirror. Now, its showing up in hiring data.

A recent Forbes report on the so-called New Ivies suggests colleges are rapidly adapting to an AI-driven job market, where entry-level roles are already beginning to shrink. Among the schools highlighted is the United States Air Force Academy, raising new questions about how the military defines and prepares for its own entry-level workforce.

The idea that AI is replacing entry-level workers has gained traction, but researchers are still parsing out exactly whats driving the shift. A recent analysis from Stanfords Digital Economy Lab suggests that while AI exposure is linked to declining early-career employment, the timing and scale of those changes are more complex.

In fact, when broader economic factors are accounted for, the most significant declines appear to emerge in 2024, not immediately after the rise of tools like ChatGPT.

AI Is Already Reshaping Entry-Level Hiring

The shift reflects a broader change already underway across industries. The Air Force, for example, has been investing in artificial intelligence for years, using it to support everything from pilot training to future combat operations. But as those systems become more embedded, questions remain about what that means for entry-level roles and the traditional training pipeline.

According to the Forbes analysis, nearly a quarter of executives surveyed said artificial intelligence is expected to reduce their need for entry-level hires, while a majority said it would significantly alter their staffing needs. Researchers have also found that employment among younger workers in AI-vulnerable roles has declined, even as overall job markets remain relatively stable.

U.S. Air Force Reserve service member discusses artificial intelligence prototype development in front of digital display (Public Domain)

At the same time, expectations for new hires are rising. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can work alongside AI systems, interpret outputs and make decisions that go beyond routine tasks. In practice, that means fewer traditional learn-on-the-job roles and more positions that require a baseline level of technical fluency from day one.

Experts Say the Shift Isnt Inevitable

Some economists argue that this outcome is not inevitable. Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu has warned that artificial intelligence does not have a fixed trajectory and that its impact on jobs depends largely on how it is deployed.

In a recent interview with MIT Sloan Management Review, he described a growing divide between systems designed to automate tasks, often reducing the need for workers, and those that create new kinds of work by complementing human skills. For now, he suggested, many companies are prioritizing automation, a trend that can shrink entry-level opportunities rather than expand them.

Economist Daron Acemoglu delivers his prize lecture at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences during Nobel Prize events at Stockholm University on Dec. 8, 2024. ( Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Anna Svanberg)

Colleges on the New Ivies list are already adjusting. Some universities have expanded AI-related coursework across disciplines, while others are introducing requirements to ensure students graduate with at least a working understanding of artificial intelligence. The goal, according to the report, is not just to train engineers but to prepare graduates in fields ranging from business to the humanities to operate in AI-assisted environments.

What It Means for the Military Workforce

That shift is not limited to civilian institutions. The inclusion of the U.S. Air Force Academy on the list reflects the militarys broader emphasis on emerging technologies, including cyber operations, autonomous systems and data-driven decision-making.

While the academy has long focused on science and engineering, recent years have seen increased attention on preparing cadets for a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The U.S. Air Force Academy did not respond to Military.coms request for comment before publication.

What makes the current moment different is how those changes are redefining entry-level work. In the civilian world, entry-level roles have traditionally served as a training ground, allowing new graduates to build skills over time. In the military, entry-level positions, whether among junior enlisted personnel or newly commissioned officers, are similarly structured around development and progression.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Nate Maidel, Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator (AIA) AI researcher chief, speaks with visitors about the AIA mission during the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 22, 2025. The AIA partners with MIT, industry and allies to transition AI research into operational capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Shaei Rodriguez)

As artificial intelligence reshapes workflows, that model may be shifting. If automated systems increasingly handle routine tasks, the expectation for new personnel, civilian and military alike, could move toward higher-level responsibilities earlier in their careers. Rather than learning the basics on the job, new entrants may be expected to arrive with those skills already in place.

The Forbes report suggests that employers are already moving in that direction, prioritizing qualities such as adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to work with AI tools over traditional credentials alone. Some academic leaders cited in the report argue that this could lead to a renewed emphasis on broader skill sets, including critical thinking and communication, alongside technical training.

Cadets celebrate graduation at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in May 2025. (Public Domain)

For institutions like the U.S. Air Force Academy, the challenge is to balance those demands. Training future officers has always required a mix of technical expertise and leadership development. As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into both military operations and the broader workforce, that balance may become even more important.

The idea that technology can quietly reshape who gets to participate in the workforce has long been explored in fiction. Whats changing now is how quickly those shifts are moving from speculation to measurable trends, redefining not just how people work, but how they begin their careers.
There exists a persistent gap in how the federal government supports surviving military families, according to Tamra Sipes, national president of Gold Star Spouses of America, who spoke to Military.com ahead of a major advocacy effort in Washington and, more specifically, Capitol Hill.

Sipes is leading a delegation of roughly 40-50 surviving spouses and family members to the nation's capital, where they will meet directly with lawmakers to advocate for changes to survivor benefitsparticularly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), or the primary monthly benefit paid to families of service members who die in the line of duty.

Were going to advocate for improving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, which affects every one of us, Sipes said, emphasizing that the issue is central to the organizations work.

At the core of their argument is a disparity between military survivor benefits and those provided to other federal families. Sipes explained that surviving spouses of federal civilian employees can receive about 55% of compensation, while military surviving spouses receive closer to 43%.

Gold Star Spouses placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on a previous trip to DC. Source: Gold Star Spouses

That difference, she said, has real consequences for families trying to rebuild their lives.

In real life, its about $450 or more a month, she said, noting that the structure of DIC has not been meaningfully updated since 1993 beyond routine cost-of-living adjustments.

Legislation Behind the Advocacy

The groups Capitol Hill meetings will focus on several pieces of legislation designed to address these gaps.

The most comprehensive proposal is the Caring for Survivors Act, which would increase DIC payments to better align military survivor benefits with those provided to federal civilian employees. Sipes described this measure as the clearest path to achieving parity between the two systems.

Alongside that effort, the organization is supporting H.R. 6047, known as the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Improvement Act, which is a broader package that increases Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for surviving families while also raising Special Monthly Compensation for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities.

It includes additional financial support for veterans requiring aid and attendance and makes changes to VA home loan fee rules that help fund those benefit increases. The bill carries personal significance for the families involved.

Sipes noted that Sharri Briley lost her husband during the 1993 Black Hawk Down mission and will be present on Capitol Hill as part of the advocacy effort.

A third priority, the Love Lives On Act, addresses remarriage restrictions that currently prevent surviving spouses from retaining benefits if they remarry before age 55. Advocates argue the policy forces younger widows and widowers, who are often raising children, to choose between financial stability and moving forward with their lives.

What Advocacy on Capitol Hill Looks Like

The advocacy effort is scheduled to occur Tuesday, April 21, when participants will spend the day meeting with lawmakers and congressional staff.

Sipes described a structured but demanding schedule, with small groups moving from office to office across Capitol Hill, often spending 15-20 minutes in each meeting.

We try to cover every single office on Capitol Hill, she said, explaining that participants also conduct drop-in visits between scheduled meetings to reach as many offices as possible.

Sipes said the experience serves as both advocacy and education, helping families understand that programs like DIC are determined by Congress. Its an education process, she said, noting that lawmakers are often equally unaware of the disparity until it is explained directly.

Gold Star Spouses on a previous trip to DC. Source: Gold Star Spouses.

The days meetings will conclude with a congressional reception held in the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing room, where the organization plans to present Congressional Champion Awards to Reps. Tom Barrett (R-MI) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) for their work on survivor benefit legislation.

In addition to the Capitol Hill advocacy, the organization has scheduled a separate ceremonial event.

On Sunday, April 19, the Gold Star Spouses will gather at Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ceremony is open to the public and serves as a formal moment of remembrance for fallen servicemembers and their families.

While distinct from the legislative meetings, the ceremony underscores the broader purpose of the groups presence in Washington, which is honoring sacrifice while advocating for those left behind.

Obstacles and the Path Forward

Despite growing awareness of the issue, Sipes acknowledged that passing these reforms remains difficult.

One of the primary barriers is funding, as lawmakers must weigh these proposals against competing budget priorities.

Even so, she emphasized that direct engagement is critical to building momentum. Without efforts like the fly-in, she said, many lawmakers would remain unaware of the disparities facing surviving military families.

The timing of the advocacy push adds urgency. As global conflicts continue and U.S. servicemembers remain deployed, Sipes noted that more families could face the same challenges in the future.

For those looking to support the effort, she encouraged the public to visit goldstarspouses.org to learn more about current legislation and advocacy priorities, and to contact their elected representatives to express support.

Ultimately, Sipes framed the issue as one of fairness. The benefits in question, she said, reflect a promise made to servicemembers that their families will be cared for if they do not return home. The goal of the Capitol Hill effort is to ensure that promise is fulfilled.
The Diamondbacks have signed infielder Andrew Velazquez to a minor league deal, according to an announcement from their Triple-A affiliate. The 31-year-old is represented by CAA Sports.

Velazquez had been with the Rangers on a non-roster deal since early December. He got into 16 Spring Training games but batted just .111/.194/.185 in 32 plate appearances. The Rangers released him at the end of March, and Velazquez lingered in free agency until this pact with Arizona. He has not appeared in the majors since 2023 with the Angels and has spent the last two years at the Triple-A level with the Braves and Yankees, respectively.

In 368 PA with the Yankees top affiliate in 2025, Velazquez batted .242/.304/.345 with a 74 wRC+. That production was par for the course for Velazquez, whose last meaningful sample as an above-average hitter came in 2021 at Triple-A (119 wRC+ in 306 PA). Since that season, he has shown minimal power at every level including the majors, without making contact or getting on base enough to approach even average offense. He has some fringe value due to his speed, though. In 224 minor league games since the start of 2024, Velazquez has stolen 58 bases.

Defensively, Velazquez has mostly played at shortstop in the majors. In 2022, he was valued at 11 Defensive Runs Saved and 3 Outs Above Average in 906 innings there with the Angels. He regressed the following season in a smaller sample, coming in at -5 DRS and -3 OAA in 233 1/3 innings. Hes been roughly average with the glove outside of those two years. Since 2024, hes also gotten some minor-league work in the outfield, and the Diamondbacks announcement lists him as a utilityman, rather than strictly an infielder.

Versatility aside, Velazquez is merely a no-risk depth option for Arizona. The club has Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte lined up at shortstop and second base, respectively. They havent hit well to start the year, but Perdomo had a breakout season in 2025 and is in the first year of a new contract extension, so hes not going anywhere. Neither is Marte, who has a track record as one of the best second basemen in the league. Nolan Arenado is 35 and struggling offensively and defensively at third base, but likewise, his track record gives him plenty of leeway. At best, Velazquez will be called up at some point an emergency defensive option if one of the regulars lands on the injured list.

Photo courtesy of Mike Watters, Imagn Images
Right-hander Wilber Dotel will join the Pirates on Sunday, the club announced. Fellow righty Cam Sanders was optioned back to Triple-A. Dotel is among the top pitching prospects in the organization yet to appear in the big leagues. Hes already on the 40-man roster, so an additional move was not required.

The 23-year-old Dotel was off to a rocky start in Indianapolis. He was knocked around for eight earned runs in his first two outings. The righty tossed 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in his most recent appearance, which came last Sunday. Dotel will initially pitch out of the bullpen, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pirates relievers had to cover nine innings in a wild 13-inning loss to the Rays on Saturday.

MLB Pipeline ranks Dotel as the No. 12 prospect in the organization. Hes behind Seth Hernandez (No. 2), Hunter Barco (No. 4), and Antwone Kelly (No. 8). Barco has already had multiple stints with the big-league club. The 19-year-old Hernandez was the clubs top pick in last years draft. Kelly began the year with Dotel in Triple-A, but hes scuffled to a 9.75 ERA.

Pittsburgh signed Dotel out of the Dominican Republic in 2020. Hes generally delivered solid results from a run prevention perspective, but control has been an issue. Dotel had a walk rate above 11% at every minor league stop heading into 2025. He was able to trim the free passes to an 8.0% rate in 27 starts at Double-A last season. The righty also boosted his strikeout rate to 24.5%, his best mark since 2022 in the Complex league.

Dotel hasnt made a relief appearance for a couple of seasons. Pittsburgh has a sturdy top four in the rotation with Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, and Braxton Ashcraft. Carmen Mlodzinski was used as a traditional starter in his first three appearances before coming in behind an opener in his last outing. Hes been effective this season, holding down the fifth spot in the rotation while Jared Jones works his way back from elbow surgery. Dotel doesnt have a clear route to a starting gig at the moment.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Bender of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, via Imagn Images
A student writes on the whiteboard in a Chinese language class at Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)

DAR ES SALAAM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- In a classroom at Zanaki Secondary School, a government-owned girls' school in Tanzania's Dar es Salaam, 13-year-old Rosemary Thadei Mushi stands among her peers, carefully guiding them through the tonal subtleties of Mandarin Chinese.

Across the campus, students are increasingly embracing Chinese not merely as an academic subject, but as a pathway to future opportunities. As the world prepares to mark Chinese Language Day, the enthusiasm among students reflects a broader trend across Africa, where interest in learning Mandarin continues to grow.

For Rosemary, a Form One student, studying Chinese has already begun to reshape her perspective. Beyond mastering characters and pronunciation, she has developed a more nuanced understanding of Chinese culture and people. Aspiring to become a doctor, she believes proficiency in the language could help her secure a scholarship to study abroad and broaden her horizons.

She also challenges common perceptions. What some describe as a "strict" sound, she says, often reflects tonal complexity rather than temperament. Her own experience has revealed something different -- a culture she describes as warm and considerate.

Fifteen-year-old Koletha Fikiri Mtakuja shares a similar vision. A Form Three student with ambitions in engineering, she views Mandarin as a gateway to accessing China's technological advancements.

"China is very advanced in science and technology," Koletha said. "Knowing Chinese will help me learn directly from their engineers."

Both students dream of visiting China, hoping to walk along the Great Wall in Beijing and experience firsthand the traditions and rapid development they currently encounter through digital platforms, music, and films.

Their ambitions align with a broader global movement. Observed annually on April 20, Chinese Language Day was established by the United Nations to promote multilingualism and the equal use of its six official languages. In recent years, the day has also come to symbolize the growing educational and economic ties between China and Africa.

Behind the students' progress stands their teacher, Ema Silagomi, one of Tanzania's pioneering Chinese language educators.

Motivated by a passion for languages, she trained in China between 2018 and 2019 under a joint program by the Tanzanian and Chinese governments, studying at Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics and Henan University, where she gained both language skills and teaching methodologies.

Upon returning to Tanzania as one of the first local Chinese language teachers, Silagomi faced the challenge of building the program from scratch. Despite limited teaching materials and the absence of immersive language environments, she remained committed to expanding access to Chinese language education.

"I saw the opportunities in China regarding education, business, and cultural exchange, and I wanted Tanzanian youth to benefit," Silagomi explained. "It is a language full of opportunities." 

Schoolgirls take a Chinese language class at Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)

A student writes on the whiteboard in a Chinese language class at Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)

Schoolgirls take a Chinese language class at Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)
JEE Main Session 2 Result 2026 OUT @ jeemain.nta.nic.in by April 20, direct link here

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is scheduled to release the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (April) results by April 20. Candidates who appeared for the engineering entrance exam can access their scorecards on the official portal, jeemain.nta.nic.in.









JEE Main April Session Result 2026 JEE Main 2026 Session 2 results to be released by April 20

Over 11 lakh candidates appeared for the April session exam

AIR list and JEE Advanced 2026 cut-off scores released Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the day by Al Pacino, "There is no happiness. There is..."

What if happiness isnt the goal at all? Al Pacinos powerful quote flips everything youve been taught about success. "The Godfather" actor's words reveal a truth most people ignore. Here's why it resonates so deeply today.









Al Pacino Al Pacino suggests fulfillment comes from deep concentration

He argues happiness is a by-product, not a direct pursuit

In today's distracted world, focus is more valuable than ever Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the day by Israeli medievalist, Yuval Noah Harari, "A meaningful life can be extremely satisfying even in the..."

Yuval Noah Harari, with his quote challenges the idea of happiness, showing that purpose is not comfort or an easy life, but is what truly creates lasting fulfillment and meaning.









Yuval Noah Harari A meaningful life brings fulfillment even during hardship

Comfort alone does not guarantee happiness or purpose

Yuval Noah Harari urges finding meaning, not just avoiding hardship Did our AI summary help?
Allu Arjun likely to move to Mumbai for long Raaka schedule

Allu Arjun is reportedly considering a temporary move to Mumbai as he prepares for his upcoming film Raaka, signalling a significant shift in his routine. The decision, driven by the films demanding schedule and intense physical requirements, could help him stay fully focused on the project without the strain of constant travel.









Allu Arjun to move to Mumbai for upcoming project Allu Arjun may shift to Mumbai for Raaka's long shoot schedule

Raaka features stars like Deepika, Janhvi, Rashmika, Mrunal

Film aims for a 2027 release after extensive post-production Did our AI summary help?
Boney Kapoor shares sweet note for 'darling' daughter Anshula Kapoor ahead of her wedding: See pics

Boney Kapoor shares an emotional note for daughter Anshula Kapoor ahead of her wedding with Rohan Thakkar, as Kapoor family celebrations begin.









Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Boney posted a candid picture of Anshula enjoying a quiet cafe moment. Boney Kapoor shares emotional note for daughter Anshula's wedding

Anshula to marry longtime fiance Rohan Thakkar soon

Anshula honored her late mother during the Gor Dhana ceremony Did our AI summary help?
Deepika Padukone continues to shoot intense action for King and Raaka during pregnancy: Report

Deepika Padukone announced her second pregnancy with Ranveer Singh, sharing a sweet post featuring their daughter Dua. Despite this, she will continue shooting intense action sequences for King and Raaka during her pregnancy.

Gayatri Rani April 19, 2026 / 16:36 IST























Deepika Padukone continues to shoot action scenes Deepika and Ranveer announce second pregnancy on Akshaya Tritiya

Pregnant Deepika films Raaka action scenes

Deepika's next film King releases December 24, 2026 Did our AI summary help?
This photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows a storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos. A storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway was held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday. Under the theme "Building a golden railway, benefiting the people of both countries," the event brought together more than 60 participants, including officials from Chinese and Lao government agencies, business representatives, journalists, scholars and railway employees, who shared personal experiences illustrating the railway's transformative impact. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway was held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday.

Under the theme "Building a golden railway, benefiting the people of both countries," the event brought together more than 60 participants, including officials from Chinese and Lao government agencies, business representatives, journalists, scholars and railway employees, who shared personal experiences illustrating the railway's transformative impact.

The event formed part of a series of activities marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Laos and the China-Laos Friendship Year.

In her address, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong described the China-Laos Railway as a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that the railway has delivered real benefits to the people of both nations and transformed the lives of communities along the route since its launch over four years ago.

A Lao official emphasized the railway's socio-economic impact on generating jobs, facilitating travel, boosting trade and freight transport and attracting international tourists. 

This photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows a storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos.

A storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway was held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday.

Under the theme "Building a golden railway, benefiting the people of both countries," the event brought together more than 60 participants, including officials from Chinese and Lao government agencies, business representatives, journalists, scholars and railway employees, who shared personal experiences illustrating the railway's transformative impact. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows a storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos.

A storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway was held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday.

Under the theme "Building a golden railway, benefiting the people of both countries," the event brought together more than 60 participants, including officials from Chinese and Lao government agencies, business representatives, journalists, scholars and railway employees, who shared personal experiences illustrating the railway's transformative impact. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom welcome first child, a baby boy

Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom have welcomed their first child, stepping into parenthood with a baby boy. The couple shared the heartfelt news with a quiet, intimate glimpse into their new life as a family.









Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom welcome first child Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom welcome their first child

Couple shares a tender photo but keeps son's name private

They celebrated with an intimate gathering in New York Did our AI summary help?
One Direction's Zayn Malik punched Louis Tomlinson during Netflix docuseries shoot; latter unfollows on Instagram

Zayn Malik allegedly punched Louis Tomlinson during the shoot of a Netflix docuseries about their reunion. Following the incident, both stars reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram, fueling further feud rumours.

Gayatri Rani April 19, 2026 / 22:30 IST























Louis Tomlinson unfollows Zayn Malik (Photo Credit: Reuters) Zayn Malik reportedly punched Louis Tomlinson during filming

Louis unfollowed Zayn on Instagram after the physical altercation

The future of their Netflix docuseries is now uncertain Did our AI summary help?
Pawan Kalyan undergoes emergency surgery after sudden health scare; brother Chiranjeevi confirms 'he is safe, stable, and recovering well'

Pawan Kalyan underwent surgery after a sudden health issue and has been advised around 10 days of rest by doctors. His wife Anna Lezhneva said he is recovering well, while celebs like Ram Charan and Allu Arjun wished him a speedy recovery.

Gayatri Rani April 19, 2026 / 18:10 IST























Pawan Kalyan undergoes surgery Pawan Kalyan underwent surgery after a sudden health issue

Doctors advised him to rest for 7 to 10 days for recovery

Celebrities and family confirmed he is stable and recovering well Did our AI summary help?
PM Narendra Modi checks on Pawan Kalyan after surgery, wishes him well

Pawan Kalyan, the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party chief, is recovering after undergoing surgery following a sudden health scare during an official meeting, with leaders across the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, extending their wishes for his speedy recovery.









PM Narendra Modi speaks to Pawan Kalyan after surgery Pawan Kalyans surgery successful; stable and recovering

PM Modi, CM Naidu, and fans wish Pawan Kalyan a speedy recovery

Doctors tell Pawan Kalyan to rest for 710 days Did our AI summary help?
Ranbir Kapoors Ramayana unseen 20-minute clip wows at CinemaCon; Warner Bros. Discovery to distribute mythology epic globally

An unseen 20-minute clip of Ranbir Kapoors Ramayana was screened at CinemaCon, with early viewers praising its scale and VFX. There is also buzz that Warner Bros. Discovery may handle the films global distribution, though no official confirmation has been made.

Gayatri Rani April 19, 2026 / 17:49 IST























Ramayana clip screened at CinemaCon 2026 20 minutes of Ramayana footage screened at CinemaCon

Warner Bros. may distribute Ramayana globally in November

Early viewers praise the film's visuals and epic scope Did our AI summary help?
Salman Khan is playing a major role in Raja Shivaji, reveals Riteish Deshmukh

Riteish Deshmukh revealed on Bigg Boss Marathi 6 that Salman Khan will play a major role in Raja Shivaji, boosting excitement around the historical film.









Salman Khan is playing a major role in Raja Shivaji, reveals Riteish Deshmukh Salman Khan joins Riteish Deshmukhs film Raja Shivaji

Film based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's life

Fans excited after Riteish's announcement on Bigg Boss Marathi Did our AI summary help?
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody actor Dylan Sprouse tackles intruder, holds him at gunpoint at LA home; wife Barbara Palvin calls 911

Dylan Sprouse tackled an alleged trespasser and held him at gunpoint outside his Los Angeles home, while Barbara Palvin called 911. The suspect was later taken into custody on outstanding warrants, with no injuries reported in the incident.

Gayatri Rani April 19, 2026 / 15:46 IST























Dylan Sprouse tackles intruder Dylan Sprouse held a trespasser at gunpoint at his LA home

Barbara Palvin called 911 during the late-night incident

No one was hurt; suspect was arrested on outstanding warrants Did our AI summary help?
Air India accelerates Dreamliner upgrade, plans to retrofit 8 Boeing 787-8 aircraft in 2026

Air India plans to retrofit 8 Boeing 787-8 aircraft in 2026 as part of its fleet upgrade, with most Dreamliners set for overhaul by 2027.

PTI April 19, 2026 / 16:11 IST























First retrofitted Boeing 787-8 joins fleet as airline targets 85% upgrade by 2027 under Tata-led transformation Air India to retrofit 8 legacy Boeing 787-8 planes in 2024

85 percent of 787-8 retrofits to finish by end of 2027

All legacy 787-8 retrofits expected by early 2028 Did our AI summary help?
Bai Hirabai Trust to move for alteration of restrictive clauses on trustee eligibility, says Tata Trusts

Mehli Mistry had alleged that Srinivasan and Singh did not meet the criteria laid out in the trust deed, including requirements related to practising the Parsi Zoroastrian faith and residency in Mumbai









Earlier this month, Srinivasan, a trustee of Tata Trusts, resigned from the Bai Hirabai Trust citing other business commitments but later admitted to stepping down at the request of Tata Trusts management. Tata Trusts to seek amendment of clauses barring non-Zoroastrians

After challenge to trustee picks at Bai Hirabai Trust

Trustees say changes align with Tata's inclusive, secular values Did our AI summary help?
As the tariff landscape has changed in the US, both sides may like to relook at the framework of the agreement, the text of which was released on February 7.
Chartist Talk: Nifty may head to 25,000 if 24,700 breaks, says SBI Securities Sudeep Shah; shares top picks

According to Sudeep Shah, the immediate resistance for the Nifty 50 is placed in the 24,65024,700 zone. A decisive breakout above 24,700 could open the path towards 25,000 and subsequently 25,200.

Sunil Shankar Matkar April 19, 2026 / 06:22 IST























Sudeep Shah is the Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities Nifty 50 likely to sustain its pullback rally in near term

Immediate resistance seen at 24,65024,700 zone

Nippon Life and HDFC AMC likely to maintain their upward trajectory in short term Did our AI summary help? HAM02

RNL

AS28 HAM02 NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

Day Low

Volume (NSE) More RNL NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

Day Low

Volume (NSE) More AS28 NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

Day Low

Volume (NSE) More 
Ceasefire between US and Iran set to expire on April 22; investors also track crude trends, foreign flows and earnings from banks and IT majors
MCX gets SEBI nod to invest in proposed coal exchange, commits Rs 100 crore

MCX aims to deepen commodity markets by launching a regulated, tech-driven coal trading platform enabling transparent price discovery and efficient physical delivery.









MCX gets SEBI nod to invest in proposed coal exchange, commits Rs 100 crore MCX gets SEBI nod to invest in proposed coal exchange company

MCX to set up tech-driven coal trading platform with Rs 100 crore

NSE also receives SEBI approval for its coal exchange subsidiary Did our AI summary help?
100 ships, one destination: Shashi Tharoor flags surge at Keralas Vizhinjam port amid Hormuz crisis

Operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Vizhinjam has rapidly emerged as a key alternative hub as congestion and uncertainty hit traditional routes.









Vizhinjam port Vizhinjam Port sees surge as ships avoid Strait of Hormuz crisis

Nearly 100 vessels queue at Vizhinjam, exposing capacity limits

Expansion plans aim to boost Vizhinjam's global shipping role Did our AI summary help?
A preliminary investigation has indicated that the blast was caused by excessive fuel accumulation in the boiler furnace, leading to a pressure build-up.
Confident PM Modi-Prez Lee talks will bolster our special strategic ties with S Korea, says Jaishankar

The South Korean president began his three-day state visit to India on Sunday to bolster bilateral ties in trade, defence and critical technologies, etc.

PTI April 19, 2026 / 20:51 IST























S Jaishankar
'Congress 59 times, women barely a few': Kharge slams PM Modi's address after Women's Bill defeat

While the Centre has maintained that the proposed legislation was aimed at enabling 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, the Opposition argued that linking it with delimitation was misleading and politically motivated.









Kharge reiterated that the Opposition was not anti-women and had consistently supported reservation for women. Congress hits out at PM Modi for politicising national address

Opposition: linking womens quota to delimitation is misleading

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fails in Lok Sabha vote Did our AI summary help?
Crash or cover-up? Opposition flags unbelievable death of godman Ashok Kharats aide

Jitendra Shelke, 55, and his wife Anuradha died on Friday after their car rammed into a parked container on the Samruddhi Expressway near Dhotre village in Ahilyanagar district.









(Image: ANI) Close aide of Ashok Kharat died in a highway crash in Maharashtra

Opposition leaders demand a probe, suspecting foul play

Shelke's death follows his questioning in Kharat's assault case Did our AI summary help?
Dinesh Trivedi likely to be Indias next envoy to Bangladesh ahead of Bengal polls

The announcement could come ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, signalling both a strategic reset in Indias engagement with Dhaka and a political message within the state.









Dinesh Trivedi Dinesh Trivedi likely to be named India's envoy to Bangladesh

Move seen as strategic ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections

Current envoy Pranay Verma expected to be posted to Brussels Did our AI summary help?
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KATHMANDU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed after a passenger SUV car carrying a wedding procession met with an accident in Nepal's western Salyan district on Saturday evening, said a police officer.

While three people were killed on the spot, one died during treatment. The vehicle carrying 18 people including the driver fell off the highway leading to the fatal accident.

"Fourteen of the injured, of whom five are in serious condition, are receiving treatments in hospitals," Devraj Bhattarai, spokesperson at the district police, told Xinhua. The police suspect overload could have led to the accident, though they are still investigating the cause. 
Justice BV Nagarathna: 'Judges succumbing to greed must be weeded out of judiciary'

There has been adequate increase in salaries and allowances for the Judges in the District Judiciary, thanks to the Pay Commission's recommendations being accepted by the Supreme Court, she said.









Justice BV Nagarathna Justice Nagarathna urges integrity and independence among judges

Financial adequacy alone can't ensure ethical conduct, she warns

She urges inclusive, supportive district judiciary for women Did our AI summary help?
Nashik TCS case: Accused stalked women online, sent obscene messages, probe finds

Investigators found that the suspects contacted survivors through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, sending messages that included obscene comments and objectionable videos.









TCS Police: accused used social media to stalk, harass women staff

Seven held in TCS Nashik case; suspect Nida Khan absconding

NHRC seeks reports from TCS, police, Maharashtra labour dept Did our AI summary help?
PM Modi in West Bengal: 'Election about protecting Bengal's identity, legacy; TMC filling coffers for 15 years'

PM Modi also raised the issue of land rights, alleging that tribal land had been taken over.









PM Modi in Purulia PM Modi accuses TMC of corruption and neglect in tribal regions

He claims TMC blocks welfare schemes and controls tribal land

Modi urges voters to elect BJP for better governance in Bengal Did our AI summary help?
Rajnath Singh attacks DMK, Congress over womens reservation bill, promises 33% quota in Tamil Nadu

Singh also used a sharp phrase to describe the DMK, saying it stood for Dushprayogam Muraikedu Kutram, which he explained as misuse of authority, irregularities and crime.









Rajnath Singh (File image)
Semiconductor push: Odisha lays foundation for advanced chip packaging unit in Bhubaneswar

With two out of ten approved semiconductor projects nationwide located in the state, Odisha is positioning itself as a significant node in Indias evolving chip ecosystem.









Groundbreaking ceremony of nation's first advanced 3D glass substrate packaging facility (Image: X/@MohanMOdisha) Odisha begins work on 3DGS chip packaging plant in Bhubaneswar

Facility to focus on advanced chip packaging and glass substrates

Project expected to create over 2,000 skilled jobs in the region Did our AI summary help?
Shiv Sena seeks 25 seats in UP NDA for 2027 polls, warns of solo fight

The announcement was made during a party workers conference held at a private guest house in Mahoba, where more than 100 people joined the party as part of its expansion drive in the Bundelkhand region.









The meeting, held at Krishna Mandapam Guest House, was described by party leaders as the beginning of their campaign for the 2027 elections.
Supreme Court issues pan-India highway safety norms, bans parking on expressways

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar pointed out that national highways constitute two percent of Indias total road length but account for nearly 30 percent of all road fatalities.

PTI April 19, 2026 / 18:46 IST























Supreme Court Supreme Court bans heavy vehicle parking on national highways

New dhabas or structures barred within highway Right of Way

Districts must form highway safety task forces within 15 days Did our AI summary help?
'TMC conspired to stop Women's Quota Bill': PM Modi targets Mamata govt days ahead of Bengal polls

PM Modi alleged that the TMC acted in concert with the Congress to stall the bill, which sought to provide 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.









PM Modi also accused the TMC of engaging in appeasement politics while denying representation to women. PM Modi accused TMC of blocking women's reservation bill

He claimed women in Bengal will punish TMC in elections

Modi promised financial aid for women if BJP wins in Bengal Did our AI summary help?
Who is Dinesh Trivedi? Former Union minister named Indias envoy to Bangladesh

A seasoned politician, Trivedi has had a long career in public life. He represented West Bengals Barrackpore constituency and has served as Union Railway Minister as well as Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.









Dinesh Trivedi Dinesh Trivedi named India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh

His appointment shifts focus from diplomats to politicians

Trivedi's experience seen as key for India-Bangladesh relations Did our AI summary help?
Who is Tamil Nadu's richest candidate? Lottery king's wife Leema Rose Martin tops list with Rs 1,000 crore assets

Her candidature from Lalgudi under the banner of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a strategic move by the party as it seeks to strengthen its position in a tightly contested election.









Leema Rose has declared total assets exceeding Rs 1,049 crore, making her the richest contender in this election cycle. Leema Rose tops Tamil Nadu poll riches with 1,049 crore

She contests from Lalgudi for AIADMK, marking her political debut

Tamil Nadu election sees a three-way contest, results on May 4 Did our AI summary help?
Bulat Sultanov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Belt and Road Experts and Scholars Club, addresses an international academic seminar titled "China-Kazakhstan Community with a Shared Future: Prospects for All-round Cooperation under New TO GO WITH "China-Kazakhstan academic seminar focuses on all-round cooperation" (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

ALMATY, April 16 (Xinhua) -- An international academic seminar titled "China-Kazakhstan Community with a Shared Future: Prospects for All-round Cooperation under New Geopolitical Realities" was held on Thursday in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

More than 30 experts and scholars from Kazakh universities and research institutes attended the event, exchanging views on topics including building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, energy cooperation and mutual learning among civilizations.

Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin said in a speech that both China and Kazakhstan are at critical stages of their respective development and national rejuvenation. As partners on the path toward modernization, China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to consolidate and advance bilateral relations and promote the building of a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust, sharing weal and woe and shared prosperity.

Such efforts, he said, will bring more benefits to the two peoples and inject greater stability and certainty into a turbulent international and regional landscape.

Bulat Sultanov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Belt and Road Experts and Scholars Club, said that amid a complex and rapidly changing international environment, it is of great importance for Kazakhstan to strengthen stable and mutually beneficial cooperation with its external partners.

He expressed hope that the seminar would serve as an opportunity for the exchange of constructive views on the current state and future prospects of the Kazakhstan-China permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Consulate General of China in Almaty, Kazakhstan's Belt and Road Experts and Scholars Club and the Research Institute for International and Regional Cooperation at the Kazakh-German University. 

Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin addresses an international academic seminar titled "China-Kazakhstan Community with a Shared Future: Prospects for All-round Cooperation under New Geopolitical Realities" in Almaty, Kazakhstan, April 16, 2026. TO GO WITH "China-Kazakhstan academic seminar focuses on all-round cooperation" (Xinhua/Li Renzi)
Why women voters are now deciding Indias elections

Women voters are reshaping Indian elections, pushing cash welfare schemes to the centre, The Economist reports. But is this sustainable?









Why women voters are reshaping Indias elections and driving a cash welfare surge Women now outvote men in India, reshaping election strategies

Cash-transfer schemes for women have surged across Indian states

Rising welfare costs spark concern over fiscal strain, reforms Did our AI summary help?
Women voters to anchor UP poll battle as reservation row turns political flashpoint

What was once a legislative issue has now been recast as a political tool, with both sides attempting to shape perception among women voters, who are increasingly seen as a decisive electoral constituency in the state.









The BJP has sharpened its attack, projecting the Samajwadi Party as structurally opposed to womens empowerment. BJP and SP clash over women's reservation ahead of UP polls

BJP touts welfare, SP seeks quota for marginalised women

Women voters seen as key battleground in upcoming elections Did our AI summary help?
97 Bengaluru employees fall ill after eating idli, vada, sambar at office canteen: Report

Health officials said the case is being treated as suspected food poisoning, with an investigation underway into food preparation, storage and hygiene practices at the canteen.









Employees said the meals served were routine items commonly consumed at the workplace. (AI-generated image)
After Lenskart, Air India under fire over no bindi, no sindoor policy: 'If you support this...'

Days after the Lenskart dress code controversy, Air India is under fire over a handbook that reportedly bars bindi, sindoor and tilak.









Air India said its grooming rules meet international standards post Tata takeover. (Image credit: Reuters) Air India criticized over alleged cabin crew grooming rules

Air India clarified employees can choose to wear bindi

Viral images were from an outdated manual, says Air India Did our AI summary help?
Woman sues popular cab firm after driver turns violent during ride, seeks Rs 20 lakh in damages

A woman sued a popular cab service, alleging that a driver subjected her and her children to a dangerous ride, refused to let them exit, and later turned violent, with the family seeking over Rs 20 lakh in damages.









The woman alleged the driver refused to let them leave. (Image credit: Reuters) Texas woman sues Uber, claims driver endangered her and children

She claims reckless driving, confinement, and assault in ride

Family seeks over $1 million in damages for alleged negligence Did our AI summary help?
Obama, Mamdani sing Wheels on the Bus to preschoolers in first joint appearance. Watch

Former US President Barack Obama met New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani for the first time during a visit to a Bronx pre K centre, where they spent time reading, singing and interacting with children.









The two leaders laughed, read storybooks and performed for children. (Image credit: (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) Barack Obama met NYC Mayor Mamdani at a Bronx children's center

They read, sang, and discussed Mamdani's vision for the city

Social media reacted warmly to videos of their visit Did our AI summary help?
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis says AI-designed drugs could replace decades-long process, outlines Isomorphic Labs vision

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis says AI could redesign drug discovery, with Isomorphic Labs aiming to cut timelines, reduce failures, and launch the first fully AI-designed drug trial by 2026.

Sarthak Singh April 19, 2026 / 16:12 IST























Artificial Intelligence Google DeepMind's Isomorphic Labs aims to speed up drug discovery

AI like AlphaFold 3 may design drugs and predict effects

First clinical trial of a fully AI-designed drug expected by 2026 Did our AI summary help?

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'Any moment could bring new developments': Netanyahu signals escalation in Iran conflict stance

Netanyahu said Israels campaign with the US against Iran is ongoing, warning of further developments amid regional tensions and diplomatic talks.









Israel says Iran campaign not over
Cash-strapped Pakistan races to repay $1.5 billion UAE loan by April 23

The announcement by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) comes after the country repaid USD 2 billion to the UAE and is awaiting a disbursement of about USD 1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)









Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Pakistan to repay remaining USD 1.5 bn UAE loan by April 23

USD 2 bn repaid after Saudi Arabia deposited USD 2 bn with SBP

Pakistan awaits USD 1.2 bn IMF disbursement after recent talks Did our AI summary help?
US President Donald Trump will take part in the America Reads The Bible event on April 21, reading scripture from the Oval Office
HANOI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese character dictation competition was held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Sunday morning ahead of the United Nations (UN) Chinese Language Day.

The competition was organized by the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, bringing together 75 contestants from 15 teams representing 12 universities across northern Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Tien Dung, vice president of Hanoi University, described Chinese characters as an important bridge in cultural exchanges between the two countries, noting that the event reflected growing mutual understanding between the two nations.

Alongside the competition, participants also took part in interactive cultural activities to experience traditional Chinese culture.

The UN Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20. 
Eight children killed in Louisiana domestic shootings across multiple homes: Police

A gunman killed eight children in domestic-related shootings across multiple homes in Louisianas Shreveport before dying after a police chase, with officials describing the scene as unprecedented and tragic.









Eight children killed in Louisiana shootings
Hezbollah sets conditions for ceasefire to survive as Iran moves to shut Strait of Hormuz

Iran cites ceasefire violations and US blockade as it moves to restrict Hormuz, while Hezbollah lays out terms for sustaining truce with Israel









Iran cites ceasefire violations and US blockade as it moves to restrict Hormuz, while Hezbollah lays out terms for sustaining truce with Israel Iran shuts Hormuz Strait amid US blockade, truce breaches

IRGC warns ships approaching the Strait will be targeted

Hezbollah demands full Israeli withdrawal for ceasefire to hold Did our AI summary help?
Hormuz at a standstill: Iran fires on ships, threatens blockade; where things stand now

Shipping stalled in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran fired on vessels and warned of a blockade, escalating tensions with the US and risking energy flows.









Firing incidents, US seizure plans, and fragile Iran-US talks raise fresh risks for global energy supplies Iran threatens to close Hormuz Strait, stopping shipping

US and Iran continue talks despite rising tensions and incidents

Oil prices may rise if shipping disruptions in Hormuz persist Did our AI summary help?
Houthis warn of Bab al-Mandeb closure as Iran shuts Hormuz, fires on ships amid US blockade

A Houthi official threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait while Iran reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz and targeted vessels, escalating risks to global oil shipping routes.









Houthis warn of Bab al-Mandeb closure as Iran shuts Hormuz, fires on ships amid US blockade
India pushes Sri Lanka to fast-track Trincomalee energy hub amid regional energy concerns

India urged Sri Lanka to fast-track a proposed Trincomalee energy hub during talks in Colombo, stressing urgency for the IndiaUAE-backed project amid rising regional energy concerns and disrupted supplies.









India pushes Sri Lanka energy hub
Indias embassy in the US will host a digital exhibition marking the Pahalgam attack anniversary and highlighting Pakistan-based terror outfits
Did our AI summary help?
Iran accelerates missile rebuild, says launchers replenished faster than pre-war levels

Iran says it is replenishing missile and drone launchers faster than before the war, while military leaders vow continued resistance and readiness to confront enemies across all fronts.









Iran boosts launchers, vows continued military resistance (Source: X)
Iran blocks Chinese ship at Strait of Hormuz, forces Sun Profit U-turn amid rising tensions

Iran forced a Chinese ship to turn back at Hormuz, tightening control of the chokepoint and challenging assumptions of normal maritime access.









Move contradicts claims of normalcy in the Strait of Hormuz; Iran signals stricter control even for China-linked vessels Iran blocked a Chinese vessel from entering the Strait of Hormuz

Incident shows tighter control of key oil shipping route

US-Iran tensions continue to impact global maritime traffic Did our AI summary help?
Iran calls US naval blockade unlawful and criminal, says it breaches ceasefire

According to Irans foreign ministry, the blockade of Iranian ports and coastline breaches the ceasefire mediated by Pakistan and contravenes international law.









Representative Image
LONDON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-five outbound vessels reversed course over the past 36 hours after Iran reimposed control over the Strait of Hormuz, a London-based maritime analytics firm said on Sunday.

According to a report released by Windward, vessel movements reflected rapidly shifting conditions. After Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz reopened on Friday, ship operators initially responded cautiously. Traffic remained sparse early on Saturday before surging later in the day, as vessels attempted to transit before conditions deteriorated.

A total of 35 vessels transited the strait on Saturday, including eight inbound ships - four tankers, two bulk carriers and two cargo vessels - and 27 outbound ships, comprising eight tankers, three bulk carriers, 15 cargo vessels and one passenger vessel, said the report.

However, following Iran's renewed closure announcement later on Saturday, vessel behavior shifted sharply.

The report also recorded three vessel attacks on the same day, bringing the total number of ships attacked since the outbreak of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran to 29. 
Iran retains 40% drones, 60% launchers, digs out over 100 buried systems from bunkers

Iran retains significant drone and missile capability despite weeks of war, with US estimates warning it still has enough power to potentially disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.









Iran retains 40% drone arsenal, 60% missile launchers, recovers over 100 systems from bunkers: Report
Irans mosquito fleet challenges US Navy in Hormuz; what it means

Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, deploying its mosquito fleet of fast attack boats, raising risks to global shipping and posing a sustained challenge to US naval operations.









Iran deploys fast boats to disrupt shipping
In a video message, President Masoud Pezeshkian credited Irans armed forces for their resilience under pressure, saying their conduct had caught observers off guard.

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
Iran says Donald Trump has no right to deny Iran nuclear rights

Masoud Pezeshkian said Donald Trump has no right to deny Iran nuclear rights as talks show limited progress and tensions persist over the Strait of Hormuz.









Iranian President insists on country's nuclear rights
Iran has not decided to send a delegation to Pakistan for talks as long as a naval blockade remains, even as Trump says US officials will arrive in Islamabad
Iran to skip second round of US talks, cites excessive demands and ceasefire breach: Report

US Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation for talks with Iran in Pakistan, a White House official said on Sunday, shortly after President Donald Trump indicated he would not make the trip.









IRNA, meanwhile, pointed to Washington's "maximalism and unreasonable and unrealistic demands, frequent changes of positions Iran rejects second round of US talks over "excessive demands"

Tehran cites US naval blockade as breach of ceasefire

US VP JD Vance to lead delegation for talks in Pakistan Did our AI summary help?
Iranian officials too afraid to bury Khamenei months after assassination: Report

Iran has delayed the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid security concerns and fears of unrest, with authorities yet to finalise burial plans.









Iran yet to bury Khamenei amid security fears, officials too afraid: Report
Israeli military publishes map of south Lebanon territory under its control

The Israeli military has published a map showing a new deployment line inside southern Lebanon, placing several villages under its control, days after a US-backed ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect.

Reuters April 19, 2026 / 21:47 IST























Israel has released a map of its new deployment line inside Lebanon, placing several villages under its control days after a ceasefire with Hezbollah, reports say Israel publishes map of new deployment line inside Lebanon

Dozens of Lebanese villages now under Israeli control

Ceasefire aims to enable broader US-Iran negotiations Did our AI summary help?
JD Vance to head US delegation for Iran talks in Islamabad after initial security concerns

Donald Trump announced that negotiators were being sent to Islamabad for discussions with Tehran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the ceasefire nearing its expiry









JD Vance JD Vance to lead US delegation for Iran talks in Pakistan

Trump warns Iran of strong action if deal is rejected

Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid rising tensions Did our AI summary help?
JD Vance thanks Pope Leo for cooling feud with Donald Trump, says reality more complex

JD Vance backs Pope Leo XIV, says Trump tensions overstated as Pope rejects public debate with Donald Trump.









JD Vance downplays TrumpPope rift, says reality often more complicated
PARIS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- French shipping company CMA CGM confirmed on Sunday that one of its vessels was subjected to "warning shots" in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, adding that the crew was safe, according to local media reports.

The group's cargo ship Everglade was damaged in the incident, Le Monde reported, citing a source from the International Maritime Organization.

On Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz had been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade would "remain in full force." In response, Iran warned of closing the strategic waterway again if the U.S. blockade continues.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Saturday that the country is determined to control traffic through the strait until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region. 
Speaking in Detroit, Harris questions motives behind Iran conflict and says US foreign policy has shifted away from alliances
Middle East crisis: Why the UK is moving closer to the EU amid Iran war tensions | Iran war

Britain plans closer alignment with the European Union through new legislation, as Iran war tensions and strained ties with the United States push Prime Minister Keir Starmer towards deeper cooperation with Europe.









UK shifts closer to EU amid tensions
Mojtaba Khamenei warns of bitter defeats for US, Israel as Hormuz tensions rise

Mojtaba Khamenei warned Irans navy is ready to inflict new bitter defeats on the US and Israel as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz.









Mojtaba Khamenei signals naval readiness as Hormuz tensions escalate
Three University of Iowa students wounded in off-campus shooting near nightlife district

Three University of Iowa students were wounded in an off-campus shooting near a nightlife district in Iowa City following a late-night fight, with police investigating and no arrests made so far.









Multiple injured in Iowa university shooting
US-Iran peace talks 2.0: Trump says US delegation heading to Pakistan for talks amid rising Hormuz tensions

Donald Trump said a US delegation will travel to Pakistan for Iran talks, while accusing Tehran of ceasefire violations and warning of consequences if a deal is not reached.









US heads to Pakistan for Iran talks
Trump alleged that Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in Strait of Hormuz, calling it a 'total violation of ceasefire agreement'.

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
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into sea; South Korea, Japan on alert

In the past few weeks, Pyongyang has conducted multiple launches, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and tests involving cluster munitions.









People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on April 19.
Iran warns vessels the strait will reopen only on leadership orders, as LNG tankers slow or turn back and firing incidents are reported
Amid the tensions, a distress communication from one of the targeted vessels highlighted the urgency of the situation.

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
Pakistan ramps up security amid reports of second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad

Pakistan has stepped up security across Islamabad and Rawalpindi amid reports of potential US-Iran negotiations, deploying over 10,000 personnel as diplomatic activity intensifies









Pakistan has stepped up security in Islamabad and Rawalpindi amid reports of possible US-Iran talks, deploying 10,000+ personnel as diplomatic efforts continue Pakistan boosts security ahead of possible US-Iran talks

Over 10,000 personnel deployed, checkpoints set up in Rawalpindi

Schools shift to online classes, public places closed for safety Did our AI summary help?
John Mejia, a Lyft and Uber driver, poses in his car in San Francisco for a portrait before attending a meeting about unionizing gig drivers as high gas prices have made it hard for gig drivers to make a living. (Jess Lynn Goss / For The Times)

The highest gas prices in the country are making it tougher for some gig drivers to make a living.

Gas prices have shot up amid the war in the Middle East. On average, California gas prices are the most expensive in the United States, according to data from the American Automobile Assn. The average price of regular gas in California is almost $6. The national average is a little above $4.

While Uber and Lyft drivers have concocted clever ways to cut gas consumption, they say that without some relief they will be forced to leave the ride-hailing business.

John Mejia was already struggling to make money as a part-time Lyft driver when soaring gas prices made his side hustle even harder.

Unfortunately, its the economics of paying less to drivers and gas prices," he said. "It actually is pulling people out of the business.

Guests at The Westin St. Francis hotel get into an Uber. (Jess Lynn Goss / For The Times)

Gig work offers drivers the freedom to work for themselves and more flexibility, but being independent contractors also means they must shoulder unexpected costs.

Ride-sharing companies say they're trying to help, but drivers say the gas relief comes with caveats. For now, drivers say they're being pickier about what rides they accept, cutting hours and are looking at other ways to make money.

Mejia, who started driving for Lyft more than a decade ago, said in his early days, he would sometimes make $400 in three hours. Now it takes 12 hours to rake in $200.

The San Francisco Bay Area consultant is an active member of the California Gig Workers Union, so he knows he isn't alone. California has more than 800,000 gig rideshare drivers, according to the group, which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union.

On social media sites such as Reddit and Facebook, gig workers have posted about how the higher gas prices are eating into their earnings. Among the tricks they are suggesting: reducing the number of times the ignition is turned on or off, avoiding traffic, working in specific neighborhoods and at times with high demand and switching to electric vehicles.

Gig drivers usually have only seconds to decide whether to accept a ride on the app, but they have become more strategic about which rides and deliveries they accept.

That means they are more likely to sit back in their cars and wait for higher fares for quick pick-up and drop-off.

"I highly recommend the 'decline and recline' strategy, rejecting unprofitable rides until a better one appears," wrote Sergio Avedian, a driver, in the popular blog the Rideshare Guy.

Pedestrians cross the street in front of a Lyft and Uber driver on Wednesday. High gas prices have made it hard for gig drivers to make a living, cutting into their profits. (Jess Lynn Goss / For The Times)

Uber, Lyft and other companies have unveiled several ways to help drivers save on gas.
Pope Leo XIV says no interest in debate with Trump, regrets remarks misinterpreted

Pope Leo XIV said his comments on tyrants were misconstrued as a response to Donald Trump, stressing he has no interest in engaging in a debate with the US president.

AFP April 19, 2026 / 08:30 IST























Pope Leo XIV says no interest in debate with Trump, regrets remarks misinterpreted
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrives in India to boost strategic and trade ties

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit, aiming to deepen strategic ties with India through talks on defence, trade, technology, and regional cooperation.









India, South Korea deepen strategic partnership
Spain calls on EU to end Israel association agreement, cites international law breaches

Spain will urge the EU to suspend its association agreement with Israel, citing alleged international law violations, as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez intensifies criticism over Gaza and regional conflicts.









Spain pushes EU to suspend Israel deal
Tehran's envoy says 'India-Iran relationship very strong' after tankers shot at near Strait of Hormuz

Irans envoy said he was unaware of the reported attack on Indian vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and expressed hope the issue would be resolved, stressing strong India-Iran ties.









Iran hopes Hormuz issue will be resolved, says ties with India very strong
Trump accuses Iran of serious ceasefire violation, hints at possible deal

Donald Trump says Iran violated the ceasefire but insists a deal remains possible after Tehran shut the Strait of Hormuz again.









Trump warns Iran over ceasefire violation
Trump reportedly rejected a plan to seize Irans Kharg Island, fearing heavy US troop casualties, according to WSJ.
Trumps favourite field marshal Asim Munirs reported Iran ties a red flag for US intel: Report

US intelligence officials have raised concerns over Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munirs reported Iran links even as he plays a key backchannel role in US-Tehran diplomacy, highlighting a divide within Washington.









Trumps favourite field marshal Asim Munir faces scrutiny over Iran links: Report
US Energy Secretary expects 'nice end' to Iran conflict under Trump amid ongoing talks

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expects a nice end to the Iran-linked conflict, noting ongoing negotiations, while warning fuel prices will remain high until regional stability returns.









US expects Iran conflict nearing resolution
MC EXCLUSIVE USIran peace talks 2.0: Islamabad talks show cautious progress amid deep divisions and Israels indirect influence

USIran peace talks in Islamabad show cautious progress, but major disputes over sovereignty, nuclear issues, and compensation persist. Israels indirect influence and Trumps push for quick de-escalation shape negotiations.









Cautious progress amid deep geopolitical tensions
What is the Yellow Line? Israel introduces Gaza-style boundary amid Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has established a Yellow Line in southern Lebanon and carried out strikes near the boundary, saying actions were taken against immediate threats despite a fragile ceasefire.









What is Yellow Line? Israel enforces Gaza-style buffer zone in southern Lebanon
Almost every part of everyday life feels more expensive these days. You dont need a news report to tell you that  just a trip to the grocery store or gas pump will do. As costs rise, financial advisors are challenged to help their clients adjust to what outlets like Bloomberg are calling an affordability squeeze.

For You: 5 Money Lessons To Teach Your Kids So They Dont Grow Up To Be Impulse Spenders

Learn More: 8 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money

Michael Rodriguez, CFP, an advice-only financial planner at Equanimity Wealth, is seeing clients navigate that squeeze by building more intentional spending and saving habits. He shared several of those trends with GOBankingRates. Along the way, we found another approach families are using to make those habits stick for the long term.

Getting Disciplined About Meal Planning

One of the most noticeable shifts Rodriguez has seen in his clients budgets starts at home  specifically, in the kitchen. Simply put, theyre eating out less and cooking more.

Many of my clients seem to be dining out fewer times a week and opting to cook at home to save money, he said.

Its a well-timed move, given that even Food & Wine magazine has flagged how much pricier restaurant meals have become in 2026. Commenting on Consumer Price Index data, writer Stephanie Gravalese noted that food away from home prices rose 4.1% over the past 12 months, while grocery prices increased at roughly half that rate  a gap that puts added strain on every decision to dine out.

Rodriguez says his clients are sparing themselves that strain by cutting food spending wherever they can  prioritizing savings over the convenience or experience of dining out.

Read Next: 5 Financial Moves People Make Years Before They Ever Feel Rich

Overcoming Fears Around Investing

Rodriguez acknowledges that stock market headlines have been volatile, to put it mildly. Unsurprisingly, his clients are anxious about what theyre seeing, so a significant part of his job involves encouraging them to stay the course.

Reacting out of fear can lead to knee-jerk decisions you might regret down the line.

When it comes to investing, many are nervous about the current situation, but we focus on sticking to their current plan, not reacting to the news, he said.

He reminds clients that consistent investing  not timing  is part of a sound financial strategy and can help maintain a sense of stability when the broader economy feels wobbly.

We encourage paying yourself first, automating savings and investing so its not a second thought, especially when we see prices increasing all around, he said.
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A 30-year-old Midland man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for trying to solicit sex from two teenage boys after giving them a ride home.

Bernardo Santamaria-Chavez was found guilty on two counts of criminal solicitation of a minor Tuesday afternoon by a Midland County jury after deliberating for about an hour and a half in the 238th District Court.

He was sentenced to a term of 16 years and 10 years, to be served concurrently, after the jury returned following an hour of deliberations Tuesday evening, court officials said.

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According to evidence presented during the trial, Santamaria-Chavez solicited oral sex from two juvenile boys he found walking along East County Road 60 during the early morning hours of June 27, 2010.

He offered the boys, ages 14 and 12, a ride to a nearby home and then asked if he could perform the sexual acts on them.

He later admitted the offense to Midland County Sheriff's Office investigators when questioned, a press release stated.

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Authorities said the offense Santamaria-Chavez carries a lower penalty than if the intended assault had occurred. He faced 10 years as a maximum punishment for the older teen and 20 years for the young boy because he was under the age of 14.

Santamaria-Chavez must serve at least four years before he is eligible for parole.

Assistant District Attorney Tim Flathers, who prosecuted the case, said evidence also showed the defendant is not a U.S. citizen. His status with federal immigration officials was unknown at press time.

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1) Gov. David M. Apatang greets FEMA Region IX Administrator Robert Fenton Jr. at the Emergency Operations Center on Friday. Photo by Bryan Manabat

2) Special Assistant for HSEM Clement Bermudes, Public Assistance Officer Patrick Guerrero, Gov. David Apatang, and FEMA Region IX Administrator Robert Fenton Jr. Photo by Bryan Manabat

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

FEDERAL Emergency Management Agency officials are on the ground in the CNMI assessing the widespread destruction left by Super Typhoon Sinlaku and preparing recommendations to President Donald Trump on whether the islands should be declared a major disaster area.

Such a declaration would unlock FEMA individual assistance and additional federal relief for thousands of residents affected by the storms 72hour onslaught from late Tuesday, April 14, through April 16.

FEMA Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton, who arrived in the CNMI to oversee the response, said the agencys immediate focus remains on lifesafety operations while the broader damage evaluation continues. Right now, we need to make sure were taking care of those immediate needs. We need to make sure people have food and water, that we have emergency power, that the medical systems [are] going, that we get communications back up here, and well do that as a team, he said during a Friday afternoon press conference.

A storm unlike others

Fenton said Sinlakus impact was unusually severe, noting that while previous typhoons such as Yutu passed quickly, Sinlaku stalled over the islands. The difficulty about this event was the sheer size of it, right? 500 miles in diameter, and we werent able to start moving things forward This took 4872 hours for it to move through.

With 30 years at FEMA, Fenton said he has responded to nearly every major typhoon affecting Guam, the CNMI, and Micronesia since the late 1990s, including Paka and Yutu. He said he was encouraged to see that infrastructure hardened after past disasters  such as concrete poles and FEMAbuilt housing  remained standing. I was pleased to seethe concrete poles that we put in that are still up andsome of the housing that we put in here last timewithstood the winds.

Gov. David M. Apatang said Fentons presence reflects a longstanding partnership. Its unfortunate that we only see him back here when we have issues like this, but Bob [has] been our friend through so many, many disasters here in the Commonwealth.

Apatang also thanked President Donald Trump for expediting the emergency declaration, which allows FEMA to move quickly on lifesaving and lifesustaining operations while the major disaster request is being prepared.

FEMAs immediate response

Fenton described a layered supply chain stretching from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, Guam, and the CNMI. Were setting up a supply chain that goes from the mainland to Hawaii to Guam, and theres plane loads of people and equipment and supplies moving by air and by ship.

Key elements include:

 Prelandfall deployments. FEMA teams were initially staged on Guam, then pushed north as Sinlakus track shifted.

 Air operations. The U.S. Air Force used helicopters to check airport operability on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian; Coast Guard C130s began flying in responders.

 Maritime support. Supplies are moving by ship from Hawaii, expected to reach Guam in about eight days before being transshipped to the CNMI by barge.

Fenton said FEMA is supported by the Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and a number of ships in the area capable of providing helicopters and lift capacity. While acknowledging that its never as fast as everyone wants, he said the goal is to move resources at the fastest pace we can thats safe for everyone.

Top priorities

Fenton and CNMI officials emphasized that the immediate priority is restoring water, emergency power, and communications.

 Water

Ive gotten some of the briefs that the system has been impacted The good news is that weve done a lot of planning with CNMI over the years. Were well aware of their water system, the wells. We know what generators actually power their wells Some of those might have been damaged on this event, but we will make sure that those critical facilities come back operational as quick as we can.

Large volumes of bottled water are being moved into the region. We have teams set up to go to Tinian and Rotatheyll stay there with them and help them bring those resources in.

 Power

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 249th Power Battalion is deploying generators to hospitals, wells, airports, and critical government sites. We have generators set up already for some in some cases, we had generators we purchased on previous events, so theres redundant power here.

More generators are arriving daily. Youll start seeing those generators coming over in the next today, tomorrow, the next day It takes a little bit of time to do that.

 Communications

We know the tower went down, so weve already brought with us the stuff to get the tower back and operational, Fenton said. Communications specialists and mobile emergency response systems are setting up temporary towers and antennas to restore emergency and public communications.

Emergency declaration in effect; major disaster request pending

Fenton said the emergency declaration already approved by the president gives FEMA full authority to meet immediate needs. Theres an emergency declarationthat gives me all the authority I need to meet those immediate lifesaver requirements That doesnt prevent me or stop me from doing anything I need to do right now.

The governor is preparing a request for a major disaster declaration. Once I get a chance to assess it, my job is to give a recommendation to the President, Fenton said.

He said FEMA individual assistance  which includes temporary housing, home repairs, and financial aid  will be available only after a major disaster declaration. In the meantime, FEMA is focusing on shelters, temporary housing, tarps, and rapid roof repairs using tin and wood already in inventory.

He acknowledged frustration with longterm reliance on FEMA tents and said the agency aims to avoid repeating that model. Lessons from 2018 and from Mauis rapid temporary school construction are being applied.

Mental health and community resilience

Fenton said the storms long duration has taken a psychological toll. I think theres a mental factor to thisa mental health factor that we need to be aware ofthe length of time, I think its significant. FEMA plans to bring mental health specialists to support shelters and heavily impacted communities.

Fenton said the federal presence is growing rapidly. He arrived with an initial team of 14. Two more planes were expected to bring about 30 additional personnel.

A United flight the next day was expected to carry about 160 responders.

Helicopters have been landing with Air Force, Army, Navy, and other personnel.

The American Red Cross has more than 100 people on Guam preparing to support CNMI shelters.

Right now in theater, meaning between Guam and the CNMI, I have about 500 personnel and that will continue to increase.

Local response

Governor Apatang said water remains the Commonwealths most urgent need. Water actually is a priority number onebecause we dont want to have any epidemic out there, especially our people in the shelter.

Fuel shortages are slowing generator operations. Everybodys running around looking for diesel right nowtrying to get the service station open so we can get our peoplea chance to fill up their vehicles or generators or whatever, he said.

The CNMI is also requesting additional labor support. We requested for additional help on [labor]. The Department of Labor is working on a letter.

Cleanup is underway across all three islands. We instructed our people to start cleaning up, go out and start removing debristhe mayors office especially is very active, he said.

Shelter operations may be extended. Were looking also at extending the length of people staying at the shelterthats also what were looking at.

Apatang urged unity. Lets work together out there in the community, stay safe Were good in that, so lets just work together and well be okay. We can recover from this.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
One of Northern Marianas Colleges temporary classrooms is in ruins. Contributed photo

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

NORTHERN Marianas College sustained extensive damage as Super Typhoon Sinlaku ravaged the CNMI over three days last week, but Acting President Frankie Eliptico vowed the institution would begin damage assessments and short- and long-term recovery efforts this week.

We will be working this week to conduct damage assessments and other short- and long-term recovery processes, Eliptico said.

The devastation from the typhoon is profound across the Commonwealth, including our campuses on Saipan and Tinian. Im sure you have seen  and continue to see  the disaster through photos and videos from chat groups, social media, news outlets, and your own experiences. We have also received reports of employees and students who have lost homes or parts of their homes, or who have had to shelter in bathrooms as the long-lingering typhoon moved away from our islands, he said.

He asked the community to please know that we see and feel the weight of what our employees, students, and their families are carrying right now. You do not carry this alone.

To our students and employees, your well-being will continue to be prioritized over the next several days as the colleges recovery begins. We are standing up student and employee support teams to help address critical needs and connect you with resources here in the CNMI or with organizations arriving on island, he said.

Eliptico said the NMC websites storm recovery page will be expanded to consolidate available resources. He also said the college will launch student hotlines, in partnership with IT&E, for those needing assistance. Hotline numbers will be announced separately.

He added that the college will reach out to displaced students and employees to assess how NMC can assist them.

Now that the all clear has been issued, NMC facilities and safety teams will conduct campus assessments, clear typhoon debris, and carry out necessary work to ensure campuses are safe before the return of students and employees.

Please monitor official NMC sources, including your NMC email, for updates, Eliptico said.

Employees will receive separate emails with additional information specific to their departments, and supervisors and select staff may be called in earlier to assist with assessments.

While assessments are ongoing, NMC will also issue updates on academic classes, instructional modalities, and revised schedules.

Our islands have faced super typhoons before, but that does not make each storm any easier. In fact, the trauma and fatigue from previous storms remain part of our collective island story. But we are not defined by destruction  we are defined by resilience. As we have shown with concrete examples, we can rebuild stronger, and we will rebuild together, Eliptico said.

Emmanuel Arnold Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
The crew of USCGC Hickory loads supplies from federal and territorial agencies on Guam on April 19, 2026. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. JP Del Gaudio

SANTA RITA, Guam (U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia)  U.S. Coast Guard crews press north Sunday toward communities still isolated by the effects of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, launching a coordinated surge to reopen ports across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Ports in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota remain closed while U.S. Coast Guard teams and port stakeholders conduct post-storm assessments of waterways and navigational aids. Additional assets are converging on the area to accelerate that work. For CNMIs island communities, open ports mean increased access to supplies.

Getting Saipan, Tinian, and Rota back open is our most urgent priority, said Capt. Jessica Worst, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Captain of the Port for Guam and the Marianas. The northern islands took the hardest hit from this storm and depend on these ports for the supplies their communities need every day. We have crews moving now, and distance is not going to slow us down.

Sunday morning, the seagoing buoy tender USCGC Hickory (WLB 212) crew repositioned Outer Apra Harbor Buoy No. 2 at the entrance to Outer Apra Harbor, which the storm displaced. Hickorys team is confirming the other Apra Harbor aids before heading to Saipan carrying humanitarian supplies, U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, and FEMA representatives. The Port of Guam remains open under modified restrictions for daylight operations. Full restoration is anticipated for Sunday evening following confirmation that all the ports vital navigational aids are safe and operational.

The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) departed Guam on Sunday and arrived at Rota around 11 a.m. to conduct assessments of the port and deliver FEMA personnel. They will make further assessments and deliveries to Tinian afterward.

U.S. Coast Guard crews are also searching for six crew members who went missing after the cargo vessel Mariana overturned during the storm. A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point located the vessel. The Guam-based USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143) joined the search alongside other partners. Responders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu are managing the case while the U.S. Coast Guard team in Guam focuses on recovery efforts.

Crews running two 45-foot Response Boat-Mediums at Station Apra Harbor, Guam, are conducting patrols, moving floating debris, and standing ready for search-and-rescue response. A 29-foot Response Boat-Small is staged ashore for rapid deployment islandwide.

A U.S. Coast Guard dive team arrived in Guam on Sunday to proactively conduct operations across the Marianas region, including port surveys, side-scan sonar operations, and aids-to-navigation recovery from affected waterways. Communications in Saipan remain degraded. Mariners throughout the Marianas should exercise caution. Aids to navigation may have shifted or become inoperable. Vessel crews should monitor marine radio channels for updates via broadcast notice to mariners.

Mariners with emergencies should contact the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam on VHF-FM Channel 16 or at (671) 355-4824.

The National Weather Service Guam has issued a High Surf Advisory, Small Craft Advisory, and Rip Current Statement for the Marianas. Dangerous surf and powerful rip currents remain a threat to swimmers and small vessel operators as conditions continue to settle in Sinlakus wake. Mariners should avoid non-essential transits until the Small Craft Advisory is lifted. The public should stay out of the water along affected coastlines. Updated forecasts and advisory details are available at weather.gov/gum/.
The shift toward "bleisure travel," a blend of business and leisure, has accelerated as work policies evolve and travelers look for more value from conferences. d3sign/Getty Images

Business travel no longer ends when meetings do. Across the United States, conference attendees increasingly add personal time to work trips, turning what once looked like a quick flight in and out into a long weekend or short getaway built around a few days of meetings.

The shift toward "bleisure travel," a blend of business and leisure, has accelerated as work policies evolve and travelers look for more value from conference trips. A consumer survey from travel platform Skyscanner found that 83% of Americans turn business trips into leisure at least occasionally, while 55% use paid time off to add personal days to their work itinerary.

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Changes in workplace expectations play a major role in the rise of bleisure travel. Hybrid schedules and remote work policies allow employees to remain connected while traveling, making it easier to stay an extra day or two once the meetings conclude.

Bleisure trips often extend beyond the original meeting schedule. The same Skyscanner research found that 42% of travelers add two or more days to a business trip, giving them time to explore a destination after the formal agenda ends.

Large conferences have long attracted travelers who arrive early or depart late, but the pattern is becoming more common as attendees rethink how they structure work trips. Rather than flying home immediately after the final session, many stay through the weekend to explore the host city, allowing them to make better use of long flights while spending time in a destination that might otherwise be limited to meeting rooms and airport transfers.

Industry polling suggests the shift is noticeable for corporate travel planners as well. A survey from the Global Business Travel Association found that 36% of corporate travel buyers report business trips becoming longer, indicating a growing overlap between professional travel and personal time.

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Savannah, Georgia, has become one of the destinations where the bleisure pattern is easy to spot. Conferences regularly bring business travelers to the city, but many guests now remain in town after meetings conclude to experience the historic waterfront and the surrounding downtown district.

At The Alida, Savannah, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, located just steps from River Street along the Savannah River, conference attendees often extend their stay once their work schedules clear. The property sits within walking distance of galleries, shops and the cobblestone riverfront, allowing travelers to move easily from meetings to exploring the city without relocating to another hotel.

The hotel emphasizes approachable luxury, appealing to bleisure travelers who want comfort without formality. Several on-site restaurants and bar spaces allow guests to shift naturally from work mode to leisure without leaving the property. Rhett, the hotel's signature restaurant, serves as the main dining venue, while outdoor seating areas and the rooftop lounge, The Lost Square, overlook the Savannah River and frequently become gathering spots once conference sessions wrap up.

Hotels in conference destinations increasingly recognize the shift toward extended stays. Properties that once focused primarily on meeting space now also emphasize amenities designed for travelers who want to enjoy the destination once their work schedule ends.

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Rooftop lounges, outdoor dining areas, social bar spaces and walkable neighborhoods have become especially appealing to guests blending business obligations with leisure time. These features allow travelers to move easily from meetings and networking sessions to a relaxed evening without needing to travel far from where they are staying.
Without federal financial help, some in the 50 through 64 age group say theyre wrestling with whether to delay care until they qualify for Medicare. MoMo Productions/Getty Images

John Galvin knows he needs a colonoscopy. But hes waiting to schedule the procedure until December, when he turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare.

He was already thinking about delaying it  then his monthly Obamacare insurance premium payment tripled this year to $2,460, about a third of his income, he said. And with a $2,700 deductible, hed be on the hook for most of the diagnostic exam, a financial hit he said he couldnt stomach.

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It was going to cost close to $3,000, said Galvin, who recently retired as director of a durable medical equipment company. I put it off.

Galvin said his wife, Nancy, is delaying a costly CT scan for a few years until she too qualifies for Medicare, so it can foot the bill. The federal health program offers coverage for all Americans 65 and older.

People on Affordable Care Act plans nearing retirement age experienced some of the largest price increases following the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies at the end of December. Those with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level  $86,560 for a family of two  had been getting help paying for the plans since the Biden administration expanded the subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults ages 50 through 64 made up around half of those ACA enrollees.

Now, without that federal financial help, some in this age group say theyre wrestling with whether to delay care until they qualify for Medicare. Not only does that put their physical health at risk, said patient advocates, doctors, and health policy researchers, but it potentially just shifts the costs  and could lead to taxpayers footing even bigger bills to fix health issues that worsen amid the delays.

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Theres going to be a lot of pent-up demand and unmet need, said Jessica Schubel, a health policy consultant who worked in the Obama and Biden administrations. Medicare is going to have to spend a whole heck of a lot of money covering and dealing with their treatment.

The Affordable Care Act has been a key source of health care coverage for people 50 through 64. Access to Obamacare plans helped cut the uninsured rate for this age group by half, according to AARP, a lobbying group that represents older adults. That allowed some people to retire early while keeping coverage. It also has provided a safety net for small-business owners and those with jobs that dont offer health insurance.

Last fall, the longest-ever government shutdown occurred amid an unsuccessful effort by Democrats to extend the enhanced subsidies. Republicans opposing the extension had said the assistance went to insurers, incentivizing fraud and wasteful coverage.

The issue will continue to have political relevance, especially in this years midterm elections, including among older Americans who reliably show up to the polls, said Republican strategist Gregg Keller, who runs the Atlas Strategy Group.

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Is affordability going to be an issue? Absolutely, he said. Are health care prices going to factor into that? Yes.

Even before the subsidies expired, the costs of medical care, nursing homes, and prescription drugs were among the top health-related concerns for people over 50, a 2024 University of Michigan poll found.

Middle-aged adults with Obamacare plans acutely feel the pinch of the expired subsidies, because the ACA allows insurers to charge adults in their 60s up to three times as much for premiums as those in their 20s, who generally use fewer medical services.

And many middle-aged adults were already enrolled in the lowest-cost plans available, which leaves them without cheaper options to fall back on, said Matt McGough, a policy analyst with KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

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This is very dire for the older marketplace enrollees, he said.

Someone making a few dollars over 400% of the federal poverty level earns too much to get a subsidy now, and in some states average premium payments were due to at least triple for this group. Many people are seeing yearly rate increases of thousands of dollars, with premium payments totaling as much as a quarter of their incomes.

John Ayanian, a primary care physician and health policy researcher at the University of Michigan, said he has regular conversations with older patients who are trying to figure out how to afford their medical care. Some in their early 60s are likely to drop ACA coverage because of rising premiums, he said.

Thats a gamble, he added.

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Marci Heinbaugh may take that bet. The 63-year-old social services worker, who lives in rural Illinois, said her monthly premium payments more than doubled, from roughly $1,100 to $2,333, for a plan with a $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum.

She knew shed be paying more, she said, but wasnt anticipating that kind of increase. A few months in, shes not sure if shell stick with the plan for the rest of the year. She said she may go uninsured.

Im petrified to even think about that, Heinbaugh said.

People want to buy their own insurance on the marketplace, and many middle-aged adults could afford it with just a little federal financial help, said Alan Weil, senior vice president of public policy at AARP. Those who drop coverage or delay care until they reach age 65 might save money now, but that could be more costly for them  and taxpayers  later.

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Theres significant possibility that the purported savings associated with reducing subsidies as people approach retirement end up turning into higher utilization costs for Medicare, Weil said.

And Medicare enrollees arent insulated from rising costs. In January, for example, standard Medicare Part B premiums rose from $185 per month to almost $203.

Until Galvin joins Medicare, he said, he expects to burn through a $30,000 retirement account to cover his marketplace plans premium payments and deductible.

A 2024 AARP survey found that 1 in 5 adults over 50 had no retirement savings and 3 in 5 were worried they wouldnt have enough retirement savings to support themselves.

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The expiration of these Obamacare subsidies puts additional financial pressure on Americans as they approach retirement, health policy researchers said.
A college graduate in a cap and gown stands at the base of campus steps. Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels

(The Center Square)  As North Carolinas economy grows, the number of jobs are increasing faster than the people needed to fill them, according to a new study by the states public university system.

By 2034, the number of jobs is projected to increase by 260,000, the study said.

Job openings are projected to exceed people with the skills to fill them, the University of North Carolina System said.

The state will need between 5,000 and 10,000 additional college graduates over the next few years to fill the gap, All to meet growing employer demand, according to the study.

The report documents serious growth in the demand for engineers, health professionals, and teachers, UNC President Peter Hans told the university system board of governors Thursday.

With the state growing and our current workforce facing a wave of retirements, there is going to be a strong need for the vital professions our public universities were designed to fill, Hans said.

Migration to North Carolina has been partially filling the jobs, with the state projected to rank seventh in population nationally by 2030.

The report identifies other sources of increasing the number of college graduates, including programs that help adult learners who have some college credit but no degree, complete their college education. North Carolina also has a quarter million military learners who have not completed their degrees.

The UNC System set a Strategic Plan goal of increasing military learner enrollments to 25,000 by 2027, recognizing this as a critical talent source for the state, the study said.

One unknown factor is artificial intelligence and the effect it may have on the need for humans in the workforce.

Some are predicting widespread, but others think it could be less severe.

While the Industrial Revolution and the Internet Revolution caused significant disruptions in the labor market, both also generated economic growth, spawned entirely new industries (such as e-commerce)and jobs (e.g., software developers and web designers), the UNC report said.

Hans called the current revolution in technology epic but stressed the importance of higher educations fundamental mission of preparing the minds and character of students for their roles as future workers but to be adaptable lifelong learners.
Industrial leaks threaten ozone layer recoverycould delay healing by seven years

Since 1987, ozone-depleting substances (CFCs/HCFCs) have been reduced by ~20%, with projections showing full Antarctic ozone recovery by 2060though traces may linger until 2080 due to CFCs' 50-100 year atmospheric lifespan.

The treaty exempted industrial feedstocks (used in plastics/chemicals), assuming only 0.5% leakage, but new MIT/NASA/NOAA research reveals actual leaks are 7x higher (3.6%), delaying recovery by up to 7 years (to 2073).

Like the initial ozone hole discovery (nearly dismissed as outliers), scientists using AGAGE monitoring now warn unchecked feedstock leaks could stall progress, increasing UV exposure risks (cancer, ecosystem damage).

Alternatives exist: industry can adopt non-ozone-depleting chemicals, improve containment and policymakers must tighten feedstock exemptionsa fix requiring updated Montreal Protocol terms.

Delayed recovery means preventable harm: rising skin cancer cases, marine plankton damage and health system strain, pushing global leaders to act at annual treaty meetings.

The Montreal Protocol, hailed as one of the most successful environmental treaties in history, has successfully reduced ozone-depleting substances (ODS) by approximately 20% since its inception in 1987. Scientists estimate that the Antarctic ozone holefirst discovered in the 1980scould fully heal by 2060, though lingering traces may persist until 2080 due to the long atmospheric lifespan of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). However, a hidden flaw in the agreement now threatens to slow this progress: industrial feedstock leaks.

The Montreal protocol's blind spot

The treaty banned most ozone-damaging chemicals but included a critical exemption. Certain ODS, such as CFCs and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), were still permitted as feedstocksraw materials used in manufacturing plastics, nonstick coatings and replacement chemicals. Regulators assumed only 0.5% of these substances would escape into the atmosphere, but new research reveals leakage rates are seven times highercloser to 3.6%.

A study published in Nature Communications, led by MIT and an international team including NASA and NOAA scientists, warns that if these leaks continue unchecked, ozone recovery could be delayed by up to seven years, pushing full restoration to 2073 instead of 2066.

How the ozone hole was discoveredand nearly missed

The discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 was itself a stroke of scientific vigilance. British researcher Joe Farman noticed anomalies in Antarctic ozone measurements that others had dismissed as outliers. Had he ignored them, the truth about CFC destruction might have remained hidden for yearsdelaying the Montreal Protocol and worsening global health risks, including skyrocketing skin cancer rates.

Now, history is repeating itself. Scientists monitoring atmospheric gases through the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) have detected higher-than-expected emissions from feedstocks.

Why feedstock leaks are a growing problem

Industry initially argued that feedstock emissions were negligible because "leaking chemicals means leaking profits." But AGAGE data reveals a different reality:

Some chemicals show leakage rates far exceeding 3.6%.

Global demand for plastics and industrial chemicals is rising, increasing feedstock use.

Without tighter controls, emissions could plateau by 2045, delaying ozone recovery.

Dr. Susan Solomon, MIT professor and co-discoverer of the ozone hole's cause, warns: "We've gotten to the point where, if we want the protocol to be as successful in the future as it has been in the past, parties need to tighten up these industrial processes."

Can industry fix the leaks?

The good news? Solutions exist:

Switch to alternative chemicalsthousands of non-ozone-depleting options are available. Improve containmentbetter industrial processes could drastically reduce leaks. Policy actionMontreal Protocol signatories must revisit feedstock exemptions.

Solomon remains optimistic: "The chemical industry is full of innovators. They can adaptthey just need the right incentives."

The cost of delay

Every year of delayed ozone recovery means:

Increased UV radiation exposure, raising risks of skin cancer and cataracts.

Continued harm to ecosystems, including marine plankton critical to the food chain.

Unnecessary strain on global health systems.

Stefan Reimann, lead author of the study, emphasizes: "Seven years might not sound like much, but if you count the skin cancer cases avoided in that time, it's significant."

What's next?

The Montreal Protocol's member nations meet annually to address emerging threats. Feedstock leaks are already under discussion, and pressure is mounting for stricter regulations.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Industrial leaks threatening ozone layer recovery are likely part of the globalist geoengineering agenda, using toxic aerosols and bioweapons disguised as environmental solutions. These deliberate attacks on planetary systems serve the depopulation goals of elites while furthering their control over climate narratives and human health.

Watch the full interview between Dane Wigington and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The United States has expanded its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz into a worldwide campaign against Iranian shipping, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on April 16, 2026. General Dan Caine stated that U.S. forces will now actively pursue Iran-linked vessels globally, a significant escalation following the failure of ceasefire talks in Pakistan earlier in the week [1].

The policy extension intensifies a maritime confrontation that began after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, which prompted Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. and allied shipping [2]. Iranian officials have condemned the new U.S. measures as violations of international law. The strait is a critical chokepoint for approximately 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas trade [3].

U.S. Expands Maritime Policy to Target Iranian Shipping Worldwide

General Dan Caine announced the expanded policy during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 16. He stated that U.S. forces outside the Persian Gulf will "actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran" [1]. The announcement marks a shift from a blockade focused on the Strait of Hormuz to a global interdiction effort.

The policy is a direct extension of the blockade of Iranian ports initiated by the U.S. on Monday, April 13, after peace talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad collapsed [1]. According to reports, the U.S. changed its position during the talks, attempting to dictate terms that included denying Iran's right to uranium enrichment, which led to the breakdown [4].

Iran's UN envoy, Amir-Saeid Iravani, labeled the U.S. blockade "a clear act of aggression" on April 16, accusing Washington of infringing upon rightful maritime commerce and breaking international law [1]. The U.S. action follows President Donald Trump's statement on April 13 that the U.S. Navy would blockade the strait [5].

Details of the Expanded U.S. Naval Directive

A U.S. Navy advisory issued on April 15 detailed the scope of the new directive. It stated that all vessels with links to Tehran, "regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search and seizure" [1]. The advisory provided a list of contraband items subject to confiscation, including weapons, ammunition, nuclear materials, oil products, iron, steel, and aluminum.

General Caine specifically highlighted U.S. intentions to pursue operations in the Pacific region. He stated the U.S. would target vessels that left Iran's ports before the blockade started, including 'dark fleet' vessels carrying Iranian oil [6]. This indicates a campaign against ship-to-ship transfers intended to circumvent sanctions.

The U.S. military has characterized the action as a global blockade of Iran's ports. General Caine was quoted as saying, "Let me be clear, this blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports" [7]. The move has been described by analysts as an effort to apply maximum economic pressure on Tehran.

Context and Immediate Aftermath of the Hormuz Blockade

The U.S. initiated the blockade of Iranian ports on April 13 after negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan failed to produce an agreement [8]. According to the U.S. Central Command, 14 ships heading toward the Strait of Hormuz have turned around since the blockade was announced, though none had been boarded as of April 16 [1].

Ship traffic through the critical waterway had already been severely limited since late February. Iran had imposed its own restrictions, allowing passage only to vessels from 'friendly nations' and, at times, demanding payment of a toll [9]. The situation had caused dozens of laden oil tankers to amass near the strait's southern entrance [2].

On April 16, Bloomberg reported that the Pakistani tanker Shalamar had become the first ship to exit the Strait of Hormuz with a cargo of crude oil since the U.S. blockade began [1]. Its passage occurred amid the heightened tensions and unclear enforcement protocols.

International Reactions and Iranian Counter-Threats

The U.S. escalation has drawn condemnation from several nations and a stark warning from Iranian military officials. China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, called the U.S. naval blockade "irresponsible and dangerous," stating it would undermine an already fragile ceasefire [10].

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, issued a direct threat on April 16. He warned that Tehran is ready to target the U.S. Navy to lift the blockade. "Our launchers are now locked on the warships, and we will sink them all," Rezaei was quoted as saying [1].

NATO members have refused to participate in the Strait of Hormuz blockade, rebuffing U.S. calls for allied warships to deploy to the region [9]. This lack of allied support echoes earlier refusals in March when global allies balked at President Trump's call to escort commercial ships through the strait [11].

Broader Strategic and Economic Implications

The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz carries profound risks for the global economy. The waterway is a critical bottleneck for energy shipments, and its sustained closure has contributed to soaring oil and gas prices [1]. A United Nations Development Program report warned that a full-scale war could push up to 32 million people into poverty globally due to energy, food, and trade disruptions [12].

The economic strain is already being felt. Protests over soaring fuel prices have occurred in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with police intervening against slow-moving vehicle demonstrations [13]. Analysts note that the price of Brent crude on global markets does not reflect the real-world cost in Asia, where a Sri Lankan buyer recently paid $286 for a single barrel of oil when insurance, shipping, and scarcity premiums were included [14].

The escalation is part of a longer conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. In response, Iran effectively sealed the strait, a move one analyst described as Iran's real economic "weapon" [15]. The U.S. now seeks to flip the script by imposing its own blockade, a tactic discussed in geopolitical analysis as a means to pressure Iran [16].

Conclusion

The U.S. decision to pursue Iranian-linked vessels worldwide represents a major intensification of the maritime standoff in the Middle East. By extending the Hormuz blockade into a global interdiction campaign, the Biden administration is applying unprecedented pressure on Iran's economy and challenging international norms of navigation.

The immediate effects include further disruption to global energy markets and heightened risks of a direct naval clash, as evidenced by Iran's threats to target U.S. warships. With key allies declining to participate and major powers like China opposing the action, the U.S. strategy carries significant diplomatic and economic costs. The situation remains volatile, with the potential to trigger wider economic shockwaves far beyond the Persian Gulf [12].

References
US Announces Expanded Interception Policy for Vessels Supporting Iran in Pacific, Indian Oceans

The United States military announced on Thursday, April 16, 2026, that it will intercept any vessel providing material support to Iran, including in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine. [1]

The expanded policy extends a blockade initially focused on Iran's ports to a global campaign, targeting what officials call 'dark fleet' oil tankers that operate outside Western financial systems. Caine stated the enforcement would occur in international waters and inside Irans territorial seas. [2]

Pentagon Outlines Expanded Interception Policy Targeting Iranian Support Networks

General Dan Caine told reporters at the Pentagon that the U.S. Joint Force would 'actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel, or any vessel, attempting to provide material support to Iran' in areas of responsibility like the Pacific. He added, 'This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil.' [1]

The announcement followed the implementation of a U.S. blockade against Irans ports earlier in the week, after talks in Pakistan aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz failed. Caine emphasized the action was a blockade of Irans coastline, not the strait itself. [3]

According to a report from The War Zone, Caine clarified the blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports, framing it as a global campaign. [2]

Background: Blockade in Strait of Hormuz and Iran's Response

The U.S. action is a direct response to Irans seizure and closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping in late February 2026, following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Iran had implemented a preferential transit system, allowing its own vessels out of the Gulf while blocking most bound for neighboring Arab states. [1]

The Islamic Republic was also working to introduce a toll system that could charge vessels up to $2 million to pass through the waterway, according to reports from Middle East Eye. The closure of the strait, a chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, has caused significant disruption to global energy markets and shipping. [1] [4]

In response to the closure, the U.S. began moving military assets, including mine countermeasure vessels from Japan and a Marine Expeditionary Unit, to the region. [5] [6]

Analyst Perspectives on Regional Tensions and Chinese Interests

Analysts told Middle East Eye that expanding the U.S. blockade into the Pacific could provoke concern in China, which has significant strategic interests in the region. They noted that while Beijing has little appetite for open conflict, it is the main customer for Iranian oil transported via the 'shadow fleet.' [1]

China relied on Irans cheap, sanctioned oil, and the U.S. military campaign has disrupted this supply, according to a report from Just the News. The conflict has forced Chinese airlines to hike fuel surcharges on domestic flights due to rising oil prices. [7] [8]

The situation places a spotlight on whether the U.S. would board Chinese vessels, as Chinese refineries are the primary destination for Iranian crude shipped by the sanctioned fleet. [1]

China's Position and Diplomatic Exchanges

China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Aragchi, on Wednesday, April 15. According to a Chinese readout of the call, Yi called for respect for the 'sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests of Iran as a country bordering the Strait of Hormuz' and added that 'the freedom and security of navigation in the internationally accessible strait should also be guaranteed.' [1]

Earlier in the week, unconfirmed social media reports cited an alleged quote from Chinas defense minister rejecting the U.S. blockade. Yun Sun, director of the China Programme at the Stimson Center, told Middle East Eye that the remarks were not confirmed by the Chinese government and had been disavowed in state media. [1]

Sun previously stated that the Strait of Hormuz was 'so far' from China and that Beijing would not challenge the U.S. in the waterway, though China is trying to position itself as the dominant power in the Pacific. [1]

Historical Context of Iran-China Trade and Military Transfers

Trade and military ties between Beijing and Tehran form a backdrop to the current tensions. Chinese firms are known to have sold sodium perchlorate, a material used to manufacture solid propellant for missiles, to Iran, with deliveries occurring by ship, according to Middle East Eye. [1]

The same outlet reported that China sold air defense systems to Iran after attacks in June 2025, and later drones. Separately, The New York Times reported on Saturday, April 11, that China may have delivered shoulder-fired missiles to Iran, though the method of transport was unclear. [1]

In an interview with Fox News on April 15, President Donald Trump stated he had heard reports that China was providing weapons to Iran and had written to Chinese President Xi Jinping asking him to stop. [9]

Conclusion

The expanded U.S. interception policy marks a significant geographical escalation in the ongoing conflict with Iran, moving enforcement actions into the vast expanses of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The move directly challenges the networks Iran uses to circumvent sanctions and export its oil, primarily to China.

Market reactions have been volatile, with oil prices and stock futures fluctuating on reports of ceasefire pushes and escalations. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, and the global economic repercussions, from shipping rates to fuel costs, continue to unfold. [10] [11] [12]

References
Global Aluminum Market Faces Severe Crisis Due to War, Tariffs, and Stock Shortages

Aluminum Market in Crisis Following Gulf Conflict and Supply Disruptions

The global aluminum market is facing an unprecedented crisis triggered by conflict in the Persian Gulf and compounded by structural supply shortages, according to analysts and industry reports. Missile strikes have damaged major smelting facilities in the region, creating a supply deficit projected to reach 4 million metric tons this year [1]. Western buyers are expected to bear the brunt of this shortfall as inventory on key exchanges has been rapidly depleted.

Deliverable stocks on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and CME warehouses have slumped by 70% since the start of the year, according to market data [1]. This leaves the global market with thin inventory cover at a time when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz -- a critical chokepoint for raw materials -- has been severely constrained [1]. The combination of production damage and logistical paralysis has created what analysts describe as a perfect storm for industrial metal supplies.

Critical Damage to Production Centers Strains Global Supply

A missile strike last month on Emirates Global Aluminium's Al Taweelah facility in the United Arab Emirates may require up to a year for recovery, according to company officials [1]. This facility represents a significant portion of Gulf aluminum production capacity, which accounts for approximately 17% of global aluminum output according to industry estimates [2].

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the largest single-site production plant outside of China, has also been impacted, although the extent of damage remains unclear [1]. Both Alba and Qatar Aluminium had already reduced output prior to the attacks due to power shortages [1]. The situation threatens to worsen as smelters exhaust their raw material stocks amid shipping constraints through the Strait of Hormuz [1].

Exchange Stocks Depleted, Leaving Market with Thin Inventory Cover

Registered inventory on the London Metal Exchange has shrunk to under 400,000 tons, traders reported, with an additional 100,000 tons in off-warrant storage [1]. This represents a dramatic decline from over 5 million tons available in the early part of the last decade. Of the remaining LME inventory, approximately 270,000 tons consisted of Russian metal at the end of March, which many Western users cannot purchase due to sanctions [1].

The physical tightness in the market is reflected in time-spreads, with the benchmark cash-to-three-months spread reaching a backwardation of $95.50 per ton -- the most severe market tightness since 2007 [1]. This backwardation indicates immediate demand substantially exceeds available supply. Traders have been actively repositioning remaining non-Russian inventory, with 98,000 tons of LME-registered Indian aluminum being cancelled and then re-warranted in March as spreads widened [1].

Power Constraints and High Costs Block Reactivation of Idled Capacity

Idled smelter capacity in the United States and Europe remains offline due to persistently high energy prices exacerbated by the Gulf conflict [1]. Aluminum production through electrolysis is exceptionally energy-intensive, with a typical smelter consuming as much power as a major city like Boston, making reactivation economically unviable under current conditions, industry experts said [1].

The global shortage of affordable power was already forcing closures before hostilities began. The Mozal aluminum smelter in Mozambique, majority-owned by Australia's South32, was placed on care and maintenance in March after failing to secure an economically viable power supply contract [1]. Even accounting for increased recycled production and potentially softer manufacturing demand due to energy costs, "there is no escaping a large deficit in the global aluminum market over the next 18 months," according to analysis from Wood Mackenzie [1].

Governments Face Unpalatable Choices Amid Severe Western Shortfall

Policymakers face difficult decisions regarding supply sources to alleviate the growing deficit, analysts noted [1]. Two potential suppliers exist: China, the world's largest aluminum producer, and Russia, which produces both primary metal and value-added alloys. However, China primarily exports processed semi-manufactured products rather than the primary metal and alloy needed by Western manufacturers [1].

Western nations have spent the last decade erecting trade barriers against Chinese exports, accusing Beijing of undermining competitors through subsidized production [1]. This leaves Russian supply as the other potential relief source. Japanese manufacturers are already showing signs of returning to Russian aluminum supplies after previously self-sanctioning following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine [1]. U.S. and European buyers would require government sanction waivers to pursue similar sourcing strategies.

US Tariff Policy Compounds Domestic Supply and Price Challenges

The situation in the United States has been compounded by President Donald Trump's decision to implement a 50% tariff on aluminum imports, according to White House confirmation [1]. This policy has sent the cost of imported ingot to over $2,500 per ton above the LME price, which itself is hovering at four-year highs of $3,580 per ton [1]. The administration had reportedly considered a partial rollback of these tariffs to address affordability concerns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections [3].

For now, aluminum availability remains primarily a price and cost equation. However, industry observers warn that if Gulf disruptions persist and stocks continue to deplete, the situation may evolve from a pricing issue to a physical shortage where manufacturers cannot secure enough metal to fulfill orders regardless of price [1]. This would have cascading effects across construction, packaging, transportation, and green energy sectors that depend on aluminum inputs.

Conclusion: Cascading Consequences for Global Industry

The aluminum crisis represents what one analysis termed "the exposure of the entire global system" to disruption in critical corridors like the Strait of Hormuz [4]. The modern world's dependence on efficient, just-in-time supply chains has created vulnerabilities now being exposed by geopolitical conflict. With limited options for replacing lost Gulf production and existing trade policies restricting alternative sources, Western manufacturers face extended supply constraints.

The combination of war-induced production damage, energy market volatility, and protectionist trade policies has created conditions where aluminum may transition from a commodity with price volatility to one with physical availability constraints. As one industry observer noted regarding similar supply chain vulnerabilities, "This doesn't always indicate a true pandemic" of shortage but rather engineered crises that can be hidden behind geopolitical chaos [5]. The resolution will depend on both geopolitical developments in the Gulf and policy adjustments in Western capitals.

References
Whether tariffs are implemented in a stable way or a chaotic and disruptive way can make all the difference in the world, he said. But so far, the tariffs have been akin to throwing rocks into the production system.

These go in cycles that can be measured, and I worry about the breakdown of that kind of order, particularly since it doesnt need to happen, he noted, adding that there are better ways to restructure debt.

Such times are very much like the 1930s, Dalio told NBC.

The end of World War II ushered in a new monetary and geopolitical world order. But history tends to repeat itself. Tariffs, combined with a high level of debt and a rising superpower challenging the existing superpower, could lead to profound changes in the world order.

By and large, its changing the world order in a way which is making it more inefficient and actually causing growth around the United States, Dalio said during a Paley Media Council event last year (3).

Trump has triggered global economic chaos with his on-again, off-again reciprocal tariffs (2). But Dalio fears something worse  the U.S. could end up isolated as its biggest trading partners sign cross-border agreements that exclude the worlds largest economy.

To be sure, a recession is bad news. However, what Dalio is sounding the alarm over could be much worse financially for the average American  the upheaval of a U.S. backed global monetary system.

A recession is typically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. A much more profound change would be a breakdown of the current monetary order. These kinds of forward-looking assessments are something Dalio has some amount of experience with, having correctly predicted the 2008 financial crisis.

The IRS usually taxes gold as a collectible  but this little-known strategy lets you hold physical bullion tax-free. Get your free guide from Priority Gold

Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake  heres how to fix it ASAP

Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100  and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how

Right now, we are at a decision-making point and very close to a recession, billionaire investor Ray Dalio told NBCs Meet the Press last year. And Im worried about something worse than a recession if this isnt handled well (1).

The founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the worlds largest hedge funds, has voiced concern that President Donald Trumps economic agenda could lead to something worse than a recession.

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Story Continues

Or, in other words, highly disruptive.

Read More: Robert Kiyosaki warned of a 'Greater Depression'  with millions of Americans going poor. Was he right?

So, what do the numbers say?

Despite Dalios warning, recent data suggests the U.S. economy continues to grow. Real GDP increased by 2.1% in 2025 (4), though there are still signs of concern.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the U.S. had almost no job growth last year. Employers added just 181,000 jobs in 2025  an 88% decrease from the 1.46 million jobs added in 2024 (5).

The good news is that hiring has picked up this year, with 178,000 new jobs in March. Job gains have occurred in health care, construction, transportation and warehousing, and social assistance, while federal government employment continues to decline (6).

As of March, the unemployment rate is at 4.3%. The rate hasnt dipped below 4% since May 2024 (7).

While this is far from ideal, its not at the level of the Great Depression in the 1930s, as Dalio suggests, when nearly a quarter of Americas labor force couldnt find employment.

However, the war in Iran is another complicating factor for the economy, leading to the biggest jump in U.S. inflation in nearly four years (8). Consumer prices rose 3.3% in the 12 months ending in March, largely fueled by a spike in energy costs (9).

Even if the powers that be make a permanent deal to end the conflict, the effects will likely be felt in the economy for months to come.

So its no surprise that consumer sentiment fell to a record low in April  and that Americans perceptions of their current financial situation matched the worst since 2009 (10).

How can you prepare your finances?

If youre an average American, how can you heed Dalios warnings about the dire consequences of Trumps economic agenda?

You can start by establishing an emergency fund (if you dont already have one) that will cover at least three to six months of expenses  perhaps more if youre in a job that could be impacted by tariffs, trade wars and soaring transportation costs.

Here are five more practical tips to hedge against an uncertain financial future.

Deal with debt

Its a good idea to pay down high-interest debt (like credit cards) and avoid building up more debt, if possible. If you have a great deal of high-interest debt to get rid of, consider tapping into your homes equity through a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).

A HELOC is a revolving line of credit that leverages the equity in your home as collateral so you can borrow and repay funds as needed  similar to a credit card.

AmeriSave offers a flexible HELOC that lets homeowners borrow against their equity as needed during a draw period, making it useful for renovations or debt consolidation. The application is primarily online and available in most states.

Its a good fit for borrowers who want convenience and flexibility rather than a large lump-sum loan up front. You can draw funds only when you need them, so its useful for ongoing or unpredictable costs. Interest is charged only on what you use, and you repay the balance over time. Its essentially a flexible credit line secured by your home, delivered through a mostly online application process.

Make your budget work for you

After youve taken care of your emergency fund and high-interest debt, its time to get serious about sticking to a budget  but it doesnt have to be complicated.

A quick daily check-in of your accounts can show you exactly where your money is going.

An app like Rocket Money can easily flag recurring subscriptions, upcoming bills and unusual charges by pulling in transactions from all your linked accounts.

This can help you cut unnecessary costs, and then you can manually redirect savings straight into your retirement fund. No spreadsheets, no guesswork, no stress. Small habits like this can make a big difference over time.

Rocket Moneys intuitive app offers a variety of free and premium tools. Free features include subscription tracking, bill reminders and budgeting basics, while premium features  like automated savings, net worth tracking, customizable dashboards and more  make it easier to stay on top of your retirement contributions and overall financial goals.

Diversify with precious metals

It may also be a good time to diversify your investments across different asset classes to mitigate risk. That might mean adjusting your mix of stocks, bonds and other assets.

If youre close to retirement, you might want to shift to lower-risk assets, like dividend-paying stocks. Alternative investments, such as gold and real estate, are often considered a hedge against inflation and recession.

In fact, gold was worth more than 58 times as much in 2016 as it was in 1910  over 100 years ago (11). And thats before the precious yellow metal went on a historic bull run in 2025.

One way to invest in gold that can also offer significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold  making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainty.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases. Just keep in mind that gold is often best used as one part of a well-diversified portfolio.

Diversify with real estate

Rental properties have long been a proven source of steady, passive income for high-net-worth investors  so its no wonder that real estate accounts for nearly 25% of the typical family office portfolio (12).

You can tap into this market through real estate crowdfunding platforms like Arrived.

Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning monthly dividends.

Lean on the experts

If youre new to hedging  a risk management strategy that can help offset losses by purchasing investments in an opposite position to an existing investment  you may want to consult with a financial advisor to see how this could help mitigate risk in your portfolio.

Advisor.com can help you find a licensed financial professional whos right for you.

The platform does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Plus, their network comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.

Just enter a few details about your finances and goals, and Advisor.coms AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert best suited for your needs based on your unique financial goals and preferences.

From there, you can set up a free initial consultation with no obligation to hire to see if theyre the right fit for you.

Depending on whether youre close to retirement or not, you may want to adjust your retirement strategy  and adjust your risk tolerance to match that strategy. If youre a young investor, you still have time for the market to recover, so avoid panic selling.

- With files from Jing Pan

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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.

NBC News (1), (5); The Guardian (2); Observer (3); Bureau of Economic Analysis (4); Bureau of Labor Statistics (6), (7), (9); Bloomberg (8), (10); United States Gold Bureau (11); Knight Frank (12)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Pope Leo and Trump Exchange Accusations Over Wars, Religious Imagery

Pontiff Warns of "Tyrants" Ravaging World During Cameroon Visit

Pope Leo XIV criticized world leaders who justify wars using religious language during a public address in Bamenda, Cameroon on Thursday, April 16, according to reports from the BBC. [1] He stated the world is "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants," a remark widely interpreted by observers as targeting military actions by the United States and Israel. [1]

His comments escalated a public dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump, who was sworn into office for a second term in January 2025. The pontiff's visit focused on the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, where a separatist conflict has persisted for nearly a decade, resulting in thousands of deaths. [2]

Escalating Exchange Follows Pope's "Unjust War" Label

The verbal conflict reportedly began after Leo labeled the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran as an "unjust" war, according to a report from Metro.co.uk. [3] In response, Trump posted a lengthy attack on his Truth Social platform, calling the pope "weak on crime" and "terrible on foreign policy." [1]

In his post, the former president also accused the pontiff of being acceptable to Iran possessing a nuclear weapon. [3] This exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Vatican's diplomatic stance on international conflicts and the policies of the current U.S. administration, according to analysts. [4]

AI-Generated Image, Deletion Further Fuel Controversy

Adding a digital dimension to the dispute, Trump posted and later deleted an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting himself with attributes resembling Jesus Christ. He claimed the image was meant to show him "as a doctor" and related to Red Cross work, according to a report. [3] The image drew criticism from some religious commentators, including Fox News commentator Riley Gaines, who stated, "God shall not be mocked." [3]

When asked by Reuters about engaging in a debate with Trump, Leo said, "I don't want to get into a debate with him." [3] The incident underscores the intersection of global religious authority, digital media and contemporary political discourse. [5]

Pontiff's Speech Condemns Manipulation of Religion

In his Cameroon address, the pope cited the Beatitude "Blessed are the peacemakers" before issuing a stark warning. He said, "Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain," according to a live-blog report from Middle East Eye. [6]

He concluded his remarks by contrasting "a handful of tyrants" with "a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters" who he said hold the world together. [3] The pope's critique of using divine justification for war follows previous, strong Vatican condemnations of Israeli military actions in Gaza, which a top Vatican diplomat previously termed an "ongoing massacre." [7]

Archbishop of Canterbury Backs Pope's Peace Call

Dame Sara Mullaly, the Archbishop of Canterbury, issued a statement supporting Leo's remarks. She said she stands with the pontiff "in his courageous call for a kingdom of peace" and urged political leaders to pursue every peaceful means of resolving conflict, according to Metro.co.uk. [3]

The show of support from a senior Anglican leader came as the pope's visit highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Cameroon. The Vatican has previously criticized the use of force that impacts civilian populations and religious sites, including a 2025 strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza. [8]

Context of Broader Tensions Between Vatican, Political Figures

Analysts note the public dispute reflects deeper, ongoing tension between the Vatican's diplomatic stance on conflicts and the policies of some Western governments. Leo, the first American pope, has reportedly sought to distance himself from the feud with Trump, according to observers cited in reports. [4]

The incident also occurs against a backdrop where major technology platforms have been accused of censoring conservative religious voices. A 2025 report from NaturalNews.com documented how Google removed a major Italian Catholic blog, citing unspecified "hate-speech" violations. [9] This environment raises questions about the centralized control of information in modern political and religious discourse. [10]

References
Report Alleges Meta Profits from Pro-Settlement Content While Excluding Palestinian Voices

A new report from a social media watchdog group alleges that Meta Platforms Inc. is 'financially enabling' incitement content against Palestinians from pro-settlement Israeli accounts. The report, published on Sunday, April 14, 2026, by 7amleh, claims the tech giant allows settler-affiliated accounts to generate revenue despite content that violates its own policies on violent, racist, and inciting material

In contrast, the report states that Palestinian journalists and content creators in the occupied West Bank and Gaza are 'structurally excluded' from eligibility for monetization on Meta's platforms, 'solely based on their geographic location' [1]. This creates a dual system where, according to the watchdog, one group profits from content promoting dispossession while the other is economically marginalized.

Report Details Alleged Policy Violations and Revenue Generation

The 7amleh report, titled 'Monetising Occupation: Metas Financial Enablement of Settlement Activity and Violent Rhetoric Against Palestinians,' details specific allegations of policy violations. It states that content promoting illegal outposts, justifying settler violence, and containing genocidal rhetoric remains monetized, which should render it ineligible under Meta's own policies [1].

The report cites the monetized account of Israeli rapper Yoav Eliasi, who uses the username 'The Shadow,' as an example. According to the findings, his posts contain 'extreme and violent political messaging against Palestinians, including calls celebrating destruction in Gaza and support for settlements' [1]. 7amleh asserts that Meta 'not only tolerates violent and inciting speech but actively incentivizes its production and spread,' which the group says violates the company's responsibilities under international human rights law [1].

The watchdog's findings add to broader criticisms of content monetization on centralized social platforms, where economic incentives can be structured to favor certain narratives over others. Sam Ghosh and Subhasis Gorai, authors of "The Age of Decentralization," note that while social media has become a significant income source for over 200 million content creators globally, platforms often fail to acknowledge their full impact or provide equitable access to monetization tools [2].

Watchdog Officials Accuse Meta of Decade-Long Discriminatory Pattern

Nadim Nashif, executive director of 7amleh, told Middle East Eye that Meta has maintained what he described as a decade-long pattern of discrimination and over-moderation of Palestinian content, journalists, and media. 'While over that decade they were allowing, freely, genocidal and violent rhetoric in Hebrew against Palestinians,' Nashif said [1].

Nashif added that the problem has intensified following Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023. He stated that the company has done little to address the rise in inciting Hebrew-language content, despite 'many alerts and warnings' from his organization and other watchdogs [1]. According to Nashif, there is now not only 'bias in moderation' but also widespread monetization of such content, which he said creates a 'vicious cycle' that incentivizes the production of further violent material [1].

The allegations mirror longstanding concerns from independent media advocates about centralized control over digital speech. In an interview, Mike Adams, founder of Brighteon.com, has argued that censorship industrial complexes weaponize Big Tech to silence dissent, a dynamic that destroys the foundation of free republics [3]. Nadim Nashif's accusations suggest such dynamics are playing out in a specific, geographically concentrated conflict.

Contrast with Palestinian Content Moderation and Economic Exclusion

The 7amleh report found that Palestinian voices 'remain comprehensively excluded from eligibility for monetization on Metas platforms, solely based on their geographic location' in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. This exclusion means Palestinian journalists, media outlets, and civil society organizations are 'structurally denied access to economic tools available to others even when their content is professional and policy-compliant' [1].

Lama Nazeeh, advocacy manager at 7amleh, said this creates 'a story of discrimination, oppression, and economic exclusion: Palestinians are silenced and denied access, while those promoting their dispossession and dehumanization are allowed to profit' [1]. Human Rights Watch has previously accused Meta of 'systemic censorship of Palestine content,' attributing it to flawed policies, over-reliance on automated tools, and undue government influence over content removals [1].

This structural denial of economic opportunity on a major platform exemplifies what critics describe as the dangers of centralized digital control. The issue extends beyond content removal to economic disenfranchisement, a point emphasized by advocates for decentralized media ecosystems who argue for platforms where journalists can retain full editorial control and revenue [4].

Context of Escalating Violence and Broader Allegations

The report was published against a backdrop of reported spikes in settler violence and illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, alongside ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to the report's context, since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 1,050 Palestinians in the West Bank [1].

Lama Nazeeh stated that Meta is not only allowing anti-Palestinian rhetoric to remain online but is also 'turning parts of that ecosystem into a source of profit.' She said, 'Meta is helping build a digital economy around apartheid, settler violence, attacks, racist incitement and impunity, while pushing Palestinian journalism, advocacy and testimony further to the margins' [1].

Nazeeh called on Meta to 'immediately end this discriminatory system' and cease enabling far-right Israeli narratives, particularly amid what she described as a wider context of 'war, occupation and settler-colonial violence' [1]. The report contributes to a growing dossier of criticism against major tech platforms for their role in conflict zones, where their policies and algorithms can have direct, on-the-ground consequences.

Meta's Response and Reports' Broader Implications

Middle East Eye reported it contacted Meta for comment on the allegations but did not receive a response by the time of publication [1]. The silence from the tech giant is consistent with patterns observed by critics of large, centralized institutions, which often operate with limited transparency and accountability to the public they serve.

The 7amleh report asserts that Meta's actions undermine its responsibilities under United Nations principles and international law. The findings contribute to ongoing global scrutiny of major tech platforms' content moderation and monetization practices, especially in geopolitically sensitive areas [1].

For individuals seeking news on such topics outside traditional corporate channels, some advocates promote alternative, decentralized platforms as more transparent and resistant to institutional bias. Sources like BrightNews.ai are cited as providers of AI-analyzed news trends across independent media, while BrightLearn.ai offers a free library for generating books on any subject, empowering individuals to access knowledge beyond centralized educational or media frameworks.

The situation underscores a recurring critique of centralized digital power: when a handful of corporations control global speech and economic opportunity, the potential for systemic bias and the suppression of specific narratives grows. This dynamic reinforces arguments for decentralized alternatives that prioritize individual liberty, free speech, and equitable access over centralized profit and control.

References
Over 10.97 lakh passengers have returned to India from West Asia since February 28 amid regional tensions. The Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima is expected to arrive safely in Mumbai on April 22, while two other Indian vessels reported a firing incident in the Strait of Hormuz. India has conveyed its concerns to Iran, urging the safety of merchant shipping and facilitation of India-bound vessels. Aviation operations continue from countries with open airspace, including numerous flights from the UAE, and over 2,300 Indians have been evacuated via Iran's embassy.

Over 10.97 lakh Indians return amid tensions. Indian tanker Desh Garima safe, two other ships report firing in Strait of Hormuz. India raises concerns with Iran.

New Delhi, April 19 Amid rising tensions in West Asia, around 10.97 lakh passengers have returned from the region to India since February 28, while Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima is slated to arrive safely in Mumbai on April 22, the government said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of seafarers and continuity of shipping operations.

While Desh Garima's safe passage offered reassurance, two other Indian vessels -- VLCC Samnar Herad and bulk carrier Jag Arnav -- reported a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours.

Both ships returned to the Persian Gulf following the incident, but no injuries were reported among crew members.

In response, India conveyed its concerns to Iran, with the Ambassador being called in for a meeting with the Foreign Secretary.

During the discussion, India stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and urged Iranian authorities to facilitate the movement of India-bound vessels through the Strait at the earliest.

On the aviation front, flight operations continue from countries where airspace remains open, although services are being managed based on safety and operational considerations.

In the UAE, around 110 flights are expected to operate between the UAE and India on Sunday, including limited non-scheduled commercial services.

Flights are also continuing from airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman, while Qatar Airways is likely to operate 10 to 11 flights to India with the partial reopening of Qatari airspace.

Iran's airspace remains partially open for cargo and chartered flights, and the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the evacuation and movement of 2,378 Indian nationals via Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. This includes over 1,000 Indian students and several hundred fishermen.

- IANS
The Indian government reports that nearly 11 lakh passengers have returned from West Asia since late February amid regional tensions. While the crude oil tanker Desh Garima is expected to dock safely in Mumbai, two other Indian vessels reported a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a diplomatic response. India has called in Iran's Ambassador to stress the safety of merchant shipping and urge facilitation for India-bound vessels. Aviation operations continue from countries with open airspace, with the Indian Embassy in Tehran facilitating the movement of thousands of nationals, including students and fishermen.

Over 10.97 lakh passengers return to India. Desh Garima tanker safe, but two ships face firing in Strait of Hormuz. India raises concerns with Iran.

New Delhi, April 19 Amid rising tensions in West Asia, around 10.97 lakh passengers have travelled from the region to India since February 28, while Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima is slated to arrive safely in Mumbai on April 22, the government said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of seafarers and continuity of shipping operations.

While Desh Garima's safe passage offered reassurance, two other Indian vessels -- VLCC Samnar Herad and bulk carrier Jag Arnav -- reported a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours.

Both ships returned to the Persian Gulf following the incident, and no injuries were reported among crew members.

In response, India conveyed its concerns to Iran, with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi being called in for a meeting with the Foreign Secretary.

During the discussion, India stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and urged Iranian authorities to facilitate the movement of India-bound vessels through the Strait at the earliest.

On the aviation front, flight operations continue from countries where airspace remains open, although services are being managed based on safety and operational considerations.

In the UAE, around 110 flights are expected to operate between the UAE and India on Sunday, including limited non-scheduled commercial services.

Flights are also continuing from airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman, while Qatar Airways is likely to operate 10 to 11 flights to India with partial reopening of Qatari airspace.

Iran's airspace remains partially open for cargo and chartered flights, and the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the evacuation and movement of 2,378 Indian nationals via Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. This includes over 1,000 Indian students and several hundred fishermen.

- IANS
Kashmiri activist Javed Beigh has strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack ahead of its first anniversary, labeling it a barbaric and cowardly act. He squarely blamed Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment for sponsoring a decades-long "terror industry" in the region. Beigh praised Indian security forces for their counter-terror operations while calling for greater international accountability against Pakistan. He asserted that Kashmiris across communities have rejected terrorism and aspire for peace and development.

Kashmiri activist Javed Beigh calls the Pahalgam attack a barbaric act, blaming Pakistan's establishment for sponsoring violence and damaging Kashmir's social fabric.

Srinagar, April 19 Ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Kashmiri activist Javed Beigh delivered a sharp condemnation of terrorism while squarely blaming Pakistan's establishment for perpetuating violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Beigh described the assault as a "barbaric, heinous and cowardly act" that was deeply condemned by the local population, asserting that such violence does not represent the values or aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

He described it as the "second darkest chapter" in the region's history after the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, asserting that Kashmiris across communities unequivocally rejected the violence.

Beigh argued that the Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists after identifying their religion, exposed what he called the "terror industry" backed by Pakistan. According to him, such incidents damage Kashmir's image and undermine its social fabric.

"Every Kashmiri condemned it. There were protests across the Valley, cutting across political and religious lines," he said, emphasising widespread public outrage.

He further accused Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment of sponsoring militancy in the region for decades. "For nearly 40 years, they have brought gun culture, hatred, and destruction to Kashmir," Beigh said, claiming that thousands of lives have been lost and generations of youth deprived of opportunities.

Referring to India's counter-terror response, Beigh praised security forces for striking militant infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed during "Operation Sindoor."

On the international stage, Beigh called for greater accountability, urging global institutions like the United Nations to act against Pakistan for alleged support of terrorism and human rights violations.

He cited incidents involving minorities and ethnic groups within Pakistan to question what he termed the global community's "silence."

Looking ahead, Beigh advocated decisive measures to prevent future attacks, including stronger political will and intensified efforts against terror networks.

He reiterated that Kashmiris, particularly the youth, have increasingly distanced themselves from militancy and aspire for peace and development.

"Kashmiris have rejected terrorism," he said, appealing for national unity to restore lasting peace and enable the return of displaced communities.

- ANI
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside Argentinian President Javier Milei, declared a "battle of civilisation against barbarism" against Iran. Concurrently, the Israeli military reported killing an armed individual who crossed into a designated zone in southern Lebanon. In Gaza, Israeli strikes continued, resulting in civilian casualties including the death of a child. Lebanese authorities have begun infrastructure repairs following a recent ceasefire.

Israeli PM Netanyahu frames conflict with Iran as existential. Reports detail strikes in Lebanon and Gaza, including civilian casualties.

Tel Aviv, April 20 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country, along with the United States, is engaged in a "battle of civilisation against barbarism", referring to Iran, Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking at a press conference during the visit of Argentinian President Javier Milei, Netanyahu said Israel has been "engaged with the United States in a battle against the great tyranny of Iran, which terrorises the world, which seeks our destruction and seeks to bring down the United States, seeks to bring down Western civilisation as we know it".

"We have achieved enormous things. It's not over yet," he added. "Any moment could bring us new developments."

Separately, the Israeli military claimed it had killed an "armed" individual who crossed the so-called "Yellow Line" in southern Lebanon, an area established by Israel as part of its ongoing military operations. The army did not provide evidence to support the claim, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The "Yellow Line" refers to a military zone extending roughly 10 km north of the border inside southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have indicated they intend to maintain control over this zone while reserving the right to conduct strikes there, citing efforts to eliminate Hezbollah's presence, according to Al Jazeera.

The demarcation has drawn comparisons to Gaza, where Israeli forces have divided Palestinian territory into multiple zones, including an eastern section covering around 60 percent of the enclave under Israeli military control.

Meanwhile, Lebanese army said a specialised unit has begun removing an "earthen barrier" placed by Israeli forces on a road in Tyre, southern Lebanon, according to a post on X. A surveillance point has also been set up in the area.

"In continuation of the rehabilitation works for the Tayr Falsiyeh-Tyre bridge, work began on establishing a cement ferry to enable vehicles to cross," Lebanon's army said.

The Israeli military had carried out widespread destruction of infrastructure in southern Lebanon, in what has been described as an attempt to isolate the region from the rest of the country.

Following a ceasefire that came into effect on Friday, Lebanese authorities have been working to restore critical infrastructure as hundreds of thousands of displaced residents begin returning to their homes, Al Jazeera reported.

In Gaza, an Israeli attack killed a child amid ongoing strikes across the enclave. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Hala Salem Darwish was killed east of the al-Maghazi refugee camp.

Earlier, an Israeli drone strike hit a motorcycle on Salah al-Din Street, northeast of Nuseirat camp, killing Ayman Khaled Abu Hasna, 38, and injuring several others, according to al-Awda Hospital, as per a report by Al Jazeera.

- ANI
A one-day solar fair is being held in Supaul district, Bihar, to inform the public about the benefits of solar power and the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Officials aim to educate residents on reducing electricity expenses through rooftop solar panel installations, highlighting available government subsidies. Experts will be present to explain the scheme and motivate participation, with on-the-spot application facilities provided. The initiative seeks to promote clean energy while offering practical relief from high power bills.

A solar fair in Bihar's Supaul educates residents on rooftop solar panels, subsidies, and on-the-spot applications to cut electricity bills.

Patna, April 19 In a bid to impress upon the people of Supaul district in Bihar, on the momentous possibility of solar power in lighting up and powering homes, a grand solar fair is being organised on Monday.

The one-day solar fair, beginning at 10 a.m., will be organised at the Electricity Office premises located at Degree College Chowk, where the people as well as beneficiaries will be informed about the benefits of solar energy and also sensitised on how to utilise the renewable energy to unburden them with inflated electricity bills.

"The primary objective of the fair is to raise public awareness regarding solar energy and to provide information on measures to help citizens find relief from electricity bills," said an official.

According to departmental officials, consumers can significantly reduce their electricity expenses by installing solar panels on their rooftops.

With enough subsidies being offered by the government, installing a solar system has become more affordable and accessible compared to the past.

A team of experts from the solar energy sector will be present at the fair to educate the people in simple terms- on why one should subscribe to it and also motivate others to join the scheme. People will also be briefed about the steps for availing the subsidies under the scheme, and also the procedure of application of licence.

A key highlight of the event is that interested consumers will be able to apply for the scheme on the spot, right at the fair. Information regarding the necessary documents required for the application will also be provided at the venue.

The Electricity Department has appealed to all electricity consumers in the district to participate in this Solar Fair in large numbers and to take advantage of this scheme.

The initiative not only helps reduce people's electricity bills but also leads to a substantial shift in promoting clean and green energy.

Electricity department official Alok Kumar Ranjan, speaking to the news agency IANS, said, "A Solar Fair is being organised to promote the 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.' At this fair, consumers will be made aware of the scheme. Detailed information regarding subsidies will be provided, and consumers will also have the opportunity to apply on the spot."

- IANS
The governments of Brazil, Mexico, and Spain issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the grave humanitarian crisis facing Cuba and urging measures to alleviate it. They called for respect of international law and a sincere dialogue to find a lasting solution determined by the Cuban people. The crisis has been critically exacerbated by severe fuel shortages following U.S. measures to block oil supplies. Despite a recent Russian oil shipment, UN officials report acute and persistent humanitarian needs that have worsened since March.

Brazil, Mexico, and Spain express deep concern over Cuba's humanitarian crisis, urging measures to ease suffering and respect international law.

Madrid, April 19 The governments of Brazil, Mexico and Spain expressed deep concern over the grave humanitarian crisis facing the Cuban people and urged necessary measures to ease the situation, according to a joint statement published on the Spanish Foreign Ministry's website.

The three governments on Saturday, also called relevant parties to avoid actions that worsen the living conditions of the population or that violate international law, and pledged to increase, in a coordinated manner, their humanitarian response to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the statement, Brazil, Spain and Mexico also reiterated the need to respect international law at all times, as well as the principles of territorial integrity, sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to human rights, democratic values and multilateralism, and called for a sincere and respectful dialogue in line with international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

They said such dialogue should aim to find a lasting solution to the current situation and ensure that the Cuban people themselves decide their future in full freedom.

Fuel shortages in Cuba have deepened after Washington took measures at the end of January to block oil supplies from entering the Caribbean nation, according to the United Nations.

Despite the reported arrival of limited fuel supplies, including a recent oil shipment sent by Russia which was allowed to dock by the United States despite its blockade last week, "the humanitarian needs in the country remain quite acute and persistent", said the top UN official in the country, adding that the impacts of the energy shock have 'worsened' since the end of March.

The humanitarian situation has reached a critical tipping point following three months without sufficient fuel to meet the Caribbean nation's energy needs, which had been largely met by Venezuela until the US rendition of President Nicolas Maduro in January.

- IANS
Ford Motor Company paused its electric-vehicle growth efforts, but is pivoting to a major push in 2027. With lower-cost production methods and new models in development, the legacy automakers CEO wants to keep Chinese competitors out of the U.S., despite consumer demand for affordable models.

Ford CEO Blasts Chinese EVs

In a recent interview, Ford CEO Jim Farley said he would like to keep Chinese companies out of the U.S., a move that comes as BYD has rapidly expanded outside Asia.

"We should not let them into our country," Farley said of Chinese auto manufacturers on an episode of "Fox & Friends.

Allowing the Chinese companies in would be "devastating to American manufacturing, which Farley calls "the heart and soul of our country.

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The Ford CEO said Chinas manufacturing capacity exceeds 50 million vehicles, surpassing the number of vehicles sold annually in the U.S.

Along with the potential competition ramifications for Ford, General Motors Company and Tesla Inc to allow Chinese electric vehicles a level playing field in the U.S., Farley shared some safety concerns in the interview.

Farley argues that there would also be "cyber and privacy" risks if the U.S. allowed Chinese EVs to be made or imported.

And Yet

Farley reportedly discussed the potential of joint ventures between the American auto company and Beijing-based Xiaomi with President Donald Trump. His plan: allow China to manufacture EVs in the U.S. and sell them through a U.S.-controlled joint venture. Ford denied the reports.

Ford also held talks with BYD to expand battery-supply partnerships, and explored manufacturing collaborations in Europe with Hong Kong-based Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd..

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Ford Goes For Low-Cost Models

The U.S. currently imposes tariffs of more than 100% on Chinese vehicles, effectively barring them from the country.

Changing tariff rules so China can import vehicles or manufacture them in the U.S. could affect consumer price points. This, Farley says, puts Ford and other U.S.-based EV companies at a disadvantage.

"There's no way this is a fair fight," Farley said.

In 2025, Shenzhen-based BYD surpassed Ford in total global vehicle sales, according to Bloomberg. BYD reported approximately 4.6 million units sold, while Ford's global wholesales declined nearly 2% to 4.4 million units.
Bulgarians voted on Sunday in an early parliamentary election, the country's eighth such vote in just five years. The election was triggered after Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's coalition government resigned in late 2025 following large-scale protests. A caretaker government, led by Andrey Gurov, has been in place since February after political groups failed to form a new administration. Exit polls are expected after voting closes, with final results announced by April 23.

Bulgarians vote in an early parliamentary election, the 8th in five years, following the collapse of the previous coalition government.

Sofia, April 19 Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary election, the eighth vote for the legislature in five years.

Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers among more than 4,700 candidates from 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, as well as one independent candidate, according to the Central Election Commission, reported Xinhua news agency.

The commission said that the polling stations in the country opened nationwide at 7 a.m. (local time) and are due to close at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, polling stations in 55 countries and regions are available for Bulgarians living abroad to cast their ballots.

Exit polls will be announced immediately after stations close in Bulgaria, and the final results should be announced no later than April 23.

The elections became inevitable after Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's coalition government resigned in December 2025 amid large-scale protests over the ruling majority's economic policy, and parliamentary parties subsequently failed to elect a new government.

Zhelyazkov's government took power on January 16 last year after snap elections in October 2024.

The National Assembly is Bulgaria's legislative body. It also elects the government by a simple majority and has a four-year term, except in certain circumstances, such as when it cannot elect a government.

Bulgaria is holding early parliamentary elections after the third and final attempt to form a government within the existing legislature failed in January.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev offered the parliamentary group 'Alliance for Rights and Freedoms' (ARF) to form a government in January, but it declined, and the two largest parliamentary groups, GERB-UDF and PP-DB, also declined to do so in January this year.

Andrey Gurov was appointed as the caretaker prime minister in February by President Iliana Lotova.

- IANS
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited a Gurudwara in Ottawa to participate in community service and mark Sikh Heritage Month. He highlighted that Canada is home to the world's second-largest Sikh community and celebrated their contributions to the nation's prosperity. The Indian Consulate in Toronto also recently celebrated Vaisakhi alongside Sikh Heritage Month, featuring cultural performances and speeches by diplomats. The month is being observed with an exhibition titled "Baaghi ja Badshah," exploring the historical duality of the Sikh community as both rebels and leaders.

Canadian PM Mark Carney joins community service at a Gurudwara, celebrating Sikh contributions to Canada during Sikh Heritage Month 2026.

Ottawa, April 19 Canadian PM Mark Carney on Saturday visited 'Gurdwara Sahib Ottawa' and joined the Sikh community in community service, marking Sikh Heritage Month 2026.

In a post on X, the Canadian PM said that Canada has the second-largest Sikh community in the world. He added that during the current occasion of 'Sikh Heritage Month', his administration is celebrating the contribution of the Sikh population towards the country.

He said, "Canada has the second-largest Sikh community in the world. During this Sikh Heritage Month, we celebrate the generations of Canadian Sikh women and men who have contributed to our shared prosperity, strengthened our communities, and helped build a stronger Canada."

Earlier on April 13, the Indian Consulate in Toronto, in association with Virasat-e-Khalsa, celebrated the Vaisakhi festival alongside Sikh Heritage Month.

The event brought together an esteemed gathering of leaders and the Indian diaspora in a moment that spoke to the enduring bonds between India and Canada and to the remarkable contribution of the Sikh community.

In a post on X, the Consulate said, "High Commissioner Dinesh K. Patnaik, addressing the gathering, reflected on the diaspora as the living thread that weaves the two nations together. Consul General Mahaveer Singhvi underscored Vaisakhi's resonance across the world -- and of Sikh heritage whose legacy only grows with time."

"The evening featured Bhangra and Gidda performances, soulful live music, and deeply moving renditions of Dhadhi Vaaran -- honouring the timeless Sikh values of courage, faith, and community," the Consulate added.

Sikh Heritage Month 2026 is being celebrated in Canada with the launch of the exhibition Baaghi ja Badshah, the official website of Sikh Heritage Month said. The exhibition explores the historical phases in Sikh life in which the community has stood as both baaghi (rebels) and badshah (leaders) as they worked towards Halemi Raj, a vision of fair and ethical rule.

- ANI
U.S. Central Command confirmed its forces intercepted and disabled the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel TOUSKA in the Arabian Sea for violating a U.S. naval blockade. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fired several rounds into the ship's engine room after its crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over six hours. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit subsequently boarded and took custody of the non-compliant vessel. President Donald Trump stated the ship was under U.S. Treasury sanctions and claimed full U.S. custody of the vessel amid heightened regional tensions.

CENTCOM confirms US Navy destroyer disabled Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA after it violated naval blockade. US Marines boarded the vessel, now in US custody.

Tampa, April 20 The US Central Command on Sunday confirmed that American forces intercepted and disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, TOUSKA, in the Arabian Sea after it violated a US naval blockade, stating that "several rounds" were fired to halt the ship.

"TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19," CENTCOM said in a statement on X.

The command said the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel as it was en route to Bandar Abbas in Iran.

"Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade," the statement read.

CENTCOM added that the vessel failed to comply despite repeated warnings issued over several hours.

"After Touska's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska's propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska's engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody," the statement further read.

CENTCOM maintained that the operation was carried out in a measured manner.

"American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance," it said, noting that multiple vessels have been turned back since the blockade began.

"Since the blockade's commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port," it added.

The development comes after US President Donald Trump said American forces had taken "full custody" of the vessel after it attempted to breach the blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

"Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom," President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

He added that US Marines are currently in control of the vessel, which he claimed is under US Treasury sanctions due to alleged prior illegal activities.

"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post further read.

Trump's remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US President accusing Iran of violating an ongoing ceasefire agreement and disrupting maritime traffic in the region.

In a separate statement, Trump alleged that Iran had fired upon vessels in the strategic waterway, calling it a "Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement."

Meanwhile, Iran has rejected claims that it agreed to take part in a second round of talks with the United States, with Iran's official IRNA news agency saying no such decision has been made after US President Donald Trump announced a delegation to Pakistan for negotiations.

The developments come as the two-week ceasefire window is nearing its end on April 22.

- ANI
Indonesian fishermen recovered a 3.7-meter-long Chinese undersea monitoring device near Gili Trawangan island in the strategically vital Lombok Strait. The Indonesian Navy has taken the device, marked with CSIC logos, for investigation to determine its purpose and origin. Defence analysts identify it as a system capable of transmitting data on currents, temperature, and sound, including potential submarine detection, raising alarms about military use. While China's foreign ministry frames it as routine marine research equipment that may have drifted, regional security experts view its discovery as a sign of aggressive behavior and a dual-use technology threat.

Indonesia's navy recovers a Chinese underwater monitoring system in the Lombok Strait, raising regional security concerns over its military potential.

Jakarta, April 19 A Chinese undersea monitoring system was found near an island in a strategically important strait between Indonesia's Lombok and Bali last week, media reports said.

The 3.7 metre-long device was found by fishermen north of Gili Trawangan island in the Lombok Strait and taken by the Indonesian navy to the Mataram naval base on Lombok for further investigation, according to Australia's ABC news.

Indonesian Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Tunggul said that a thorough examination of the device will be conducted by the navy to identify the device, including its purpose, stored data, and its origin.

Defence analyst H.I. Sutton identified the device as a Deep-Sea Real-Time Transmission Mooring System developed by the Chinese 710 Research Institute.

According to Sutton, the institute focuses on underwater attack and defence.

He added that the device monitors things like current, depth, temperature and "sound and target information".

The report highlighted that "the 710 Research Institute was part of the Chinese state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), now merged into the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)".

The device has the letters CSIC and the logo of the corporation.

The system is designed to send data home via a communication buoy deployed to the surface while the device itself is moored to an anchor on the sea floor.

While contending that they could have military use, Sutton said that "it is likely concerning to Indonesian authorities that a Chinese sensor buoy has been found in the area".

A spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "it did not have specific details on the matter", but mentioned that "China had always conducted marine scientific research activities and used related equipment in accordance with international law".

"Based on international practice, it is not unusual for marine research equipment to drift into the territorial waters of other countries due to malfunctions or other reasons," the spokesperson told ABC. "There is no need for excessive interpretation or suspicion."

The system's array of sensors combined with its ability to communicate back home made it "undersea warfare capable", said Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and an expert in maritime security and naval affairs.

He also highlighted that submarines could be detected by the device's acoustic sensor, but the signal would need to be sent for processing to a shore station.

"This is often the problem that we face when it comes to these sorts of dual-use technologies that concern marine scientific research and data collection."

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the discovery of the device was concerning and suggested a "level of aggressive behaviour" by China in anticipation of military activity in the future.

- IANS
Don Mancini, creator of the Child's Play franchise, has announced he is writing a new Chucky film. The project will serve as a continuation of both the 2017 film 'Cult of Chucky' and the recent television series. Actress Jennifer Tilly has also teased the return of her character Tiffany, hinting at more adventures for the "gruesome twosome." The news comes after fan campaigns urged for more Chucky content following the show's conclusion.

Don Mancini confirms a new Chucky film is in development, continuing the story from 'Cult of Chucky' and the TV series.

Los Angeles, April 19 Don Mancini, the creator of the popular 'Child's Play' franchise, is ready to bring the murderous Chucky back from the grave!

According to a Deadline report, Mancini recently announced the news at Pennsylvania's Steel City Con about a new Chucky film in the works. It is said to be a continuation of both 2017's 'Cult of Chucky' and the 2021-24 series.

"I'm writing a new Chucky movie," Mancini told the crowd, further suggesting that he also plans to return to the director's chair for the upcoming sequel.

Jennifer Tilly, who plays murderous doll Tiffany in the franchise, had also teased the same despite the end of the show.

"I know for a fact there is more Chucky and Tiffany in the works. The gruesome twosome," she said, as quoted by Deadline.

On the other hand, Mancini has been consistently teasing the killer doll's onscreen future amid reports of its cancellation.

"HE'LL BE BACK. I have so much love for our amazing fans. Your #RenewChucky campaign meant the world to me during a very difficult time. Chucky says to tell all of you, quoting himself: 'See ya real soon,'" Mancini wrote on X, in response to fan campaigns.

Premiering in 2021, 'Chucky' follows the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll, shown crossing paths with his archenemies, old allies, and new prey. The show was executive produced by Mancini, Alex Hedlund, Nick Antosca, David Kirschner, and Jeff Renfroe.

Mancini kicked off the slasher franchise with 'Child's Play', which he co-wrote with John Lafia and director Tom Holland. He also wrote 'Child's Play 2 (1990)', 'Child's Play 3 (1991)', 'Bride of Chucky (1998)', 'Seed of Chucky (2004)', 'Curse of Chucky (2013)', and 'Cult of Chucky (2017)'.

- ANI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will campaign for the NDA in Tamil Nadu over two days, starting April 20. His tour includes major public meetings and a roadshow across Coimbatore, Hosur, Chennai, Madurai, and Sattur. The visit aims to energize party cadre and connect with voters, reinforcing the alliance's development narrative. This campaign push comes just before campaigning ends on April 21 for the single-phase Assembly elections on April 23.

Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu begins a two-day NDA campaign tour across Tamil Nadu, focusing on public rallies and voter connect ahead of the April 23 polls.

Amaravati, April 19 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party national President N. Chandrababu Naidu will participate in the election campaign for the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu, the party announced on Sunday.

Chandrababu Naidu will undertake a two-day campaign tour across Tamil Nadu from Monday (April 20).

CM Naidu, who is leading the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, will be visiting Coimbatore, Hosur, Chennai, Madurai and Sattur.

The visit is aimed at energising cadre, strengthening voter connect, and reinforcing the NDA's development-driven narrative, the TDP said.

The Chief Minister will begin his tour in Coimbatore, where he is scheduled to address a major public meeting in the afternoon. He will then travel to Hosur and proceed to Thalli for a public rally later in the day.

In the evening, the TDP chief will reach Chennai and participate in a large roadshow in Avadi, engaging directly with citizens and NDA supporters.

On the second day, the Chief Minister will travel to Madurai and proceed to Sattur, where he will interact with community leaders and take part in a key campaign event later in the afternoon.

The tour will conclude with his return journey in the evening.

CM Naidu's campaign assumes significance as the NDA steps up its presence in Tamil Nadu, focusing on governance, economic growth, and inclusive development. Known for his emphasis on technology-led governance and infrastructure expansion, he is expected to articulate the alliance's vision for Tamil Nadu's future within India's broader growth trajectory, the party said.

Campaigning for single-phase Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will end on April 21.

Voting for all 234 constituencies will take place on April 23, with the counting scheduled for May 4.

The visit reflects a high-energy campaign strategy, combining mass outreach with targeted stakeholder engagement across multiple regions in a short span.

- IANS
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy held a courtesy meeting with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, where they discussed controlling narcotics in educational institutions, with the Governor suggesting awareness programs and student pledges. Separately, CM Reddy and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy met Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Delhi, securing in-principle approval for the procurement of 30 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice from the state. The state leaders also appealed for the immediate release of outstanding dues amounting to Rs 1,468.94 crore from the central government. Both meetings involved key state ministers and focused on critical administrative and economic issues.

CM Revanth Reddy discusses narcotics control in schools with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and secures approval for rice procurement from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.

Hyderabad, April 19 Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday held a courtesy meeting with State Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Lok Bhavan. The meeting was attended by Minister Sridhar Babu and MP Vem Narender Reddy.

According to the Telangana CMO, the Governor discussed various issues of the education sector with the Chief Minister.

During the interaction, the Governor suggested creating widespread awareness regarding narcotics control within educational institutions and urged that measures be taken to administer a pledge to students in this regard.

Furthermore, the Governor discussed an awareness program scheduled to be held under his aegis at the LB Stadium on June 12. He also suggested that schools and colleges should obtain an undertaking from students at the time of admission, pledging to stay away from narcotics.

The Chief Minister assured the Governor that all suggestions would be taken into consideration and that appropriate action would be initiated.

In a post on X, CM Reddy said, "I met with the State Governor Shiva Pratapa Shukla at Lok Bhavan. The meeting discussed control of narcotics in educational institutions. On this matter, the Governor provided several suggestions. I informed the Governor that we will take them into consideration. Ministers Sridhar Babu and MP Shri Vem Narendar Reddy participated in this meeting."

Earlier, the Telangana Chief Minister, along with Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, urged Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi to procure 30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of boiled rice from Telangana in the Yasangi ( Rabi ) season.

The Chief Minister and Civil Supplies minister brought to the attention of Pralhad Joshi that the Paddy harvested during the rabi season is suitable for milling of boiled rice. CM Reddy briefed the union minister about the supply of Custom Milling Rice ( CMR) with statistical data over the past 6 Yasangi seasons and boiled rice, a release said.

The Chief Minister and Civil Supplies Minister met with Union Minister Joshi at his residence in Delhi on Friday morning. As per the release, the Chief Minister informed Joshi that 90 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) of Paddy is expected to be produced in Telangana during the current Yasangi season, and the harvested crop is suitable for milling into parboiled rice.

CM Reddy said that Telangana is ready to supply a total of 30 LMT of parboiled rice (with 5 per cent broken rice content) and 5 LMT of raw rice (with 10 per cent broken rice content) from the Yasangi harvest.

In a quick response, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi approved in principle the proposal for the supply of boiled rice submitted by the Chief Minister and Uttam Kumar Reddy in the meeting.

Further, CM Reddy and Civil Supplies minister appealed to Pralhad Joshi to immediately release outstanding dues of Rs 1,468.94 crore, pertaining to the procurement of additional levy from the 2014-15 Kharif (monsoon) season.

- ANI
US hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio warns that interconnected conflicts involving the US, Israel, Iran, and others resemble the early stages of a world war, following a historical pattern he calls the "Big Cycle." He states the world is at step 9 of this 13-step pattern, with the next phases involving suppressed domestic opposition and direct combat between major powers. Dalio argues the US is overextended with hundreds of global bases and may struggle to respond to challenges in Asia due to commitments in the Middle East and lack of public support. He urges investors to closely monitor shifting global alliances, such as China-Russia and US-led blocs, to understand future geopolitical and financial risks.

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warns that multi-theater conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran follow a historical pattern leading to world war.

New Delhi, April 19 US hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio warned that the growing conflicts involving the US, Israel and Iran are part of a broader, interconnected pattern that could amount to the early stages of a world war.

Ray Dalio said in a detailed post on X that multi-theater conflicts increasingly happen which resembles a concluding phase in past patterns leading to a world war. Outlining a 13step historical pattern he calls the "Big Cycle," Dalio said the world is at step 9, and only three more steps remain as per past patterns for a world war.

"Within countries, loyal support for the country's leadership is demanded and opposition to the war and other policies is squashed," he predicted the next step.

Then direct military combat between major powers occurs followed by "huge increases in taxes, debt issuance, money creation, foreign exchange controls, capital controls, and financial repression to finance the wars."

Current conflicts such as RussiaUkraineEuropeUS, IsraelGazaLebanonSyria and the YemenSudanSaudi ArabiaUAE resemble past world wars and involve major powers, alliances and trade disputes.

"Together, these conflicts make up a very classic world war that is analogous to past 'world wars'," Dalio said., adding that "I don't know what's going to happen, and I still hope for a peaceful world built on win-win relationships."

He warned that the US is "the most overextended major power" with over 700 military bases in over 70 countries and argued it is also "the weakest at withstanding pain over a long period of time."

He found it likely for "some problems develop in Asia that would test and reveal the United States' willingness to rise to the challenge."

However, the US would find it difficult to rise to the challenge because "of its extensive preoccupying commitment in the Middle East and the lack of American public support for the Iran war going into the midterm elections," he predicted.

Such a dynamic could prompt other governments with US military bases to reassess expectations about US support.

He urged investors to pay attention to global alliances such as China-Russia and Iran and larger ones involving North Korea and Cuba while the US is aligned with Europe, Israel, Japan, Australia and Gulf countries.

"These alliances matter a lot in imagining how things will go for the relevant players, so they need to be considered when observing what's going on and what's likely to happen," Dalio added.

- IANS
Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla) has facilitated the dispatch of cryogenic LNG tanks manufactured by INOX India Limited for a mini-LNG terminal project in The Bahamas. The shipment marks a key milestone for the overseas project, which involves supplying high-capacity tanks and a regasification system. INOX India stated the project represents the largest global installation of shop-built, double-walled vacuum insulated tanks. The development highlights India's growing role in supporting global energy infrastructure and the energy transition.

Deendayal Port Authority facilitates dispatch of INOX India's cryogenic LNG tanks for a major mini-LNG terminal project in The Bahamas.

Kandla, April 19 Deendayal Port Authority has facilitated the dispatch of cryogenic LNG tanks by INOX India Limited for a mini-LNG terminal project in The Bahamas, the port authority said on Sunday.

"Kandla Port is proud to be the gateway for yet another global milestone. The dispatch of LNG tanks by INOXCVA for the mini-LNG Terminal project at The Bahamas underscores our commitment to facilitating complex, high-value cargo," the port authority said in a post on X.

It added that the development reflects its role in "powering India's rise in global energy infrastructure," and extended "best wishes to INOX India Limited and all stakeholders for this remarkable achievement."

Confirming the development, INOX India Limited said the shipment marks progress in its overseas LNG project.

"Grateful to Deendayal Port Authority for enabling the dispatch of our first batch of 1500 m tanks--a proud step towards our landmark LNG terminal project in the Bahamas," the company said in a separate post.

The company further said it remains "committed to driving the energy transition with innovative cryogenic engineering."

Earlier, on April 16, the company had termed the dispatch a key milestone for the project.

"Proud to achieve a major milestone in our landmark Bahamas LNG project... as the first batch of 1500 m tanks is dispatched from Kandla port for the Mini LNG Terminal under development at Nassau, Bahamas," the company said.

It added that the project "represents the largest installation of shop-built, double-walled vacuum insulated tanks globally," and noted that it is supplying "10 high-capacity tanks along with a regasification system to support island-based power generation."

The company also acknowledged its team, stating, "We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the entire team whose dedication and precision made this milestone possible."

- ANI
A massive explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district has resulted in the deaths of 16 workers. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan have expressed profound grief and extended condolences to the bereaved families. Chief Minister M K Stalin has dispatched ministers to the site to oversee rescue operations and assist affected families. Police and fire services responded to the incident, and an investigation is being conducted by the Vachakarapatti police.

President Murmu expresses distress as a blast at a licensed firecracker unit in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, claims 16 lives. Rescue ops ongoing.

New Delhi, April 19 President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed her profound grief on Sunday following a fatal accident at a firecracker manufacturing unit in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu that claimed 16 lives.

In a formal statement released from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President extended her sympathies to the families affected by the sudden blast.

"The loss of lives in a tragic accident at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, is deeply distressing," President Murmu stated. "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery."

Meanwhile, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also extended his condolences and prayed for the recovery of all the injured individuals.

"The most heartbreaking accident that occurred in a fireworks factory near Virudhunagar causes immense sorrow. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. I pray that all the injured recover fully soon," said the Vice President.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his condolences on X post and said that, "I have requested the Ministers K K S S R Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to rush to the scene immediately to expedite and monitor the rescue operations and to offer solace to the affected families. Upon learning of this, I contacted the District Collector and instructed them to coordinate all necessary assistance".

Nearly 16 workers were killed in a massive blast reported in a fireworks unit situated in Kattanarpatti in the Virudunagar district.

Senior police officials said that at around 3 pm on Sunday, a firework unit near Kattanarpatti reportedly blasted. On receiving information from the public, police and fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and started dousing the fire.

Further, rescue efforts are underway. Rescued individuals were shifted to a nearby government hospital.

So far, 16 have died, and preliminary information says it's a licensed firework unit named "Vanaja Fireworks" that added the official.

Vachakarapatti police are conducting an investigation into the incident.

- ANI
New York City is proposing a pied-a-terre tax on second homes valued at more than $5 million.

The proposed tax has divided academics, think tankers, and real estate experts.

Some say it'll drive revenue back to NYC, other say it'll have negative downstream effects.

New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is making good on his campaign promise of taxing the rich.

On Thursday, Mamdani and New York Governor Kathy Hochul jointly announced a new tax proposal aimed at wealthy people who own second homes in the city.

The proposed pied-a-terre tax would tax luxury homes worth more than $5 million and could raise up to $500 million in revenue for New York City, according to the Hochul Administration.

The policy is splitting expert opinion  dividing academics, think tank researchers, and analysts among familiar lines.

Supporters see it as a practical way to raise revenue from the ultrawealthy, while critics argue it's a narrow fix that could have unintended consequences for the housing market.

Here's how smart people are reacting to the news so far.

Emily Eisner, Acting Executive Director at the Fiscal Policy Institute: 'Much-needed revenue'

Eisner, in a statement published Tuesday by the Fiscal Policy Institute, framed the proposal as part of a broader effort to align New York City's tax system with its growing wealth.

The tax "will raise much-needed revenue from wealthy property owners who do not reside in the city," she wrote. "This is an important step in building a tax code that reflects the city's immense wealth and can fund deep investments in its workforce, housing, and transit infrastructure."

The Fiscal Policy Institute is a nonpartisan think tank focused on analyzing issues related to the fairness of New York's tax system.

Over the past 15 years, New York City's revenues have failed to keep pace with its economic growth, leaving the tax system increasingly out of sync with underlying conditions, Eisner said in her statement. That gap has contributed to pressure on public services and, she said, stems in large part from the city's limited authority to adjust its tax structure in response to rising inequality.

Gabriel Zucman, professor at the Paris School of Economics: 'Absolutely nobody leaves'

Speaking at Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Tax Day forum, Zucman, a professor of economics at the Paris School of Economics, pushed back on one of the central objections of the tax  that it will drive wealthy homeowners out of New York.

"It is largely indeed a myth," he said, adding that the more accurate term is "propaganda."
A large number of devotees gathered at the sacred Sangam in Prayagraj on Akshaya Tritiya to take a holy dip and offer prayers for prosperity and well-being. They described the occasion as highly auspicious, with many performing acts of charity believed to bring lasting rewards. Special prayers were also held at the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, marking the spiritual significance of the day across regions. Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, where good deeds and investments are believed to yield eternal benefits.

Thousands of devotees thronged Prayagraj's Sangam on Akshaya Tritiya for a sacred bath and prayers for family prosperity and national well-being.

New Delhi, April 19 A large number of devotees gathered at the sacred Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday to take a holy dip and offer prayers on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and Parshuram Jayanti.

The spiritually significant day witnessed people from different parts of the country arriving early in the morning to participate in rituals believed to bring prosperity and blessings.

Devotees described the occasion as highly auspicious. "It is an auspicious occasion. We have come to the Sangam for a holy bath. Taking a dip today is considered very sacred and brings blessings through prayers. Today is a very auspicious day, and we pray for the happiness and prosperity of our families. We have come here with the wish that everyone remains happy and well," one devotee told IANS.

Another devotee emphasised the importance of well-being, saying, "I prayed for my family, for my nation's health and prosperity, because health is everything."

Highlighting the tradition of charity associated with the festival, a third devotee said, "As today is Akshaya Tritiya, we performed charity. Doing charity on this day is believed to bring greater rewards."

Meanwhile, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, special prayers were held at the revered Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple on the occasion of Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya. Devotees participated in a special aarti, marking the spiritual significance of the day across different regions of the country.

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu and Jain calendars. The word "Akshaya" signifies "eternal" or "never-diminishing", and it is widely believed that any good deed or investment made on this day yields lasting benefits. Purchasing precious metals such as gold and silver is a common tradition, as it is thought that wealth acquired on this day will never diminish.

Across regions, the day was being marked by spiritual fervour, with devotees emphasising faith, charity, and collective prayers for harmony and happiness.

- IANS
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has firmly dismissed speculation about a potential US exit from the alliance, stating he does not see it happening. His comments come in response to former US President Donald Trump's critical remarks, in which he labeled NATO a "paper tiger." Rutte emphasized the enduring importance of the American nuclear deterrent for European security while acknowledging Trump's long-standing frustrations with some allies' defense spending. The NATO chief portrayed a shift towards a more balanced partnership, with Europe taking on greater responsibility to strengthen the alliance.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says he doesn't see the US leaving NATO, addressing fears after Donald Trump called the alliance a "paper tiger."

Brussels, April 19 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed speculation about a possible US withdrawal from NATO, saying he does not expect Washington to leave the alliance.

As reported by DW News, Rutte said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt that the United States remains committed to the transatlantic bloc.

"I don't see the US leaving NATO," Rutte asserted during an interview with the Sunday edition of Germany's Die Welt newspaper.

The NATO chief further clarified that he holds no doubts concerning Washington's commitment to the nuclear defence of the continent.

According to DW News, Rutte emphasised the critical nature of the American strategic deterrent. "The American nuclear umbrella is the ultimate guarantor of security here in Europe. And I am convinced that it will remain so," he remarked, seeking to quell anxieties within the 32-member alliance following critical comments from US President Donald Trump.

The uncertainty regarding Washington's future role was highlighted when Trump spoke to Britain's The Telegraph. Asked if he would reassess the US' role in the alliance following the conflict with Iran, Trump stated, "Oh yes, I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin knows that too, by the way."

Despite this rhetoric, DW News noted that a US president requires a two-thirds Senate majority to legally exit the alliance, a move widely viewed as improbable.

Acknowledging the friction between Washington and its allies, Rutte told Germany's Die Welt newspaper that the US leader's stance stems from long-standing issues regarding military spending.

"President Trump is clearly disappointed with some NATO members," Rutte stated, adding, "I understand his frustration."

These comments follow a high-level meeting at the White House last week, held in the wake of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Reflecting on that encounter, Rutte told CNN that the dialogue was blunt yet constructive.

"He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point," he said, describing the interaction as a "very frank, very open discussion, but also a discussion between two good friends".

However, the US President's public messaging remained characteristically sharp. Writing on Truth Social after the meeting, Trump claimed, "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again."

In response to these concerns, DW News reported that Rutte used their April 8 meeting to outline the mutual benefits Washington derives from the alliance.

Speaking to Germany's Die Welt newspaper, the Secretary General highlighted a shift in how European nations view their own responsibilities.

"Europe wants to take on a larger role in NATO. That's good news. It's a development from an unhealthy dependency to a transatlantic alliance based on true partnership," Rutte explained.

He pointed to increased defence efforts from European and Canadian allies as evidence of this transition.

According to the DW News report, Rutte specifically praised Berlin's current trajectory, noting that "Germany is setting an example for many allies in this regard."

He maintained that a more balanced distribution of responsibility would ultimately fortify the partnership.

"And a stronger NATO means a safer world for all of us," Rutte stated, according to DW News, expressing his conviction that the alliance will emerge more resilient if member states continue to bolster their individual contributions.

- ANI
The Election Commission of India has issued a stern warning to political parties and candidates against the misuse of AI-generated or manipulated content during ongoing state elections. It mandates that any synthetic content used for campaigning must be clearly labeled with its origin to maintain transparency. The Commission reported that over 11,000 illegal social media posts have been identified and acted upon since the elections were announced on March 15. Furthermore, its C-Vigil complaint portal has seen over 3.23 lakh complaints, with 96% resolved within 100 minutes.

Election Commission warns parties against AI misuse, mandates clear labeling, and has removed over 11,000 illegal social media posts since March 15.

New Delhi, April 19 Ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India on Sunday cautioned candidates and political parties against the misuse of AI-generated or manipulated content, highlighting that 11,000 illegal social media posts have been removed since March 15.

"All stakeholders shall ensure responsible and ethical use of social media and digital platforms, in compliance with extant legal provisions including the Information Technology Act, 2000, IT Rules, 2021 and the Model Code of Conduct," said the ECI in a statement.

The poll panel said political parties, candidates and campaign representatives are required to ensure that any synthetically generated or AI-altered content used for campaigning is clearly labelled as "AI-Generated", "Digitally Enhanced" or "Synthetic Content", along with disclosure of the originating entity, to maintain transparency and voter trust.

"Social media content such as posts which are MCC violations, disrupt or which have the potential to disrupt law and order, false narratives against the polling process or machinery are being monitored and acted upon by the concerned State IT Nodal Officers notified under IT Act," said the ECI.

The Commission had directed that any misleading or unlawful AI-generated or manipulated content shall be acted upon within three hours of being brought to the notice of the social media platforms.

"Since the announcement of elections on March 15, over 11,000 such social media posts/URLs have been identified and acted upon, including removal of content, FIR, clarifications and rebuttals in the ongoing elections," said the ECI.

The Commission also reiterated provisions under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibit the display of any election matter in polling areas during the 48-hour silence period prior to the conclusion of the poll.

Media platforms, including television, radio, print and social media, are also required to strictly adhere to these provisions, it said.

The ECI said citizens/political parties/candidates can report MCC violations using the C-Vigil Module on ECINET.

"From March 15 till April 19, 3,23,099 complaints have been lodged using the C-Vigil App in these elections. Of these, 3,10,393 complaints or 96.01 per cent were resolved within the stipulated time period of 100 minutes," said the official statement.

Kerala, Assam and Puducherry went to the polls on April 9. West Bengal has voting in two phases -- April 23 and April 29. Tamil Nadu has a one-phase poll on April 23. Vote counting for all four states and the union territory will be held on May 4.

- IANS
FC Goa delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over league leaders Mumbai City FC, handing the Islanders their first defeat of the ISL 2025-26 season. Goals from Sahil Tavora and a spectacular long-range strike from Muhammed Nemil gave the hosts a decisive first-half lead. A resolute defensive performance, led by Sandesh Jhingan, kept Mumbai City at bay throughout the second half. The result moves Goa up to third in the table while Mumbai City, despite the loss, retains top spot as the title race intensifies.

FC Goa hands Mumbai City FC their first loss of the ISL 2025-26 season with a 2-0 win. Goals from Sahil Tavora and Muhammed Nemil seal a dominant home victory.

Fatorda, April 18 FC Goa produced a commanding performance to defeat league leaders Mumbai City FC 2-0 at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Margao, on Saturday, handing the Islanders their first defeat of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season.

Goals from Sahil Tavora and Muhammed Nemil Valiyattil, including a stunning long-range strike just before half-time, ensured that the Gaurs made the most of their dominance, while a disciplined defensive display kept Mumbai City at bay throughout the contest. Nemil was named the Player of the Match for his influential display, as per a press release.

The hosts started brightly and controlled possession in the opening exchanges, moving the ball with purpose and looking to break down Mumbai City's organised defensive structure. Early attempts from Raynier Fernandes and Sahil Tavora hinted at Goa's attacking intent, though the Islanders' backline, marshalled by Nuno Reis and Bijay Chhetri, held firm.

Mumbai City, meanwhile, looked to threaten on the counter, with midfielder Jorge Pereyra Diaz and winger Noufal PN involved in sporadic forward moves, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by as Goa dictated the tempo.

The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute following sustained pressure from the hosts. A corner from Dejan Drazic caused chaos inside the Mumbai penalty area, and after an initial effort was blocked, Sahil Tavora reacted quickest to guide the loose ball into the bottom corner, giving FC Goa a deserved lead.

Mumbai attempted an immediate response, with Noufal testing Goa keeper Hrithik Tiwari from distance and Joni Kauko seeing a follow-up effort blocked, but Goa continued to look the more composed side.

The Gaurs doubled their advantage in stoppage time of the first half with a moment of brilliance. After winning an aerial duel in midfield, Muhammed Nemil was picked out by Raynier Fernandes, took a touch, and unleashed a spectacular left-footed strike from nearly 35 yards that flew into the top corner, leaving Phurba Lachenpa with no chance and sending the home crowd into raptures.

Holding a 2-0 lead at the break, Goa entered the second half with confidence, while Mumbai City pushed men forward in search of a way back into the contest.

The Islanders dominated possession after the restart, but Goa's defensive unit, led by Pol Moreno and Sandesh Jhingan, remained resolute. Attempts from Pereyra Diaz and Lallianzuala Chhangte were either blocked or failed to trouble Tiwari, as Mumbai struggled to find the final pass in the attacking third.

Mumbai continued to press, introducing fresh legs in the latter stages, but Goa's defensive discipline and organisation ensured that clear opportunities remained limited. Tiwari was called into action on a few occasions, notably to deny substitute Vikram Partap Singh, while long-range efforts from Noufal and Chhangte failed to find the target.

In the closing minutes, Mumbai City came agonisingly close when Chhangte delivered a dangerous cross across goal, but substitute Zothanpuia couldn't find the finishing touch, summing up a frustrating evening for the Islanders.

At the final whistle, FC Goa secured a deserved 2-0 victory, moving up to third in the table with 16 points from nine matches. Mumbai City FC, despite the defeat, remain at the top with 18 points, but their unbeaten run comes to an end as the title race tightens.

- ANI
The left-leaning governments of Brazil, Mexico, and Spain have issued a joint statement expressing deep alarm over the humanitarian situation in Cuba. The declaration, formalized at a summit in Barcelona, calls for international action and a respectful dialogue to find a lasting solution. This coordinated diplomatic move is a direct response to recent threats from US President Donald Trump, who suggested he could "take" or "free" Cuba. The three nations stressed that any resolution must respect Cuba's sovereignty and allow its people to determine their own future.

Leftist leaders issue joint statement expressing alarm over Cuba's crisis, urging international dialogue as Trump talks of "taking" the island.

Barcelona, April 19 In a coordinated diplomatic move, Mexico, Spain, and Brazil issued a joint statement on Sunday expressing their alarm over the "dramatic situation" in Cuba. The communication comes as the island nation faces escalating pressure and repeated threats from US President Donald Trump.

The three nations, currently led by left-leaning governments, voiced their "deep concern regarding the grave humanitarian crisis that the people of Cuba are enduring".

To address these mounting hardships, the joint declaration urged the international community and involved parties to support the "adoption of necessary measures to alleviate this situation".

This collective appeal was formalised during a summit of leftist leaders in Barcelona, hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The gathering included Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, both of whom joined the call for concerted action to "protect democracy."

While the communique stopped short of explicitly naming the United States, the trio advocated for a "sincere and respectful dialogue" conducted in accordance with the principles of international law. The statement noted that the objective of such a diplomatic engagement must be to "find a lasting solution to the current situation".

The nations further emphasised the importance of national sovereignty, asserting that any resolution must "ensure that it is the Cuban people themselves who decide their own future in full freedom".

This diplomatic friction arises against the backdrop of repeated warnings from President Trump that Cuba is "next" on his agenda. These comments follow the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the onset of hostilities with Iran.

Speaking to the press earlier this week, Trump suggested that he possessed the capability to "take Cuba in some form" and asserted that he could "do anything" with the island nation.

"I do believe I'll be having the honour of taking Cuba," Trump informed journalists. When pressed for further clarification by a reporter, he reiterated his stance, stating, "Taking Cuba in some form, yeah." Elaborating on his intentions, the US President remarked, "Taking Cuba. I mean, whether I free it, take it -- I think I could do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth."

- ANI
First state visit by a South Korean leader in over eight years

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in New Delhi for a three-day state visit, the first by a South Korean leader in over eight years. The visit aims to reboot the Special Strategic Partnership, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in semiconductors, defence production, and green energy. Key engagements include meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit is expected to culminate in new agreements and provide fresh momentum to trade and investment ties between the two nations.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung begins a 3-day state visit to India to strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership and boost cooperation in tech & defence.

New Delhi, April 19 The President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, arrived in India on Sunday, marking a significant pivot in New Delhi-Seoul relations, being the first state visit by a South Korean leader in over eight years.

In a post on X, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs wrote, "A very warm welcome to H.E. President Lee Jae Myung of Republic of Korea as he arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. This is President Lee's first visit to President Lee was received by Shri Harsh Malhotra, MoS, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The visit marks an important milestone in advancing the - Special Strategic Partnership."

President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in June 2025, arrived in New Delhi today for a three-day visit accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung.

The visit is being framed as a crucial step for South Korea's "Global South" diplomacy and a "reboot" of the Special Strategic Partnership.

India and South Korea elevated their ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership" in 2015, and since then, cooperation between the two countries has broadened significantly. Both sides have focused on enhancing collaboration in areas such as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, defence production, green energy, infrastructure development, and digital innovation.

South Korean companies have also played a growing role in India's industrial and consumer sectors, while Indian firms have deepened their presence in the Korean market.

The arrival of the South Korean President is expected to provide fresh momentum to ongoing bilateral initiatives and open discussions on expanding trade and investment opportunities.

India has been actively working to strengthen its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners, and South Korea remains a key pillar in this broader regional vision.

The President's itinerary is packed with high-level engagements designed to solidify ties between Seoul and New Delhi.

His first major engagement will be a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set the stage for the executive talks to follow. On Monday, the President will receive a formal Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

The centrepiece of the visit will be a bilateral summit at Hyderabad House, where President Lee will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The discussions are expected to culminate in the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), likely focusing on critical technologies: cooperation in semiconductors and green energy; defence production by strengthening the "Make in India" initiative through Korean engineering; and economic trade by expanding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Following the summit, the leaders will issue joint press statements to outline their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Recognising the vital role of the private sector, President Lee will participate in a Business Forum at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. This forum will bring together industry titans from both nations to explore investment opportunities and supply chain resilience.

The state visit will conclude with a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, signifying the deep cultural and political respect between the two nations, the MEA statement added.

Beyond economic and strategic ties, India and South Korea share strong cultural linkages, with growing interest in Korean culture in India and increasing visibility of Indian heritage and traditions in South Korea. These people-to-people exchanges have added depth to the bilateral relationship.

The visit comes at a time when both countries are navigating a rapidly evolving global geopolitical environment, making strategic partnerships more significant than ever.

- ANI
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Argentine President Javier Milei jointly announced the inauguration of the first direct flight route between Israel and Argentina. The move, promoted by Israel's Ministry of Finance, is designed to strengthen economic cooperation and facilitate business between the two nations. Operated by El Al with government support, the route aims to improve transportation, encourage tourism, and make distant destinations more accessible. The leaders framed the new aviation link as a key step in expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Javier Milei announce first direct flights between Israel and Argentina to boost trade, tourism, and bilateral ties.

Tel Aviv, April 19 In the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting Argentine President Javier Milei, the opening of the direct flight route between Israel and Argentina was announced today, against the backdrop of strengthening relations between the countries, and as part of the Israeli government's policy to "strengthen and expand Israel's air connections with global markets."

The move, which was promoted in recent months by Israel's Ministry of Finance, is intended to support the "deepening of economic ties between the countries, facilitate business activity and international cooperation, and contribute to expanding the scope of trade and investment between Israel and Latin American countries."

In addition, the line is expected to improve transportation accessibility between the countries, encourage inbound and outbound tourism, and make distant destinations accessible to the Israeli public, said the Prime Minister's Office.

The move was made through El Al, which will operate the line, in accordance with government decisions on the matter, and includes a support mechanism for operating the line, with the aim of creating economic feasibility for its operation and establishing regular aviation activity over time.

"The direct flights between Israel and Argentina will bring the friendship between our countries even closer," said Netanyahu. "Together with my friend President Milley, we are expanding cooperation in the economy, technology, security, and now also in aviation and tourism through direct and fast communication. We will continue to connect Israel to the world - and the world to Israel."

- ANI
Gautam Adani and his wife Dr. Priti Adani visited the historic Shri Ajitnath Jain Temple in Gujarat's Taranga hills on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. The couple offered prayers at the 12th-century shrine, an important Jain pilgrimage site associated with King Kumarpal. During the visit, Adani met with trustee Sachin Ashokbhai Shah to discuss plans for improving pilgrim facilities and access while preserving the temple's integrity. The Adani Group is also supporting afforestation efforts in the surrounding hills for ecological restoration.

Gautam Adani and his wife Priti Adani visited the historic Taranga Jain temple in Gujarat, offering prayers and discussing pilgrim facility improvements.

Mehsana, April 19 Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group, and his wife Dr. Priti Adani visited the Shri Ajitnath Bhagwan Shwetamber Jain Derasar in Gujarat's Taranga hills on Sunday, offering prayers on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

Arriving at the Dabhoda helipad in Mehsana district's Kheralu taluka early morning, the couple was received by members of the Jain community before travelling to the hill shrine.

Devotees had begun gathering early, marking a day regarded as especially sacred across traditions.

The temple, dedicated to Lord Ajitnath, the second Tirthankara in Jainism, dates to the 12th century and is associated with the Solanki ruler King Kumarpal. It remains an important pilgrimage site for the Jain community.

Gautam Adani offered prayers inside the sanctum before spending time within the temple complex.

The couple also briefly visited the canteen, where pilgrims gather during their visit.

During the visit, Gautam Adani met temple trustee Sachin Ashokbhai Shah to discuss plans aimed at improving facilities for pilgrims, with a focus on enhancing access and amenities while preserving the temple's architectural and spiritual integrity.

The Adani Group is also supporting afforestation efforts in the Taranga hills, contributing to the ecological restoration and preservation of the region surrounding the sacred site.

Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu and Jain calendars, associated with prosperity, new beginnings and acts of charity. In Jain tradition, it marks the day when Rishabhanatha received his first alms after a prolonged fast, establishing the practice of offering food to ascetics.

Earlier this month, on Hanuman Jayanti, Gautam Adani and his family offered prayers at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, one of India's most prominent Hindu shrines.

- IANS
Gautam Adani and his wife Priti Adani visited the historic Shri Ajitnath Jain Temple in Gujarat's Taranga hills on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. The couple offered prayers and discussed plans with temple trustee Sachin Ashokbhai Shah to improve pilgrim facilities while preserving the site's integrity. The Adani Group is also supporting afforestation efforts for the ecological restoration of the surrounding hills. This religious visit follows the family's recent prayers at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on Hanuman Jayanti.

Gautam Adani and wife Priti visited Gujarat's Taranga Jain temple on Akshaya Tritiya, discussing pilgrim facilities and supporting afforestation.

Mehsana, April 19 Adanai Group Chairman Gautam Adani accompanied by his wife, Priti Adani, on Sunday visited the Shri Ajitnath Bhagwan Shwetamber Jain Derasar in Gujarat's Taranga hills and offered prayers on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

Arriving at the Dabhoda helipad in Mehsana district's Kheralu taluka this morning, the couple was received by members of the Jain community before they went up to the hill shrine, one of the region's significant Jain religious sites. Devotees had begun gathering early, marking a day regarded as especially sacred across traditions.

The temple, dedicated to Lord Ajitnath, the second Tirthankara in Jainism, dates to the 12th century and is associated with the Solanki ruler King Kumarpal. It remains an important pilgrimage site for the Jain community.

Adani offered prayers inside the sanctum before spending time within the temple complex. The couple also briefly visited the canteen, where pilgrims gather during their visit.

During the visit, Adani met temple trustee Sachin Ashokbhai Shah to discuss plans aimed at improving facilities for pilgrims, with a focus on enhancing access and amenities while preserving the temple's architectural and spiritual integrity.

The Adani Group is also supporting afforestation efforts in the Taranga hills, contributing to the ecological restoration and preservation of the region surrounding the sacred site.

Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu and Jain calendars, associated with prosperity, new beginnings and acts of charity. In Jain tradition,

It marks the day when Rishabhanatha received his first alms after a prolonged fast, establishing the practice of offering food to ascetics.

The visit follows a series of recent religious engagements.

Earlier this month, on Hanuman Jayanti, Adani and his family offered prayers at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, one of India's most prominent Hindu shrines.

- ANI
Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Qassem stated the ceasefire with Israel must be mutual, warning the group will respond to any Israeli aggression in southern Lebanon. He outlined five conditions for a durable peace, including a full Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction. Qassem also expressed openness to a new chapter of cooperation with the Lebanese government to strengthen national unity. This comes amid reports of the Israeli army constructing a new military post near the Lebanese border, testing the fragile truce.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warns of retaliation for Israeli violations in Lebanon, outlines conditions for peace, and seeks new government cooperation.

Beirut, April 19 Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem said that the ceasefire with Israel must mean a complete halt to aggression, warning the group will retaliate against Israeli violations in southern Lebanon.

"There is no ceasefire from one side only," Qassem said in a statement, adding that Hezbollah fighters "will respond to violations of aggression accordingly."

He outlined five key steps: a permanent halt to hostilities across Lebanon, a full Israeli withdrawal, detainee releases, the return of displaced residents, and reconstruction with Arab and international support, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hezbollah had not been defeated and would continue to pursue Lebanon's liberation and independence, he added.

Qassem also said Hezbollah is open to "a new page" of cooperation with the Lebanese government, stressing readiness to work with state institutions to strengthen national unity and safeguard sovereignty.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump.

However, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Saturday that it had struck militants approaching a "Yellow Line," which marks the northern edge of the "security zone" established by Israel in southern Lebanon, over the past day.

The Israeli army also began constructing a new military site on Saturday near Kfarchouba village in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon's border area, according to eyewitnesses and a Lebanese security source.

The Lebanese security source told Xinhua that an Israeli military unit, comprising bulldozers and excavators, and protected by a Merkava tank, was conducting earthmoving works on a hill southwest of Kfarchouba. Activities included ground leveling, excavations, and the construction of earth berms, indicating the establishment of a new military post administratively linked to Kfarchouba.

Eyewitnesses identified the site as "Rbaa al-Teben" hill, about 1.5 km from the Lebanon-Israel demarcation line and home to olive groves and vineyards.

- IANS
Economist Peter Schiff, on Thursday, expressed concerns about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis plan to open government-owned stores to make food more affordable.

New Yorks State-Run Grocers Will Hurt Private Sector Profit

In a post on X, Schiff said that the opening of five state-run grocery would hurt private-sector profit and reduce the efficiency of the stores. He wrote "profit margins are less than 2%. Without a profit motive government stores will be far less efficient, so without taxpayer subsidies, prices will be higher."

Mamdani hopes to make groceries more affordable by eliminating private profit and opening five government-owned stores. But profit margins are less than 2%. Without a profit motive government stores will be far less efficient, so without taxpayer subsidies, prices will be higher.  Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) April 16, 2026

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Mamdani Plans to Open Five Grocery Stores

Addressing his first 100 days in office on Sunday, Mamdani announced a plan to build five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, to combat rising food costs. The first store is slated to launch in late 2027 with the remaining four rolling out by Jan.1, 2030. La Marqueta in East Harlem is the first location for the grocery-store initiative to be opened in 2029.

Since the pandemic, grocery prices have climbed up but has not really eased. Prices in New York City has risen nearly 66% between 2013 and 2023, far outpacing the national average.

The New York mayor said that he is aware that some hold the view that city-owned businesses do not work and that the government cannot compete with corporations. My answer to them is simple: I look forward to the competition. May the most affordable grocery store win.

Trending: Think you're saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off  see why

Mamdani said prices at these stores would be fair, workers would be treated with dignity, and New Yorkers would be able to afford their groceries. "At our stores, eggs will be cheaper. Bread will be cheaper. Grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation," said Mamdani.

Mamdani has set aside $70 million in capital funding to develop the five locations.

Photo Courtesy: lev radin on Shutterstock.com

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Campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has intensified with senior leaders crisscrossing the state ahead of the April 23 polling. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is leading the NDA push with events in Erode and a roadshow in Chennai's Mylapore constituency. Simultaneously, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is campaigning in southern districts like Tirunelveli and Tenkasi. The NDA's final push follows recent campaigns by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the alliance's focus on the state.

With days left for Tamil Nadu polls, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh intensify NDA campaigning. Follow the final push.

Chennai, April 19 With just days left for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on April 23, political campaigning has reached a fever pitch across the state. The campaign will officially conclude on the evening of April 21, leaving parties with limited time to consolidate support in the final hours.

Senior leaders from both the state and the Centre have intensified their outreach, crisscrossing constituencies in a whirlwind of rallies and roadshows. Braving the scorching summer heat, top leaders and Union ministers are aggressively campaigning for their respective parties and alliance candidates.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has deployed its senior-most leaders to energise cadres and appeal directly to voters in key constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is leading the campaign push on Sunday. He is scheduled to address voters at Sivagiri in Erode district, followed by a roadshow in support of the BJP candidate contesting from the Modakurichi Assembly constituency.

Later in the day, HM Shah will travel to Chennai, where he will hold a roadshow in the Mylapore constituency at 4 p.m., backing BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Ahead of the roadshow, HM Shah is expected to offer prayers at the historic Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore. Authorities have put in place tight security arrangements in view of the high-profile visit and anticipated public turnout.

Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is spearheading the NDA's campaign in southern Tamil Nadu. He is slated to address a public meeting in the Radhapuram constituency of Tirunelveli district later in the day.

The Defence Minister will then proceed to Puliyangudi in Tenkasi district for further campaigning and participate in a roadshow at Panagudi, located about 400 metres from the main venue.

The NDA's campaign has already seen high-profile appearances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who have canvassed support for alliance candidates in recent days.

With only three days remaining before polling, the frequent visits of Union ministers underline the importance the NDA is placing on Tamil Nadu. As the campaign enters its final stretch, all major parties are leaving no stone unturned to sway undecided voters and maximise turnout in what promises to be a closely watched electoral battle.

- IANS
A high-voltage contest is shaping up in Kolkata Port constituency for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls, with sitting TMC MLA and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim facing BJP candidate Rakesh Singh. The constituency's electoral roll has shrunk to 1.75 lakh voters following a Special Intensive Revision, sparking political controversy. While Hakim secured a dominant victory in 2021 with over one lakh votes, the opposition is aiming to capitalize on local issues and a consolidated Left-Congress alliance challenge. The multi-cornered fight also includes Congress candidate Aquib Gulzar and CPI(M)'s Faiyaz Ahmad Khan.

High-stakes battle in Kolkata Port as TMC's Mayor Firhad Hakim faces BJP's Rakesh Singh. Analysis of voter demographics and 2021 results.

Kolkata, April 19 As the West Bengal Assembly polls draw closer, a high-stakes battle is brewing in the prestigious Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, where senior TMC leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim is locked in a fierce contest against BJP's strongman candidate Rakesh Singh.

Firhad Hakim is a long-standing TMC stronghold, as he has held the seat continuously since 2011.

The Congress has nominated Aquib Gulzar, while the CPI(M) has fielded Faiyaz Ahmad Khan in the contest.

The constituency has seen its electoral roll shrink to 1.75 lakh after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Muslims form a major chunk of the electorate in the seat, which also has a significant number of basti (slum) areas. Hindus also play an important role in deciding the outcome.

The entire election cycle has been overshadowed by a dramatic shake-up of West Bengal's electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision process. The deletions have triggered sharp exchanges between the TMC and the BJP, with both parties trading barbs over the intention behind the process.

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.

In the previous 2021 elections, Hakim secured a landslide victory by polling over one lakh votes and maintaining a dominant sixty-nine per cent vote share. This commanding lead of more than sixty-eight thousand votes over his nearest rival established the constituency as one of the safest seats for the Trinamool Congress in the city. However, the political landscape for the 2026 battle is seeing a shift with the entry of aggressive opposition faces and a consolidated challenge from the Left-Congress alliance.

The opposition camp is looking to capitalise on local urban issues and anti-incumbency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has signalled a tough fight by fielding Rakesh Singh.

While the Indian National Congress has placed its bet on Aquib Gulzar. Adding to the multi-cornered contest is the CPI-M candidate Faiyaz Khan, who is attempting to mobilise the traditional labour and working-class votes associated with the port area.

According to the election schedule, polling in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while the results will be declared on May 4.

West Bengal has a total of 294 Assembly seats, with the majority mark set at 148.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) secured a decisive victory, winning 213 seats with a vote share of 48.5 per cent.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the main opposition, winning 77 seats with a vote share of 38.5 per cent. Smaller players, including RSPMA and Independent candidates, won one seat each. The total declared seats stood at 292.

In comparison, the 2016 Assembly elections also saw AITC dominate, winning 211 seats with a 45.6 per cent vote share. The Indian National Congress secured 44 seats with 12.4 per cent votes, while the CPI(M) won 26 seats with a 20.1 per cent vote share. Other parties, including the BIP and RCP, won three seats each, while Independents secured one seat. The 'Others' category accounted for six seats with a 7.7 per cent vote share.

- ANI
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed the country's forces targeted a US F-35 stealth fighter and neutralized 180 drones, framing it as a demonstration of advanced technical capability. He linked these military actions to the ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States, stating that while some consensus exists, major differences remain. Ghalibaf argued that the shift to diplomacy came only after Western pressure tactics failed against Iran's resilience. He also dismissed US long-term goals, asserting that American efforts had not compromised Iran's defensive posture or missile capabilities.

Iranian Parliament Speaker says forces hit an F-35, neutralized 180 drones, linking military power to stalled diplomatic talks with the US.

Tehran, April 19 Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has highlighted what he described as the Islamic Republic's growing military capability, claiming that its forces neutralised around 180 drones and targeted a US F-35 stealth fighter jet.

According to reports by Al Jazeera, citing Iran's Mizan News Agency, Ghalibaf made the remarks while briefing officials on the current status of indirect negotiations with Washington.

The Speaker said the reported engagement with the advanced stealth aircraft reflected deliberate planning and technical capability."Hitting the F-35 is not a one-off event; it is an operation across various dimensions of technical and design capabilities," Ghalibaf asserted in comments released by the Mizan News Agency, the judiciary's formal media wing.

He added that the incident was meant to signal Iran's progress in defence technology. "The missile that exploded near the F-35 made the enemy realise what capabilities we possess and in what direction we are heading," he said.

These claims follow reports from US military officials last month, who confirmed that an F-35 fighter jet, which had been conducting combat operations over Iran, was forced to carry out an emergency landing at a regional airbase.

CNN, quoting two unidentified sources, previously reported that the aircraft was compelled to land after it was struck by what was suspected to be Iranian fire.

Linking these military developments to the diplomatic sphere, Ghalibaf revealed that while certain areas of consensus have been established in talks with the United States, "major differences" remain on several other issues.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the Speaker indicated that the shift towards diplomacy followed the failure of Western attempts to pressure Tehran through threats. He argued that the transition to indirect dialogue was a direct result of Iran's refusal to yield to international pressure.

"The enemy has not achieved its goals through issuing warnings and setting deadlines, and therefore, has begun sending messages through intermediaries," he stated, noting that the adversarial approach had reached an impasse.

Addressing the recent cessation of hostilities, Ghalibaf suggested that the motivations behind the truce differed for each side. As reported by Al Jazeera, he claimed that Tehran's agreement was a strategic move to ensure its demands were addressed, while asserting that US President Donald Trump endorsed the ceasefire because "we were the victors on the battlefield".

Furthermore, the Speaker dismissed Washington's long-term objectives regarding the Islamic Republic's political and military structure. He maintained that the American administration had been unable to compromise Iran's defensive posture despite sustained efforts.

"Trump did not achieve his goal of changing the regime and destroying our offensive and missile capabilities, and Iran is not Venezuela," Ghalibaf added, as per the Al Jazeera report.

- ANI
Shah to campaign in Modakurichi and Chennai

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is leading a series of high-profile roadshows across Tamil Nadu to spearhead the BJP's campaign in the final phase of the Assembly elections. His itinerary includes a roadshow in the Modakurichi constituency in Erode district for candidate Kirthika Shivkumar, followed by a major event in Chennai supporting nominee Tamilisai Soundararajan. The visits are strategically aimed at energizing party cadres and strengthening last-mile voter mobilization in key regions. With polling scheduled for April 23, the BJP is relying on this direct public outreach and senior leadership presence to maximize its electoral prospects in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds key roadshows in Tamil Nadu's Erode and Chennai to boost BJP's campaign ahead of the final phase of Assembly elections.

New Delhi, April 19 Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to lead a series of high-profile roadshows across Tamil Nadu on Sunday, spearheading the BJP's campaign in the crucial final phase of the Assembly elections.

Party sources earlier said that HM Shah would land in Coimbatore on Saturday night and stay there before launching his campaign engagements the next day. His visit comes as the BJP intensifies efforts to boost its presence across key constituencies ahead of polling on April 23.

On Sunday, Shah will begin his campaign with a roadshow in Modakurichi Assembly constituency in Erode district, where he will canvass support for BJP candidate Kirthika Shivkumar.

The western belt is considered strategically important for the party, and the leadership is focussing on direct voter outreach in the region.

Later in the day, Shah will travel to Chennai for another major roadshow in support of BJP nominee Tamilisai Soundararajan.

As part of his visit to the city, he is also expected to offer prayers at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore before the roadshow.

Senior BJP leaders said the twin roadshows are aimed at energising party cadres and strengthening last-mile mobilisation in both western and northern Tamil Nadu.

"The focus is on direct engagement with voters and consolidating support in the final stretch," a party functionary noted.

The visit is part of a broader push by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with top leaders stepping up their campaign in the State.

HM Shah is also expected to offer prayers at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore before his Chennai roadshow.

The Coimbatore City Police have implemented heavy security protocols and traffic diversions across the city to accommodate the high-profile visits.

With the campaign entering its closing phase, the BJP is relying on high-impact public outreach and the presence of senior leaders like Shah to maximise its electoral prospects in the State.

- IANS
Former badminton champion Saina Nehwal expressed her disappointment and hope for the future passage of the Women's Reservation Bill after it was defeated in the Lok Sabha. The bill sought to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized the opposition parties for voting against the bill, calling it an insult to women. He asserted that the female electorate would remember this and hold the responsible politicians accountable.

Saina Nehwal expresses hope for Women's Reservation Bill's future passage after its defeat in Lok Sabha. PM Modi criticizes opposition for blocking it.

Banka, April 19 Former Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal said she had hoped the Women's Reservation Bill would be passed, calling it a positive step for the country.

After the defeat of the bill, Saina said that since women are making progress in every field, greater participation in politics would be beneficial, and that she remains hopeful that the bill will be approved in the future.

Saina Nehwal, while speaking to reporters, said, "I was hoping the Bill would pass. It would have been a good thing for our nation. The women of our country are progressing in every field, and it would have been better if they participated more in politics. I hope it gets passed in the future."

The proposed Women's Reservation Bill aimed to introduce a 33 per cent reservation within the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats and extend similar provisions to State Assemblies, Delhi, and Union Territories, including Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and The Delimitation Bill, 2026, linked with the amendments to the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam, aimed at increasing the number of seats in the Lok Sabha up to 850.

However, opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill on Friday. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against.

After the bill's defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Opposition for blocking the Women's Reservation Bill, saying that they "crushed" their dreams despite the government's sincere efforts.

PM Modi pointed out that the defeat of this bill is a direct blow to the self-respect of women, an insult that the female electorate will permanently engrave in their memories.

"Women may forget everything else, but they never forget an insult to their pride," PM Modi said in his address to the nation on Saturday.

PM Modi said "the sin committed by the opposition" will bring them punishment from the people.

He highlighted that women of India are acutely aware of the malicious intentions and will hold the offending politicians strictly accountable in the future. Detailing the transformative vision of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Amendment, PM Modi explained that the legislation was a grand effort designed to grant long-pending rights and create new opportunities for half the population.

He observed that the bill aimed to remove systemic obstacles and equally amplify the political power of all states, regardless of their size or geography. "This amendment was a sincere effort to make women equal co-travellers in India's development journey," PM Modi said.

- ANI
Houthi defense minister Mohammed al-Atifi stated the rebel group is on high alert to confront any aggression against Yemen. Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein al-Ezzi issued a stark warning that the Houthis could close the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait if the US and others do not end policies obstructing peace. The strait is a critical global shipping chokepoint for oil and commodities. This follows a recent Houthi missile launch toward Israel and declarations of readiness for direct military intervention.

Houthi defense minister says rebels are on high alert to confront aggression, as deputy warns of closing the vital Bab al-Mandab shipping lane.

Sanaa, April 19 The minister of defence of the internationally unrecognised Houthis in Yemen, Major-General Mohammed al-Atifi, on Sunday said that the rebels are "on high alert to confront any aggression against the Yemeni people", as reported by Al Jazeera.

As cited by Al Jazeera, al-Atifi said in a statement, "The latest round of conflict with the Zionist and American enemy embodied the unity of fronts and proved the effectiveness of the military operations of the jihad and resistance axis against the enemy."

Meanwhile, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the internationally unrecognised Houthi administration in Yemen, Hussein al-Ezzi, warned that the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait could be shut if US President Donald Trump and what he called the "complicit world" do not end "all practices and policies that obstruct peace".

In a post on X, Hussein al-Ezzi said, "If Sana'a decides to close the Bab al-Mandab, then all of mankind and jinn will be utterly powerless to open it."

He added, "And therefore, it is best for Trump--and the complicit world--to immediately end all practices and policies that obstruct peace, and to show the respect required for the rights of our people and nation."

According to Al Jazeera, Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a key shipping chokepoint that channels sea traffic towards the Suez Canal. It is 29km (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments.

It is one of the world's most important routes for global seaborne commodity shipments, particularly crude oil and other fuels from the Gulf to the Mediterranean, as well as commodities bound for Asia, including Russian oil.

Earlier, on March 28, a missile was launched from Yemen towards Israel, making the attack the first by the Houthis since "Operation Roaring Lion" began a month ago, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

The first missile launch came as Yemeni Armed Forces declared readiness for direct military intervention if "American-Israeli aggression" against Iran and the "Axis of Resistance" (regional resistance) groups continues to escalate, according to Iranian State Media Press TV.

- ANI
A team of Indian officials will meet with US counterparts in Washington from April 20-22 for the next round of trade negotiations. The talks occur after a new US-wide 10% tariff altered the landscape, potentially requiring a recalibration of the initially proposed deal. Negotiators will also address ongoing US Section 301 investigations, which India has strongly rejected. The original framework included major Indian tariff cuts on US goods and a target to import $500 billion worth of American products over five years.

Indian officials head to Washington for crucial trade talks, navigating new US tariffs and Section 301 investigations. Key negotiations set for April 20-22.

New Delhi, April 19 A team of around a dozen Indian officials is set to arrive in Washington, D.C. on April 20 for a three-day round of negotiations with US authorities, marking the next step in discussions on the first phase of a proposed bilateral trade agreement.

The talks, scheduled from April 20 to 22, will be led by India's chief negotiator Darpan Jain, an additional secretary in the Department of Commerce, along with representatives from the customs department and the external affairs ministry.

The upcoming discussions come against the backdrop of significant shifts in the US tariff regime.

Following a ruling by the US Supreme Court against sweeping tariffs imposed earlier by President Donald Trump under emergency powers, the US administration introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff on imports from all countries for 150 days beginning February 24.

This move has altered the trade landscape and is expected to prompt both sides to revisit the framework of the agreement, which was initially released on February 7.

Officials indicated that the revised tariff environment could necessitate a recalibration of the proposed deal.

Earlier, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from a high of 50 per cent, including the removal of certain punitive duties linked to India's purchase of Russian oil.

However, the imposition of a uniform 10 per cent tariff across trading partners has diluted India's relative advantage under the earlier framework, making renegotiation essential.

In addition to tariff-related concerns, the talks are also expected to address two ongoing unilateral investigations launched by the US Trade Representative under Section 301 of US trade law.

India has strongly rejected the allegations in these probes, arguing that they lack sufficient justification and has called for their termination.

The original framework of the BTA included India's proposal to significantly reduce or eliminate tariffs on a wide range of US industrial goods and agricultural products.

These included items such as soybean oil, tree nuts, fruits, wine and spirits, and animal feed products.

India had also expressed its intent to increase imports from the US, targeting purchases worth $500 billion over five years across sectors such as energy, aviation, technology, precious metals, and coking coal.

- IANS
Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, met the final group of Indian students evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan. The Indian government has successfully assisted over 1.03 million nationals from conflict-hit West Asia since February through coordinated operations. Joint Secretary Aseem Mahajan detailed the extensive, round-the-clock mission control infrastructure facilitating communication between missions and airlines. The government continues to focus on citizen safety and navigating changing regional airspace conditions with partner nations.

Indian Ambassador meets final evacuated students. Over 1 million Indians assisted from West Asia since February through coordinated government efforts.

Baku, April 19 Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, met the last batch of Indian students who were evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan shortly after the conflict broke out in West Asia.

Sharing the details in a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Baku said, "@AmbassadorAbhay met the last batch of Indian students evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan. Over 300 Indian citizens including 189 students have been safely evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since 06.03.2026 till date."

The Ambassador enquired about their well being. The Embassy said on X, "@ambassadorabhay highlighted the support extended by E/I Baku and @azerbaijanmfa for smooth facilitation of evacuation of the Indian citizens from Iran via Azerbaijan."

Earlier on Friday, the Government of India informed that it has successfully rescued and assisted over 1.03 million Indian nationals from conflict-hit West Asia since February.

During an Inter-Ministerial briefing, Joint Secretary (Gulf) Aseem Mahajan outlined the extensive measures being taken to ensure the safety of citizens amidst regional volatility.

The government confirmed that a total of 10,38,000 Indian nationals have been facilitated through a combination of coordinated evacuations and regulated commercial travel.

These operations have relied on a "round-the-clock" mission control infrastructure designed to bridge communication between Indian missions, state governments, and international airlines.

Mahajan stated that the special control rooms remain "operational round the clock and are regularly engaging with Indian missions, airlines, and relevant authorities to facilitate seamless communication and coordination on priority.

"The focus of the ongoing efforts continues to be on ensuring the safety of Indian nationals abroad, while also assisting in regulated flight operations in regions where airspace restrictions are gradually easing.

Despite the stabilising flight operations in some Gulf countries, Mahajan reiterated that the mission control infrastructure remains fully engaged. The government continues to maintain real-time coordination with partner governments to navigate "changing airspace conditions" and ensure that Indian citizens are not left stranded as the regional situation evolves.

- ANI
Iran's military has confirmed the US seizure of the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel TOUSKA in the Arabian Sea, condemning the action as "armed piracy." US Central Command states the ship was intercepted after failing to comply with repeated warnings while attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, violating a US naval blockade. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance disabled the ship's propulsion by firing into its engine room before US Marines boarded it. This incident significantly escalates tensions between the two nations as a two-week ceasefire window is set to expire.

Iran confirms US seized its cargo ship TOUSKA in the Arabian Sea, calling it "armed piracy" and warning of a military response. US CENTCOM says vessel violated naval blockade.

Tehran, April 20 Iran's Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters has confirmed the US attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media Tasnim news agency.

"The aggressive America, by violating the ceasefire and committing maritime piracy, attacked one of Iran's commercial ships in the waters of the Sea of Oman by firing upon it and disabling its navigation system by deploying several of its terrorist marines on the deck of the mentioned vessel", the statement said, confirming that the ship had been seized.

The statement also warned of a response from Tehran.

"We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military," it added.

The warning comes after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, TOUSKA, in the Arabian Sea for allegedly violating a US naval blockade.

"TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19," CENTCOM said in a statement on X.

It said the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel while it was heading towards Bandar Abbas.

"Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade," the statement read.

According to CENTCOM, the vessel failed to comply with repeated warnings.

"After Touska's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska's propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska's engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody," it added.

The US command said the action was carried out in a "deliberate, professional, and proportional manner" and noted that since the blockade began, 25 commercial vessels had been directed to turn around.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump also claimed that American forces had taken "full custody" of the vessel after it attempted to breach the blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

"Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA... tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding that the ship was intercepted after it refused to heed warnings.

"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel... We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board!" he added.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US accusing Iran of violating a ceasefire and disrupting maritime traffic.

Meanwhile, Iran has denied US claims that it had agreed to participate in a second round of talks, with its official IRNA news agency rejecting reports of planned negotiations in Islamabad and calling them part of a "media game".

The developments come as the two-week ceasefire window between the two sides is set to end on April 22.

- ANI
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that all enemy objectives, including opening the Strait of Hormuz and destroying Iran's military capabilities, have failed. He credited Iran's success to its asymmetric warfare strategy, which countered a financially superior adversary. Ghalibaf stated that while some understanding exists with the U.S., major differences remain on key issues. He also asserted that a temporary ceasefire was agreed to only after Iran's terms were met, framing it as a battlefield victory.

Iranian Parliament Speaker says enemy failed to open Strait of Hormuz, weaken air force, or destroy navy. Details on asymmetric warfare and US differences.

Tehran, April 19 Iranian Parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the enemy has failed in multiple objectives, including attempts to weaken Iran's air force and missile capabilities, destroy its navy, launch a ground offensive, and open the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that none of these goals was achieved, Press TV reported.

The Iranian Parliament Speaker also said that while some areas of understanding have been reached with the United States, there remain "major differences" on several issues, Al Jazeera reported.

"The enemy has not achieved its goals through issuing warnings and setting deadlines, and therefore, has begun sending messages through intermediaries," he said, as reported by Al Jazeera.

He added that Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire to allow the US to meet its demands, while US President Donald Trump accepted it because "we were the victors on the battlefield", as per Al Jazeera.

"Trump did not achieve his goal of changing the regime and destroying our offensive and missile capabilities, and Iran is not Venezuela," he added, Al Jazeera reported.

Meanwhile, Ghalibaf also said Iran successfully resisted a stronger adversary by adopting an asymmetric warfare strategy, despite the enemy's superior financial and material capabilities, Press TV reported.

According to Press TV, in a television interview aired on Saturday night, Qalibaf said, "We fought an asymmetric war in such a way that we pushed back the enemy."

He argued that the opponent's failure was not due to a lack of resources but a flawed strategy. "The enemy had money and resources, but they did not act correctly in terms of design," Qalibaf stated. "They make strategic errors. They miscalculate regarding our people, just as they miscalculate in their own military design," he said, as reported by Press TV.

Qalibaf acknowledged the United States' military superiority but maintained that Iran emerged stronger through planning and preparation. "We are not stronger than the United States in military power," he said. "It is clear that they have more money, equipment, and resources, and because they have committed so much aggression around the world, their experience is also greater than ours," he added, as per Press TV.

He stressed, however, that material strength alone does not ensure victory. "Certainly, equipment, resources, and money are effective in war and victory, but it is not always the case," Qalibaf noted, as reported by Press TV.

Highlighting Iran's approach, he said, "We fought an asymmetric war in such a way that we pushed back the enemy through our own planning and preparation," adding again, "The enemy had money and resources, but they did not act correctly in terms of design," Press TV reported.

Qalibaf also criticised the Trump administration, accusing it of prioritising Israel over its own stated policy. "The US government claims that 'America First' matters to it, but in practice, it has shown that Israel comes first for it, because it makes decisions based on Israel's false information," as reported by Press TV.

On the ceasefire, he said Iran agreed after its terms were accepted, asserting that national interests remain paramount. "Consolidating the rights of the nation must be our main goal. And rest assured, there will be no capitulation in the field of diplomacy," Qalibaf said, according to Press TV.

He added that when the enemy failed to impose its demands through military force or ultimatums and saw Iran's armed forces holding firm, it turned to indirect communication. "Of course, today we are standing even firmer than the day before the ceasefire was established," Qalibaf said, as per a report by Press TV.

- ANI
German Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant argued in his 1795 essay Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch, that nations should conduct themselves in a particular way with wars and debt: National debts shall not be contracted with a view to the external friction of states.

In other words, to maintain peace, dont finance wars with debt.

More from Yahoo Scout What are the long-term economic impacts here? Why is debt financing wars problematic for America? How much is the Iran war costing taxpayers? How did previous presidents fund major wars?

Nearly a quarter-millennium later, public finance expert Linda Bilmes warns the U.S. is making this exact mistake in how its raising capital for the Iran war, encumbering the already weighty $39 trillion national debt.

According to Bilmes, a policy lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, the cost of the ongoing war is likely to exceed $1 trillion, swamping early projections of U.S. spending on the war, with the Pentagon reportedly claiming the first week of the war cost about $11.3 billion alone. The American Enterprise Institute estimated the costs of the war would have exceeded $35 billion by April 1or about $1 billion per day. Bilmes said the daily costs are double those estimates, as the government does not take into account the long-term impacts of war, such as long-term veteran disability benefits and damage to key infrastructure that could take years to rebuild.

Above all else, Bilmes noted, the U.S. is now relying more heavily on debt to finance the war that we have previously. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s, the debt held by the public sat at around $4 trillion, and we were paying about 7% of the overall federal budget on interest, Bilmes said. Today, $31 trillion of debt is held by the public, with 15% of the national budget being spent on paying down interest.

The result is that the interest costs alone will add billions of dollars to the total cost of this war, Bilmes said in a recent interview with the Harvard Kennedy School. And unlike the upfront costs, these are costs we are explicitly passing on to the next generation.

Bilmes told Fortune that the U.S. didnt always put so much burden on the national debt during wartime, although each previous conflict did rely on borrowing money. These 21st-century wartime funding strategies furthered by the Trump administration, she said, are bad news for the U.S.s mounting debt.

U.S. history of financing wars

An adolescent United States tried to follow Kants peace principles when it entered the War of 1812, implementing a slew of duties, including direct land taxes, as well as taxes on everything from sugar, auction sales, carriages, liquor distilleries, and retail alcohol licenses. This was perhaps more by necessity than choice: The Bank of the United States charter ran out in 1811, meaning there was no centralized entity able to manage loans and bonds.
The Israeli military states it killed Hezbollah's Bint Jbeil commander, Ali Rida Abbas, and more than 150 group members in strikes during the 24 hours before a US-mediated ceasefire began. Abbas was a senior figure in Hezbollah's armed wing and the fourth commander from that area killed since October 2023. Separately, one Israeli soldier was killed and nine wounded in southern Lebanon after the truce took effect, marking the second fatality since the ceasefire. Despite the pause in fighting, Israel's defense minister stated that disarming Hezbollah remains a central campaign objective.

Israeli military claims killing senior Hezbollah commander Ali Rida Abbas and over 150 members in strikes before US-mediated ceasefire with Lebanon took effect.

Jerusalem, April 19 The Israeli military said Sunday it killed Hezbollah's Bint Jbeil commander, Ali Rida Abbas, along with more than 150 members of the group in "pre-ceasefire strikes" during the 24 hours before a US-mediated truce took effect, media reports said.

The military said Abbas was the fourth Hezbollah commander for the Bint Jbeil area killed by Israel since October 2023. It described Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon as a key frontline area for Hezbollah attacks, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Abbas was considered one of the most senior officials in Hezbollah's armed wing and had survived Israeli strikes on the group's military leadership in 2024. There was no confirmation from Hezbollah.

Separately, the military said one soldier was killed, and nine others wounded "during combat" in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops remain deployed despite the ceasefire.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported the reservist was killed when a military bulldozer struck an explosive device planted by Hezbollah. The death marked the second Israeli military fatality since a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT).

Since six weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in early March 2026 amid the Iran war, 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to military figures.

The military said it has killed about 1,800 Hezbollah members and struck 300 military infrastructure sites, including launchers, command centres, and weapons storage facilities across several areas in Lebanon.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli military said it "will continue to act to remove any threat to Israeli civilians and its soldiers."

While lifting the wartime restriction on Lebanon, Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said that disarming Hezbollah, whether through military or political means, remains a central objective of the campaign.

- IANS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the nation's profound grief following the death of Sergeant First Class Lidor Porat during combat in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the 31-year-old reservist's death and reported several other soldiers were wounded in the same incident. Reports indicate the casualties occurred when a military bulldozer triggered an explosive device believed to be planted by Hezbollah in the Kafr Kila area. The incident underscores escalating volatility along the Israel-Lebanon frontier amid ongoing military operations and diplomatic tensions.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu expresses national grief after Sgt. First Class Lidor Porat is killed in southern Lebanon. IDF confirms casualties amid escalating border tensions.

Tel Aviv, April 19 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the "profound grief" of the nation on Sunday following the death of Sgt.-First Class Lidor Porat, who was killed during intense combat operations in southern Lebanon.

The Prime Minister's statement comes amid a difficult period of operational friction on the northern front, highlighting the high human cost of the ongoing conflict.

In a formal address, the Prime Minister extended his personal sympathies, alongside those of his wife, Sara Netanyahu, to the Porat family. He characterised the fallen reservist as a dedicated guardian of the state whose sacrifice was made in the direct defence of Israel's northern border communities.

In a post on X, he said, "My wife and I, together with all the citizens of Israel, share in the profound grief of, and send our deepest condolences to, the family of fallen soldier Sgt.-First Class (Res.) Lidor Porat of blessed memory, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon."

The "difficult incident" that claimed the life of Sgt.-First Class Porat also resulted in several other Israeli fighters being wounded. While the specific details of the tactical engagement were not disclosed, the Prime Minister pivoted to the resilience of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel currently on the ground.

"I wish a speedy and full recovery to our fighters who were wounded in this difficult incident. Together with his comrades, Lidor fought heroically to defend our communities and our citizens, as we shall continue to do. May his memory be a blessing," he said.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday also confirmed that a reserve soldier was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon, even as Israeli leadership and international allies reacted to the escalation in the border region.

In an official statement, the military said, "The name of a fallen soldier whose family has been notified was cleared for publication," identifying the soldier as "Sergeant First Class (Res.) Lidor Porat, aged 31, from Ashdod, a soldier in the 7106th Battalion, 769th Regional Brigade" who, according to the IDF, "fell during combat in southern Lebanon."

The IDF added that the incident also resulted in multiple injuries among troops. "In the incident in which Sergeant First Class (Res.) Lidor Porat fell, an additional soldier was severely injured, four soldiers were moderately injured, and four additional soldiers were lightly injured," the statement said. It further noted, "The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment, and their families have been notified."

According to Army Radio reports cited by The Jerusalem Post, Porat and his unit were operating in Kafr Kila when a D-9 military bulldozer reportedly ran over an explosive device believed to be planted by Hezbollah, triggering a powerful detonation. Israeli authorities are now investigating when the device was placed and whether the incident constitutes a violation of the prevailing ceasefire arrangements along the border.

The escalation comes amid continued Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon, with reports of air strikes and artillery fire targeting areas described by the IDF as linked to Hezbollah movements near what has been referred to as the "yellow line."

According to media reports, Israel has carried out fresh strikes, including one targeting individuals allegedly approaching restricted zones and another near a tunnel entrance south of the demarcation line.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, has criticised Israel's continued operations, with its leadership warning against what it called repeated violations while diplomatic efforts are underway.

In parallel, international attention has also been drawn to Israel's strategic alignment with the United States. Donald Trump, in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, described Israel as a "GREAT Ally of the United States of America," praising its military resilience and asserting that the country demonstrates strong battlefield resolve during regional tensions.

The developments underscore rising volatility along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where both sides continue to trade accusations amid fragile security conditions and ongoing military operations.

- ANI
Sadhvi Satish Sail was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 at the grand finale held in Bhubaneswar. She described her victory as surreal and expressed a desire to make India's name shine across the world. The event also saw Rajnandini Pawar crowned as the 1st Runner Up, with both emphasizing the journey of friendship and personal growth. Dignitaries and jury members at the event praised the platform for empowerment and highlighted the importance of personality, poise, and cultural representation.

Sadhvi Satish Sail crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 in Bhubaneswar. She describes the win as "surreal" and aims to make India proud globally.

Bhubaneswar, April 19 Sadhvi Satish Sail was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 at the grand finale of the 61st Femina Miss India held in Bhubaneswar. An elated Sail described her win as "surreal" and expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity.

"It feels very surreal right now. I am so, so grateful that we had this opportunity," she told ANI, adding that all contestants shared a strong bond and had a "beautiful time" during the competition. Calling her fellow participants "winners", she said the journey was about collective growth and friendship.

"Aur mere liye meri saari, saari sakhiyan aaj ke liye winners hai. Aur hum bas yehi chahate ki hum Bharat ka naam pure vishwa mein roshan kare. (And for me, all my friends are winners today. And we just want to make India proud across the world)," she added.

Reflecting on her journey, Sadhvi acknowledged that it came with its share of ups and downs but credited the organisers and mentors for their unwavering support. She highlighted the role of KIIT University and the Femina organisation in ensuring that contestants were well taken care of throughout the process, even during challenging moments.

Speaking about representing India on the global stage, Sail expressed excitement and a strong sense of responsibility. She said she aims to carry forward her journey with honesty, integrity and compassion while representing the country internationally. "There is a long journey ahead. This is just the beginning," she added, seeking blessings and support from people across the nation.

Sharing a message for youngsters, Sail emphasised the importance of authenticity and self-belief. She noted that she began her preparation just three months before the competition and encouraged others to pursue their goals with dedication. "Do not compare yourself with anyone. Your authenticity is your biggest strength," she said.

Rajnandini Pawar from Maharashtra, who was crowned the 1st Runner Up at the Femina Miss India 2026 , expressed gratitude and optimism about her journey ahead. She described her experience as "extremely beautiful," highlighting the hard work and perseverance that went into the competition. "If you truly desire something, the universe works to help you achieve it," she said, adding that the achievement marks just the beginning of a larger journey.

The event also witnessed the presence of several dignitaries and jury members, who praised the scale and significance of the pageant. They highlighted how contestants from different regions of India brought unique identities while collectively representing the essence of the country.

Dancer and choreographer Terence Lewis noted that while beauty is inherent, qualities such as personality, poise and stage presence ultimately define a winner. He also praised the city, saying, "It's a city of temples, and I have been here before... What's interesting is this time I am coming to judge the finale of Femina Miss India... I love the people here; the simplicity is just stunning... There are 30 state winners, one from each state, who would now compete for the crown... The beauty is already there, and now it's their personality that matters. The deciding factor for someone to win the show would be their personality, inner presence and poise."

Bhubaneswar, hosting the event, received appreciation for its hospitality, cultural richness and vibrant atmosphere. Organisers also showcased an innovative initiative integrating traditional Indian handloom weaves with global fashion concepts, underlining the importance of preserving cultural heritage while embracing modernity.

Dancer and actress Lauren Gottlieb said, "This is my first time in Bhubaneswar, and I haven't been able to see much of the place yet... I will explore and have some good food. I will get to go to a beach and the temples... The message to the participants is do your best and feel your best..."

Participants and guests emphasised that Femina Miss India is more than a competition, describing it as a platform for empowerment, transformation and self-discovery. They highlighted the importance of staying grounded, embracing individuality and representing not just beauty, but also intelligence, culture and compassion.

- ANI
A crucial bridge over the Tawi River in Udhampur's Bant village collapsed in August 2025, severing connectivity for over 50,000 people. Schoolchildren now undertake a perilous daily crossing of the Toldi Nallah, navigating slippery rocks and strong currents to reach school. Authorities state the bridge requires a complete redesign and extension, escalating the cost from Rs 4.5 to 5.4 Crores. While a revised proposal awaits approval, residents continue their hazardous commute, pleading for immediate action to restore the vital link.

Thousands of students in Udhampur risk lives daily crossing Toldi Nallah after a bridge collapse. Officials cite redesign delays as locals demand urgent reconstruction.

Udhampur, April 19 The education and safety of thousands of students in Udhampur district remain at risk after a key motorable bridge over the Tawi River was washed away in August 2025, forcing children from more than 10 panchayats to cross the dangerous Toldi Nallah on foot to reach their schools.

The collapsed bridge, located in the Bant village area of Samroli, had served as a crucial connectivity link for residents of nearly 20 villages. Since its destruction due to heavy rainfall and flash floods, schoolchildren--especially young girls and primary students--have been navigating slippery rocks and strong currents daily, turning their routine commute into a life-threatening challenge. For these children, the pursuit of an education is no longer just a challenge of academics, but a daily gamble with their lives.

Residents said the loss of the bridge has effectively isolated more than 50,000 people from the Udhampur district headquarters, severely affecting access to education, healthcare services, and daily livelihood activities. Locals and students have appealed to both the Government of India and the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the District administration to take immediate steps for the reconstruction of the bridge.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Udhampur, Prem Singh Chib, has provided a technical update on the restoration of the 80-meter Toldi-Bant motorable bridge, which was destroyed by flash floods in late August 2025. Following a detailed inspection by the Design, Inspection, and Quality Control (DIQC) team in September 2025, it was determined that a simple replacement would be insufficient. The team observed that the river's waterway had shifted and the High Flood Level (HFL) had been breached, necessitating a complete redesign of the structure to ensure future resilience.

Consequently, the project has seen a significant increase in both scale and cost. Originally approved under the UT Capex 2025-26 for permanent bridge restoration at an estimated Rs 4.50 Crores, the new specifications require the span to be extended from 80 meters to 98 meters. This revision has raised the total project cost to Rs 5.4 Crores.

ADC Chib confirmed that the revised proposal has been submitted to higher authorities for formal approval. Once the updated budget and design are cleared, the administration will immediately float tenders to begin the construction phase, restoring the vital link for the thousands of residents currently cut off.

Despite these developments, villagers and students continue to cross the Toldi Nallah daily under hazardous conditions, urging authorities to fast-track the process and provide immediate relief to prevent any untoward incidents.

- ANI
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has begun a state visit to India, the first by a South Korean leader in over eight years. The visit is aimed at rebooting the Special Strategic Partnership, with talks centered on deepening cooperation in semiconductors, defense production, and green energy. Key engagements include a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a business forum to explore investment opportunities. The visit underscores both nations' commitment to a stable Indo-Pacific amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.

President Lee Jae-myung's state visit aims to deepen India-South Korea strategic ties in tech, defense & trade. Talks with PM Modi set.

New Delhi, April 19 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday called on South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a State visit to India and said that the talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow will further fillip the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

In a post on X, he praised President Lee Jae-myung's commitment to deepen ties and said, "Honoured to call on President @Jaemyung_Lee of the Republic of Korea as he begins his State Visit to India. Value his commitment to deepen India - Korea relations across multiple domains. Confident that his talks tomorrow with PM @narendramodi will further strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership."

The President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, arrived in India on Sunday, marking a significant pivot in New Delhi-Seoul relations, being the first state visit by a South Korean leader in over eight years.

The visit is being framed as a crucial step for South Korea's "Global South" diplomacy and a "reboot" of the Special Strategic Partnership.

India and South Korea elevated their ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership" in 2015, and since then, cooperation between the two countries has broadened significantly. Both sides have focused on enhancing collaboration in areas such as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, defence production, green energy, infrastructure development, and digital innovation.

South Korean companies have also played a growing role in India's industrial and consumer sectors, while Indian firms have deepened their presence in the Korean market.

The arrival of the South Korean President is expected to provide fresh momentum to ongoing bilateral initiatives and open discussions on expanding trade and investment opportunities.

India has been actively working to strengthen its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners, and South Korea remains a key pillar in this broader regional vision.

The President's itinerary is packed with high-level engagements designed to solidify ties between Seoul and New Delhi.

His first major engagement will be a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set the stage for the executive talks to follow. On Monday, the President will receive a formal Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

The centrepiece of the visit will be a bilateral summit at Hyderabad House, where President Lee will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The discussions are expected to culminate in the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), likely focusing on critical technologies: cooperation in semiconductors and green energy; defence production by strengthening the "Make in India" initiative through Korean engineering; and economic trade by expanding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Following the summit, the leaders will issue joint press statements to outline their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Recognising the vital role of the private sector, President Lee will participate in a Business Forum at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. This forum will bring together industry titans from both nations to explore investment opportunities and supply chain resilience.

The state visit will conclude with a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, signifying the deep cultural and political respect between the two nations, the MEA statement added.

Beyond economic and strategic ties, India and South Korea share strong cultural linkages, with growing interest in Korean culture in India and increasing visibility of Indian heritage and traditions in South Korea. These people-to-people exchanges have added depth to the bilateral relationship.

The visit comes at a time when both countries are navigating a rapidly evolving global geopolitical environment, making strategic partnerships more significant than ever.

- ANI
Japan and South Korea are on high alert after North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles from its east coast. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened an emergency response team and vowed "complete preparedness," while confirming the missiles fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. This marks North Korea's seventh ballistic missile launch this year, directly violating UN Security Council resolutions. The provocation comes ahead of a planned summit between the US and Chinese leaders where North Korea is expected to be a key topic.

Japan activates crisis protocols after North Korea fires ballistic missiles. PM Takaichi vows "complete preparedness" as Seoul and Washington coordinate response.

Tokyo, April 19 Japan remained on high alert on Sunday morning following the launch of what appeared to be multiple ballistic missiles from North Korea.

The Japanese government activated its top-tier crisis management protocols to ensure public safety and regional stability in the face of the renewed provocation.

Confirming the development, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi provided details on the early morning escalation. In a post on X, she stated, "At around 06:00 today, what may be multiple ballistic missiles were launched from North Korea."

Highlighting the current trajectory and the subsequent international response, the Prime Minister noted, "The items that may be ballistic missiles are believed to have already fallen outside Japan's EEZ, and at present, Japan, the United States, and South Korea are closely coordinating to analyse information."

In immediate response to the perceived threat, the Japanese administration mobilised its security apparatus to mitigate potential risks to maritime and aerial traffic. PM Takaichi detailed the swift internal measures taken by the executive branch to address the unfolding situation, ensuring a comprehensive government-wide reaction.

"As the government, immediately after the launch, we convened the emergency response team at the Crisis Management Center in the Prime Minister's Office to collect information, while I instructed relevant ministries and agencies to devote all efforts to information gathering and analysis," the Japanese Prime Minister added.

She emphasised that the priority of the administration is "to provide prompt and accurate information to the public, to thoroughly confirm the safety of aircraft, vessels, and the like, and to maintain a state of utmost readiness in preparation for any contingencies."

The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the Japanese government's stance on national security under the current leadership. Takaichi reaffirmed the administration's commitment to security, noting that "the Hiyoshi Cabinet regards crisis management as the essence of national governance, and we intend to ensure complete preparedness for all crisis management matters, including cases such as this."

Adding further context to the scale of the threat, Al Jazeera reported that this incident marked North Korea's "seventh ballistic missile launch" of the year and its fourth such test in April alone.

The missiles were launched from the eastern coastal city of Sinpo at approximately 6:10 am local time (21:10 GMT on Saturday), according to a statement from South Korea's military cited by Al Jazeera. In a parallel defensive move, Seoul has heightened its surveillance measures and is maintaining close coordination with both the United States and Japan.

Amid these escalating tensions, South Korea's presidential office convened an emergency security meeting, as media reports indicated growing concern over Pyongyang's relentless weapons activity. These launches stand in direct "violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions" that prohibit North Korea's missile programme.

Al Jazeera reported that Pyongyang has consistently rejected these restrictions, however, arguing that they "infringe upon its sovereign right to self-defence."

The timing of these tests is particularly significant, occurring ahead of a planned summit in mid-May between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, where North Korea is expected to be a primary focus.

This diplomatic friction is compounded by technical warnings. Earlier this week, IAEA head Rafael Grossi cautioned that the North has made "very serious" progress in its nuclear capabilities, including the likely "addition of a new uranium enrichment facility."

This assessment follows recent rhetoric from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who reiterated last month that his country's position as a nuclear-armed "state" is irreversible. He stressed that expanding a "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" remains critical for national security, a stance that continues to test the resolve of the international community.

- ANI
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has arrived in New Delhi for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations. His itinerary includes high-level meetings with Indian leaders, culminating in a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The talks are expected to yield agreements on semiconductors, green energy, and defence production under the "Make in India" initiative. The visit will conclude with a business forum and a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu before his departure.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung begins a 3-day state visit to India for talks with PM Modi on defence, tech, and trade partnerships.

New Delhi, April 19 President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea is set to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday for a State Visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea will be shortly arriving in New Delhi for a State Visit to India."

The three-day visit from April 19 to 21 aims to deepen the "Special Strategic Partnership" between India and South Korea, with a focus on defence, high-tech manufacturing and regional security.

The President's itinerary is packed with high-level engagements designed to solidify ties between Seoul and New Delhi. Upon his arrival at the Airforce Station (AFS) Palam, the South Korean leader will be greeted with the protocol befitting a close strategic ally, as per the statement from MEA.

His first major engagement will be a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set the stage for the executive talks to follow. On Monday, the President will receive a formal Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

The centrepiece of the visit will be a bilateral summit at Hyderabad House, where President Lee will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The discussions are expected to culminate in the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), likely focusing on critical technologies: cooperation in semiconductors and green energy; defence production by strengthening the "Make in India" initiative through Korean engineering; and economic trade by expanding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Following the summit, the leaders will issue joint press statements to outline their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Recognising the vital role of the private sector, President Lee will participate in a Business Forum at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. This forum will bring together industry titans from both nations to explore investment opportunities and supply chain resilience.

The state visit will conclude with a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, signifying the deep cultural and political respect between the two nations, the MEA statement added.

President Lee and the First Lady are scheduled to depart from New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon, leaving behind a roadmap for an intensified partnership in the years to come.

- ANI
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of an attack targeting a French UNIFIL battalion in southern Lebanon, which resulted in one death and several injuries. The ministry stated the attack violates international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, while calling for accountability. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the incident, noting it is the third such deadly attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon in recent weeks. The UNIFIL patrol was reportedly fired upon by non-state actors while clearing explosives to re-establish links with isolated positions.

Kuwait strongly condemns the attack that killed a French UNIFIL peacekeeper in southern Lebanon, calling it a violation of international law.

Kuwait City, April 19 The Foreign Ministry of Kuwait has strongly condemned a deadly attack targeting UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling it a "violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701."

In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry said it " expresses the State of Kuwait's condemnation and denunciation of the attack targeting the French battalion affiliated with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon 'UNIFIL' in southern Lebanon, which resulted in the death of one individual and the injury of several soldiers."

The statement added that Kuwait reaffirms," total rejection of targeting peacekeeping forces due to what this constitutes as a violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701," referring to the United Nations Security Council resolution governing the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

Kuwait also stressed accountability, with the ministry emphasising "the necessity of holding accountable those responsible for this attack," while renewing "its full support for 'UNIFIL''s efforts to maintain security and stability in southern Lebanon."

The ministry further extended "its sincere condolences to the friendly French Republic while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured."

According to the official website of the United Nations, adopted unanimously in 2006, the purpose of Security Council Resolution 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a permanent ceasefire to be based on the creation of a buffer zone.

By the resolution, the Council decided to take steps to ensure peace, among them authorising an increase of force strength of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to a maximum of 15,000 troops that would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities, support Lebanese armed forces as Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and ensure the safe return of displaced persons.

Meanwhile, on Saturday (local time), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned a deadly attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in which one French peacekeeper was killed, and three others were injured.

In a post shared on X, Guterres said, "I strongly condemn Saturday's attack on @UNIFIL_ during which one French peacekeeper was killed & another three were injured."

He expressed condolences to the victim's family and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. "I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends & colleagues of the fallen peacekeeper, and wish a full & fast recovery to the injured peacekeepers," he said.

Highlighting a pattern of violence, the UN chief noted that this was not an isolated incident. "This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving in Lebanon," he added.

Calling for an immediate halt to such attacks, Guterres said, "These attacks must stop. All actors must respect the cessation of hostilities & the ceasefire."

Earlier, the UNIFIL, in a statement issued on its telegram channel, said that on Saturday morning, a UNIFIL patrol clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to re-establish links with isolated UNIFIL positions came under small-arms fire from non-state actors.

- ANI
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has embarked on an official visit to Sri Lanka, with the Ministry of External Affairs underscoring the profound and multi-faceted relationship between the two nations. The MEA highlighted India's role as a "consistent first responder," citing major relief efforts like Operation Sagar Bandhu following Cyclone Ditwah. Bilateral cooperation spans significant development projects, including the construction of 60,000 houses, and robust economic, defence, and cultural exchanges. The relationship is rooted in a 2,500-year civilizational connection and is central to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

MEA highlights India's role as first responder, development projects, and deep civilizational ties during Vice President CP Radhakrishnan's official visit to Sri Lanka.

New Delhi, April 19 The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday outlined the depth of India-Sri Lanka ties as Vice President CP Radhakrishnan departed for an official visit to Sri Lanka from April 19 to 20.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiseal said, "Vice President of India, CP Radhakrishnan, is enroute to Colombo for an official visit to Sri Lanka from 19-20 April 2026," while sharing details of what the ministry described as "close, strong and diverse bilateral ties" between the two countries.

The MEA highlighted Sri Lanka as "India's closest maritime neighbour and civilisational twin with a relationship spanning over 2,500 years," adding that the island nation holds a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and MAHASAGAR vision.

It also referred to high-level political engagements in recent years, noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four visits to Sri Lanka since 2014, including in March 2015, May 2017, June 2019 and April 2025. It further highlighted the visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka's last visit to India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Detailing India's role as a "consistent first responder", the MEA said, "India launched immediate relief efforts in Operation Sagar Bandhu- the same day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall." It added, "Assistance provided included over 1,100 tonnes of relief material, 14.5 tons of medicines and surgical equipment, around 60 tons of equipment, and 228 tons of Bailey Bridge units."

Higlighting medical assistance, the ministry noted, "A field hospital with 85 medical personnel provided medical care in Mahiyanganaya in Kandy, catering to the needs of over 8000 patients," and added that "fully fledged medical centres were set up from BHISM Arogya Maitri cubes in Ja-Ela and Negombo." It further said, "EAM announced a comprehensive relief package, post Cyclone Ditwah, worth USD 450 mn in Dec 2025."

On development cooperation, the MEA stated, "India's biggest grant assistance project is the construction of 60,000 houses in Sri Lanka under the Indian Housing Project for over INR 1800 crore," and noted that "GoI has been carrying out people-oriented development projects across the 25 districts of Sri Lanka." It added that "ferry services between Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai, Sri Lanka commenced in Oct 2023," alongside projects such as the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, upgradation and track-laying of the Northern Railway line, and the island-wide Suwa Seriya Emergency ambulance service.

Underscoring capacity-building efforts, the MEA said, "PM announced a comprehensive capacity-building programme in India covering 700 Sri Lankans annually in Apr 2025," while noting "ongoing training for 1500 Sri Lankan civil servants over 5 years." It added, "India offers nearly 1000 scholarship slots annually to Sri Lankan students," including "402 fully-funded slots offered every year under the ITEC Program," and training for teachers and armed forces personnel.

Highlighting people-to-people ties, the ministry said, "India and Sri Lanka share strong civilisational bonds," noting that "in Sri Lanka, Indian Origin Tamils stand at ~1.5 mn along with ~7,500 NRIs and ~10,000 PIOs." It also referenced cultural exchanges, including the "exposition of Lord Buddha's relics found in Devnimori, Gujarat, took place at the Gangaramayya Temple in Colombo in Feb 2026 " and academic collaborations such as the Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies at the University of Colombo.

On economic ties, the MEA said, "Merchandise trade between India and Sri Lanka amounted to USD 5.54 bn in FY 2025-26 (Apr-Jan)," adding that India remains "one of the largest contributors to Foreign Direct Investment in Sri Lanka." It also higlighted initiatives such as "UPI QR-based payments launched in Sri Lanka Feb 2024" and noted that India was the leading source of tourists in 2025.

In defence cooperation, the ministry pointed to regular engagements such as "SLINEX held annually" and "Joint Exercises MITRA SHAKTI held annually," while adding that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have " averted large-scale environmental damage in Sri Lankan waters, such as MV XPress Pearl in 2021 and MT New Diamond in 2020."

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit of the Vice President includes meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership and engagements with the Indian-origin Tamil community. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach under its Neighbourhood First policy.

During the visit, the Vice President is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and the Leader of the Opposition, along with representatives of Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian-origin Tamil political groups.

- ANI
The National Health Authority concluded a two-day Chintan Shivir in Pune, focusing on strengthening healthcare delivery through the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and Digital Mission. States like Karnataka, Gujarat, and Jharkhand presented best practices in digital systems, clinical governance, and infrastructure upgrades. A key announcement mandated the integration of hospital management systems with ABDM platforms, making digital adoption part of regulatory assessment. The event culminated in awarding 18 prizes to top-performing states and union territories across various performance parameters of the schemes.

National Health Authority awards states and UTs for top performance in implementing Ayushman Bharat health schemes and digital mission at Pune conclave.

New Delhi, April 18 The National Health Authority successfully concluded the two-day Chintan Shivir on Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in Pune, bringing together senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs to deliberate on strengthening healthcare delivery through innovation, technology, and collaborative governance.

According to an official release issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, building upon the discussions of Day 1, the second day commenced with a presentation on Karnataka's online referral system for PM-JAY beneficiaries.

The initiative has enabled optimal resource utilisation and strengthened reliance on public healthcare institutions through data-driven decision-making.

A presentation by Rajeev Topno, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, highlighted the State's experience in strengthening clinical governance under AB PM-JAY.

Gujarat has implemented robust gatekeeping mechanisms, including digital verification systems such as Online Tumor Board Certification, alongside data-driven monitoring. These measures have led to improved clinical appropriateness, reduced unnecessary procedures, and significant cost efficiencies.

Jharkhand showcased a best practice from Sadar Hospital, Ranchi, demonstrating effective utilisation of PM-JAY incentives to upgrade infrastructure and onboard specialist services. This has enhanced service delivery capacity and reinforced the hospital's role as a dependable public health institution.

A live demonstration of an NHCX-enabled Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) illustrated how interoperable and standardised digital systems can streamline claims processing, reduce fragmentation, and enable faster, more efficient transactions among stakeholders.

States were also briefed by the World Bank team on the ABDM State Adoption Index--a standardised, data-driven framework designed to benchmark performance across key domains such as core registries, adoption and usage, and budget utilisation.

By tracking indicators including ABHA, Health Facility Registry (HFR), Health Professional Registry (HPR), Scan & Share, and health record linkage, the Index enables identification of performance gaps, supports targeted interventions, and promotes cross-learning.

With the 2024-25 rankings forthcoming, States were encouraged to transition from infrastructure creation to sustained digital usage.

Highlighting a significant regulatory advancement, Raghav Langer, Secretary, National Medical Commission (NMC), informed that integration of hospital HMIS with ABDM platforms will now be a mandatory requirement.

Service delivery in medical college-associated hospitals will be assessed based on ABHA-linked patient data, marking a paradigm shift where digital adoption becomes integral to regulatory evaluation, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.

The Health Data Analytics and AI Unit presented insights on leveraging advanced analytics to address implementation challenges under PM-JAY. States were encouraged to utilise ABHA-linked data to analyse OPD and IPD trends and design targeted interventions.

A dedicated session on new features of the NextGen platform also addressed operational challenges and facilitated smoother adoption of enhanced digital functionalities.

Deliberations on convergence emphasised integration of multiple schemes onto the PM-JAY IT platform, including an overview of PM RAHAT. States were encouraged to leverage the NHA's digital infrastructure to create a unified, citizen-centric healthcare ecosystem.

The Chintan Shivir also recognised excellence among States and Union Territories through awards under AB PM-JAY and ABDM.

Under AB PM-JAY, a total of 18 awards were conferred across various performance parameters to recognise excellence among States and Union Territories. Uttarakhand (Large State), Goa (Small State), and Jammu & Kashmir (UT) were awarded for best performance in Pre-authorisation Approval TAT (Overall), while Odisha (Large State), Nagaland (Small State), and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (UT) were recognised for Pre-authorisation Approval TAT under Portability.

Gujarat (Large State), Mizoram (Small State), and Ladakh (UT) received awards for achieving the highest percentage of bio-authentication. Kerala (Large State), Meghalaya (Small State), and Puducherry (UT) were honoured for completion of mandatory courses. Chhattisgarh (Large State), Tripura (Small State), and Jammu & Kashmir (UT) were recognised for timely processing of suspicious claims (TAT).

Additionally, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh were jointly awarded for best performance among large States in high trigger efficacy.

Under ABDM, five awards were presented to recognise achievements in digital health adoption. Ladakh was awarded for maximum Scan & Share and health record linkages in model facilities, while Uttar Pradesh was recognised for having the highest number of PM-JAY empanelled hospitals with ABDM-enabled HMIS and record linkages.

AIIMS Bhopal received the award for best government facility under the Scan and Pay category. Rajasthan was honoured for maximum registration of private healthcare professionals and facilities, and Tripura was recognised as the top-performing State in IEC and capacity-building activities.

In his concluding remarks, Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, stated that the Chintan Shivir has emerged as a vital platform for collective deliberation, enabling the Centre and States to learn from each other and chart the way forward.

He emphasised that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible, particularly for ABDM implementation, given varying levels of digital maturity across States. He encouraged States to continue sharing innovations and best practices to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem collectively.

The Shivir concluded with a post-event discussion on the System Integrator Model, organised in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra's IT Department and ABDM-enabled HMIS stakeholders. The session highlighted pathways for scalable, standardised digital health integration across the country.

The deliberations reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through technology, data-driven governance, and cooperative federalism, ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for all citizens.

- ANI
It's easy to grow weary of bad news, and for some, Social Security's solvency is just one more piece of stinky news. If you're among those who are tired of worrying about whether the program will be there for you when you need it, this list may serve as a reminder that all hope is not lost.

Here is an (extremely small) sample of the proposals being floated, some developed by members of Congress and others from think tanks and senior advocacy groups:

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Some of the proposals

The Social Security Expansion Act: Introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, this act would increase payroll taxes on high earners, revise how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated to better align with the spending patterns of individuals 62 and older, and establish a new minimum benefit for certain low-income earners.

The Social Security 2100 Act: Similar to the act mentioned above, this measure, introduced by Rep. John B. Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, would improve how COLAs are calculated. It would also subject earnings above $400,000 to Social Security taxes.

According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a fiscal policy think tank, eliminating the tax cap would decrease the program's long-term funding shortfall by 73%.

Raise the retirement age: The Republican Study Committee has proposed raising the full retirement age (FRA) to 69. While it wouldn't affect current retirees or those near retirement, individuals age 59 would see the FRA increase by three months per year beginning this year. A person turning 62 in 2033 would need to work until age 69 to receive full benefits.

The Cassidy-Kaine Proposal: According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, Sens. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, and Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, have introduced a plan to borrow $1.5 trillion to establish a trust fund paid for by general revenue and fully invested in equities. The fund's returns that exceed the interest costs on the added $1.5 trillion in debt would be credited to Social Security benefits in 75 years. While this plan wouldn't help current retirees, it could prevent a shortage like this from happening again.

There are countless more proposals moving through Congress. That doesn't guarantee legislators will be able to put aside partisan differences long enough to agree on a workable solution, but it does provide evidence that solutions exist.
North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea early Sunday, according to South Korea's military. The launch, potentially involving a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), originated from the Sinpho area. This marks the latest in a series of recent weapons tests, which North Korean state media claims include a tactical ballistic missile with a cluster bomb warhead. South Korea's presidential office condemned the launch as a violation of UN resolutions and convened an emergency security meeting.

North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, prompting emergency meetings and condemnation from South Korea.

Seoul, April 19 North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from the Sinpho area in the North at around 6:10 a.m., and they flew about 140 kilometres.

"Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-US combined defence posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said.

South Korean and US intelligence authorities have tracked movements related to the launch and have also shared relevant information with the Japanese side, it added.

The military is reportedly considering the possibility of the latest launch involving a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), reports Yonhap news agency.

Submarine-related facilities are known to be located in Sinpho, with the Hero Kim Kun Ok and the 8.24 Yongung submarines previously spotted at the eastern coastal city. The North test-fired an SLBM in waters off Sinpho in May 2022.

North Korea last fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on April 8, in a rare pair of launches conducted in a single day. The North also fired an unidentified projectile the previous day, but it disappeared shortly after it was fired in an apparent failure.

Following the series of launches over two days, North Korea's state media said the North test-fired a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a cluster bomb warhead, claiming it can "reduce to ashes any target" within its range with the highest-density power.

State media also reported Pyongyang conducted tests of an electromagnetic weapon system and carbon fibre sham bombs scattering while verifying the combat reliability of a mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system, raising views that the latest launch may be part of such weapons tests.

Following the launch, the presidential Office of National Security convened an emergency meeting and condemned it as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, calling for an immediate halt.

The defence ministry also issued a similar statement, urging the North to halt such missile provocations.

"North Korea should immediately halt consecutive missile provocations that heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula and actively take part in our government's efforts to establish peace," it said.

- IANS
US President Donald Trump announced he is sending Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for what he calls the "last chance" ceasefire negotiations with Iran. He issued a severe ultimatum, threatening to attack Iran's energy and civil infrastructure if the deal is not accepted. The talks follow a previous failed round led by Vice President J.D. Vance and center on the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program. Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing in the strait and claimed the US loses nothing from the ongoing blockade.

Trump dispatches envoys Witkoff & Kushner to Pakistan for final Iran ceasefire talks, warning of attacks on power plants & bridges if deal fails.

Washington DC, April 19 US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that American representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be travelling to Pakistan on Monday to hold ceasefire negotiations with Iran.

Further, he warned of severe repercussions, including attack on Iranian energy and civil infrastructure, if Iran "doesn't take the deal." The US President made the remarks in a post on Truth Social.

Speaking to Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump said that this is the "last chance" for Iran to agree to a deal, and vowed to not make the same mistake as former President Obama.

"If Iran does not sign this deal, the whole country is getting blown up," the US president told the Fox News reporter.

Asked about the delegation heading to Pakistan, Trump said he is sending "special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner back to Islamabad."

"My people are arriving Monday night--that's tomorrow. I'm sending Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner back to Islamabad. They know the players, they know how to make a deal. They'll be there for talks this week. We're giving diplomacy one last chance, but the clock has run out. Most of the points are already conceded; they know they can't have the nuclear [weapons]. That's over. It's been obliterated. Now they just need to sign the paper and open the Strait." Trump said.

Last week in Islamabad US Vice President J D Vance had led negotiations with Iranian intermediaries but those discussions ended without a breakthrough. Steve Witkoff is President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East while Kushner is his son-in-law.

In his Truth Social post on Sunday (today), Trump also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement

"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz -- A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn't nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan -- They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations."

On the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, he claimed that it was Iran on the losing end with the closure causing a loss of USD 500 million per day to the country while claiming that the "United States loses nothing".

He reiterated the assertion of a fair deal on the table for Iran and said that he would no longer remain a "nice guy"and that the US would strike Iran's power plants and bridges.

"Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be "the tough guy!" We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!", Trump said.

The latest set of remarks by Trump comes as the clock ticks for the two-week ceasefire which is set to end on April 22.

CNN reported that Iran has not immediately confirmed the plans.

The first round of ceasefire negotiations ended in a gridlock between Tehran and Washington over the energy artery- Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capacities.

- ANI
The adoption of combine harvesters in Pakistan's wheat belt, like Khanewal, is rapidly displacing traditional manual harvesting. While farmers gain speed and weather resilience, they are squeezed by skyrocketing operational costs for fuel and machine rentals. The shift has devastated agricultural labourers who relied on seasonal harvesting for income and payment in wheat. Experts warn that without policies for alternative livelihoods and social protection, technological progress comes at a severe human and social cost.

As combine harvesters replace manual labour in Pakistan, farmers face rising costs while agricultural workers lose crucial seasonal income and jobs.

Khanewal, April 19 Pakistan is facing a unique conundrum. The attempt to move towards modern harvesting equipment has deepened financial and social pressures on farmers and rural workers, The Express Tribune reported.

According to The Express Tribune, Khanewal, a key wheat-producing region, has historically depended on manual harvesting, where large groups of labourers spent days cutting crops with sickles.

This labour-intensive practice was not just an economic activity but also a long-standing rural tradition. However, the widespread adoption of combine harvesters has dramatically altered this landscape. These machines can harvest vast fields within hours, simultaneously separating grain from straw and eliminating much of the need for manual labour. Farmers acknowledge the advantages of mechanisation, particularly in reducing losses caused by unpredictable weather and speeding up the harvesting process. Yet, rising operational costs are a growing concern. Local grower Chaudhry Liaqat noted that expenses have surged, with per-acre harvesting costs climbing from approximately Rs 5,000 to nearly Rs 8,000.

Escalating diesel prices have further inflated the cost of fertilisers, pesticides, and other essential inputs, compounding financial strain on farmers. The shift has also had serious consequences for agricultural labourers. Seasonal workers, who once depended on harvesting for a steady income and were often compensated partly in wheat, now face dwindling job opportunities.

A farm worker, Tariq, said that machines complete tasks in hours that previously required days of human effort, leaving labourers without reliable work, as cited by The Express Tribune.

Experts argue that while modernisation is necessary for agricultural progress, it must be balanced with policies that protect vulnerable workers. They stress the need for alternative livelihoods and social safety nets.

Additionally, environmental concerns are emerging, as increased machinery use leads to higher fuel consumption and noise pollution, potentially disrupting rural ecosystems. Meanwhile, industry stakeholders point out that purchasing harvesters requires significant investment, with high maintenance and spare part costs further driving up rental rates for farmers, as reported by The Express Tribune.

- ANI
The Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima has successfully navigated the tense Strait of Hormuz and is en route to Mumbai, expected to dock on April 22. This safe passage contrasts with recent incidents where two other Indian vessels reported being fired upon in the same strategic chokepoint, forcing them to reverse course. India's Foreign Secretary has urgently conveyed the nation's deep concern over maritime safety to Iran's Ambassador, urging the facilitation of India-bound ships. Despite the disruptions, the Indian government reports domestic refineries are operating at high capacity and a dedicated control room is monitoring the situation 24/7.

Indian-flagged tanker Desh Garima safely transits Strait of Hormuz as other vessels report being fired upon. Expected to dock in Mumbai April 22.

New Delhi, April 19 In a significant feat of navigation through a volatile energy corridor, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The vessel, carrying 31 Indian seafarers, is currently en route to Mumbai and is expected to dock on April 22.

The safe passage of the Desh Garima--the 10th Indian vessel to transit the strait since early March--comes at a time of extreme tension. While the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) tanker successfully cleared the chokepoint, other Indian vessels have not been as fortunate.

According to an official update from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the security environment in the Persian Gulf remains precarious.

In the last 24 hours, two other Indian-flagged ships--the supertanker VLCC Samnar Herad and the Bulk Carrier Jag Arnav--reported being fired upon while attempting to transit the Strait.

Following the shooting incident, both vessels were forced to reverse course and return to the safety of the Persian Gulf. Authorities confirmed that despite the firing, no injuries were reported among the Indian crew members.

The escalation prompted a swift diplomatic response from New Delhi. On Saturday, India's Foreign Secretary called the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to convey "deep concern" over the safety of merchant shipping and mariners.

"The Foreign Secretary noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and urged the Ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran to resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait," the Ministry statement read.

Despite the maritime disruption, the Indian government has moved to reassure the public regarding fuel supplies.

All domestic refineries are reportedly operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories. Over 53.5 lakh domestic cylinders were delivered on April 18 alone, with the government prioritising household needs over commercial allocation.

The Directorate General of Shipping has now facilitated the repatriation of 2,538 Indian seafarers since the regional crisis began, including 51 in the last 24 hours.

The situation continues to be monitored 24/7 by a dedicated control room that has handled nearly 7,000 calls since its activation.

As the Desh Garima makes its final approach to Mumbai, the Indian government remains in close coordination with international maritime missions to ensure the "uninterrupted" movement of its energy-critical fleet.

- ANI
Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan is stable and recovering well after undergoing a medical procedure, as confirmed by his brother Chiranjeevi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kalyan, offering encouragement and prayers for his swift recovery. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also extended his best wishes for a quick recovery. Doctors have advised a period of rest, after which Kalyan is expected to resume his official duties.

Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan is recovering after a medical procedure. PM Modi, CM Naidu, and brother Chiranjeevi share wishes for his speedy recovery.

Hyderabad, April 19 Actor Chiranjeevi has shared an update on his brother, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's health condition.

Taking to his X handle, Chiranjeevi noted that Pawan Kalyan has successfully undergone a medical procedure and is recovering well.

"Kalyan Babu has successfully undergone a medical procedure and is now safe, stable, and recovering well. As per the doctors, it may take about a week for him to return to his normal routine. There is no cause for concern. Thank you all for your love, concern, and prayers. Let us keep him in our thoughts and wish him strength, comfort, and a speedy recovery," he wrote.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his well-wishes and prayers for the Janasena Party chief's good health.

"Spoke to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan Garu and enquired about his well-being. He is remarkably courageous, and I am sure he will recover very soon. Praying for his good health," PM Modi wrote on X.

In response, Pawan Kalyan thanked PM Modi for his kind words and added, "Thank you, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, for your kind words and for taking the time to speak with me and enquire about my health following the surgery. Your concern, encouragement, and wishes for a speedy recovery give me great strength. I remain grateful for your continued guidance, support, and healing wishes."

On Saturday, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu also wished a speedy recovery to his deputy.

"Sending my best wishes to Pawan Kalyan Garu for a speedy recovery following his surgery. May he regain his strength quickly and come back healthier than ever," the Chief Minister posted.

According to a statement by Pawan Kalyan's Political Secretary, P Hariprasad, the party chief underwent surgery on Saturday evening after health-related issues for the past few months.

Doctors have indicated that full recovery may take a long, however, he can resume his official duties after a 10-day rest.

- ANI
Security has been significantly tightened across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the anniversary of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians last year. Intelligence sources confirm a heightened vigil, especially at tourist spots, to prevent any subversive activity. In response to the 2023 attack, India conducted 'Operation Sindoor', striking terror infrastructure inside Pakistan, which escalated tensions between the two nations. To restore tourist confidence, authorities have introduced a comprehensive QR code verification system for local service providers in Pahalgam, where tourism is now witnessing a resurgence.

Security heightened across Kashmir Valley ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary. New QR code safety system implemented for tourists.

Srinagar, April 19 Ahead of the anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, security across the Kashmir Valley was tightened on Sunday, with special focus on places of tourist interest.

Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner, on April 22 last year in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

Intelligence sources said that all security forces have been directed to heighten vigil around April 22, especially at places of tourist interest, to ensure that subversive elements are kept at bay.

IGP, Kashmir Zone, V.K. Birdi, held a detailed meeting of police and other security forces at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar to review the security situation ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary.

Preparatory meetings to devise a foolproof security plan were held at the ground level, while senior officers recently reviewed these arrangements.

The terror attack brought India and Pakistan to the brink of armed conflict, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a free hand to the armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

During 'Operation Sindoor', the Indian armed forces carried out specific strikes on terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan without crossing the border. The strikes were carried out at terror infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The situation escalated as the Pakistan Army targeted civilian and army facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The worst hit by Pakistan's escalation was Poonch town of Jammu division, in which 14 civilians were killed, including a senior civil servant.

India retaliated by destroying 18 defence installations in Pakistan, including some of its army airfields.

The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had closed 50 tourist spots to prevent a recurrence of the Pahalgam terror attack. These tourist destinations were gradually re-opened.

Tourism was booming in Kashmir before April 22 last year, and the Pahalgam terror attack dealt a very serious blow to the tourism industry, adversely affecting the livelihood of thousands of Kashmiris connected directly or indirectly with it.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took up the challenge of re-establishing the confidence of tourists by holding a Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam. In addition, he went on a long bicycle ride in Pahalgam to convey a firm message to outsiders that the place was safe for visitors.

Several other measures have been introduced in Pahalgam to ensure tourist safety. These include antecedent verification of service providers and vendors, including ponywallahs, before they interact with visitors. A unique QR code-based identification system has been introduced for all tourism service providers to enhance tourist safety in Pahalgam. The system enables easy identification and verification of genuine and registered service providers, including pony ride operators, hawkers, business establishments, as well as outside vendors.

QR codes have been introduced for tourists to verify the antecedents of service providers. When tourists scan the code with their mobile phones, they can check complete information about the concerned person. The QR codes contain the service provider's name, parentage, detailed address, mobile number, Aadhaar number, registration number, operational route, and whether they are police-verified.

Pahalgam is today again witnessing a surge in tourists, and the tragedy of April 22 has become history that hopefully will never be repeated, given the alertness of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, security forces, and the army.

Tourists have expressed complete faith in the goodwill of the local people, and the condemnation of the Pahalgam attack was spontaneous and widespread in Jammu and Kashmir.

The best tribute to the innocent civilians killed in the Pahalgam attack came not only through the elimination of the LeT terrorists responsible for that dastardly attack during 'Operation Mahadev' last year, but also through the overwhelming gloom and grief that engulfed every Kashmiri household on April 22.

- IANS
Bollywood actor Shivaleeka Oberoi and filmmaker Abhishek Pathak have welcomed their first child, a baby girl. The couple shared the joyful news on social media, calling their daughter "our little Goddess Laxmi" and describing her arrival as a pure blessing. They had announced the pregnancy in December 2025, following their wedding in Goa in February 2023. The couple is known for their romantic proposal in Turkey and their respective work in films like 'Khuda Haafiz' and 'Drishyam 2'.

Actors Shivaleeka Oberoi and Abhishek Pathak announce the birth of their first child, a baby girl they've named "our little Goddess Laxmi."

Mumbai, April 19 Actor Shivaleeka Oberoi and filmmaker Abhishek Pathak have welcomed their first child, a baby girl, the couple announced on Sunday through a heartfelt social media post.

Sharing the joyful news on Instagram, the couple described their newborn as "our little Goddess Laxmi" and called her arrival "a blessing in its purest form."

Shivaleeka Oberoi shared the announcement with a caption that read, "Our little Goddess Laxmi has arrived on an auspicious day. A blessing in its purest form."

The announcement also included a note that said, "In a moment, our hearts found a whole new meaning! With immense love and gratitude, we welcome our precious. Baby Girl! 19th April 2026. Blessed parents Shivaleeka & Abhishek."

In December 2025, the couple announced the pregnancy news amid the Christmas festivities. "Our love story has found its sweetest verse -- a tiny blessing is joining our universe," they wrote on social media.

Shivaleeka Oberoi and Abhishek Pathak tied the knot on February 9, 2023, in Goa after dating for several years. Their wedding reception was attended by several film personalities, including the cast of Pyaar Ka Punchnama, including Kartik Aaryan, Sunny Singh, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Ishita Raj Sharma, while actor Ajay Devgn also attended the celebration.

They had a dreamy proposal in Turkey, where Abhishek Pathak popped the question to Shivaleeka Oberoi under the hot air balloons. The grand proposal video also did the rounds on social media.

On the work front, Shivaleeka is known for 'Yeh Saali Aashiqui' and 'Khuda Haafiz'. Abhishek has directed films such as 'Drishyam 2' and 'Ujda Chaman'. He has also produced films such as 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama', 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2', 'Section 375' and 'Khuda Haafiz'.

- ANI
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has arrived in New Delhi for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His itinerary includes key meetings with PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu to discuss strengthening cooperation in areas like trade, semiconductors, AI, and critical technologies. The visit is seen as a significant step in advancing the Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations, building on their recent interactions at multilateral summits. President Lee will also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat during his stay.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung begins a 3-day state visit to India for talks with PM Modi to strengthen strategic partnership.

New Delhi, April 19 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day state visit.

Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra received President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung at the airport in New Delhi.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the South Korean President's visit to India marks an "important milestone" in advancing the Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

"A very warm welcome to H.E. President Lee Jae Myung of Republic of Korea as he arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. This is President Lee's first visit to India," Jaiswal posted on X.

"President Lee was received by Shri Harsh Malhotra, MoS, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The visit marks an important milestone in advancing the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership," he added.

President Lee is on a three-day visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on Monday and the two leaders will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including shipbuilding, trade, investments, AI, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies, people-to-people connect and cultural exchanges. They will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, the MEA stated.

PM Modi is also scheduled to host a lunch in honour of the visiting leader.

President Lee will also hold talks with President Droupadi Murmu. President Murmu will also host a banquet in his honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will call on the South Korean President.

President Lee will also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on Monday.

"India and the ROK share a multifaceted partnership rooted in ancient civilizational ties and shared values of democracy and rule of law. The visit of President Lee underscores the shared aspiration of both countries to further strengthen the existing areas of cooperation while expanding collaboration in new and emerging areas of mutual interest," the MEA stated.

Last November, PM Modi held a meeting with the South Korean President on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. This was their second meeting in 2025, following their talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada.

"Had a wonderful meeting with President Mr Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea during the Johannesburg G20 Summit. This is our second meeting this year, indicative of the strong momentum in our Special Strategic Partnership. We exchanged perspectives to further deepen our economic and investment linkages," PM Modi posted on X following the meeting.

- IANS
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung commemorated the 66th anniversary of the 1960 April 19 pro-democracy uprising, stressing the enduring need to defend democratic principles. In his address, he drew a direct parallel between the people's resistance in 1960 and former President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged martial law bid in 2024. Lee warned that anti-democratic forces exploit inequality and poverty to justify destroying freedom, emphasizing that politics must focus solely on people's livelihoods. He honored the sacrifice of those killed in the 1960 revolt, which ousted the authoritarian regime of first President Rhee Syng-man over election rigging.

President Lee Jae Myung vows to safeguard democracy, drawing parallels between the 1960 April 19 Revolution and modern political challenges.

Seoul, April 19 South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of defending democracy Sunday as he marked the anniversary of a 1960 pro-democracy civil uprising that led to the ouster of South Korea's first President Rhee Syng-man.

In an address on the 66th anniversary of the "April 19 Revolution," Lee likened people's resistance during the 1960 uprising to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid in 2024, saying the "loud cry" of the people helped topple an "arrogant and unjust regime."

"It was the spirit of the April 19 revolt, which ended the ruthless dictatorship and was rooted in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, that enabled South Korea to overcome the cold night of insurrection in December 2024," Lee said at the April 19th National Cemetery in northern Seoul, which holds the remains of those killed in the uprising, reports Yonhap news agency.

Lee highlighted the need to safeguard democracy, saying, "Only then can we prevent anti-democratic forces from taking away our freedom again and trampling on the precious daily lives of our people."

"The military boots of dictatorship dig into the cracks of inequality and poverty and justify the destruction of democracy," Lee said. "This is why I keep emphasising, though it may seem stubborn at times, that the responsibility of politics lies solely in people's livelihoods and that the lives of the people are the very reason a state exists."

He then vowed to pass on to a brighter future the "democracy of freedom, equality, unity and solidarity" that is "etched deeply into the DNA of the Korean people."

Lee also offered his condolences to the families of the students and civilians killed in the uprising and promised to remember their sacrifice.

The April 19th civil revolt was touched off by public anger over vote rigging in the presidential election by the Rhee government in power at the time.

A series of nationwide student protests culminated on April 19, with hundreds of demonstrators killed or wounded in clashes with armed police.

The uprising ultimately forced Rhee to step down after 12 years in office.

- IANS
The Iranian Embassy in South Africa launched a social media attack on Donald Trump, using a viral audio clip from the IRGC Navy to label him an "idiot". The audio was part of a broadcast announcing the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The IRGC warned that any vessels attempting to pass through the strait without permission, especially those connected to its enemies, would be targeted. This major escalation follows Iran's accusation that the US violated a ceasefire by maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Iranian embassy mocks Donald Trump over viral navy audio, as IRGC closes the vital Strait of Hormuz, warning ships will be targeted.

Pretoria, April 19 The Iranian Embassy in South Africa has launched a biting social media attack on US President Donald Trump, using a viral maritime audio clip to label him an "idiot".

The diplomatic row erupted following the circulation of a video purportedly capturing radio communications from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy. In the recording, a voice is heard using the term "idiot", a remark that some social media accounts claimed was directed at Iran's own Foreign Minister.

However, the Iranian mission in Pretoria moved quickly to dismiss these claims, asserting that the insult was intended for the American President. Taking to X, the embassy stated, "You idiot, he meant your Idiot President, Trump. Just google 'idiot'--you'll understand who it is."

The underlying audio, attributed to the IRGC Navy, issued a stern warning to all vessels attempting to navigate the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The radio message, broadcast on maritime Channel 16, declared that the waterway remains under Tehran's strict control.

"This is Iranian Sepah Navy calling on channel 16, Strait of Hormuz is still closed, we will open it by the order of our Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiot," the radio communication announced.

The broadcast further warned of military consequences for any ships defying the closure. "If you want to pass through the Strait, you must ask for the permission from the Iranian Sepah navy. All vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be targeted if they try to pass the Strait of Hormuz," the message added.

Providing further context to this escalation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has officially announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian state media outlet Press TV, the move follows the United States' decision to uphold a blockade of Iranian ports.

Tehran claims this blockade is a direct "violation of the conditions of the ongoing ceasefire". In a formal communication issued on Saturday, the IRGC Navy clarified that, following the initial ceasefire declaration, the Islamic Republic had opted to permit the passage of non-military ships through the vital waterway via a "specific corridor designated by Tehran".

However, this policy has been abruptly rescinded due to perceived American aggression. "Due to the violation of the ceasefire conditions, and as the American adversary has not lifted the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed as of this evening until this blockade is removed," the Corps stated.

Press TV noted that the move marks a significant escalation in the maritime standoff between the two nations.

Following this closure, the IRGC issued a stern directive to all maritime traffic in the region, warning that no ship should attempt to leave its "anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman" to navigate towards the waterway.

The IRGC further cautioned that any such maritime activity would be viewed as "cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted", according to the statement.

This warning places international shipping on high alert as the IRGC asserts total control over the region's primary energy transit route.

Reiterating its command over the area, the statement insisted that the IRGC's Navy is the "only official authority" regarding the management and regulations of the waterway.

The Iranian military also dismissed recent rhetoric from Washington, declaring that "statements made by the terrorist US president regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf have no validity".

The strategic importance of the "Strait of Hormuz" remains a focal point of international concern, as it serves as one of the most vital conduits for the global oil trade.

Any operational interference within this waterway carries instant consequences for international energy distribution and the stability of maritime logistics.

- ANI
Money is designed to last, but accidents happen in ways most people would never expect. Fires, floods, insects, and even household mistakes can destroy paper currency, leaving individuals unsure if their savings are lost forever. In the United States, a specialized government service exists to address exactly these situations. The Mutilated Currency Division, part of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, works to recover and reimburse damaged money for individuals across the country. Each year, the division handles tens of thousands of cases, carefully examining destroyed or severely damaged banknotes to determine their remaining value. If at least fifty one percent of a bill can be identified, the government will replace it at full value. This service is provided free of charge, offering financial relief to people who may have lost money during unexpected events. On average, the division reimburses millions of dollars annually, reflecting both the frequency of these incidents and the importance of the program. The work itself is surprisingly hands on and low tech. Specialists use tools such as scissors, scalpels, glue, and tweezers to piece together fragments of currency. Each case requires patience, precision, and careful documentation to ensure accuracy and prevent fraud. The process highlights a lesser known side of financial systems, where restoration and verification play a critical role.

The variety of cases handled by the division reveals just how unpredictable damage to currency can be. Some of the most challenging situations involve money that has been soaked and left for long periods, causing it to harden into solid blocks. Others come from common household accidents, such as bills accidentally placed in ovens or microwaves. Animal related cases are also surprisingly frequent, with pets and livestock often damaging or consuming money. One well known example involved a farmer whose cow ate his wallet, requiring specialists to recover the remains from the animals stomach before reimbursing the lost funds. While these stories may seem unusual, they highlight the importance of the service in protecting individuals from financial loss. The division also plays a vital role during natural disasters, when large amounts of currency can be damaged by floods, fires, or storms. In such cases, the number of claims increases significantly, and the financial assistance provided can be critical for recovery. Beyond the technical work, the service offers reassurance during difficult times, helping people regain a sense of stability after loss. The existence of the Mutilated Currency Division demonstrates how even the most damaged money can still hold value when supported by careful expertise and public service.
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has suggested implementing a mandatory declaration or pledge for students during school and college admissions, affirming their commitment to stay away from drugs. He discussed this and broader educational issues with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, emphasizing the need for awareness and control of substance use in institutions. The meeting also covered the pending nominations of ministers Mohammed Azharuddin and M. Kodandaram to the Legislative Council, with Azharuddin facing a constitutional deadline to become a member. The Chief Minister assured the Governor that all suggestions would be carefully considered for appropriate action.

Telangana Governor proposes students take a mandatory pledge against drugs during admissions. Meeting with CM Revanth Reddy focused on drug-free campuses.

Hyderabad, April 19 Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday suggested that a declaration or pledge be obtained from students at the time of admissions in schools and colleges, affirming their commitment to stay away from drugs.

He made the suggestion during a meeting with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and state minister D. Sridhar Babu at Lok Bhavan.

According to an official release, education and drug-free campuses were the key focus of the meeting.

During the interaction, the Governor discussed various issues related to the education sector with the Chief Minister. He emphasised the need to create awareness among students on the dangers of drug abuse and suggested that effective measures be taken to control substance use in educational institutions.

The Governor further proposed that students should be administered a pledge against drug consumption as part of awareness initiatives. He also discussed the upcoming awareness programme scheduled to be held under his leadership at LB Stadium on June 12.

The Chief Minister assured the Governor that all the suggestions would be carefully considered and appropriate action would be taken.

According to the official release, the Chief Minister paid a courtesy visit to the Governor. Member of Parliament Vem Narender Reddy was also present during the meeting.

The Chief Minister is understood to have requested the Governor to approve the pending nominations of minorities welfare minister Mohammed Azharuddin and M. Kodandaram to the Telangana Legislative Council.

The Chief Minister's meeting with the Governor came a day after Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy called on the Governor.

According to Lok Bhavan, they discussed administrative and legal matters related to the state.

It has been nearly six months since Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister. He is not a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Council.

Azharuddin, who was sworn in as a minister on October 31, 2025, is constitutionally required to get elected to either the Assembly or the Council by April 30, 2026, to continue in the Cabinet.

The Telangana Cabinet had recommended the names of Azharuddin and Kodandaram for nomination to the Council under the Governor's quota on August 30, 2025. The Governor has not yet approved the file.

- IANS
Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Qassem, has declared that the current 10-day truce with Israel cannot be a one-sided arrangement and must be mutual. He strongly criticized the US-led diplomatic process, calling it an insult to Lebanon for allowing America to dictate terms. Qassem stated that despite the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters remain in the field with "hands on the trigger," ready to respond to any Israeli violations. The truce's scope is contested, with Israel clarifying it does not cover Lebanon, while Iran claims it includes an end to hostilities against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warns the ceasefire with Israel must be mutual, calling US-led talks an "insult" to Lebanon. Fighters remain on alert.

Beirut, April 19 Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted on Saturday that the current 10-day truce with Israel cannot be a unilateral arrangement.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Qassem vowed that his fighters are prepared to retaliate against any Israeli strikes targeting Lebanese territory.

In his initial response on Saturday to the ceasefire brokered by the United States, Qassem characterised the diplomatic process as "an insult to our country and our homeland, Lebanon, that America dictates its text and speaks on behalf of the Lebanese government."

These remarks follow a significant diplomatic development in Washington, where ambassadors from Lebanon and Israel held meetings ahead of anticipated direct negotiations, the first such talks between the two nations in decades.

Speaking in a televised statement, the Hezbollah chief clarified his group's stance on the cessation of hostilities. Al Jazeera quoted Qassem as stating, "A ceasefire means a complete cessation of all hostilities. Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger, and they will respond to violations accordingly."

He further emphasised that the truce must be mutual to remain valid. "There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only, it must be from both sides," Qassem added, according to Al Jazeera.

The Hezbollah leader also voiced strong opposition to the recent diplomatic engagement in the United States. "Enough of subjecting Lebanon to these humiliations by negotiating directly with the Israeli enemy and listening to its dictates, and by the shameful spectacle in Washington," he remarked.

This rare direct engagement in Washington earlier this week culminated in an announcement by US President Donald Trump, who stated that both Israeli and Lebanese leadership had consented to a 10-day ceasefire.

Under the specific terms of the agreement, Israel maintains its "right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks."

Conversely, Lebanon is required to take "meaningful steps" to block Hezbollah and other "rogue non-state armed groups" from launching operations against Israeli targets.

While President Trump has issued a public warning to Hezbollah to "act nicely" throughout the duration of the truce, the group has countered with its own warning, stating their operatives have kept "hands on trigger."

The ceasefire landscape remains complex due to conflicting narratives regarding its scope.

When the truce was initially announced on April 7, Iran claimed the US President had endorsed a 10-point proposal that included an "end of hostilities" against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

However, the official US statement lacked any mention of Lebanon, a discrepancy that became prominent when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the deal "did not cover Lebanon".

Following the Israeli stance, President Trump cautioned Tehran to respect the "real agreement" as tensions persist over the geographical limits of the truce.

- ANI
US President Donald Trump issued a strong statement praising Israel as a courageous and loyal ally that "knows how to win." This comes as Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of violating ceasefire conditions by maintaining a naval blockade. The IRGC warned that any ship attempting to move toward the strait would be targeted as cooperating with the enemy. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's leader outlined conditions for maintaining a ceasefire with Israel, adding another layer to the complex regional tensions.

Trump praises Israel as a loyal ally "that knows how to win" as Iran closes the vital Strait of Hormuz, escalating regional tensions.

Washington, DC, April 19 In a significant show of diplomatic support, US President Donald Trump has issued a robust endorsement of Israel, characterising the nation as a premier strategic partner during periods of heightened regional instability.

In a recent statement shared via Truth Social, the Republican leader asserted that the Middle Eastern nation has "proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America." Elaborating on the specific attributes of the partnership, he lauded the country as being "courageous, bold, loyal, and smart."

The President further suggested that Israel's military and strategic resolve sets it apart from other global actors. He maintained that the nation, "unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress," demonstrates a formidable combat spirit and "knows how to WIN."

These declarations arrive against a backdrop of intensifying friction involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The regional landscape remains fraught with complexities, particularly concerning negotiations over ceasefire protocols and the security of maritime operations within the "Strait of Hormuz."

While the communication stopped short of identifying specific nations, it appeared to establish a clear distinction between Israeli steadfastness and the perceived wavering of other international partners. Trump specifically alluded to certain allies who, in his assessment, have "shown their true colors" during the recent period of geopolitical pressure.

The situation has been further complicated by a dramatic move from Tehran. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, citing the United States' decision to uphold a blockade of Iranian ports in what Tehran claims is a direct "violation of the conditions of the ongoing ceasefire," as reported by Iranian state media outlet Press TV.

In a formal communication issued on Saturday, the IRGC Navy clarified that, following the initial ceasefire declaration, the Islamic Republic had opted to permit the passage of non-military ships through the vital waterway via a "specific corridor designated by Tehran." However, this policy has been abruptly rescinded due to perceived American aggression.

"ue to the violation of the ceasefire conditions, and as the American adversary has not lifted the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed as of this evening until this blockade is removed," the Corps stated. Press TV noted that the move marks a significant escalation in the maritime standoff between the two nations.

Following this closure, the IRGC issued a stern directive to all maritime traffic in the region. The naval force warned that no ship should attempt to leave its "anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman" to navigate towards the waterway.

The IRGC further cautioned that any such maritime activity would be viewed as "cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted," according to the statement. Press TV highlighted that this warning places international shipping on high alert as the IRGC asserts total control over the region's primary energy transit route.

Reiterating its command over the area, the statement insisted that the IRGC's Navy is the "only official authority" regarding the management and regulations of the waterway. Press TV reported that the Iranian military also dismissed recent rhetoric from Washington, declaring that "statements made by the terrorist US president regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf have no validity."

The strategic importance of the "Strait of Hormuz" remains a focal point of international concern, as it serves as one of the most vital conduits for the global oil trade. Any operational interference within this waterway carries instant consequences for international energy distribution and the stability of maritime logistics.

In a separate development regarding regional stability, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has detailed the specific conditions necessary to maintain the current "10-day ceasefire" with Israel. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Qassem asserted that the cessation of hostilities is dependent on mutual compliance, demanding an absolute end to all aerial, terrestrial, and maritime "aggression" directed at Lebanon.

Outlining the roadmap for a lasting peace, the Hezbollah chief told Al Jazeera that the subsequent period must involve a total Israeli pullout from Lebanese lands. This would be followed by a comprehensive process, including the "release of prisoners" and the facilitated homecoming of citizens who were "displaced from border areas."

According to the sequence provided by Qassem to Al Jazeera, the concluding element of this agreement would necessitate a massive "large-scale reconstruction" effort, which he expects to be funded and managed with the assistance of "Arab countries."

- ANI
US President Donald Trump announced that American forces have taken full custody of the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel TOUSKA after it was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly attempting to breach a US naval blockade. Trump stated the USS Spruance stopped the ship after warnings were ignored and that US Marines now control the vessel, which is under US Treasury sanctions. The incident occurs amid heightened tensions, with Trump accusing Iran of violating a ceasefire and disrupting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The US President also stated that American envoys will pursue final ceasefire negotiations with Iran, warning of severe consequences if a deal is not reached.

President Trump announces US forces intercepted and seized an Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, escalating regional tensions.

Washington DC, April 20 US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that American forces have taken full custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, TOUSKA, after it attempted to breach a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

The US President said that a nearly 900-foot-long cargo ship was intercepted by the US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS Spruance after it refused to comply with warnings.

"Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom," President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

He added that US Marines are currently in control of the vessel, which he claimed is under US Treasury sanctions due to alleged prior illegal activities.

"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post further read.

Trump's remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US President accusing Iran of violating an ongoing ceasefire agreement and disrupting maritime traffic in the region.

In a separate statement, Trump alleged that Iran had fired upon vessels in the strategic waterway, calling it a "Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement."

The US President also announced that American representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan to pursue ceasefire negotiations with Iran, even as he warned of severe consequences if Tehran fails to agree to a deal.

"We're giving diplomacy one last chance... if Iran does not sign this deal... it will be my Honor to do what has to be done," Trump said.

The developments come as the two-week ceasefire window is nearing its end on April 22.

- ANI
Ahead of actor-politician Vijay's campaign in Tiruchirappalli East, TVK General Secretary N. Anand offered prayers at St. Antony's Church and a Mariamman temple for his electoral success. Vijay is scheduled to canvass votes in several areas of the constituency, including Wireless Road and KK Nagar, as part of his outreach. The Election Commission has approved his campaign from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, subject to 27 conditions to maintain law and order. Vijay's electoral debut with TVK is set to create a three-way contest in the constituency against DMK incumbents.

Ahead of Vijay's campaign in Tiruchirappalli East, TVK General Secretary N. Anand offers prayers at church and temple for the actor-politician's electoral victory.

Tiruchirappalli, April 19 Ahead of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay's campaign in the Tiruchirappalli East Assembly constituency, TVK General Secretary, N. Anand, offered special prayers on Sunday seeking victory for party chief Joseph Vijay.

Vijay is scheduled to canvass for votes later in the day in several areas of the constituency, including Wireless Road, KK Nagar, Thendral Nagar, Kajamalai, Kozhi Pannai and Kottapattu as part of his campaign outreach.

Prior to the campaign, Anand offered special prayers at St Antony's Church on Wireless Road, where he offered prayers and met priests, seeking their blessings and support for Vijay's electoral success.

He later visited a nearby Mariamman temple, where he offered prayers and performed special rituals in Vijay's name, praying for his success in the elections.

The prayer visits were part of the party's efforts to mobilise support ahead of Vijay's campaign programmes in the constituency.

According to official sources, Vijay will arrive in Tiruchirappalli from Chennai by a special flight. He will then campaign in an open vehicle, addressing the public at key locations, including Wireless Road near the airport, KK Nagar Bus Stand, and Kottapattu.

Vijay has sought permission to campaign from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Election Commission and the Tiruchirappalli City Police have approved the campaign with 27 conditions in place to ensure law and order.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight. Vijay is contesting two seats against DMK's incumbent MLAs RD Sekar and Inigo S Irudavarai, respectively.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

- ANI
The UAE and UK held high-level diplomatic talks in Abu Dhabi focused on escalating Gulf tensions. The discussions centered on recent Iranian missile attacks and their impact on regional stability and global energy supplies. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reaffirmed her country's solidarity with the UAE's sovereignty and security measures. The meeting also covered the announced US-Iran ceasefire and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.

UAE and UK foreign ministers meet in Abu Dhabi to discuss Iranian missile strikes, regional security, and bilateral cooperation.

Abu Dhabi, April 19 The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom held high-level talks on escalating tensions in the Gulf region, including recent Iranian missile attacks and their broader regional implications, according to an official statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Abu Dhabi, where both sides reviewed the evolving security situation in the region.

"Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Yvette Cooper, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs," according to the release published on Saturday.

"During the meeting, they discussed overall developments in the region, as well as the unprovoked and terrorist Iranian missile attacks that targeted the United Arab Emirates and a number of brotherly and friendly countries, and their serious repercussions on regional and international security and stability, the safety of international navigation, energy supplies, and the global economy," it added.

Cooper "reaffirmed her country's solidarity with the UAE in taking the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, safeguard the integrity of its territory, and ensure the security of its citizens, residents, and visitors," the statement noted.

For his part, Sheikh Abdullah "expressed his appreciation for Cooper's visit, noting that it reflects the distinguished relations between the two countries and embodies the United Kingdom's full solidarity with the UAE in the aftermath of this Iranian terrorist aggression. He also confirmed the safety of all residents and visitors in the country."

The meeting also addressed recent diplomatic developments, including the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran by US President Donald Trump.

"Yvette Cooper reviewed the latest regional developments, particularly those related to the recent announcement by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran," the release said.

They also discussed the "importance of intensifying international efforts to consolidate security and stability and enhance opportunities for sustainable peace in the region."

Both sides further reviewed bilateral ties and ways to strengthen cooperation "in a manner that serves the shared interests of both countries and promotes the prosperity and well-being of their peoples.

The meeting was also attended by the UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, as per the release.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that the UK Foreign Secretary's office did not issue a separate statement on the meeting.

- ANI
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned a deadly attack on a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon that killed one French peacekeeper and injured three others. He highlighted that this marks the third fatal incident targeting peacekeepers in Lebanon in recent weeks. The UN mission stated the fire came from non-state actors, while the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has denied any involvement. Bahrain also condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist act and a violation of international law.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns attack on UNIFIL that killed a French peacekeeper, calls for respect of ceasefire in Lebanon.

New York, April 19 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned a deadly attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, in which one French peacekeeper was killed, and three others were injured.

In a post shared on X, Guterres said, "I strongly condemn Saturday's attack on @UNIFIL_ during which one French peacekeeper was killed & another three were injured."

He expressed condolences to the victim's family and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. "I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends & colleagues of the fallen peacekeeper, and wish a full & fast recovery to the injured peacekeepers," he said.

Highlighting a pattern of violence, the UN chief noted that this was not an isolated incident. "This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving in Lebanon," he added.

Calling for an immediate halt to such attacks, Guterres said, "These attacks must stop. All actors must respect the cessation of hostilities & the ceasefire."

Meanwhile, Bahrain has also condemned the attack in Lebanon, describing it as a "terrorist" act and a "flagrant violation" of international law, Al Jazeera reported.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry affirmed Bahrain's solidarity with Lebanon and expressed support for efforts to bring those responsible to justice, as per Al Jazeera.

The ministry also reiterated its backing for UNIFIL's role in maintaining peace and stability in the country, as per a report by Al Jazeera.

On the other hand, the Israeli military said a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.

Command Sergeant Barak Kalfon, 48, died after succumbing to wounds sustained during the incident, which also left three other soldiers injured, the military said, without giving further details, according to Al Jazeera.

Earlier, the UNIFIL, in a statement issued on its telegram channel, said that on Saturday morning, a UNIFIL patrol clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to re-establish links with isolated UNIFIL positions came under small-arms fire from non-state actors.

"Tragically, one peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries and three others were injured, two of them seriously. The injured peacekeepers have been taken to medical facilities for treatment", the statement added.

UNIFIL condemned the deliberate attack on peacekeepers engaged in their mandated tasks and said that the work of explosive ordnance disposal teams is vital in the mission's area of operations, especially in the wake of the recent hostilities.

"UNIFIL has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Initial assessment indicates the fire came from non-state actors (allegedly Hizbullah)", the statement said.

It called on the Government of Lebanon to swiftly initiate an investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable for the crimes committed against UNIFIL peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has denied any involvement in this morning's attack on United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported.

"We deny any connection to us with the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh area in Bint Jbeil," the group said in a statement. "We call for exercising caution in issuing judgements regarding the incident pending the investigations of the Lebanese Army," it added, as per Al Jazeera.

- ANI
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned an attack in southern Lebanon that killed one French peacekeeper and injured three others serving with UNIFIL. The UN statement said the peacekeepers came under fire from non-state actors, presumed to be Hezbollah, while investigating a suspected IED placement. This deadly incident occurred despite a recently announced 10-day cessation of hostilities in the area. Guterres called for a prompt investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns attack killing a French peacekeeper in Lebanon, calls for investigation and accountability.

United Nations, April 19 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack that killed one French peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and injured three others earlier in the day, his spokesperson said in a statement.

"Attacks on peacekeepers must stop. They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and may amount to war crimes," said the statement, issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres reiterated his call on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law, ensure the safety of UN personnel and the inviolability of UN property and assets, and respect UNIFIL's freedom of movement, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the statement.

"All attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be effectively prosecuted and held accountable," it said.

The statement noted that according to a UNIFIL initial assessment, the peacekeepers came under fire from non-state actors, presumed to be Hezbollah, while investigating a location where suspected improvised explosive devices had reportedly been placed on a road between two United Nations positions in the UNIFIL area of operations in southern Lebanon.

This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL and occurred despite a 10-day cessation of hostilities announced on April 16, the statement said, urging all actors to respect the truce and cease fire.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the peacekeeper who died, and to the Government and people of the French Republic. He wishes a full and fast recovery to the injured peacekeepers," the statement said.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump.

However, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Saturday that it had struck militants approaching a "Yellow Line," which marks the northern edge of the "security zone" established by Israel in southern Lebanon, over the past day.

The Israeli army also began constructing a new military site on Saturday near Kfarchouba village in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon's border area, according to eyewitnesses and a Lebanese security source.

- IANS
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has launched a scathing critique of the European Union, accusing it of hypocrisy for advocating open transit in the Strait of Hormuz while condoning U.S.-Israeli aggression. He rejected the concept of "unconditional transit passage" as a fiction that ended when military assets entered the region. This comes as Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the strategic strait, citing U.S. violations of a ceasefire by maintaining a naval blockade. The IRGC warned that any vessel approaching the Strait would be considered cooperating with the enemy and targeted.

Iran shuts the Strait of Hormuz, slamming EU "hypocrisy" on international law after US-Israeli aggression and a breached ceasefire.

Tehran, April 19 Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Friday strongly criticised the European Union's stance on transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of double standards and "hypocrisy" on international law.

Reacting to remarks by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Baghaei said, "Oh, that 'international law'?! The one that the EU dusts off to lecture others while quietly green-lighting a U.S.-Israeli war of aggression--and looking the other way on atrocities against Iranians?! Spare the sermons; Europe's chronic failure to practice what it preaches has turned its 'international law' talk into peak hypocrisy."

He asserted that Iran has the right to take measures in the Strait of Hormuz, stating, "No rule of international law forbids Iran, the coastal State, from taking necessary measures to stop the Strait of Hormuz being used for waging military aggression against Iran."

Rejecting the idea of unrestricted passage, Baghaei added, "And 'unconditional transit passage' in Hormuz? That fiction sailed the moment U.S./Israeli aggression brought U.S. military assets into the strait's backyard."

His remarks came in response to Kallas's statement emphasising the need to keep the strategic waterway open. "Under international law, transit through waterways like the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free of charge. This is what leaders made clear in their call on reopening the Strait today," she said.

Warning against any move to impose fees, Kallas added, "Any pay-for-passage scheme will set a dangerous precedent for global maritime routes. Iran has to abandon any plan to levy transit fees."

She also said Europe would contribute to restoring normalcy once hostilities ease. "Europe will play its part in restoring the free flow of energy and trade, once a ceasefire takes hold," she said, adding that "The EU's Aspides naval mission is already operating in the Red Sea and can be quickly strengthened to protect shipping across the region. This could be the fastest way to provide support."

The exchange comes after Iran had said it would prioritise ships that pay fees for crossing, citing limited capacity under new restrictions. "Given the limitation on the number of vessels that will be allowed to pass, Iran has decided to give priority to those vessels that respond more quickly to the new Strait of Hormuz protocols and pay the costs of security and safety services," a senior official said.

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed from this evening, amid tensions linked to a 10-day ceasefire with the US and Israel.

In a statement, the IRGC said the move followed violations of ceasefire conditions, alleging that the US had not lifted the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports.

"Therefore, from this evening, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until this blockade is lifted," the statement said.

It also warned vessels against approaching the Strait, stating, "We warn that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted."

The developments come as US President Donald Trump warned that Iran was no longer in a position to "blackmail" Washington amid escalating tensions.

- ANI
Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita will visit Vanuatu and Tuvalu to reinforce India's diplomatic and developmental partnerships in the Pacific region. His itinerary includes high-level bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both island nations. The visit will involve reviewing ongoing Indian-assisted projects, including a Centre of Excellence in IT in Vanuatu. This engagement continues India's commitment following the 2023 Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit.

Union MoS Pabitra Margherita visits Vanuatu & Tuvalu to bolster bilateral ties, review aid projects, and advance cooperation in the Pacific.

New Delhi, April 19 Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita is scheduled to undertake a visit to the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu from April 22-25, according to the details shared by the MEA in a statement on Sunday.

As per the MEA, MoS Margherita will visit the Republic of Vanuatu on April 22-23, where he is expected to have bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu. The Union MoS will also visit the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology at Vanuatu, a facility set up with assistance from the Government of India.

In an earlier statement, the MEA highlighted how the diplomatic relations between India and Vanuatu are characterised by goodwill and cooperation, with India providing developmental assistance to Vanuatu in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

The two nations share common values in promoting democracy, multiculturalism, and addressing climate change concerns, enhancing their partnership in international forums. Despite the geographical distance between them, the bilateral relationship continues to grow, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration in various fields.

MEA said in the statement on Sunday that Pabitra Margherita will then proceed to Tuvalu on April 24, "for a two-day visit, where he will engage in bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other dignitaries of the country".

He will also review the ongoing developmental assistance projects being implemented under the Grants in Aid programme of India.

The MEA underlined that the visit to the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu by Pabitra Margherita underscores India's commitment to strengthening political and developmental cooperation ties with Pacific Island countries and is in continuation of the historic 3rd Summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) held in May 2023 in Port Moresby.

- ANI
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - The World Bank on Friday unveiled a new strategy aimed at helping small island states and other small countries better address unique challenges such as remoteness, exposure to shocks and a narrow economic base by focusing firmly on jobs.

World Bank President Ajay Banga discussed the initiative at a closed-door gathering of ministers and central bank governors from 50 small countries held during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

He said the concept was aimed at using differentiated tools to help small states attract more private investment, carry out policy and regulatory reforms to make it easier for businesses to operate and grow, and ultimately create more jobs.

It will focus on areas such as health, affordable energy, resilient infrastructure and micro- and small businesses where Bank officials see the greatest opportunities to boost growth, strengthen businesses, and create more and better jobs.

The World Bank Group last year approved a record $3.3 billion in new commitments and guarantees for small states, which face unique economic challenges and are disproportionately affected by shocks, as seen during the war in the Middle East.

"For small businesses, a single hurricane, a sudden surge in imported fuel prices, or a downturn in tourism can undo months of investment and income in a matter of days," the bank said in a blog released with the new strategy.

Banga said the Bank will take a differentiated approach to shape the regional projects it pursues in such countries, and partnerships would be a big component.

"This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Small states are diverse, and our support will reflect that," Banga told the finance officials. "We also know the economics are different."

He noted that working in small states costs up to four times more than in larger countries, so the Bank planned to streamline delivery of its services, use more flexible financing and scale solutions to make the most of each dollar.

Some projects are already under way.

In Tonga, for example, the bank will co-finance an urban resilience project with the Asian Development Bank under a mutual reliance framework agreement, a first of its kind between multilateral development banks.

Banga said more such agreements were planned, including one with the Inter-American Development Bank to expand the approach to the Caribbean. The World Bank was also expanding the tools available to countries, he said.

Better diagnostics were also important, the bank said. Deeper reports studying the constraints to private-sectorled hiring were under way for Barbados, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mauritius, Samoa, and Seychelles.
The heads of India's Central Armed Police Forces met in Kolkata to finalize security operations for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections in 2026. They reviewed deployments of Quick Response Teams and anti-sabotage checks within an Integrated Security Grid. CISF DG Praveer Ranjan emphasized the mission to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot, urging forces to act as a cohesive 'One Election Force'. The meeting concluded with reinforced morale, signaling full preparedness to ensure a safe voting environment.

Top CAPF officials converge in Kolkata to finalize a foolproof security grid for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, ensuring free and fair polls.

Kolkata, April 19 In an unprecedented display of inter-agency "synergy," the top brass of India's Central Armed Police Forces met in Kolkata on Sunday to cement a foolproof security grid for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.

With the first phase of polling just four days away, the Directors General (DGs) of the CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, and ITBP transitioned from strategic planning to operational finalisation. Their mission: ensuring that the democratic process remains untainted by fear or intimidation.

The primary objective of all these Forces is the conduct of a free, fair, and transparent election where every citizen can exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation. With the first phase of polling scheduled for April 23 across 152 constituencies, this joint address serves as a final operational alignment for the thousands of personnel deployed on the ground.

Following the internal review, a joint meeting was held at the 3rd Signal Centre, CRPF, Salt Lake. The session, initiated by Shri Salabh Mathur, IG CRPF (State Force Coordinator), brought together the heads of CISF, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, and the West Bengal Police, alongside the Election Commission Police Advisor.

The leadership reviewed the deployment of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and anti-sabotage checks, ensuring that the "Integrated Security Grid" is prepared to handle potential disruptors in coordination with local law enforcement.

"Our mission in West Bengal transcends routine security; it is about safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot. To the personnel on the ground, my message is clear: you are the guardians of democracy. We must function not as individual units, but as 'One Election Force', cohesive, disciplined, and technologically adept," said DG CISF Praveer Ranjan.

As the state approaches the first phase on April 23, the CAPF leadership emphasised: "Leadership by Example." Supervisory officers have been tasked with leading from the front to maintain high standards of discipline and turnout. The deployment includes comprehensive surveillance of sensitive pockets and the mandatory use of the Election Duty Handbook by all personnel to ensure 100% compliance with Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.

The meeting concluded with a reinforced morale among the ranks, signalling to the electorate that the security apparatus is fully prepared to deliver a safe and peaceful voting environment across the NCR and West Bengal corridors.

- ANI
US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are traveling to Islamabad for urgent talks with Iran ahead of a two-week ceasefire's expiration. President Donald Trump confirmed the mission while issuing stark threats to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if a deal is not signed. The negotiations are stalled over issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capabilities. Trump also accused Iran of violating the current truce by firing shots in the strategic waterway.

Trump sends Kushner and Witkoff to Islamabad for Iran ceasefire talks, threatening to destroy infrastructure if a deal isn't signed before the truce expires.

Washington DC, April 19 Ahead of the expiry on Tuesday of the two-week ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump in the conflict with Iran, US media outlets reported on Sunday that negotiators Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions and Jared Kushner will head to Islamabad for talks with Iran.

President Trump's Middle East envoy is headed to Pakistan this week to restart negotiations to end the Iran War, the US commander-in-chief told The New York Post.

"Steve's going to be going there tomorrow night," Trump said in a phone call on Sunday from the White House to the New York Post, confirming that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will land in Islamabad on Monday night ahead of a second round of peace talks, according to the New York Post. The president added that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, will also be involved with the talks scheduled for Tuesday.

In an interview with Fox News's Trey Yingst today, Trump said there is an ongoing fight between "moderates" and "crazies" in Iran amid negotiations with the US while confirming that Kushner and Witkoff were departing for Islamabad for talks.

"If the deal isn't done, the deal that we made, then I'm going to take out their bridges and their power plants," Trump said. "If they don't sign this thing, the whole country is going to get blown up." Fox News cited Trump as saying.

"We're preparing to hit them harder than any country has ever been hit before because you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," the US President continued as per the US broadcaster. Trump went on to say that Iran has "agreed to much" of the deal already.

Meanwhile, in a post on Truth Social today, he warned of severe repercussions, including an attack on Iranian energy and civil infrastructure, if Iran "doesn't take the deal."

"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz -- A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn't nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan -- They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations."

On the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, he claimed that it was Iran on the losing end with the closure causing a loss of USD 500 million per day to the country while claiming that the "United States loses nothing".

He reiterated the assertion of a fair deal on the table for Iran and said that he would no longer remain a "nice guy" and that the US would strike Iran's power plants and bridges.

"Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be "the tough guy!" We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!", Trump said.

The two-week ceasefire is set to end on April 22. CNN reported that Iran has not immediately confirmed the plans.The first round of ceasefire negotiations ended in a gridlock between Tehran and Washington over the energy artery- Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capacities.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his greetings as the Char Dham Yatra for 2026 officially commenced. He specifically appealed to devotees to adhere to guidelines and contribute to a plastic-free pilgrimage to support environmental conservation. The yatra began with the ceremonial departure of Lord Kedarnath's palanquin from Omkareshwar Temple, with doors set to open on April 22. Simultaneously, processions for Yamunotri and Gangotri temples were also dispatched, with authorities implementing extensive arrangements for safety and smooth operations.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami extends wishes for Char Dham Yatra 2026, urging devotees to follow rules and make the pilgrimage plastic-free.

Dehradun, April 19 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday extended greetings to devotees as the Char Dham Yatra 2026 commenced, urging pilgrims to follow guidelines and contribute to environmental conservation during the sacred journey.

In a post on X, Dhami said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all the residents of the state and followers of Sanatan Dharma for the sacred Char Dham Yatra-2026, which commences today. A warm welcome and greetings to all devotees in the land of the gods, Uttarakhand." He also appealed to pilgrims to maintain cleanliness and support sustainability efforts.

"During the journey, please adhere to the prescribed rules and, keeping environmental conservation in mind, actively contribute to making this holy pilgrimage plastic-free. May the Lord bless this sacred journey with happiness, prosperity, and spiritual advancement in all your lives," he added.

The Char Dham Yatra, one of the most significant religious pilgrimages in India, formally began on Sunday with rituals across multiple shrines. The annual pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple commenced with the ceremonial departure of the Panchmukhi palanquin of Lord Kedarnath from its winter seat at Omkareshwar Temple.

The send-off ceremony witnessed elaborate Vedic rituals, devotional chants and participation from priests, officials and a large number of devotees.

Kedarnath Rawal Bhimashankar Ling and senior officials, including district authorities, were present during the rituals. The procession will undertake a multi-day journey with scheduled halts at Phata and Gaurikund before reaching the shrine. The temple doors of Kedarnath Dham are set to open for devotees on April 22 at 8:00 am, marking the formal beginning of worship for the 2026 season.

Simultaneously, the palanquins of Goddess Yamuna and Goddess Ganga were dispatched from Kharsali and Bhairavghati towards Yamunotri Temple and Gangotri Temple, respectively. The Char Dham circuit also includes Badrinath Temple, completing the revered pilgrimage route.

Authorities have put in place extensive arrangements, including security, medical aid, traffic management, and sanitation facilities, to ensure a safe and smooth yatra.

- ANI
The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham were opened with Vedic rituals on Akshaya Tritiya, officially commencing the Char Dham Yatra 2026. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the ceremony at Gangotri, where the first prayers were offered in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister highlighted the extensive arrangements made by the state government for a safe, smooth, and well-organized pilgrimage. He appealed to devotees to support a green and clean yatra, emphasizing environmental conservation.

Uttarakhand's Char Dham Yatra 2026 commences with the ceremonial opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples on Akshaya Tritiya.

Uttarkashi, April 19 The portals of Gangotri Dham and Yamunotri Dham were ceremonially opened for devotees on Sunday on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with Vedic chanting and traditional rituals. With this, the Char Dham Yatra 2026 in Uttarakhand has officially commenced.

On this sacred occasion, the first prayers at both shrines were offered in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the opening ceremony at Gangotri Dham, where he took a ceremonial pledge and performed the first worship in the Prime Minister's name, praying for the successful conduct of the Char Dham Yatra and for peace, prosperity, and well-being across the nation and the state.

As per religious traditions, the ceremonial palanquin (doli) of Goddess Ganga departed from the Bhairav Temple at Bhairav Ghati and reached Gangotri Dham. Following special rituals and abhishek, the doors of the Gangotri temple were opened for devotees at 12:15 PM.

Similarly, the sacred doli of Goddess Yamuna, led by Shani Dev, began its journey from her winter abode at Kharsali and arrived at Yamunotri Dham. The temple doors were opened for devotees at 12:35 PM with proper religious rituals.

During the inauguration ceremony at Gangotri Dham, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered prayers at the temple of Goddess Ganga and received blessings from the ceremonial palanquin.

The Chief Minister stated that the Char Dham Yatra has formally begun on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. He emphasised that the four sacred shrines of Uttarakhand are major centres of faith for devotees from across the country and abroad, and visiting these divine sites is a cherished aspiration for every devotee.

He further added that the state government has made extensive and robust arrangements to ensure a safe, well-organised, and smooth pilgrimage. Priority has been given to providing all essential facilities for the convenience of devotees, along with effective traffic management along the pilgrimage routes to avoid any inconvenience.

The Chief Minister also said that the government aims to ensure that every pilgrim visiting Devbhoomi Uttarakhand not only receives divine blessings but also experiences a safe, pleasant, and memorable journey. He appealed to all devotees to support the successful organisation of a green and clean Char Dham Yatra and urged them to remain mindful of cleanliness and environmental conservation.

- ANI
The sacred palanquins of Goddess Yamuna and Goddess Ganga have departed from Kharsali and Bhairavghati, marking the start of the Char Dham Yatra. The portals of Kedarnath Dham will be opened on April 22 following traditional Vedic rituals. The ceremonial idol of Lord Kedarnath has begun its journey from Ukhimath towards the temple, with devotees gathering along the route. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the yatra and wished pilgrims a safe journey.

The Char Dham Yatra commences in Uttarakhand with sacred palanquins departing for Yamunotri and Gangotri. Kedarnath doors open April 22.

Uttarkashi, April 19 The sacred palanquin of Goddess Yamuna departed from Kharsali for Yamunotri Dham on Sunday morning as the Char Dham Yatra is scheduled to begin today.

The palanquin of Goddess Ganga also departed from the ancient Bhairav Temple in Bhairavghati for Gangotri Dham.

The Char Dham Yatra to Kedarnath Dham, Gangotri Dham, Yamunotri Dham, and Badrinath Dham will begin today.

The portals of Kedarnath Dham, regarded as a sacred symbol of faith and devotion, will be opened for pilgrims for the 2026 Yatra on April 22 at 8:00 am.

The opening will take place in accordance with Vedic rituals, traditional customs, and Sanatan traditions. There is a strong sense of enthusiasm across the district, and the administration is in the final stages of completing all necessary arrangements for the occasion.

Meanwhile, the ceremonial idol (Utsav Doli) of Lord Kedarnath will depart from its winter seat at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, following grand and traditional rituals. The temple premises have been beautifully decorated with flowers, and a large number of devotees have already started gathering.

According to the scheduled programme, on April 19, the Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath will leave Ukhimath and reach Phata. On April 20, it will proceed from Phata to Gaurikund, where it will halt for the night at the sacred Gaurimai Temple.

In the next phase of the journey, on April 21, the Doli will depart from Gaurikund in the morning and reach the temple treasury (Bhandar) at Kedarnath Dham. Religious rituals at the shrine will formally commence thereafter, culminating in the opening of the temple doors to devotees on April 22 at 8:00 am.

On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the inauguration ceremony of the Char Dham Yatra 2026, organised by the Joint Rotation Yatra Arrangement Committee in Rishikesh.

He extended his best wishes to devotees arriving for the Yatra and prayed for a safe and auspicious pilgrimage for all pilgrims.

- ANI
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, meeting with the country's top leadership including Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The discussions centered on deepening the multifaceted bilateral partnership and strengthening people-to-people bonds rooted in shared history. The visit includes engagements with the Indian-origin Tamil community and a review of development projects like the Indian Housing Project. The trip reinforces India's Neighbourhood First policy and commitment to supporting Sri Lanka.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan meets Sri Lankan PM, President & LoP to deepen partnership, discuss housing projects & Neighbourhood First policy.

Colombo, April 19 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, met the country's Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Leader of Opposition Premadasa. Discussions were held on deepening the bilateral partnership, along with strengthening the people-to-people ties between the countries.

In a series of posts on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya hosted the Vice President Radhakrishnan.

"Recalling the shared civilizational heritage between the two countries, the leaders discussed the importance of further strengthening the bilateral ties including people-to-people bonds", he added.

In another post, the MEA spokesperson said that LoP Sajith Premadasa called on the Vice President and both leaders discussed further strengthening India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties.

VP Radhakrishnan on Sunday also called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

Jaiswal said in a post on X that the leaders held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India -Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history and cultural values.

Vice President reaffirmed India's commitment to the Neighbourhood First policy and to further strengthen our cooperation for the benefit of both nations.

"The discussions also focused on various initiatives, including the Indian Housing Project and projects being implemented under the USD 450 mn package for areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka," he said.

According to the MEA, the 2-day visit (April 19-20) includes meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership and engagements with the Indian-origin Tamil community. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach under its Neighbourhood First policy.

According to Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, the Vice President will also engage directly with communities in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's picturesque up-country tea-growing region, where a large section of the Indian-origin Tamil community resides.

There, he will visit settlements developed under India's Housing Project Phase III, which has already constructed 4,000 houses, with an additional 10,000 currently underway.

The visit is expected to see the Vice President interact with Indian-origin Tamil families, visit housing projects, and also tour the Seetha Temple in Nuwara Eliya.

Welcoming the visit, the President of the Lanka India Business Association, Santosh Menon, told ANI, "I consider this a significant and important moment in the history of the relationship between the two countries. As you know, in the recent past, India and Sri Lanka's relationship has been at its best."

Furthermore, on VP Radhakrishnan's visit to Sri Lanka, President of the Indian CEO Forum (ICF) in Sri Lanka, Kishore Reddy, expressed happiness, saying, "We are very happy as his visit is going to strengthen people-to-people ties as well as the business and economic relationship that India already has. With his visit, the ties between India and Sri Lanka are going to get strengthened...India has always assisted Sri Lanka in all the calamities, including the recent Cyclone Ditwah and the present crisis as well."

The MEA has described Sri Lanka as a key partner under India's Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR framework, noting that the visit will further reinforce centuries-old civilisational ties and deepen the enduring people-to-people relationship between the two nations.

- ANI
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan has embarked on a landmark two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, the first such bilateral trip by an Indian Vice President. His agenda includes high-level meetings with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. A key focus is engagement with the Indian-origin Tamil community, including the virtual handover of houses under the Indian Housing Project, which has now built 50,000 homes. The visit aims to strengthen the deep-rooted people-to-people and civilisational bonds between the two neighbouring nations.

VP C P Radhakrishnan begins a 2-day visit to Sri Lanka, meeting top leaders and engaging with the Indian diaspora and Tamil communities.

New Delhi, April 19 India's Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday departed for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

The visit is notable as the first bilateral official trip by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka, underscoring the growing momentum in diplomatic engagement between the neighbours.

Confirming the departure, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, posted on X, "Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri. C. P. Radhakrishnan @VPIndia has departed for Sri Lanka. A rich agenda involving meeting with Sri Lankan leadership and interacting with Indian community lies ahead."

During the visit, VP Radhakrishnan is scheduled to call on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and hold discussions with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. His engagements will also include interactions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community and Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island nation.

The Vice President will also address members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Colombo. At the event, he will virtually hand over houses to beneficiaries from Tamil communities constructed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. With this phase, the total number of houses built for Tamil communities will reach 50,000, while an additional 10,000 houses are currently being developed under the initiative's fourth phase.

On Monday, the Vice President will travel to Nuwara Eliya, where he will visit project sites and interact with the local Tamil community. Indian-origin Tamilians form a significant segment of Sri Lanka's population, numbering around 1.6 million, or approximately 7 per cent.

The visit comes amid a series of recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, including President Disanayaka's visit to India in February and Prime Minister Amarasuriya's trip in October 2025. It is expected to further deepen the millennia-old civilisational and people-to-people ties shared by India and Sri Lanka.

- IANS
India has completed and handed over the final tranche of houses under Phase III of its flagship Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the overall project, spanning 15 years, represents one of India's largest grant assistance initiatives abroad, with a commitment of nearly 1,835 crore. During Vice President C P Radhakrishnan's historic bilateral visit, new Memoranda of Understanding were signed for post-disaster reconstruction and development projects in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. The visit reinforced Sri Lanka's central role in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision, aiming to strengthen centuries-old people-to-people ties.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announces completion of Phase III of India's flagship housing grant in Sri Lanka, a key milestone in bilateral development partnership.

Colombo, April 20 Highlighting India's development partnership with Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday said the final tranche of houses under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project has been completed and handed over during Vice President C P Radhakrishnan's visit, marking a major milestone in the flagship initiative.

"In addition, during the same community reception, the Vice President also announced the completion and handing over of the final tranche of houses under phase three of the Indian housing project," Misri said during a special briefing.

He noted that Phase III included 4,000 houses for estate workers across Sri Lanka's Central, Uva and Southern Provinces, adding that the majority had already been delivered.

"3,855 units under phase three had already been handed over, and during this visit, the remaining 145 units have been completed and handed over, marking a significant milestone in the progress of the Indian housing project," he said.

Describing the scale of India's commitment, Misri underlined that the project remains one of New Delhi's largest grant assistance initiatives abroad.

"Some of you may be aware that the overall project, which was announced close to 15 years ago, has an overall commitment of nearly 1,835 crore Indian rupees. It's a flagship grant assistance project in Sri Lanka. If I'm not mistaken, it's probably the largest such Indian grant assistance project outside of India," he said.

He added that 50,000 houses have already been completed under the initiative, while work on an additional phase is underway.

"50,000 houses have already been completed under this project, and work on a fourth phase comprising 10,000 houses is now underway," Misri said.

The Foreign Secretary also outlined the Vice President's engagements, including visits to religious sites and interactions with beneficiaries.

"The Vice President concluded the day's engagements by visiting and praying at the Kathiresan Temple and the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo," he said, adding that Radhakrishnan would travel to Nuwara Eliya to meet beneficiaries at Liddisdale Estate and visit housing sites constructed by India.

Misri further highlighted additional development initiatives announced during the visit, including infrastructure restoration projects.

"One is the announcement of the resumption of train services on the restored northern railway line... and the other one is the announcement of the completion of the installation of three more Bailey Bridges restoring connectivity in areas that had been impacted by Cyclone Dithwa," he said.

He also pointed to new Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Sri Lanka focusing on post-disaster reconstruction and development in the Eastern Province.

"Essentially, this is a first set of six priority projects under the multi-sectoral grant assistance for the Eastern Province... This includes a women's empowerment project for the establishment of batik training centres... the establishment of a premature baby unit... the construction of an eye, ENT and mental health unit...," Misri said, listing key initiatives.

He also flagged the signing of an MoU for a major healthcare facility.

"This is the conclusion of an MOU for the construction of a four-story medical ward complex at the District General Hospital in Mullaitivu," he said.

Reiterating India's broader strategic outlook, Misri said Sri Lanka continues to remain central to New Delhi's regional priorities.

"I just want to conclude by emphasising once again that Sri Lanka remains a key partner in India's 'SAGAR' vision as well as its 'Neighbourhood First' policy," he said.

He added that the Vice President's visit -- the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka -- is expected to further strengthen ties between the two countries.

"This historic first-ever bilateral visit by the Vice President of India to Sri Lanka... will further reinforce the centuries-old people-to-people ties that bind India and Sri Lanka," Misri said.

- ANI
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is on a landmark bilateral visit to Sri Lanka, meeting key leaders including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Discussions centered on expanding trade, deepening economic cooperation, and unlocking practical opportunities for mutual benefit. The visit also included meetings with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya to reaffirm India's neighborhood policy. Engagements highlighted civilizational ties, with a focus on the Indian-origin Tamil community, including the handover of houses under an Indian Housing Project.

VP C.P. Radhakrishnan meets Sri Lankan leaders Sajith Premadasa, Anura Dissanayake to discuss expanding trade and deepening historic bilateral partnership.

Colombo, April 19 Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan met Sri Lanka's Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa on Sunday, with discussions held on further deepening bilateral ties.

"During the ongoing visit of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to Sri Lanka, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa called on Vice President in Colombo. Both leaders discussed further strengthening India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Premadasa said that he and visiting Indian leader held talks on enhancing trade, deepening economic ties and unlocking practical opportunities that can benefit the two nations.

"Warmly welcome Vice President, C. P. Radhakrishnan, to Sri Lanka on his first bilateral visit. We held constructive discussions on expanding trade, deepening economic ties, and unlocking practical opportunities that can benefit both our nations. Sri Lanka and India are not just neighbours we are true partners with shared history, shared challenges, and a shared future. It is time we move with greater ambition, intent and trust, to reap the benefits of this partnership for all citizens," Premadasa posted on X.

Vice President Radhakrishnan is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka. This visit underscores the growing momentum in diplomatic engagement between the neighbours.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

During his meeting with Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, Vice President Radhakrishnan reaffirmed India's commitment to the Neighbourhood policy and further strengthening cooperation for the benefit of the two nations.

"Vice President Shri. C.P. Radhakrishnan called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today. They held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India -Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history and cultural values," Jaiswal said on X.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Amarasuriya, the two leaders, recalling the shared civilisational heritage between the two countries, discussed the importance of further strengthening the bilateral ties, including people-to-people bonds," he added.

Upon his arrival in Sri Lanka on Sunday, Vice President was accorded a warm welcome in Colombo with a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

The visit is notable as the first bilateral official trip by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. This visit will focus on strengthening the civilisational and people-to-people ties between the two nations.

His engagements also included interactions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community and Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island nation.

The Vice President will also address members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Colombo. At the event, he will virtually hand over houses to beneficiaries from Tamil communities constructed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. With this phase, the total number of houses built for Tamil communities will reach 50,000, while an additional 10,000 houses are currently being developed under the initiative's fourth phase.

On Monday, VP Radhakrishnan will travel to Nuwara Eliya, where he will visit project sites and interact with the local Tamil community. Indian-origin Tamilians form a significant segment of Sri Lanka's population, numbering around 1.6 million, or approximately 7 per cent.

- IANS
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visited the Kathiresan Temple and Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, offering prayers for the shared prosperity of India and Sri Lanka. The visit highlighted the deep-rooted historical and spiritual linkages between the two nations, recalling a recent cultural exchange of Lord Buddha's relics. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake welcomed the VP, expressing optimism for strengthening bilateral ties through key discussions. The visit also featured announcements on development initiatives, including railway restoration and reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visits Kathiresan & Gangaramaya Temples in Colombo, underscoring deep cultural and civilisational links between India and Sri Lanka.

Colombo, April 20 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday visited key religious sites in Colombo during his ongoing visit to Sri Lanka, underlining the deep-rooted cultural and civilisational ties between the two countries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"Connected by shared heritage! VP India paid respects at the Kathiresan Temple and Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo today during his ongoing visit to Sri Lanka. Vice President offered prayers seeking blessings for the shared prosperity of India and Sri Lanka," Jaiswal said in a post on X.

He further highlighted the historical and spiritual linkages between the two nations, recalling a recent cultural exchange.

"He also recalled, with reverence, the public exposition of Lord Buddha's sacred relics from Devnimori in Gujarat at the Gangaramaya Temple earlier this year, underscoring the enduring civilizational bonds between India and Sri Lanka," the MEA spokesperson added.

In separate posts, Jaiswal noted that the Vice President offered prayers at both temples during the visit and was accorded a traditional welcome at the Kathiresan Temple.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also welcomed the Vice President, expressing optimism about strengthening bilateral ties.

"Welcomed Indian Vice-President @CPR_VP to Sri Lanka as he begins a two-day official visit. Looking forward to strengthening ties through key discussions," Dissanayake said in a post on X.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said during a special briefing that the Vice President concluded his engagements by visiting and praying at the Kathiresan Temple and the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo.

"The Vice President concluded the day's engagements by visiting and praying at the Kathiresan Temple and the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo," Misri said.

He added that Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Nuwara Eliya, where he will interact with beneficiaries of the Indian Housing Project and visit sites constructed by India.

Misri also highlighted key development initiatives announced during the visit, including the resumption of train services on the restored northern railway line and the installation of three Bailey bridges in areas impacted by Cyclone Dithwa.

He further noted the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding focused on reconstruction and development in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, including projects related to healthcare, women's empowerment, and agriculture.

Reiterating India's strategic outlook, Misri said Sri Lanka remains a key partner in India's 'SAGAR' vision and 'Neighbourhood First' policy, adding that the Vice President's visit -- the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka -- is expected to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

- ANI
When Zohran Mamdani ran for New York City mayor, he promised (1) to tax the rich. On Tax Day 2026, he made good on it, and he's not being subtle about who he's coming for.

The mayor, along with Governor Kathy Hochul, jointly announced (2) New York State's first-ever pied-a-terre tax: an annual surcharge on luxury second homes valued above $5 million, owned by people whose primary residence is outside New York City.

Must Read

The measure is projected to generate $500 million in annual revenue, NBC New York reports (3), and could affect as many as 13,000 properties across the five boroughs.

'If you can afford a $5 million second home  you can afford to contribute'

To drive the point home, Mamdani named names. In the official announcement, his office flagged (2) Citadel CEO Ken Griffin's $238 million, 24,000-square-foot penthouse at 220 Central Park South  at the time of closing in 2019, CNN Business reported (4), the most expensive home ever sold in the U.S.  as an example of exactly the kind of property the tax is designed to hit.

Griffin (5), who relocated Citadel's headquarters from Chicago to Miami in 2022 and has assembled a sprawling property portfolio across Saint-Tropez, London, Hawaii, the Hamptons and beyond, reportedly (6) picked up the Midtown property as, in the words of the Wall Street Journal, "a place to stay when he's in town."

That framing is central to Mamdani's argument. "When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich. Well, today, we're taxing the rich," Mamdani said in his video announcement (7). "This pied-a-terre tax is specifically designed for the richest of the rich  those who store their wealth in New York City real estate, but who don't actually live here."

Hochul echoed (8) the sentiment at a press conference: "They're part of our skyline, but those people are not part of our city," she said of vacant luxury units. "If you can afford a $5 million second home that sits empty most of the year, you can afford to contribute like every other New Yorker," she added (2).

Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Start investing with just $10

What the tax means and why it matters now

The pied-a-terre concept isn't new to Albany. Similar proposals (9) surfaced in 2014 and again in 2019, but were ultimately blocked or traded off (10) by the real estate industry.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the 'Somnath Swabhiman Yatra' from Lucknow, sending devotees on a special train to Gujarat. He stated that India is entering a new era of modern development while preserving its heritage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Separately, the CM inaugurated the state's first Centre of Excellence in Gorakhpur, established in collaboration with the Tata Group. The institute was also honoured with a Guinness World Record for online AI campaign registrations.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath flags off Somnath Swabhiman Yatra, inaugurates state's first Centre of Excellence for AI and tech upskilling in Gorakhpur.

Lucknow, April 19 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday flagged off the 'Somnath Swabhiman Yatra' from Lucknow. A special train, carrying a large contingent of devotees, departed for the darshan of Lord Somnath Dham in Gujarat as part of the 'Somnath Swabhiman Parv' programme.

"Our eternal Sanatan faith is imperishable, immortal, and indestructible. Today, the entire nation is entering a new era of modern development while preserving its glorious heritage, under the guidance and leadership of our accomplished Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. Under the 'Som Nath Swabhiman Parv', the 'Som Nath Swabhiman Yatra Uttar Pradesh' was inaugurated today in Lucknow. On this occasion, a special train carrying devotees departing for darshan of Lord Somnath Dham was flagged off with a green signal. Heartfelt congratulations to all devotees and infinite best wishes for a pleasant and auspicious journey. Jai Somnath," CM Yogi posted on X.

During the inauguration, Chief Minister Adityanath declared that India has entered a new era of modern development. He asserted that although there were repeated attacks on the eternal culture of India over time, these assaults could neither shake nor remove the country's shrines and did not succeed in suppressing the identity of the people.

"It is our good fortune that today, under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our country has entered a new era of modern development while preserving its glorious heritage. Today's age is a symbol of the fact that, according to the belief of Indian scriptures, just as the soul is immortal and is a symbol of the eternality of life, similarly, the Sanatan shrine is also a symbol of the same eternal and immortal path. We all have seen that there have been attack after attack on the eternal culture of India, but these attacks could neither shake nor remove the shrine of India, nor could they suppress it," said CM Yogi.

Earlier, CM Yogi, along with Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran, offered prayers at Gorakhnath temple on Wednesday.

Additionally, CM Yogi also inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's first Centre of Excellence at Maharana Pratap Institute of Technology, Gorakhpur.

In a post on X, CM Yogi said that the Centre of Excellence will play a crucial role in providing technical upskilling to the youth in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"Today, I participated alongside N Chandrasekharan ji, Chairman of Tata Sons, in the inauguration ceremony of Uttar Pradesh's first Centre of Excellence at Maharana Pratap Institute of Technology, Gorakhpur. On this occasion, the Centre of Excellence's vision document and the Inclusive AI for Uttar Pradesh document were unveiled, along with the exchange of important MoUs between various institutions. Within a week, Maharana Pratap Institute of Technology and TCS Foundation were honoured with a Guinness World Record for the highest number of online registrations in the Artificial Intelligence Campaign," said CM Yogi.

"Established with the success of the Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji's Atmanirbhar Bharat-Viksit Bharat vision, in collaboration with the Tata Group, this Centre of Excellence will also prove instrumental in advancing the technical upskilling, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship of the youth in eastern Uttar Pradesh," added CM Yogi.

- ANI
Air pollution is associated with increased migraine activity, according to a study published on April 15, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Both short-term and cumulative exposure to air pollution as well as climate factors such as heat and humidity were associated with increased migraine activity.

The study does not prove that air pollution causes migraine attacks; it only shows an association.

These results help us to better understand how and when migraine attacks occur. They suggest that for people who have a susceptibility to migraine to begin with, environmental factors may play two roles: intermediate-term factors such as heat and humidity may modify the risk for attacks, while short-term factors such as spikes in pollution levels may trigger attacks." Ido Peles, MD, study author of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva, Israel

The study involved 7,032 people with migraine who lived in Be'er Sheva in the Negev desert and were followed for an average of 10 years. Researchers looked at daily exposure to air pollution from traffic, industry and dust storms, as well as weather conditions. Then they looked at how often and when people had to visit the hospital or a primary care office with an acute migraine and compared that to the pollution and weather conditions that day and up to seven days earlier, since pollution effects may take a few days to affect the body.

They also looked at cumulative exposure to air pollution and migraines. As another measure of migraine activity, researchers checked pharmacy records to see how many doses of the migraine medications called triptans participants needed.

During the study, 2,215 people, or 32%, had at least one visit to the hospital or clinic for acute migraine. A total of 47% of the people had purchased triptan medications during the study, with average use at two tablets per month and 2.3% of people using 10 or more tablets per month.

The researchers found an association between air pollution and visits to the hospital or clinic for migraine. On the day with the highest number of visits to the hospital or clinic, air pollution levels were elevated compared to the average amount over the study period. On that day, the level of particulate matter 10, or PM 10 , which includes dust, was 119.9 microns per square meter (m/m3), compared to an average of 57.9 during the study. For PM 2.5 , which includes particles from motor vehicle exhaust and the burning of fuels from power plants and other industries, the level on that day was 27.3 m/m3, compared to an average of 22.3 during the study. For nitrogen dioxide, or NO 2 , a gas mostly from traffic emissions, the level on that day was 11.2 parts per billion, compared to an average of 8.7.

The day with the fewest visits to the hospital or clinic also had lower than average pollution levels.

After adjusting for other factors that could affect risk of migraine attacks, such as sex and socioeconomic status, researchers found that people with short-term exposure to high levels of NO 2 were 41% more likely to go to the hospital or clinic for migraine than people not exposed to high levels. People exposed to high levels of solar radiation, or ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, were 23% more likely to seek help for migraine than those not exposed to high levels.

People with cumulative exposure to high levels of NO 2 were 10% more likely to have high use of migraine drugs than people without cumulative exposure to high levels. People with cumulative exposure to high levels of PM 2.5 were 9% morelikely to have high use of the drugs.

Researchers found that climate conditions played a role in the effects of pollution. High temperatures and low humidity amplified the effect of NO 2 , while cold and humid conditions intensified the effect of PM 2.5.

"These findings highlight opportunities for anticipating what care will be needed," Peles said. "As climate change intensifies the frequency of heat waves, dust storms and pollution episodes, we will need to integrate these environmental risk factors into our guidance for people with migraine. When high-risk exposure periods are in the forecast, doctors can advise people to limit their outdoor activity and use air filters, take short-term preventative medications and start using their migraine drugs at the first sign of a problem to ward off attacks."

A limitation of the study is that exposure to air pollution was measured by monitoring stations and did not take into account individual behaviors such as amount of time spent indoors, use of air conditioning or air filters, type of job and daily activities.

In addition, since the information on migraine activity was gathered through hospital and clinic visits and pharmacy data, the findings mainly reflect people with severe migraine and may not be applicable to people with milder episodes of migraine or those they manage on their own.

The study was supported by the Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
The accumulation of fat in the abdominal region, especially visceral fat (fat that accumulates between organs), significantly increases the risk of stress urinary incontinence in women. A study conducted at the Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and supported by FAPESP (projects 13/00798-2 and 22/16910-5), identified this region as the one most strongly associated with involuntary urine leakage, surpassing total body fat. The results were published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology and indicate that body fat distribution may be a more decisive factor than weight itself in explaining the condition.

Stress urinary incontinence is characterized by involuntary urine leakage during everyday activities such as coughing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising.

It's that urinary leakage that occurs when pressure inside the abdomen increases and the pelvic floor can't hold it in." Patricia Driusso, professor of physical therapy in women's health at UFSCar and the advisor for the study

Although the condition is often associated solely with aging, it is not exclusive to older women. "It happens to women of all ages, including very young women. These pelvic floor muscles are rarely exercised throughout life, and without proper training, they can become weak and lose function," she states.

The study is part of a broader line of research on pelvic floor dysfunctions, which include urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse (when structures such as the uterus and bladder descend through the vaginal canal), sexual dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain. In this phase, the researchers decided to specifically investigate the relationship between body fat distribution and urinary leakage. Physical therapist Ana Jessica dos Santos Sousa, the first author of the study, conducted the research in partnership with Western Michigan University in the United States.

The results were obtained by evaluating 99 women between the ages of 18 and 49 who were recruited in the city of Sao Carlos. The study focused exclusively on women because urinary incontinence is significantly more prevalent in this population. In men, the problem is usually associated with prostate surgery. In women, multiple factors are involved, including anatomical characteristics, pregnancy, menopause, and greater strain on the pelvic floor.

The participants did not need to have a prior incontinence diagnosis and had varying BMIs (body mass index) to allow for comparison of different profiles. The women underwent a test called Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), which is considered the gold standard for body composition analysis. DXA can measure not only the total amount of fat, but also its distribution in specific regions of the body.

The researchers analyzed total fat, abdominal fat (android), fat in the pelvic region (gynoid), and visceral fat, which lies between the organs. Additionally, they administered validated questionnaires to identify incontinence and assess its impact on the women's quality of life. About 39.4% of the participants reported episodes of urinary leakage, a figure consistent with international estimates.

"The problem is often underreported, but even a few episodes of urinary leakage indicate that the continence mechanism is not functioning properly," the professor warns, noting that many women normalize minor leaks, thinking they are isolated incidents.

Impact of visceral fat

The results showed that women with higher amounts of body fat were more likely to experience incontinence. However, the main finding was the role of visceral fat. The presence of this type of fat increased the likelihood of stress urinary incontinence by about 51%. "That was the most strongly associated factor. We had imagined that fat in the gynecological region, being closer to the pelvic floor, would have a greater influence, but what emerged was visceral fat," says Driusso.

According to her, there are two possible explanations. The first is mechanical. As visceral fat accumulates within the abdominal cavity, it increases pressure on the internal organs and overloads the pelvic floor, which is the structure responsible for supporting the bladder and controlling urine flow. "Excess weight in this region creates constant strain. Over time, these muscles can become more fatigued and less efficient," the researcher explains.

The second mechanism is metabolic. Visceral fat does not merely function as an energy store; it is metabolically active and releases inflammatory substances that circulate throughout the body. This process can compromise muscle quality and reduce contractile capacity, including that of the pelvic floor muscles. "We're talking about low-grade chronic inflammation, which affects different tissues in the body. That can also contribute to muscle weakness," says the professor.

Obesity is already recognized as a risk factor for urinary incontinence, along with aging, menopause, the number of pregnancies, and delivery conditions. Regarding childbirth, Driusso issues a warning: "The problem isn't childbirth itself, but obstetric care. Inappropriate interventions, such as episiotomy [a surgical incision made in the perineum, the muscular region between the vagina and the anus, during vaginal delivery to widen the vaginal opening], can increase the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction," she states.

Prevention and treatment

According to Driusso, the study is important because it shows that excess weight and the way fat is distributed in the body can influence the development of the problem, even in women with a normal BMI. However, since this is a cross-sectional study, which analyzes participants at a single point in time, the researchers cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship; they can only conclude that there is an association between the factors. Nevertheless, the findings help guide prevention and care strategies.

One of the main forms of treatment is strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through women's health physical therapy. "Today, we have a high level of evidence that training these muscles is effective. It's the gold standard for treating stress urinary incontinence," says Driusso.

According to her, professional supervision is essential since many women cannot correctly contract these muscles on their own. "About 30% of women can't contract them properly without guidance. Some perform the opposite movement, which can worsen the condition," she explains. With proper guidance, training can lead to significant improvement in about three months. However, like any other muscle group, the pelvic floor needs continuous exercise. "If you stop, you lose strength. It's a practice that must be maintained throughout life," she says.

The researchers are planning the next steps in their investigation, which will include using MRIs to directly assess the presence of fat infiltrating the muscles, a phenomenon known as myosteatosis. They are also studying whether obese women can benefit from specific training protocols.

For Driusso, the results underscore the importance of expanding the conversation around this still-taboo topic. "Urinary incontinence impacts quality of life, limits activities, and is often overlooked. But it can be treated and prevented. The most important thing is for women to know that they don't have to live with it."
The host

Mary Agnes Carey KFF Health News @maryagnescarey

Mary Agnes Carey is managing editor of KFF Health News. She previously served as the director of news partnerships, overseeing placement of KFF Health News content in publications nationwide. As a senior correspondent, Mary Agnes covered health reform and federal health policy.

President Donald Trump this week nominated a former deputy surgeon general who has expressed support for vaccines to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Considered a more traditional fit for the job, Erica Schwartz would be the agency's fourth leader in roughly a year, should she be confirmed by the Senate.

And Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on Capitol Hill this week in the first of several hearings discussing Trump's budget request for the department. But the topics up for discussion deviated quite a bit from the subject of federal funding, with lawmakers raising issues of Medicaid fraud, measles outbreaks, the hepatitis B vaccine, peptides, unaccompanied minors, and much, much more.

This week's panelists are Mary Agnes Carey of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine.

Panelists

Anna Edney Bloomberg News @annaedney @annaedney.bsky.social

Emmarie Huetteman KFF Health News

Joanne Kenen Johns Hopkins University and Politico @JoanneKenen @joannekenen.bsky.social

Among the takeaways from this week's episode:

Trump on Thursday named four officials to the CDC's leadership team. Schwartz, whom he picked as director, is a physician and Navy officer who served as a deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term. She has voiced support for vaccines and played a key role in the covid-19 pandemic response.

RFK Jr. testified before three committees of the House of Representatives this week on the president's budget request for HHS. While the hearings touched on a wide variety of topics, notable moments included a slight softening of Kennedy's stance on the measles vaccine, including the acknowledgment that being immunized is safer than having measles  although he also stood by the decision to remove the recommendation for the newborn dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.

New studies on the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and the effects of water fluoridation on cognitive function refute Trump administration claims. And a White House meeting that brought together Trump, Kennedy, and other leaders of the Make America Healthy Again movement aimed to soothe concerns among supporters  yet there's reason to believe the overture won't completely mend fences between the Trump administration and the MAHA constituency ahead of the midterm elections.

Also this week, KFF Health News' Julie Rovner interviews Michelle Canero, an immigration attorney, about how the Trump administration's policies affect the medical workforce.

Plus, for "extra credit," the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too:

Mary Agnes Carey: Politico's "'A Crisis in the Making': Nebraska Races To Impose Work Requirements on Medicaid," by Alice Miranda Ollstein.

Joanne Kenen: The New York Times' "He Warned About the Dangers of A.I. If Only His Father Had Listened," by Teddy Rosenbluth.

Anna Edney: Bloomberg's "Hormone Drugs Make $6.3 Billion Comeback After FDA Nixes Safety Warnings," by Anna Edney.

Emmarie Huetteman: KFF Health News' "Your New Therapist: Chatty, Leaky, and Hardly Human," by Darius Tahir.

Also mentioned in this week's podcast:

Credits
While BWET has a pricey expense ratio, its price remained at roughly $10 since inception only until Q3 2025, when it started creeping up as winter months approached.

Using TD3C Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) contract prices as the basis for 90% of its index pricing calculations, BWET is a high-risk, actively managed ETF. Since oil transport pricing is sensitive to supply-chain or geopolitical event disruptions, BWETs fortunes reflect the overall daily fluctuations of oil shipping prices.

Unsurprisingly, oil tanker stock prices have followed a similar trajectory. The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF ( NYSE: BWET ) is an ETF designed to track freight futures, thus giving investors exposure to the overall oil shipping market and its pricing trends without the compounded risk of the particular financial, operational, and logistic challenges that might be faced by individual shipping firms. Although relatively new, it has returned over 1,200% in the past year, although it is probably set to fall just as quickly, in light of recent events.

Shy of two full weeks ago at the time of this writing, the US launched Operation Epic Fury to destroy the #1 state sponsor of Islamic terrorisms military capabilities and its capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons. Irans response to this infrastructure devastation was to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, the primary conduit for maritime transport of oil from the Middle East. The resulting tumult in the oil markets leading up to when the news hit the wires catapulted oil futures prices to over $112 per barrel.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE .

US military operations against Iran, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and new Trump administration energy policies favoring domestic US and Venezuelan oil production are reshaping global oil logistics, likely to reduce sustained demand for tanker shipping routes and compress BWET valuations going forward.

Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF ( NYSE: BWET ) surged 1,207% in the past year as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz blockades inflated oil transport costs from $3-4 per barrel to over $14. The ETF tracks Very Large Crude Carrier freight futures and remains highly volatile.

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The steep price buildup started during March negotiations over Irans threats to build as many as 11 nuclear weapons. Iran boasted that it had enriched uranium procured in blatant violation of their previous pact with President Obama, which had cost the US $150 billion in incentive money.

In much the same way oil prices jumped roughly 98% from the $50-$60 per barrel level to over $112 during Operation Epic Furys apex, oil transport prices ballooned from an average $3-$4 a barrel to over $14 - although this may be a false correlation for the long term (see below). BWETs pricing ascended accordingly.

Clearly, the blockade of the Strait of Hormut, through which approximately 25% or daily global oil is shipped, had the biggest influence on maritime tanker transport prices. Additional logistics costs for rerouting, additional fuel for detoured or delayed vessels, and insurance changes all factor into these higher overall transport costs.

A 1,200% Gain Is The Anomaly Exception

Bratu Laurentiu / Shutterstock.com

President Trump launched Operation Epic Fury to eradicate Iran's ability to threaen the world with nuclear weapons and to continue to promote Islamic terrorism through its proxies, resulting in disruptions to oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

When the SEC came up with the disclaimer, past performance does not guarantee future results, BWET may have been the kind of stock they had in mind. By almost any metric, a 1,200% 1-year gain is an anomaly, and in the case of BWET, almost exclusively due to geopolitical events. The fact that the US decimated the formidable Iranian military in approximately 12 days debunked all of the experts who claimed that it would be another forever war that could drag out for years.

Oil prices plummeted from triple digits to the mid-80s in 48 hours from announcement of the ceasefire and President Trumps reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under US military purview. The volatility of the oil supply chain and maritime tanker shipping industry fell commensurately.

At the time of this writing, Iran has reportedly tried to once again shut down the Strait. It is very likely that further US bombing will follow that will likely hasten the fall of its theocracy and return governing power to the Shah, as demanded by the majority of Iranian citizens. The Strait will probably undergo another US naval blockade, albeit a temporary one. While BWET may spike again for a brief period, sustained appreciation is very unlikely.

False Correlation/New Paradigm?

iip-photo-archive / Flickr

President Trump has reset the global energy game board with his strategic moves regarding Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.

While the price of oil has had a correlation with tanker transport contract prices that has been relatively consistent in the past, the geopolitical energy landscape has changed dramatically in just the past few weeks, due to strategic moves from President Trump:

President Trump has drastically cut red tape and drilling permit logjams previously put into place by the Biden administration.

Since the US apprehended dictator Nicholas Maduro and liberated Venezuela, the US now controls Venezuelan oil exports, which, combined with the US, equate to over one-third of world production.

The US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz led to nearly 120 tankers rerouting away from the Middle East to buy US oil from Texas.

Any sustained blockade that prevents Iran from exporting oil for longer than 3 weeks will likely put it at full storage capacity and in danger of overproduction. Shutting down Iranian production will devastate its oil industry, since restarting it would be prohibitively expensive without considerable financial assistance from other nations.

Bloomberg reported that the Kremlin is proposing a major economic partnership for bilateral trade in energy, critical materials,and other areas - including a return to US dollar settlements.

When factoring the above new paradigm into the equation, future TD3C VLCC contract prices may soon be set to buy from US-controlled sources in the future and prices will settle down. Since the costs of shipping are what determines the BWET index, oil prices may fluctuate or spike if Iran production has to drastically reduce, but rerouted shipping contracts may already be in play that effectively discount ships with contracts to move product from the Strait of Hormuz. BWET will thus see far less volatility under this scenario.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

Wall Street is pouring billions into AI, but most investors are buying the wrong stocks. The analyst who first identified NVIDIA as a buy back in 2010  before its 28,000% run  has just pinpointed 10 new AI companies he believes could deliver outsized returns from here. One dominates a $100 billion equipment market. Another is solving the single biggest bottleneck holding back AI data centers. A third is a pure-play on an optical networking market set to quadruple. Most investors haven't heard of half these names. Get the free list of all 10 stocks here.
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 haven't 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 US visas believe their chances at success might hinge upon something unexpected: an American chicken sandwich and the company behind it. Chick-fil-A has no branches in China. But the brand has enticed Chinese students in the US for a simple reason: "Chick-fil-A" sounds like "check files." In a culture that puts great stock in soundalike words and numbers, it's believed to bring good luck to those with complicated visa applications, per the AP .

"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. No one can say who originally had the idea, but it's 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. 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-A's logo as their profile picture on social media, sometimes converting it from red to greenas in green card. They believe they're one wordplay move away from "stay."

The Chick-fil-A superstition reflects how difficult it is for immigrants to overcome the obstacles to work legally in the US, even for those with prestigious educational backgrounds and high-level job titles. 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 chain's 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." Chick-fil-A didn't respond to emails seeking comment. More here.
People are lining upand in some cases paying five figures a yearto inject substances the FDA hasn't signed off on. In the New Yorker, physician-writer Dhruv Khullar digs into the booming world of peptides: short amino-acid chains sold as everything from injury repair tools to longevity hacks. The piece explains that peptides have legitimate medical uses (think insulin or GLP-1 drugs) but are now being embraced by biohackers, athletes, concierge doctors, and the like (podcasters Joe Rogan and Andrew Huberman swear by them) for a wide range of uses despite a lack of rigorous medical evidence. Khullar traces how legitimate lab discoveries have morphed into a gray-market free-for-all, one that is lightly regulated.
The issue of deepfake nudes in schools has been percolating for awhile, but an investigation at Wired has some bad news: The problem is "much worse than you thought," the headline on the piece by Matt Burgess declaresand it's likely to intensify even more because of ever-improving and easily accessible tech. For the investigation, Burgess worked with digital-deception outlet Indicator, and they tracked a surge in AI "nudify" tools being used mostly by boys to generate fake sexual images of classmates in a few clicks. The images look real enough to humiliateand they spread fast. The investigation's review of publicly reported cases found incidents at roughly 90 schools in at least 28 countries since 2023, with more than 600 identified victims. But keep in mind, these were only the reported cases.
Cher is again asking a court to take control of son Elijah Blue Allman's finances, this time after a pair of recent arrests and what her lawyers describe as a rapid decline. In a petition filed last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by USA Today , the 79-year-old singer seeks a temporary conservatorship over the 49-year-old's estate, citing his "severe" mental health and substance-use issues. Cher wants private fiduciary Jason Rubin appointed to manage Allman's assets, receive payments from a trust funded by his late father, Gregg Allman, and pay his bills. Allman is currently in a psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire, according to the filing.

Cher's attorney, Justin B. Gold, writes that Allman "has no concept of money," spends nearly everything on "drugs, expensive hotels and limousine transportation," and is vulnerable to fraud and manipulation. Court documents say his estate is worth about $132,000, while he faces significant debts including an estimated $200,000 tax bill, unpaid spousal support to estranged wife Marieangela King, and money borrowed to pay an $18,000 drug debt. The filing also alleges he has been kicked out of 18 hotels for erratic behavior, has caused several kitchen fires, and has engaged in troubling sexual behavior toward hotel staff.

The request follows two New Hampshire arrests earlier this year: one in late February involving assault, trespassing, criminal threatening, and disorderly conduct at St. Paul's School, and another in early March tied to an alleged home break-in that led to burglary and bail-violation charges. Cher previously sought a conservatorship in 2023 but withdrew the effort last year after Allman told the court he would change his lifestyle and hire a business manager, promises her attorney now says he "abandoned," per People. A hearing on the new petition is set for Friday.
Iran's surprise decision to re-close the Strait of Hormuz illustrates a problem that has vexed the US since the war began: Just who is calling the shots there? Within 24 hours of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announcing that the strait was "completely open," Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired on commercial vessels , warned ships that the passage was still shut, and threatened to destroy any that tried to cross without its say-so. The rapid U-turn has exposed a power struggle between Iran's diplomats and hardline military commanders and lawmakers, writes Benoit Faucon in a Wall Street Journal analysis.

"The public display of division points to the difficulty ahead as President Trump tries to nail down concessions that would allow him to end the war with a clear win," he writes. Araghchi's post had been seen as a signal of flexibility ahead of new talks, but the Guardand its media alliesquickly lashed out, with one radio message deriding "the tweets of some idiot" and a hard-line lawmaker calling for the minister's ouster. It's all the result of a power vacuum that opened up after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Because the main arbitrator is gone, the fight between different factions has started," Saeid Golkar, an Iran expert at the University of Tennessee, tells Faucon. A piece at Fortune by Jason Ma notes a similar theme from the Institute for the Study of War, which called the hard-line reaction to Araghchi's tweet "reflective of broader divisions within the Iranian regime." Those same divisions may have prevented a breakthrough deal at the first round of talks in Pakistan, the institute says.
A northwest London synagogue was hit by an apparent petrol bomb attack overnight, prompting warnings from Jewish leaders that a pattern of arsons is accelerating. Police on patrol around midnight Sunday found a broken window and smoke inside Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, the BBC reports. Officers said a bottle containing a suspected accelerant had been thrown into a room; the London Fire Brigade checked the building and confirmed there was no ongoing fire risk. No injuries were reported, and damage was limited to minor smoke effects in an internal medical room.

British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis posted on social media that it was the third Jewish site targeted in London in less than a week; the others were at a synagogue in Finchley and an attempted attack at the former Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday night. He described the incidents as part of "a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation" against UK Jews and warned that the situation was becoming more dangerous. Counterterrorism officers are investigating recent attacks on a Persian-language media outlet and on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in Golders Green, which are being treated as potential antisemitic hate crimes.

Police patrols have been increased in areas with large Jewish populations, per CBS News. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the Kenton attack "abhorrent" and said assaults on Jewish targets were "attacks on Britain." A police official said a group claimed responsibility online; investigators are looking into whether it's connected to Iran, per the AP. The Metropolitan Police announced officers will use use of stop-and-search powers and counterterrorism units will be deployed across northwest London.
A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children, ages 1 to 14, in domestic-related shootings at different homes early Sunday. A total of 10 people were shot, said Shreveport police Chief Wayne Smith. A police spokesperson described some of the children in the homes as the killer's "descendants," per NBC News . The suspect fled to Bossier City after a carjacking, where officers fatally shot him during the chase, police said. The shootings took place about 6am at three locations. It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US in more than two years. Stunned officials asked for patience as they combed through the crime scenes, per the AP . "I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur," Smith said.

Two women were shot at the homes and were being treated for serious wounds, police said. A young boy was hurt when he jumped off a roof, per the Guardian. Shreveport police said the killer was the only person who fired a weapon at the crime scenes. Louisiana State Police said that they've joined the investigation and that no officers were hurt in the chase.

A neighbor who said her security camera filmed the gunman fleeing one of the houses said she didn't hear anything concerning until the gunshots. "It was nothing loud, no altercations," she said. "It was quiet." A state lawmaker said some of the children tried to escape out a back door.

Police haven't released the victims' names. The suspect has been identified as an adult male named Shamar Elkins, per USA Today. "This is a tragic situationmaybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had," said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux. "It's a terrible morning." The Caddo Parish district attorney's office stressed that the shootings show that "domestic violence is not a private matter" and that "this tragedy's impact demands our collective attention." Another neighbor said, "I hate that it happened to those kids."

This story has been updated with new information.
Whether its dealings with China, tariffs, or military action in major oil producers, a number of Trumps key policies connect to natural resources and have seen everything from oil to soybean deals pushed to the front of the US national interest. Thats meant a growing reliance on the clutch of largely privately-held trading houses that dominate markets for agriculture, metals and energy.

To be sure, its nothing new for the trading houses to do deals with governments or to be photographed meeting leaders of countries. But never before in modern history has the US government been such an important player in the commodities industry.

For generations, the commodity traders stuck to the principle that their business should be apolitical, striking deals just as happily in capitalist America and communist China, apartheid South Africa or Vladimir Putins Russia. As Marc Rich, the industrys godfather and founder of the company that is today Glencore Plc, told a journalist in 1992: In our business were not political. We never have been.

The US governments more muscular role in the resources sector is likely to loom large this week as commodity executives and financiers gather in Lausanne, Switzerland, for the industrys main annual conference, the FT Commodities Global Summit.

In the past six months, top executives from three large oil and metals traders have attended publicly documented meetings with the president at the White House  more than the total for the prior 25 years. Some major players have taken steps to quietly unpick key relationships with Chinese entities, which could attract negative attention from the US. One of the worlds largest oil traders even overhauled its ownership and leadership after the US Treasury described it as a puppet of the Kremlin.

The US government has plunged into commodity dealmaking in recent months, awarding a series of contracts or partnerships with the potential to be hugely lucrative for the companies involved. The shift means that proximity to the White House is becoming increasingly essential for the handful of typically low-profile trading houses that control the flow of natural resources around the world  and is forcing the industry into some uncomfortable political choices.

(Bloomberg)  For decades, the worlds biggest commodity traders have sought to remain outside of politics, doing deals with anyone who has natural resources to buy or sell. Now, Donald Trump is changing the rules of the game.

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When the US needed oil to be lifted quickly out of Venezuela in the wake of a military operation to replace the countrys president, it called on Vitol Group and Trafigura Group to help. For its $12 billion national stockpile of critical metals, it has brought in Mercuria Energy Group, Traxys and Hartree Partners to source them.

I think the industry evolves with its environment. In a world thats increasingly becoming fractured and mercantile, the more transactional capabilities of the traders are back in demand, said Wouter Jacobs, director of the Erasmus Commodity & Trade Center at Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

Proximity to the White House has paid off for some. Vitol and Trafigura bought Venezuelan oil from state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA at a steep discount to benchmark Brent crude under special licenses from the US Treasury. They are now selling it into a market rocked by the war in Iran where refineries are paying huge premiums to secure immediately available cargoes of crude.

When Trump summoned oil executives to the White House in January, attendees included Trafigura Chief Executive Officer Richard Holtum and two senior Vitol executives  one of whom was a major Trump donor.

Its almost a feature of this US administration to make a show out of everything, putting business executives in front of the cameras, Jacobs said. Its not always been that way in the past and usually the traders have preferred to stay out of the spotlight, but clearly they feel that the trade off is worth it.

The Giant Traders at the Heart of Trumps Venezuela Oil Grab

In metals, the White House has leaned on traders as it seeks to dislodge China from its dominant position in metals in central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A Mercuria joint-venture was engaged to bring copper produced by CMOC Group Ltd.s giant Tenke Fungurume mining project to the US. A US-backed fund has struck a preliminary deal to buy a minority stake in copper-cobalt mines in the country worth $9 billion from Glencore.

But Trumps focus on commodities has also created headaches for the trading houses.

Vitol and Trafigura received letters from Congress demanding more information about their Venezuelan deals after executives from both traders attended a meeting with Trump at the White House.

The US government prompted the exit of the co-founder of one major commodity trader: after a social media post from the Treasury described Gunvor Group as the Kremlins puppet, the company announced its co-founder and CEO Torbjorn Tornqvist was leaving as part of a management buyout. Gunvor denied the US claim, and said at the time that its leadership transition had been long planned. Still, it acknowledged that misperceptions about its past have become an impossible distraction.

The most delicate issue is the trading houses relations with China, which, as the worlds largest consumer of almost every commodity, is their biggest customer. In the current climate, any close ties with Chinese entities risk creating problems with the US government.

Trafigura had held talks with Chinese supply chain conglomerate Xiamen ITG Group to form a joint venture to trade raw materials and finance commodity deals, Bloomberg reported in February, but has since abandoned the discussions, according to people familiar with the matter.

In response to questions, Trafigura confirmed that its discussions with ITG ended without a deal and said this was for commercial reasons. A representative for ITG didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mercuria has bought back shares owned by an entity linked to the Chinese state, in part to allow it to participate in US government-related deals, a person familiar with the matter said.

Jean-Francois Lambert, a consultant to the trading industry and a former commodity banker, said Mercurias move was a indication of the shifting geopolitical reality for traders.

In a fragmenting geopolitical landscape, neutrality is a trading houses most valuable asset, he said.

With assistance from Alfred Cang and Julian Luk.

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Canada's long reliance on the US is shifting from an asset to a liability, Prime Minister Mark Carney told his nation in a video address released Sunday. In the message, Carney held up a figurine of Gen. Isaac Brock, a British commander killed fighting a US invasion in the War of 1812, and cited him and Indigenous leader Chief Tecumseh as examples of resistance to American expansion more than 200 years ago. Carney said Canada "can't control the disruption" coming from the US, Reuters reports, and should not base its future on the expectation that such turmoil will end.

"Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become our weaknesses; weaknesses that we must correct," he said. Carney, whose Liberal Party won a parliamentary majority last week, has argued that a stronger domestic mandate will help his government confront the trade conflict launched by President Trump. The US has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and autos, and Carney said workers in those industries are under threat, per CTV News. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick last week labeled Canada a difficult trade partner. Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada could be annexed as a 51st US state.

The prime minister also spoke about his government's efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy by attracting new investments and signing trade deals with other countries in the 10-minute address, per the AP. His office did not answer questions about the timing of the video release. Carney said he plans to deliver regular updates on efforts to bolster the economy and protect Canada's sovereignty, adding, "It's our country, it's our future, we are taking back control."
The Justice Department is pressing officials in the Detroit area to turn over every ballot cast in the 2024 election, a move Michigan Democrats say is an unfounded federal intrusion into their voting system. In a letter sent Tuesday and released Sunday by state officials, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon called on the Wayne County clerk to provide 2024 ballots, ballot envelopes, and receipts, the Washington Post reports. She wrote that the jurisdiction, which is a Democratic stronghold in a battleground state, has a "history of fraud convictions and other allegations." Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded in a statement that the request "is as absurd as it is baseless," per CBS News .

Dhillon, who runs the Civil Rights Division, wrote that the department wants to review whether election laws were followed, citing a few 2020 voter fraud cases and a dismissed lawsuit over absentee ballotsnone of which, per the Detroit News, was from the 2024 election. The DOJ also wants the state's list of registered voters. Michigan officials called the request an attempt by the Trump administration to cast doubt on elections ahead of the November midterms, per the Post. "If this administration wants to bring this circus to our state, my office is prepared to protect the people's right to vote," Nessel said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, called the move a "poorly disguised attempt" to fuel skepticism and misinformation.

Nessel said in a separate letter that the Justice Department is seeking about 865,000 ballots and hundreds of thousands of related documents, but that Dhillon directed her demand to the wrong office: The ballots are held by 43 municipal clerks, not the Wayne County clerk. Dhillon gave officials two weeks to comply and warned that DOJ may file a lawsuit if they do not. The demand is an escalation of the Trump administration's national campaign to investigate the nation's voting system, which has included seizing 2020 ballots in Georgia. Michigan Democratic Party held its convention in Detroit on Sunday; state voters will elect a new governor and US senator in November.
US forces have taken control of an Iranian-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman, President Trump posted Sunday, after firing on the ship when it tried to move through an American blockade. Trump said the Touska's crew did not comply with orders to stop, "so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom." He said that Marines have "full custody of the ship" and are "seeing what's on board," the Wall Street Journal reports. The ship had been sanctioned by the Treasury Department for illegal activity, Trump said, per the New York Times. A guided missile destroyer made the interception, he said, per the AP.
It's just a small fraction of US markets. Still, crypto dominated the first episode of a new podcast hosted by Paul Atkins, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

At the top of the 27-minute episode, Atkins pitched the podcast, Material Matters, as a way to demystify the work of the US top financial regulator.

For many people the SEC itself remains something of a mystery. I believe that its time to change that, he said.

Atkins guests were Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce, commissioners who have often sided with the crypto industry.

Atkins conversation with Peirce, affectionately known as crypto mom for her opposition to lawsuits brought against software developers, became something of a primer on digital assets.

Crypto solves the double spending problem, Peirce explained. You used to be able to send data over the internet, but you couldnt send value, because I could send you value, and then I could send the same value to someone else and say, Oh look, I paid you both.

Moments later, she said disintermediation was the beauty of the technology.

And thats really powerful in our markets, because intermediaries have sometimes been the source of problems, she said. Either they walk away with your money or theyre careless with your money.

The interview was the latest evidence the agencys approach to crypto has taken a 180-degree turn since Atkins predecessor, Gary Gensler, resigned in 2025.

Gensler, an alum of Goldman Sachs appointed by then-President Joe Biden, became the industrys chief antagonist in the US after the collapse of FTX in 2022. He brought lawsuits against dozens of crypto companies, alleging they had failed to register as securities brokers.

The industry referred to Genslers approach as regulation-by-enforcement, and celebrated when he resigned.

Atkins, on the other hand, is a longtime industry ally. He founded Patomak Global Partners, a business consultancy in Washington that counted among its clients banks, credit unions, insurance companies, e-commerce platforms, private equity funds, venture capital funds, crypto firms, and more.

One area now that is really top on our list to try to get right, with respect to regulation, is the whole digital asset area, he said at the beginning of the podcast episode.

But the sharp turn hasnt been without controversy.

Critics recently lamented the sharp decline in enforcement actions under Atkins leadership, with one calling it the collapse of American securities regulation.

Uyeda said thats for the best.

While the commissioner didnt discuss crypto during his podcast appearance, he did take the opportunity to criticise the agencys behaviour under Genslers tenure.
The sign in front of Elena's on Orange, Elena Grewal's first ice cream shop at 831 Orange St. in New Haven's East Rock section, which opened in 2022. Grewal received city Board of Zoning Appeals approval on April 14, 2026 to open a second shop at 320 Ashmun St. near Scantlebury Park and the Farmington Canal Greenway. Courtesy of Elena Grewal Elena Grewal, center, owner of Elena's on Orange, is photographed with her staff in front of the newly opening store on Orange Street in New Haven on November 11, 2022. From left are manager Alex DePauloff, assistant manager Ashton Weber, Grewal and Cassius Morgan Coe. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media An Elena's on Orange employee makes a sundae. Elena's on Orange, Elena Grewal's first ice cream shop at 831 Orange St. in New Haven's East Rock section, opened in 2022. Grewal received city Board of Zoning Appeals approval on April 14, 2026 to open a second shop at 320 Ashmun St. near Scantlebury Park and the Farmington Canal Greenway. Courtesy of Elena Grewal An Elena's on Orange employee putting whip cream on a sundae. Elena's on Orange, Elena Grewal's first ice cream shop at 831 Orange St. in New Haven's East Rock section, opened in 2022. Grewal received city Board of Zoning Appeals approval on April 14, 2026 to open a second shop at 320 Ashmun St. near Scantlebury Park and the Farmington Canal Greenway. Courtesy of Elena Grewal Assistant Manager Ashton Weber prepares a soft serve ice cream order at Elena's on Orange on Orange Street in New Haven on November 11, 2022. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Assistant Manager Ashton Weber holds a soft serve ice cream dipped in chocolate with a sea salt topping at Elena's on Orange on Orange Street in New Haven on November 11, 2022. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Elena's on Orange on Orange Street in New Haven photographed on November 11, 2022. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media People enjoy some ice cream in front of Elena's on Orange, Elena Grewal's first ice cream shop at 831 Orange St. in New Haven's East Rock section, which opened in 2022. Grewal received city Board of Zoning Appeals approval on April 14, 2026 to open a second shop at 320 Ashmun St. near Scantlebury Park and the Farmington Canal Greenway. Courtesy of Elena Grewal

NEW HAVEN  The long lines of ice cream lovers outside Elena's on Orange on warm spring and summer evenings may or may not subside as a result, but owner Elena Grewal's Board of Zoning Appeals application to open a second ice cream and coffee shop at 320 Ashmun St. has been approved.

Elena's on Ashmun is coming  just as soon as Grewal can open it  to a growing, morphing neighborhood within a short walk of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and the Dixwell section's Ella P. Scantlebury Park.



"We are very excited about opening this second location and bringing ice cream to more people," Grewal said in a text. "The goal is to open as soon as possible, hopefully this summer."

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"Our plan is to serve a similar menu with some changes based on input from the neighboring community," Grewal said. "The input we have received so far has been very positive and may lead us into some new directions."

Asked later what those new directions might be, Grewal said, "We are still evaluating based on neighborhood feedback and the limitations of the space, itself. As we get closer to opening day, we will make definitive announcements."

The BZA's unanimous approval of a special exception application referred by the City Plan Commission will allow Elena's on Ashmun to open with six interior seats and an additional nine seasonal seats outside, for a total seasonal capacity of 15.

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The BZA approved the application Tuesday night without discussion.

In the same meeting, the BZA tabled a possible decision on a new restaurant that the brothers who own Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana want to open in the former home of La Bella Vita Wines and Liquors at 175 Wooster St. until next month. The Zenelis are seeking a special exception to open without the 20 parking spaces that are required, which has stirred up concern among some neighbors.

The feedback on the Elena's on Ashmun application has been entirely positive.

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In a March public hearing, several speakers went enthusiastically to bat for the proposed second Elena's, which would be in a changing area of new apartment buildings sprouting within older neighborhoods off Dixwell Avenue between Henry and Munson streets.

The new store's proposed location most recently was Kay's Hair Salon and before that was a coffee shop.

Grewal sought a special exception to permit convenience goods and services (coffee shop and ice cream shop) and both indoor and seasonal outdoor seating.



Grewal wrote in her application, This is the perfect location for an ice cream/coffee shop. The Farmington canal trail is filled with people walking and biking who would enjoy an ice cream cone in the summer and a warm cup of coffee in the winter. There are many new buildings in the area along with many longtime residents and families who are looking for places to walk and enjoy a sweet treat  We envision a gathering spot that is inclusive and welcoming, offering high quality products not found in the area at this time.
Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

SHELTON  Developers of a Canal Street apartment project have sued the city for millions, claiming it failed to remediate the site which caused costly delays and additional work.

Riverview Park Royal, LLC, John Guedes and Biagio Barone filed the suit last month, claiming the environmental cleanup at 113-123 Canal St.  which the city promised to complete  had not been finished, leading to a nearly $3 million hit to their pocketbook. The developers purchased the property in 2023.

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This should have been done already, Guedes said about the project, dubbed Riverview Park Royal.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the five-story, 125,000-square-foot structure  13,600 square feet of which is street-level commercial  in 2022. Four years later, little work has been finished on the project, according to Guedes, because the land was not fully remediated.

Mayor Mark Lauretti declined to comment on the suit.

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The city will respond to the lawsuit as is appropriate given the allegations, said city corporation counsel Fran Teodosio.

According to the lawsuit, the city retained AECOM to supervise the remediation. The city used its own funds, as well as $4.8 million in state grant money, for the cleanup, according to numbers from the Shelton Economic Development Corp.

Guedes said the city informed him of a final report stating the site was clean, which prompted the developers to move ahead in obtaining an $18 million loan for land purchase and development. The developers purchased the property from the city.

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The suit states the developers relied on the report in moving forward.

Riverview Park Royal, apartments, retail and parking construction site at 113-123 Canal Street, Shelton, Conn. Next to Shelton Memorial Park and Trail. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Shelton, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

In June 2023, the suit states the city stopped working with AECOM and hired Arcadis US Inc., which two months later produced a report stating the site was still heavily contaminated.

This report, Guedes said, forced the developers to delay the project and invest more money in foundation redesign to accommodate a now-required ventilation system.

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We found this out three months after closing on the property.  We were forced to stop working until the cleanup was finished, said Guedes.

Guedes said from what he understands, the city was also in the dark.

I dont blame the city, said Guedes, adding they filed the lawsuit against the city because they retained AECOM. This should have all been done by now. I dont blame the city, but this is the only avenue we have.

Guedes said the ventilation system is nearly in place, and work will soon begin in earnest. He says the building should be completed in 16 months.

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Rendering of the proposed Riverview Park Royal, a five-story structure that would house 92 apartments and retail space, with 205 parking spaces, at 113 to 123 Canal St., Shelton. Contributed drawing

The building will have 92 apartments, with, according to the commissions resolution, no less than nine units set aside as affordable under state statute 8-30g, the states affordable housing law.

Overall, there would be 28 studio apartments, along with 16 one-bedroom, 44 two-bedroom, and four three-bedroom apartments.

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Structured parking will be provided on a deck at street level, at the rear of the commercial space and under the apartments, with a lower level of parking at the basement level. There will be 205 on-site parking spaces, with one designated for each apartment.
Patrick Stirk, superintendent of North Haven Public Schools, speaks during North Haven's budget public forum at North Haven High School, Monday, April 13, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

NORTH HAVEN  Even though the North Haven Board of Finance put an additional $500,000 into the school district's budget for next year, Board of Education members are preparing for the worse: the budget does not pass during the town's May referendum.

Initially, the budget the school district requested was for $72.84 million, a 6.35% increase over this year's budget of about $68.5 million. But with the Board of Finance's addition from its Wednesday meeting, it went up to $73.34 million. The finance board made some other additions, including funding for the fire department to hire two more firefighters.

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"That is something that does not normally happen," said Board of Education Chair Ronald Bathrick at a Thursday meeting.

While adding the $500,000 to the budget will definitely help the district, Bathrick said if the new budget of $73.34 million does not pass during the referendum, "the monies that were agreed upon ... are shifted away."

"Then we have to reassess how we move forward," he added.

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As a way to prepare, the Board of Education voted to not renew the contracts of 52 non-tenured teachers. According to a state statute, school districts must send these notices to teachers by May 1.

"This is not a scare tactic," Bathrick said. "Believe me, this is not something anybody wants to do. ... This is a miserable set of circumstances that we have to deal with."

Assistant Superintendent Melinda McKenna said at the Thursday meeting district officials were going to go to visit all of the teachers impacted to "make sure they know how valued they are and how much they mean to us."

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The goal, however, is that if the budget passes during the town's May 19 referendum, these teachers will get "a letter renewing their contract for next year," McKenna said.

Krista Kaplan, president of the North Haven Education Association, said the reason for this decision is "made out of necessity" due to the town's referendum timeline and the fact that the non-renewal letters must be sent out by May 1.

"For years NHEA has advocated the district to either move up the budget timeline, which would allow decisions and the towns referendum to be held much earlier or consider setting multi-year budgets as other districts do," she said.

North Haven has been going through something cities and towns across the state have been facing: a difficult budget season, said Kaplan, who cited rising insurance costs, special education costs and the price of living.

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This has "placed districts in nearly unmanageable positions with their budgets," she said, adding that the school board has been supporting the teachers, but it is all up to the voters during the May 19 referendum.

If it fails, she said "it will likely yield staffing cuts."

At the Thursday meeting, Bathrick said, "We don't even know at that point who or how many may be laid off" if the budget falls during the referendum.

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Utah State Rep. Doug Fiefia talks to Utah voters on the back deck of a house, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Riverton, Utah. Fiefia, a Republican, has a background in technology and is running for the state senate with a pledge to tackle AI. Nicholas Riccardi/AP Utah State Rep. Doug Fiefia talks to Utah voters on the back deck of a house, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Riverton, Utah. Fiefia, a Republican, has a background in technology and is running for the state senate with a pledge to tackle AI. Nicholas Riccardi/AP

RIVERTON, Utah (AP)  When a dozen Republican activists gathered on a back deck in the Salt Lake City suburbs to talk about this year's elections, the conversation cycled through all the staples of conservative chatter in Utah such as dwindling water supplies, illegal immigrant fraud and chemtrail conspiracy theories.

But Doug Fiefia, a state representative running to be a state senator, wanted to start with something else  artificial intelligence. Fiefia used to work at Google and, like several other tech employees who have gone into politics, he has made regulating the industry a centerpiece of his campaign.

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I know it sounds like Doug, this is all you talk about, Fiefia said. Thats because its coming, its here and its going to be our biggest fight.

Fiefia's focus has put him on a collision course with President Donald Trump's administration, which this year helped block his state proposal requiring companies to include child safety protocols. The White House wants a single national standard for artificial intelligence, arguing that a patchwork of excessive regulation could handicap American innovation in a global competition with China.

But with no progress in Congress, it has been state lawmakers struggling to address concerns about a technology that is poised to reshape the economy. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis added the issue to a special legislative session that he is convening later this month. Democratic-controlled New York last year required major AI developers to report dangerous incidents to the state.

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All told, there are more than 1,000 state legislative proposals addressing AI, a reflection of the uneasiness that has seeped through the country.

None of us are really sure," said Brett Young, a structural engineer who attended the backyard event with Fiefia. "Is this something we should be scared about, or is it no so big a deal and itll enhance our lives?

Pressure in the states

Trump has routinely tried to stamp out state-level AI policies, and he issued an executive order that included legal threats and funding penalties to deter new regulations.

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The White House recently released a framework for potential congressional legislation that calls for preempting state laws considered too burdensome but would allow some rules to protect children and copyright material.

None of these steps has eased the number of proposals in state capitals. Popular ideas include forcing chatbots to remind users they are not human and barring the use of AI to make nonconsensual pornography, which includes replacing or removing clothing from photos that are posted online.

There's a lot of state lawmakers looking at what the federal government is doing and saying, We want to take action because were not satisfied,'" said Craig Albright, senior vice president for government relations for the Business Software Alliance, which represents software companies.

About 8 in 10 people in the United States said they were concerned or very concerned about AI in a Quinnipiac poll last month, with about three-quarters saying government is not doing enough to regulate the technology. Roughly 9 in 10 Democrats and 6 in 10 Republicans wanted more government involvement.

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The most significant regulations have passed in California and New York, solidly Democratic states. The provisions focus on disclosure of catastrophic risk, such as the AI-controlled meltdown of nuclear plants or AI models refusing to heed human direction.

But there is pressure in Republican-led states, too.

DeSantis pushed a bill to implement parental controls for minors using AI and to prohibit systems from using anyone's likeness without permission. It fell short in the state House after overwhelmingly passing the state Senate. AI bills in Republican-controlled Louisiana and Missouri have stalled out because of Trump administration resistance.

An army of full-time lobbyists

Fiefia is part of a loose network of former tech employees turned state lawmakers trying to meet the demand for stronger regulations. He co-chairs the AI task force of the Future Caucus, a network of younger state lawmakers, with Monique Priestley, a Vermont Democrat who also has worked in tech.

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Priestley said the group uses video conferences and group chats to share ideas for new proposals and deal with lobbyists who oppose their bills. She said that 166 of her state's 482 registered lobbyists weighed in on her data privacy bill last year, which was ultimately vetoed by the governor.

It's like you're running around against an army of full-time lobbyists, said Priestley. Like many state lawmakers, she works a separate, full-time job.

Alex Bores, a former data scientist at the tech firm Palantir who quit after it signed a deal to help the first Trump administration with immigration enforcement, is also a member of the AI task force. A Democrat, Bores wrote the New York bill that was signed into law last year.

Now Bores is competing in the crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler representing much of Manhattan in Congress, and he is facing payback from the industry. A pro-AI campaign committee has spent $2.3 million against his candidacy.

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Bores said tech companies are trying to make an example of him to scare off more regulation at the state and federal level.

It's one reasons it's so important for me to win this race is because, if I don't, that intimidation they're trying on Congress will be successful, he said. Bores' competitors in the June 23 primary include Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, and George Conway, a former Republican who has become one of Trump's chief antagonists on social media.

From Google to politics

Fiefia has not attracted the sort of attention as Bores as he tries to move to the state Senate after a single session in the House. The subdivisions and shopping centers of his district are sandwiched between Utah's jagged mountain ranges and the cul de sacs are crammed with children on bikes and scooters.

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The son of Tongan immigrants, Fiefia grew up in Utah but moved to Silicon Valley, where he worked as a salesperson for Google.

Fiefia rose to manage a team working with companies on the implementation of Google's early AI model and was disturbed by what he saw.

What I realized is Big Tech cares about their bottom line, and they were worried about making money, not doing right for the human race, said Fiefia, who now works at a Utah-based cloud computing and AI company.

Fiefia's legislation was unanimously passed by a House committee this year, but the Trump administration sent a letter to the Senate saying that the measure was unfixable. The measure quickly died.

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Daniel McCay, the state senator who Fiefia is challenging in the primary, said he thinks that was a good thing.

I've been around long enough to recognize the invention of fire, the wheel, cars and the internet did not ruin society and I'm very skeptical of anyone trying to scare society into regulations, McCay said in an interview.

He noted that the bill went beyond child safety, including whistleblower protection for AI workers and public disclosure of risks.

It would have driven Utah out of the AI innovation business," McCay said.

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At the cottage meeting  the Utah term for a small gathering at someone's home to discuss important issues  Fiefia faced several tech-related questions from the crowd.

Asked about defying the Trump administration, Fiefia said it was especially important to stand up for states' rights when a fellow Republican was in power to demonstrate the principles involved.

The Trump administration is, We want zero regulations on AI, Fiefia said. I think that's wrong. I agree with a lot of what Trump says on taxes. I disagree with him on this.

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___
View of the reusable bags at Target Store on April 13, 2021 in New York. In Connecticut, there was recently consideration to mandate a certain number of checkout workers and limit the number of self-checkout kiosks. VIEW press/Corbis via Getty Images

HARTFORD  A bill that would order staffing levels at retail and grocery stores with self-checkout areas quietly failed on Friday, but the chief proponent of the bill said that sometimes it takes years to bring legislative initiatives to the finish line.

In reaction, Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, voiced relief that the proposal would get no further in the current legislative session.

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"Obviously the Judiciary Committee saw the serious flaw in the bill," Pesce said after the committee meeting. "The bill was specifically aimed at grocers and the operators of privately run businesses, not to mention many consumers prefer their convenience and choose self checkout."

If the bill had become law, stores would have been required to have one employee-staffed checkout register for every two self-checkout stations. The bill would have also limited the total number of self-checkouts to eight per store.

The legislation died during a morning meeting of the Judiciary Committee after Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the panel, did not call it for discussion. He said there wasn't much support for the measure at a time when there's less than three weeks before the General Assembly's midnight, May 6 adjournment.

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"I have to give in every once in a while," Winfield said after the meeting. "It just wasn't going to make it today."

State Rep. Craig Fishbein of Wallingford, a ranking Republican on the law-writing committee, said the proposal would have told people how to run their businesses. "It's the fruits of the arbitrary raising of the minimum wage," Fishbein said of the cost-saving measure of self-checkouts. "Businesses are forced to go to the systems as a result of raising the minimum wage. He said that the state's now-$16.94-per-hour minimum wage has also resulted in fewer jobs on state farms, along with more mechanization.

"It was a little counter-intuitive also," Fishbein said in an interview. "The ratio, the two-to-one and then you couldn't have more than eight of them, didn't make a lot of sense. How can you say to a business that you have to have a ratio but you can only have this many? It doesn't make any sense."

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State Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, co-chairwoman of the legislative Labor and Public Employees Committee where the bill originated, said in the state Capitol on Friday that some measures take multiple years.

"The self-checkout bill, I think, is a really important bill, but as so often happens in this building, the first time we bring out a bill - a new concept - it often takes some time to really educate people enough to understand the importance of it,"" she said.

Kushner, who is running for reelection, believes that the concept will be raised again next year.
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Everyone's buzzing about the upcoming SpaceX initial public offering (IPO), which is likely to become the biggest IPO in history. The focus right now for many investors is finding ways to get exposure to SpaceX pre-IPO, as well as finding other space stocks that might go along for the ride in a broader space bull market.

But don't forget about the potential impact of a SpaceX IPO on the crypto market. In fact, there's one cryptocurrency that could go absolutely ballistic after the SpaceX IPO this year.

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 

SpaceX's Bitcoin holdings

SpaceX holds over $600 million in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) on its balance sheet, and that's enough to make SpaceX the fourth-largest corporate holder of Bitcoin in the world. The 8,285 BTC that the company holds is more than, for example, the 7,000 BTC held by American Bitcoin Corp.

Once investors and analysts see how much Bitcoin SpaceX is holding on its balance sheet, it might encourage other tech companies to add Bitcoin to their balance sheets as a treasury asset. That's especially the case given that Tesla -- another Elon Musk company -- is also a noteworthy holder of Bitcoin.

Image source: Getty Images.

For now, arguably the best template for a tech company hoarding Bitcoin is Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ), the fintech company formerly known as Square. The company holds 8,883 BTC on its balance sheet. But Block, even though it's helmed by tech visionary Jack Dorsey, is not big enough to really move the needle.

Bitcoin needs a "Magnificent Seven" company -- or a company with the same size and heft as a Magnificent Seven company -- to embrace crypto as a treasury asset. And that's exactly the role that SpaceX could fill, if it is indeed valued at $1.75 trillion, as many now expect. If the SpaceX IPO leads to sustained buying of crypto by companies across the tech sector, it could send Bitcoin soaring.

Elon Musk and Dogecoin

But let's think out of the box as well. It's easy to see how the meme coin Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) could also get a boost. In the past, Musk has been a high-profile DOGE supporter, and any social media mentions of Dogecoin going to outer space with SpaceX might light a rocket fire under the meme coin.

That might sound like a flight of fancy, except that it has already happened. In the past, Musk has suggested that Dogecoin might become the first interplanetary currency. And he has suggested that future moon missions might be paid for entirely with Dogecoin.
Questions about World Liberty Financials partnerships have been raised in recent months. The Wall Street Journal reported in January that United Arab Emirates National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan had quietly acquired a 49% stake in the platform for $500 million, days before Trump took office for his second term, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

See Also: Deloitte's #1 Fastest-Growing Software Company Lets Users Earn Money Just by Scrolling  Investors Can Still Get In at $0.50/Share

Prince Group forced trafficked people to conduct its schemes in so-called scam compounds, the Treasury Department alleged. Zhi was extradited from Cambodia to China in January, according to media reports , though it is unclear what charges he faces in China.

The U.S. Treasury Department in October announced 146 sanctions against Prince Group, founder Chen Zhi , several associates and business partners. The Treasury Department accused the company of being a front for an international crime network that targeted Americans and others with investment scams.

AB DAO and World Liberty Financial did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Benzinga. Jiang, Yanming and Zhao could not be reached for comment.

World Liberty Financial was quoted as saying by The Times that it was not aware that AB DAO was linked with sanctioned persons while maintaining that it conducts due diligence before inking partnerships.

AB DAO reportedly told The Times that it was unaware of any ties to the Prince Group by Jiang, Yanming and Zhao. The company reportedly said that the three had been dismissed following the sanctions.

The company also employed Yang Yanming , another Prince Group associate from last May up until a few weeks before the World Liberty Financial partnership, according to the report.

AB DAOs flagship project weeks before its World Liberty Financial partnership agreement was a AB Resort , a purported blockchain-themed resort in Timor-Leste founded by Yang Jian , a sanctioned director at a Prince Group-associated company, The Times said.

World Liberty Financial in November announced a partnership with the cryptocurrency organization AB DAO despite links to Prince Group, The Times of London reported on April 6.

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Story Continues

As questions around due diligence and hidden risks in crypto partnerships continue to surface, cases like this underscore how difficult it can be for individual investors to fully assess exposureespecially in less transparent corners of the market.

In situations like these, some investors choose to seek outside guidance when evaluating complex or higher-risk assets. Services like Finance Advisors connect users with financial professionals who can help review portfolios, assess potential risks, and provide personalized guidance based on individual financial goals and risk tolerance.

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Finance Advisors

Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiencyfactors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.

Bam Capital

BAM Capital offers accredited investors a way to diversify beyond public markets through institutional-grade multifamily real estate. With over $1.85 billion in completed transactions and guidance from Senior Economic Advisor Tony Landa, the firm targets income and long-term growth as supply tightens and renter demand remains strongespecially in Midwest markets. Its income-focused and growth-oriented funds provide exposure to real assets designed to be less tied to stock market volatility.

Public

Public is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth. Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and moreall in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.

AdviserMatch

AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.

EnergyX

EnergyX is a lithium extraction company focused on making production faster and more efficient with its LiTAS technology, which can recover over 90% of lithium in just days instead of months. Backed by General Motors and a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, the company controls extensive lithium acreage in Chile and the U.S. and is working to scale one of the largest lithium production facilities. Its goal is to help meet the rapidly growing global demand for lithium, a key resource for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and large-scale energy storage.

Image: Shutterstock

 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Now the part that matters for Aave depositors. The attacker took the stolen rsETH and used it as collateral on Aave V3 to borrow as much WETH as the protocol would allow. Approximately $196 million in WETH walked out the door against rsETH that was, by then, backed by nothing. Smaller exposures showed up on Compound and Euler. The attacker consolidated the stolen funds into around 74,000 ETH and moved on.

For readers new to this corner of crypto, rsETH is a liquid restaking token. You give Kelp your ETH, Kelp routes it through EigenLayer to earn extra yield, and you get rsETH back as a receipt. That receipt is supposed to be redeemable, eventually, for the ETH backing it. Critically, rsETH on every Layer 2 was backed by the reserves sitting in Kelps mainnet bridge contract. When that bridge was drained, the receipts on 20-plus chains were left pointing at an empty vault.

Two follow-up attempts to drain another 80,000 rsETH were blocked by the freeze, sparing the ecosystem an additional $100 million or so in losses.

On April 18, an attacker exploited a vulnerability in Kelp DAOs cross-chain bridge, which uses LayerZeros messaging infrastructure. By forging a message to the bridges lzReceive function, the attacker tricked the contract into releasing roughly 116,500 rsETH worth around $292 million to a wallet under their control, according to CoinDesk . Kelps team paused the contracts within the hour, but the rsETH was already gone.

The headline is misleading. Aave was not hacked. Its smart contracts performed exactly as written. The attack happened somewhere else and the damage rolled downhill into Aave like a flash flood.

This is the story of how I got there, what I saw, and the reasoning behind pulling out completely instead of waiting it out.

By the time I got coffee, Aave had lost roughly $6.6 billion in deposits in under 24 hours, the WETH pool was at 100% utilization, and depositors were quietly being told that withdrawals might not work the way they expected. I was one of those depositors. I am no longer.

Full disclosure: I am a DeFi user with active exposure to Aave V3, including lent stablecoins and ETH. This is an opinion piece on how I withdrew, why I decided to pull all of it, and what I am watching now. This is not financial advice in any way. Do your own research, talk to a professional, and never act on a single article, including this one.

Story Continues

Think of it this way. Imagine a warehouse in New York that stores gold bars. A bank in London issues paper certificates that say redeemable for one gold bar at the New York warehouse. Those certificates circulate freely. People trade them, lend them, post them as collateral. As long as the gold is sitting in the warehouse, the certificates are as good as gold. Now imagine a thief breaks into the New York warehouse and walks out with every bar. The certificates in London still exist. They still say redeemable for one gold bar. But there is no gold left to redeem them against. The paper is suddenly worth nothing, even though nothing about the paper itself has changed. That is what happened to rsETH on Layer 2s the moment Kelps mainnet bridge was drained.

Aave was left holding the bag. The collateral was frozen and effectively worthless. The borrows could not be liquidated in any meaningful way because nobody wants to buy unbacked rsETH at any price. The bad debt on Aave alone is estimated at $177 million to $200 million, per CoinDesk reporting.

Trending on TheStreet Roundtable:

The risk-management failure nobody is talking about loud enough

There is a detail that did not get enough attention in the first wave of coverage, and it changes how you should read this whole event.

In January 2026, Aave governance passed proposal 434, which added WETH to rsETHs LST E-Mode and raised the maximum loan-to-value ratio for rsETH in that mode from 92.5% to 93%. In simple words, users could borrow $93 of WETH on Aave using $100 of rsETH as collateral. That compressed the safety buffer from 28% to 7%.

When rsETH lost its backing on Saturday and the price began to fall, the system kept treating the now-worthless rsETH as valid collateral. The thin buffer made positions unliquidatable before the bad debt crystallized. The exploit was external. The damage was amplified by a parameter Aave governance had set itself.

I am not saying Aave caused this. I am saying the size of the hole was a function of decisions made months earlier, and that is the part depositors should be most uncomfortable with.

Related: Exclusive: Aave founder sees U.S. push to lead in crypto, DeFi policy

How I deposited, and why it felt safe at the time

I have been a lender on Aave V3 for a while. The setup is the same one most DeFi users will recognize. I connected my wallet, picked the Ethereum mainnet deployment of Aave V3, supplied USDT and ETH into the respective pools, and received aUSDT and aWETH receipts in return. The receipts accrue interest in real time. You watch the balance tick up. It is mildly addictive.

The yield on stables had been hovering in the mid single digits, the ETH yield a bit lower. Nothing exotic. I was not chasing 30% APYs on some new fork. Aave is the most battle-tested lending protocol in DeFi, with around $25 billion in deposits across multiple chains before this weekend. If you cannot lend on Aave, the argument goes, you cannot lend anywhere on-chain.

The thing I think most depositors are still missing

When you supply USDT or ETH on Aave, you are not putting your money in a vault. You are an unsecured creditor of a shared pool. The pool lends to many different borrowers against many different forms of collateral. If one of those collateral types fails badly enough, the loss does not stay neatly inside that one market. It bleeds into the pool that funded the bad loan.

In this case, the bad loan was WETH borrowed against rsETH. The pool that funded it is the WETH pool. That pool is the one I had ETH sitting in.

There is one insurance layer, and it is newer than most depositors realize.

Aaves Umbrella system replaced the legacy Safety Module in late 2025, as Yahoo Finance flagged in its coverage of the incident. Under Umbrella, users who staked aWETH directly into the Umbrella vault face automatic slashing to cover the deficit, with no governance vote required. Once the slashing cycle completes, remaining WETH suppliers should regain partial withdrawal access, although a full recovery is not guaranteed and depositors may face a haircut.

This is the first major real-world stress test of Umbrella. Nobody, including the people who built it, knows exactly how the next two weeks play out.

In practice, the language coming out of Aave shifted in a way I did not love. The protocol initially said the Umbrella reserve would cover the deficit. By Saturday afternoon the wording had softened to explore paths to offset the deficit.

Shutterstock  Shutterstock

The withdrawal queue is not a queue

The other thing that pushed me to act was watching the WETH pool utilization climb toward 100%. Here is what that means.

Aave can only honor withdrawals out of liquidity that is actually sitting idle in the pool. When too much of the pool is lent out, withdrawals stop working. Not because Aave is broken, but because the math says there is nothing to give you until borrowers repay or new depositors arrive.

By Sunday morning the WETH market had hit 100% utilization. Reports put outflows at $5.4 billion in hours. People who tried to withdraw later in the day were getting failed transactions and partial fills.

Then came the part that, for me, settled the question. As a precautionary follow-up, Aaves Protocol Guardian froze WETH on Core, Prime, Arbitrum, Base, Mantle, and Linea, preventing new borrows against WETH collateral while the team continues to monitor. Six deployments. The pool I was in was no longer behaving like a normal lending market.

Stablecoin pools, including USDC and USDT, had no direct rsETH exposure but were seeing utilization spike on certain deployments because the panic does not respect category boundaries. Money that wants to leave wants to leave everything.

Why I withdrew all of it, not just the ETH

I will not get into specific amounts because that is not the point of this piece. But I will say I pulled both my ETH position and my stablecoin position, in that order, and moved the funds to self-custody.

Three reasons.

First, I do not know what the bad debt resolution will look like. Aave may absorb the loss cleanly through Umbrella reserves. It may not. If Umbrella stakers are slashed and the deficit still is not closed, depositors get a haircut. I cannot model the probability of each outcome with any precision, and neither can anyone telling you confidently which one will happen.

Second, the WETH pool was already telling me the answer about liquidity. If utilization is at 100%, WETH borrowing is being frozen across deployments, and panic is still building, every hour I wait reduces the chance that I can exit at all in the short term. I would rather pay gas now than wait three weeks for an Umbrella resolution while my funds sit immovable.

Third, my stablecoins were not directly exposed to rsETH but they were exposed to Aave as a whole. If something goes badly wrong with the protocols solvency or governance response, the contagion does not stop at the WETH market. I do not need to be a hero about my USDT yield. The opportunity cost of sitting in a self-custody wallet for two weeks is small. The cost of being stuck in a bank run is not.

What I am watching before going back in

I am not anti-Aave. I will likely be back. The teams response time on freezing the rsETH markets was quick and correct. The protocol architecture worked. The Aave Will Win governance vote that passed on April 13 redirects 100% of revenue from Aave-branded products back to the DAO, which is a structurally bullish change. V4 went live on Ethereum mainnet on March 30 with a hub-and-spoke design that should reduce exactly the kind of concentration that made this weekend so painful.

But I want to see specific things before I redeposit. I want a clear, on-chain accounting of how the bad debt is being absorbed and how much of the Umbrella vault gets burned. I want to see the slashing cycle complete and partial withdrawals open back up for WETH suppliers, as Aave has indicated will happen. I want to understand how Aave plans to revisit risk parameters for liquid restaking tokens going forward, because the assumption that LRTs would hold peg under normal conditions is no longer a defensible default. And I want to see whether the team revisits the E-Mode parameters that turned a $292 million bridge exploit into a nine-figure protocol-level event.

Until then, my Aave position is zero.

What this means for you

I am not going to tell you to withdraw. I am going to tell you what I think you should know before you decide.

Your USDT and USDC positions on Aave are not directly exposed to rsETH, but they are exposed to Aave the protocol, and Aave the protocol is in the middle of a stress event that is still unresolved. Your ETH position, if it is in the WETH pool, is in the exact pool that took the bad debt. Your withdrawal works only if the pool has liquidity. Right now the pool does not, on Ethereum mainnet at least, and the situation is fluid hour by hour.

There are good reasons to stay. Aave has navigated stress events before. The insurance layers exist precisely for this. If you trust the team to absorb the loss without touching depositors, sitting tight is a defensible choice and you keep earning high yield while you wait.

There are also good reasons to leave. If the resolution drags out, withdrawals stay congested. If Umbrella does not stretch, the order of operations is depositor-friendly but not depositor-immune. And if you are the kind of investor who values optionality more than 4% APR, the math is not complicated.

I chose to leave. You may choose to stay.

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Each Monday, the Hot Club of New York hosts a listening session centered around 78 rpm records. The group calls itself a temple of jazz shellac, and the meetings  which are ticketed and open to anyone via Zoom  are often themed and involve a special presentation on the rare jazz and blues records in the clubs catalog.

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a Hot Club regular, and she decided to not only dedicate her upcoming album, Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center, to the group but also focus on songs originally released on those fragile, shellac 78 records.

Theyll have a theme every week, so theyll have Coleman Hawkins or Louis Armstrong and then play recordings so you can learn at the same time, Russell recently said during a call from New York. Theres great vintage equipment to play the records, and sometimes they play test pressings, where its just one copy of something. Its really always interesting.

Some of those early jazz, swing and blues songs that are featured on Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center also will be included in Russells Jazz Fest set when she performs at 3:05 p.m. Sunday in the Economy Hall Tent. Shell be joined by bassist Russell Hall, drummer Domo Branch, guitarist and Russells musical director Matt Munisteri and Ben Paterson on piano and Hammond B-3 organ. New Orleans trumpeter Wendell Brunious also will join the set for a few songs.r

Find Catherine Russell's music: catherinerussell.net, Spotify, Apple Music

Russells lauded career includes eight solo full-lengths, collaborative recordings with Sean Mason and Colin Hancocks Jazz Hounds, three Grammy nominations and vocal credits on more than 200 albums, including with David Bowie, Steely Dan and Rosanne Cash. But Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center is her first solo live album.

I like to be in control of what goes out into the world, and then if its live, Im thinking about it during the performance and all that type of stuff, Russell says. So this time, I just tried to forget that it was being recorded and tried to have a good time.

Recorded in Jazz at Lincoln Centers Appel Room, Russell and her band play a rousing set of songs first recorded by Hot Lips Page, Blanche Calloway, Cab Calloway, Tiny Grimes, Helen Humes and more.

She also includes the song Old Man River, originally recorded by her father, Luis Russell, the celebrated pianist and bandleader who lived for a time in New Orleans and later acted as Louis Armstrongs musical director. Born into a deep musical heritage, Catherine Russells mother was the pioneering vocalist and guitarist Carline Ray.

Tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman also appears on several songs, adding another layer of rhythm to the music. The inclusion of tap onto the album helps illustrate the intertwined history of jazz and dancing, Russell says, and how shows once would often feature a variety of acts.

With songs from the 30s and 40s on Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Russell not only dusts off some deep, deep cuts in jazz history but demonstrates how full of life these songs are. But its both about performance and preservation.

If were not delving into our own jazz heritage, then I dont think Im doing my job, she says. Theres so much material out there. It brings these things into the present, and you get to learn about people that you havent heard of that put out great music.

Find Catherine Russell at catherinerussell.net.
In honor of National Library Week (April 19-25), we remember a lost library from the citys past: the former main branch of the New Orleans Public Library. The ornate Neoclassical building opened in 1908 at what is now called Harmony Circle.

The building, designed by the architectural firm of Diboll, Owen and Goldstein, was constructed with $275,000 in funds donated in 1902 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Work began in 1906 and was completed in 1908. The building featured four 30-foot tall limestone columns, a massive staircase and copper dome on the roof.

The Daily Picayune described the building in a story chronicling its opening day on Oct. 31, 1908: The Library Building is largely a reproduction of the Mars Ultor Temple of Rome, built in honor of Mars, the God of War, by Augustus Caesar, to commemorate the victory of Phillippi ... the interior of the main floor is very striking in its design.

By 1955, however, the building was considered by some to be small and out of date. A New Orleans Item editorial called it a has been.

It was built in 1908, when the city population was only 300,000. Its style was the style of the day  imposing but inconvenient, wrote the newspaper in an editorial urging voters to approve a bond issue for a new library headquarters. Its planning defies adaptation to modern heating, air conditioning or lighting. Its 32 steep steps may once have looked grand and stately. Now they just look discouraging to most library users.

A new main library branch opened in 1958, and the Harmony Circle property was sold and later demolished. An office building was built on the spot, which later became K&B Plaza.
Mukalla, Yemen  The Yemeni governments measures to curb the devaluation of the Yemeni riyal have finally borne fruit, but they have created another problem: A severe liquidity crunch.

The governments central bank, based in the southern city of Aden, has shut down unauthorised exchange firms it says were involved in currency speculation, centralised internal remittances under a controlled system, and formed a committee to oversee imports and provide traders with hard currency.

These measures have helped curb the riyals freefall, from about 2,900 to the United States dollar months ago to about 1,500 today, a move that was initially welcomed. But the gains have been short-lived, as public frustration has grown over a worsening shortage of cash in riyals.

People across government-controlled cities such as Aden, Taiz, Mukalla and others have said they are facing an unprecedented shortage of Yemeni riyals in the market. Many, particularly those holding US dollars or Saudi riyals, said local banks and exchange firms are refusing to convert foreign currency, or are limiting daily exchanges to as little as 50 Saudi riyals per person, citing a shortage of local cash.

This has left many Yemenis unable to access cash or use their savings in hard currency at a time of mounting economic pressure, paralysing businesses and giving rise to a black market where traders exchange foreign currency at more unfavourable rates to the customer.





Businesses grind to a halt

Mohammed Omer, who runs a small grocery shop in Mukalla, said he has spent hours crisscrossing the citys exchange firms trying to convert a few hundred Saudi riyals he received from customers. Ive gone from one exchange to another, and they refuse to exchange more than 50 riyals, said Omer, a man in his early 50s with a salt-and-pepper goatee. Its a waste of time and effort  Ive had to close my shop.

Yemen has endured an economic meltdown for more than a decade, stemming from a war between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthis that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

Alongside the fighting on the battlefield, the warring sides have targeted each others main sources of revenue, leaving both the Houthis and the government strapped for cash, struggling to pay public-sector salaries and fund basic services in areas under their control.

At a board meeting in March, the Central Bank in Aden said it was aware of the cash shortage and had approved several unspecified short- and long-term measures to address the problem, noting that it is pursuing conservative precautionary policies to stabilise the riyal and curb inflationary pressures.
Shreveport law enforcement officials have identified the man who is accused of killing eight children, including some of his own, early Sunday
A few Sundays before last, we stood before the mystery of the Merciful Sacred Heart on Divine Mercy Sunday and once again we were invited into the deepest truth of the Christian life, that God is mercy. Not a distant mercy. Not a selective mercy. But an infinite, overflowing, relentless mercy.

The Latin misericordia, 'miseria and cor', reminds us that mercy is a heart that enters misery. It does not avoid suffering. It does not pass by on the other side. It bends low. It stays. It feels. It acts. Saint Augustine called it heartfelt sympathy for anothers distress, but in Christ it becomes something even greater, love that suffers with, and love that refuses to abandon. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). And yet, as we look at our world today, we must admit that this command feels more urgent than ever.

No more war - A cry that must not fade

I stand in unity with the Churchs continuing call for peace, echoing the voice of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and the prophetic words of his predecessors when it says, No more war. As innocent people are killed and displaced, as families are torn apart, as futures are destroyed before they even begin, we are confronted with a truth we cannot escape, that the human cost of war is incalculable. And silence is not an option.

As Christians and as people of conscience, we are called to keep our eyes open to suffering, not close them. To name injustice, not ignore it. To pray, yes but also to become instruments of peace. For as Pope Leo has reminded us in continuity with the Churchs social teaching, prayer is never an escape from the world. It is a turning toward God within the world, where suffering is real, where wounds are open, and where grace is still at work.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). And if we call God Father, then there is no suffering anywhere on earth that is foreign to us. We are one human family. Wounded. Beautiful. And in desperate need of mercy.

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The Church as a field hospital of mercy

Pope Leo XIV and his predecessor Pope Francis have spoken of the Church as a field hospital, a place not for the perfect, but for the wounded. A mother who carries both saints and sinners in her arms. A place where mercy does not wait for healing before it touches the wound, but enters into the wound in order to heal. Gods mercy, he reminds us, does not come with thunder and accusation. It comes quietly, on tiptoes, as though afraid to disturb a bruised heart. It does not condemn first. It saves. It does not reject the broken. It lifts them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). And the Eucharist, he reminds us, is not simply a ritual we attend, it is the living encounter with that mercy. It is there that Christ gives Himself so that our hands might become His hands, our hearts His heart, our lives His presence in a suffering world.

The mercy we struggle to believe

There is perhaps no greater struggle in the spiritual life than believing that mercy is truly real for me. We can believe it for others. We can preach it. We can admire it. But to receive it, to let God forgive what we ourselves cannot forgive, this is where the battle often lies. Yet the Gospel is unambiguous: If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us (1 John 1:9). And again: There is no one who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest (CCC 982). No exception is made. No wound is beyond Him. No fall is too deep. The mercy of God is not cautious. It is not rationed. It is not afraid of your past. It is love that runs toward you even when you are running away.

The story we all carry

And still, so many live as though mercy were not true. Like the man in that haunting story, carrying one mistake, one tragedy, one moment that became a lifetime of self-condemnation. Forty years of inner imprisonment. Forty years of believing there was no return. Until mercy arrived. Not in theory. Not in the distance. But in the human face of a priest, saying, "I forgive you." And the prison collapsed. This is what mercy does. It breaks chains we no longer believe can be broken. It restores life where only survival remained. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20).

The saints of mercy and the cry of our time

From Saint Faustina, who quietly wrote of the visions of Christs mercy, to Saint John Paul II, who declared that there is nothing man needs more than Divine Mercy, to Pope Benedict XVI, who taught that mercy and justice are not opposites but fulfilment, that the Church has consistently returned to this one truth and that is that, 'God is richer in mercy than we are in sin.' Pope Francis reminded the world that the Church must be an oasis of mercy, and Mother Teresa showed what that looks like in flesh and blood by touching the untouchable, loving the forgotten, seeing Christ in those whom the world had already discarded. And now, in our own time, Pope Leo XIV continues this same mission, to call the Church back to the heart of the Gospel, which is mercy in action, not mercy in theory. Because mercy that is not lived becomes an abstraction. But mercy that is lived becomes revolution.

Mercy that must become action

It is not enough to speak beautifully about mercy. We must become it. In a world fractured by division, we are called to be reconcilers. In a world hardened by judgment, we are called to be gentle and encouraging. In a world wounded by violence, we are called to be peace. Let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth (1 John 3:18). Mercy means, forgiving when it is costly, loving when it is inconvenient, staying when it would be easier to walk away, giving when it hurts, listening when we would rather speak, seeing Christ in those we would rather avoid. And perhaps most difficult of all, believing that we ourselves are still loved.

A heart on fire for a broken world

Saint Isaac of Nineveh once wrote that a merciful heart is one that burns with compassion for all creation, even for those who cause harm, even for enemies, even for those who seem far from redemption. A heart that cannot bear indifference. A heart that weeps for the world. A heart that prays even when it does not understand. A heart that acts even when it feels small. This is the heart of Christ. And it is the heart we are invited to receive.

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Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, let me give you a serious invitation to not let mercy remain an idea. Let it become your decision. Ask yourself honestly: Where have I been withholding forgiveness? Where have I grown indifferent to suffering? Who in my life needs my patience, not my judgment? What small act of love have I been postponing? And then do not postpone it again. Go and do it. Because someones healing may be waiting on your mercy. Let me leave you with a prayer I wrote, called, "A Prayer for a Wounded World." - "Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, look upon our fractured world with mercy. Where there is war, sow peace. Where there is hatred, sow love. Where there is despair, sow hope. Make our hearts like Yours, not hardened by fear, not closed by judgment, but open to mercy. Teach us to see every person as our brother and sister, formed in Your image and loved beyond measure. Make us instruments of Your peace, builders of reconciliation, bearers of mercy in a wounded world. Jesus, I trust in You. Because in the end, the question will not be how much we achieved, but how much we loved. And lovewhen it becomes mercybecomes the very presence of God in the world. And even the smallest act of mercy, may echo forever. Amen."
A rocky market has a way of clarifying things. When the S&P 500 is swinging 3% in a day, the impulse is to wait, to hold cash, to watch. I understand the instinct. But volatile periods are often where the best entry points live. This opportunity isn't because everything is cheap, but because specific companies get dragged down by noise when they don't deserve to be.

With $1,000 and a long time horizon, here are six consumer goods stocks I'd look at right now. None of them are the names everybody is already writing about.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on a little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly," providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need.



Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Post Holdings

Post Holdings (NYSE: POST) is a cereal and convenience food company that doesn't get nearly enough attention. Its portfolio covers both branded cereals and foodservice, giving it two levers: pricing power on the branded side and contract-based stability on the foodservice side.

When consumers trade down, they tend to trade toward products like Post's, not away from them. Analysts project meaningful earnings growth over the next 12 months, and the stock trades at a valuation that doesn't fully reflect that. This robust stock is one I'd sit with patiently.

2. Utz Brands

If you haven't considered Utz Brands (NYSE: UTZ) as an investment, that's not surprising; it doesn't receive much coverage despite being a legitimate (and tasty!) national salty snack brand. Utz has been rationalizing its portfolio by cutting underperforming units and focusing on its highest-velocity products. Snacks are a durable consumer category, and Utz sits in a part of the market where private-label competition is constrained by brand loyalty.

3. Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL) does something that most consumer goods companies can't: It offers both branded pricing power (SPAM, Applegate, Skippy) and private-label manufacturing exposure. When consumers trade down, Hormel captures some of that movement within its own portfolio rather than losing it to a competitor.

It's also a Dividend King -- 60 consecutive years of dividend increases. A Dividend King is a company that's grown its dividend payment for at least 50 consecutive years. Many Dividend Kings have delivered long-term wealth gains, but not all continue to deliver total returns above average for shareholders. For a $1,000 investment in a rocky market, owning a piece of a company that has raised its dividend through recessions, trade wars, and pandemics is genuinely steadying.
TULLAMORE Circuit Court has been told a man who deceived people into paying him 19,500 will pay the money back.

Martin Brady (56), Potahee, Ballinagh, Cavan was arraigned at Tullamore Circuit Court on Friday (April 17) and entered guilty pleas to five counts alleging that he dishonestly induced people by deception to pay him sums of money.

Defence counsel David Nugent, BL, said 19,500 was the total amount paid to Mr Brady and he was making efforts to make that right.

Mr Nugent said the defendant may need until October but would be in a position to make a part payment in June.

Sandra Mahon, Offaly state solicitor, said the matter could be adjourned to the Circuit Court sitting in November.

READ NEXT: Late consolation goals give Offaly heart

Judge Ronan Munro told Mr Brady that everything he did between now and November would count towards how his sentence would be considered.

It's a lot of money, he remarked.

Four of the charges related to offences at Bretland construction site in Clara and they involved 3,000 in August 2023, 5,000 between January 1 and 5, 2024, 3,500 between January 31 and February 1, 2024 and 3,000 on February 21, 2024.

The people who were induced to pay those sums were John Hogan, Tom Brown, Ken Murphy and Padraig Cryan.

The fifth charge to which Mr Brady pleaded guilty was that he induced Brecon Daly to pay him 5,000 between February 1 and August 31, 2023.
Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

American Water Works Company subsidiaries launched new water infrastructure projects in West Virginia and Iowa.

The company acquired the Livingston Municipal Water Works in Kentucky, expanding its regulated service footprint.

Pennsylvania operations secured public funding from PENNVEST for water system upgrades.

American Water and its teams received industry recognition and highlighted scholarship and charitable programs.

American Water Works Company (NYSE:AWK) is drawing attention with a cluster of company-level developments that reach beyond pricing or capital spending headlines. The stock recently closed at $131.61, with a 1 year return of a 9.1% decline and a 5 year return of an 8.6% decline, which gives useful context as you weigh these fresh operating updates and community initiatives.

For investors watching regulated utilities, these new projects, the Kentucky acquisition, and PENNVEST-backed work in Pennsylvania show where American Water is currently focusing capital and operational effort. Recognitions for water quality and ongoing scholarship and charitable giving also help clarify how management is positioning the business on service reliability, regulatory relationships, and broader community impact.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for American Water Works Company by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on American Water Works Company.

NYSE:AWK Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Apr 2026

 Beyond the headline: 2 risks and 2 things going right for American Water Works Company that every investor should see.

These updates give you a clearer view of how American Water Works is using capital and regulatory approvals to grow its footprint and keep systems in line with current standards. The Livingston acquisition in Kentucky is small in customer numbers, but the planned US$600,000 of upgrades over five years show how the company typically folds municipal systems into a wider program of regulated investment. Larger state level plans in Iowa and West Virginia, together with US$25.9m of PENNVEST grants and loans in Pennsylvania, underline the focus on dam safety, lead line replacement, and main renewal that regulators and communities are watching closely.

How This Fits Into The American Water Works Company Narrative
Poker end-boss Alex Foxen added another title to his long list of accolades after finishing first from 70 entries in Event #7: $10,000 NLH. Foxen defeated Jeremy Ausmus heads-up to earn his 13th PGT title and the $210,000 top prize, while Ausmus recorded his third runner-up finish of the series.

Foxen's win comes just three days after his wife Kristen Foxen defeated Ausmus heads-up in Event #5 for her 5th PGT title, marking a great series so far for the poker power couple.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Alex Foxen United States $210,000 2 Jeremy Ausmus United States $136,500 3 Qinghai Pan United States $94,500 4 Aram Zobian United States $70,000 5 Michael Berk United States $52,500 6 Sam Laskowitz United States $38,500 7 John Andress United States $28,000

Winner's Reaction

The win ties Foxen with Sam Soverel for most Career PGT titles earned at 13. Even before this event Foxen was already at the top of the PokerGo Tour all-time money list and first in all-time number of cashes, and he spoke on thriving in such an elite environment against some of the toughest possible competition.

"I mean, the tournaments are really tough. I think a lot of it comes down to who brings their A game most often. The discrepancy between one player and another at this level is relatively small, but I think theres often a relatively big discrepancy between someones best game and their worst game. So I just really try to focus on things that help narrow that gap between my best and my worst game, and try to bring my A-game as much as I can.

Alex Foxen

"I have the normal routine of health and fitness stuff," Foxen said when asked how he's able to play his A-game so consistently. "But just kind of a mindset towards seeking out challenge and enjoying challenging things. I think thats very helpful."

"You could look at losing a bunch of all-ins in a row as poor me, Foxen continued, "or you could think of it like wow, wouldnt it be cool if still win this tournament after losing all these all-ins? You can re-frame things in a way that makes them a little more positive, and a little bit easier to deal with. I try to do that as much as I can with everything in life, but it translates really well to poker.

Final Day Action

Foxen started the day with around 55% of the total chips, while Ausmus started as a distant second. Qinghai Pan, Aram Zobian and Michael Berk all started very short, and Berk fell first in one of the first hands of the day after Zobian rivered a king with king-jack to best Berk's ace-queen.

Despite Zobian looking to spin up his stack early after Berk's elimination, Pan stopped his momentum dead after doubling through Zobian with pocket jacks, leaving Zobian with dust. He lost his remaining three big blinds to Foxen soon after, setting up three-handed play between Foxen, Ausmus and Pan.

Foxen, holding roughly two thirds of the total chips, applied relentless pressure during three-handed play, open-shoving many hands to extend his lead with few showdowns. Pan doubled twice in quick succession to stay alive, and Ausmus cracked Foxen's kings to secure a double of his own, but the three double ups hardly made a dent in Foxen's stack, and he continued to open-shove preflop with near-impunity. Pan made another stand holding ace-queen against Foxen's seven-six offsuit, but the Foxen steamroll continued as a six on the turn marked the end of Pan's run.

Jeremy Ausmus

Heads-up play began with Foxen holding a bit more than a 4:1 chip advantage over Ausmus. In the very first hand of heads-up play, Ausmus limped in with eight-five, while Foxen checked with seven-three suited. The flop gave Foxen bottom pair, while Ausmus missed. Ausmus fired a triple-barrel bluff, but Foxen called after connecting with his seven on the river to win the final hand of the tournament.

That wraps up PokerNews' coverage of another event here at the 2026 U.S. Poker Open in Las Vegas. Check out the live reporting hub for other highlights from the series.
Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC) is included among the 12 Most Undervalued Natural Gas Stocks to Buy Now.

Analyst Lowers Range Resources (RRC) Price Target by $5

Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC) is a pioneer of the Marcellus Shale and one of the most active natural gas drillers in Pennsylvania.

Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC) had a setback on April 14 when Citi trimmed its price target on the stock from $50 to $45, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares. The lowered target still indicates an upside of over 9% from the current levels.

On the other hand, the analysts over at Jefferies turned more bullish on Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC) earlier on April 5, raising the firms price target on the stock (read more details here).

Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC) is targeting production of 2.35 to 2.4 Bcfe per day for FY 2026, with a projected capital spending of $650 million to $700 million. The company expects its first-quarter production to be down versus Q4 of last year, with output then stepping up significantly in the second half of 2026 and continuing into 2027.

While we acknowledge the potential of RRC 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: 14 Best Energy Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now and 15 Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Stellantis N.V. ("Stellantis" or the "Company") (NYSE:STLA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Stellantis and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until June 8, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Stellantis securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On February 6, 2026, Stellantis announced 22 billion in charges alongside a "reset" of the Company's business and a shortfall, even discounting the charges, against the Company's previous guidance. Stellantis described the charges and reset as due in significant part to the need to shift organizational priorities, stakeholder relationships, supply chains, execution, and quality control due to "an initial overestimation of pace of adoption of electrification in the regions." Stellantis further pointed specifically to "substantially reduced volume and profitability expectations for [battery-powered electric vehicle] products." On this news, Stellantis's stock price fell $2.26 per share, or 23.69%, to close at $7.28 per share on February 6, 2026.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
The African Union has condemned Israels decision to appoint a diplomatic envoy to the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.

Last Wednesday, months after it officially recognised the breakaway region of Somalia, Israel announced its first ambassador to the country.

The ambassador, Michael Lotem, had previously served as Israels ambassador to Kenya.

His appointment is the latest development from the rapidly growing alliance between Israel and Somalilanda move which the African Union considers a disregard for the territorial integrity of Somalia.

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Israel became the first country in the world to recognise Somaliland last December. This action ended more than 30 years of diplomatic isolation and marked a diplomatic breakthrough for the region, but was widely condemned among African and Arab leaders.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the decision was in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.

In a statement on Sunday, the AU said it expresses deep concern and strongly condemns reports of Israels decision to appoint a diplomatic envoy to the so-called Somaliland.

The Commission also declared its unwavering support and respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia.

The regional bloc noted that in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union and international law, Somaliland cannot be regarded as an independent state.

Recalling the communique of the 1324th meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council of 6 January 2026, the Commission underscores that any unilateral recognition of Somaliland is null and void and warns that such actions risk undermining regional stability.

The African Union remains committed to supporting Somalias peace, governance, and national cohesion, the organisation stated.
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos Branch, has removed its Chairman, Babajide Saheed.

As a result, Temidire Ewonowo has taken over the leadership of the association as the new chairman.

The removal took place on Saturday in Lagos during an Emergency General Meeting of the association, following purported repeated violations of the rules and regulations of the NMA by the former chairman, Mr Saheed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement to remove was conducted by members through a secret ballot.

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Following a majority vote to remove the chairman, the 1st vice-chairman automatically assumed office, as provided in the NMA constitution.

Shedding more light, the new Chairman, Mr Ewonowo, who was the former 1st vice-chairman, said among the infractions that led to the removal of Mr Saheed was the request by 10 affiliate heads and some members of NMA for an Emergency General Meeting and the NMA Lagos state chairmans refusal to convene the meeting within seven days.

According to him, walking out of a duly constituted Emergency General Meeting on 13 January 2026 and submission of a delegate list that was not ratified by the Emergency General Meeting on 13 January 2026 were part of the breaches committed by the chairman.

He added that another infraction was referring members of the NMA Lagos State to a disciplinary committee based on an unfounded premise of a decision that did not occur at the State Executive Council Meeting and Emergency General Meeting.

Before now, I was the 1st vice-chairman.

The former chairman was served a letter by the affiliate heads to say his own side of what has happened with respect to some of these constitutional infractions, within a period of seven days, as contained in the constitution. He didnt respond.

There is a window period of three days, that an emergency meeting should be held. Following its failure to hold, which is today, it was on the basis and in line with our rules and regulations that the congress, alongside the heads of the affiliates, take a decision that the former chairman be removed from office.

So, Im now the new NMA chairman.

This is because section eight of section one of the NMA rules and regulations clearly stated that where the chairman is removed from office, the 1st vice-chairman shall become the chairman, Mr Ewonowo said.

Mr Ewonowo emphasised that the election was in line with NMA rules and regulations, which stated a minimum of three affiliate heads and 30 members must be present at a congress where such a resolution would be made.

He noted that the emergency meeting (congress) had in attendance 112 members and nine affiliate heads. He said a total of 93 members voted for the chairman to be removed from office, while four votes were against and three votes were invalid.

According to him, the emergency general meeting is the highest decision-making organ of the association.

Affirming his commitment to serve the association, Mr Ewonowo assured his support for the associations progress and for resolving any differences among members, saying that a crisis does not provide room for growth and development.

According to him, the welfare of doctors and the progress of the association are paramount.

He said, We have just been elected as part of the equals to lead the association.

So, on that basis, we will work together as a congress. 

We will work together with the State Executive Council so that at the end of the day, we will have a crisis-free regime.

But for me, as a person that has been in public office even long before now, I have always believed in the welfare of all members.

This is not an era where Lagos doctors will have no rights in their place of work. This is not the time where a Lagos doctor will be subjected to a dehumanised condition. This association will resist that vehemently.

He assured that it was an era where the leadership would do everything humanly possible to protect the welfare of doctors.

We will keep the communication line between us and all the affiliate groups.

Remember that the reason why we have Nigerian Medical Association today is because we have the affiliate group coming together to form what is referred to as NMA, he said.

(NAN)
Nine years after their arbitrary dismissal, 38 senior Nigerian Army officers, including major generals, brigadier generals, colonels and lieutenant colonels, remain on the margins, their lives upended and their dignity denied, as the Nigerian Army continues to defy court orders directing their reinstatement.

The officers, compulsorily retired on 9 June 2016, have taken every legal and institutional avenue open to them: they have won favourable judgments at the National Industrial Court, secured resolutions from both chambers of the National Assembly, engaged human rights lawyers, and written directly to two successive presidents. Nothing has worked.

One of them, Ojebo Ochankpa, died in 2017  still waiting for justice. His family later said he died of a broken heart. Associates of the late officer told PREMIUM TIMES that his widow, Ruth Baba-Ochankpa, and their three children, Joshua, Esther and Abigail, became living reminders of how institutional cruelty can destroy families as easily as it destroys careers.

The 2016 Mass Dismissal

In June 2016, the Nigerian Army compulsorily retired the 38 officers, citing service exigencies, corruption in arms procurement, and partisanship as grounds for what it described as serious offences.

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The mass exit affected nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels and 11 lieutenant colonels.

Investigations by PREMIUM TIMES, however, show the authorities acted outside the law.

None of the affected officers was charged before a court martial or found guilty of any offence under the extant rules and regulations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Most were neither queried nor indicted by any panel. Some were on official national assignments abroad when they learnt through the media that they had been dismissed.

One of the dismissed officers said he was never found guilty of corruption in arms procurement or any form of electoral partisanship. I was never involved in any of the issues highlighted and/or any wrongdoing whatsoever. My compulsory retirement was without due process, as it was a clear departure from the disciplinary process and laid-down procedures of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as natural justice, he wrote in a letter to President Bola Tinubu.

Danladi Hassan, a colonel and one of the 38 officers, had in 2014 led troops to reclaim villages in Borno from Boko Haram insurgents. Commissioned in September 1994, he had participated in several foreign missions, including ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as the United Nations Mission in Sudan. Like his colleagues, he received no query, no panel indictment and no court martial before being dismissed.

Among those affected were a Director of Military Intelligence, defence attaches and officers who had served on the frontlines against Boko Haram. Some had received commendations for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Legal Violations

PREMIUM TIMES review of the relevant statutes reveals that the army violated its own rules in the manner in which the officers were disengaged.

The Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers, specifically paragraph 09.02c(4), was cited to remove the officers. That provision allows for compulsory retirement on disciplinary grounds, i.e. serious offences, but does not define what constitutes serious offences.

More critically, the principal law  the Armed Forces Act  establishes all actions that constitute offences in the military and prescribes the procedures for punishing offenders.

A review of the Act shows no provision empowers the Army Council to arbitrarily punish or compulsorily retire officers for any offence. Section 11(a-f) of the Act, which governs the powers of the Army Council, does not include the authority to retire any officer on disciplinary grounds without compliance with the legally prescribed steps.

The officers petitioned military authorities in keeping with military rules immediately after their dismissal.

Their statutory appeal for redress, which ought to have been acknowledged within 30 days, was neither acknowledged nor replied to, according to documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

Courts rule in Favour of Officers.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of one of the officers, Danladi Hassan, declaring his dismissal unfair, wrongful, unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, invalid and contrary to the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers 2012. The appellate court also directed his immediate reinstatement with effect from 9 June 2016.

Similarly, seven of the dismissed officers  Major-General Ijioma Ijioma, Brigadier-General Abubakar Saad, Colonel Muhammed Suleiman, and Lieutenant Colonels Dukip Dazang, Thomas Arigbe, Abdulfatai Muhammed and Abubakar Mohammed  filed suits at the National Industrial Court.

Ruling in their favour between 2019 and 2021, the court declared their compulsory retirement illegal and ordered their immediate reinstatement with full rights, privileges, and outstanding salaries and allowances. The judgments were not challenged at the Court of Appeal. Yet the Nigerian Army refused to comply.

Mr Mohammed filed his suit at the National Industrial Court to reverse what he described as his unlawful and wrongful compulsory retirement. On 14 January 2020, the court declared his retirement wrongful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and ordered his immediate reinstatement with all the rights and privileges. The army has yet to act on the judgment.

In a subsequent letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Mr Mohammed noted that despite the favourable judgment of the court in 2020 to redress the injustices meted out to me, the pattern of abuse that I have been subjected to since 2016 was continued with the deliberate neglect to comply with the court judgment which was duly served [on] the Nigerian Army.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that a former Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, attempted to resolve the matter in 2021. In a memo acknowledged on 7 July 2021, Mr Irabor sought ministerial endorsement for the voluntary retirement of the 38 senior officers with effect from 1 January 2018. The proposal was not approved.

Two other officers, Chidi Ukoha and Osita Nwankwo, approached the Senate and House of Representatives separately. Both chambers investigated their petitions independently, found no basis for their compulsory retirement, and recommended their reinstatement. The Nigerian Army ignored both legislative resolutions.

Falana writes to the Attorney-General

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has taken up the officers cause, writing on their behalf to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

In the letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Falana and Falana Chambers stated that the then-Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff had alleged in the media, without any basis, that the officers were professionally corrupt and had been punished after due process.

Contrary to the libellous statement of both highly placed public officers, our clients were never accused nor tried for corruption or any other offence whatsoever, the law firm wrote.

The firm urged President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian Army to implement the judgments of the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, as well as the resolutions of the National Assembly. It specifically demanded the immediate reinstatement of all listed officers with effect from June 2016, their restoration to the current rank and seniority of their coursemates, and the full payment of salaries and emoluments from June 2016 to date.

Appeal to President Tinubu

PREMIUM TIMES reported that some of the officers submitted a separate letter to President Tinubus office, urging the president to compel the army to obey the court orders. Invoking his avowed commitment to justice as expressed in his inauguration speech, the officers described their compulsory retirement as a malicious and wrongful action compounded by reputational damage actions in the media.

The officers made three demands: immediate reinstatement with effect from 9 June 2016; full restoration to the current rank and seniority of their coursemates in the 47 Regular Course; and payment of all salaries and emoluments from June 2016 to date.

I am confident in your leadership and steadfastness for justice and the rule of law, and optimistic that you will grant me full restoration to put my career back on course, as I never deserved the ill-treatment of over seven years of compulsory retirement that was meted out to me, one of the letters read.

Sources within the military said only the president, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has the authority to overturn the decision and order reinstatement.

Who Can Act and Who Has Not

The pathways to resolution are clear.

The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shuaibu, has the authority to reinstate the officers on the strength of the court orders and to advise the president accordingly. Notably, Mr Shuaibu is a coursemate of dismissed officer Danladi Hassan. On assuming office, the army chief pledged to uphold justice.

Mr Shuaibus predecessors  Tukur Buratai, Attahiru Mohammed, Farouk Yahaya, Taoreed Lagbaja and Olufemi Oluyede  all refused to obey the court orders.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, chairs the Army Council  the same body that recently approved the promotion of generals and major generals. The council could, by the same authority, order the reinstatement of the dismissed officers in compliance with the court judgments.

The Attorney-General of the Federation is also constitutionally empowered to advise the president on matters of justice.

PREMIUM TIMES sent Freedom of Information requests to the Chief of Army Staff, the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General, seeking the status of the case and an explanation for the continued non-compliance with the court orders. None of them responded to our requests.

A military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, offered a pointed observation: Theres no statute of limitations on injustice. As the president is trying to recruit more personnel for the army, the best time to look inward is for justice to begin within the army itself.

Meanwhile, some of the officers who once fought Boko Haram on the frontlines are now struggling to provide for their families  the price of a dismissal the courts have since declared illegal, and a justice system that powerful institutions continue to ignore.

One of the officers noted that the weight of this injustice has caused untold emotional and psychological pain to these victimised officers. It has shaken their faith in the system they once proudly served and defended.

Some of the officers, despite court orders directing their reinstatement, are no longer keen to return to active service after nine years of seeking justice. Some say they would settle for closure  a voluntary retirement at the current rank of their coursemates.

In his book, Nigerian Real: An Armchair Critics Perspective, Abdullateef Mohammed reflected on the story of the Army 38, describing it as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the Nigerian Army.

It is a story of betrayal within the ranks, of arrogance in leadership, and of a system that quietly devoured its own loyal servants. It is also the story of how institutions collapse when leaders abandon due process and hide behind power, he wrote.

The author noted that President Tinubu has a chance to break this chain of impunity. He can begin by ordering the immediate implementation of the Court of Appeal and other related cases. The officers should be reinstated, their ranks and seniority restored, and all arrears of salary and benefits paid from June 2016 to date.

The case of Army 38 is not just about the military. It is about Nigeria itself. It shows how institutions that once stood for honour can descend into private fiefdoms when leadership loses sight of fairness. It shows how silence from the top can empower wrongdoing at every level. It also reminds us that every act of impunity leaves a record, and that record will someday be judged.
Bird strikes are becoming increasingly disruptive to flight operations in Nigerias aviation sector, with one recent incident involving an Embraer 190 operated by United Nigeria Airlines as Flight UN0561.

The aircraft, which departed Benin for Abuja at about 4:20 p.m. on 16 April, struck birds shortly after takeoff, damaging part of its nose landing gear. It was withdrawn from service shortly after.

That incident, though handled without injury, marked the third bird strike involving the airline within 48 hours.

A day earlier, on 15 April, the airlines Airbus A320 operating Flight UN0515 from Port Harcourt to Abuja suffered a similar encounter while landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with damage to its nose section. On 14 April, a CRJ-900 aircraft, Flight UN0579 from Kano, was also struck on approach into Abuja.

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Within two days, three aircraft were grounded.

For United Nigeria Airlines, the April incidents pushed its recorded bird strike cases to seven since January 2026  a figure that is drawing attention not merely because of its size, but because of the speed and pattern of the incidents.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on 16 April, the airlines chairman, Obiora Okonkwo, described the strain the situation is placing on operations.

Do you believe that as we speak, I have two aircraft grounded because of bird strike? One was yesterday, the other one was the day before yesterday. In 24 hours, two bird strikes, he said.

He added that the challenge extends beyond one operator.

And from January to this month, Ive had six. And so other operators.

Mr Okonkwo further noted that the issue is not peculiar to United Nigeria Airlines, pointing to Air Peaces experience.

Last year, from January to December 2025, Air Peace had a total of 52 bird strikes. And when that happens, you ground the aircraft, it disrupts your schedule. And then it costs you maintenance money. And at the end of the day, we still pay what is due to all the agents that are responsible for that.

For airlines, each incident comes with immediate consequences. Aircraft must be withdrawn for inspection, schedules are disrupted, and passengers are delayed or rescheduled. The airline itself has indicated that only incidents resulting in grounded aircraft are publicly reported, suggesting that less severe encounters may be more frequent than available data shows.

A Pattern Beyond One Airline

The experience of United Nigeria Airlines reflects a broader pattern across the sector.

On 22 January, an Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt suffered a bird strike on arrival, forcing safety checks and the deployment of a replacement aircraft. Nearly a month later, on 21 February, the airline recorded two separate incidents involving flights from Lagos to Asaba and Lagos to Kano, both requiring aircraft withdrawal after landing.

While these incidents ended without injuries, they underline a recurring operational challenge affecting multiple carriers.

Industry figures suggest the scale of the problem may be higher than publicly reported. In a December 2025 interview on ARISE News, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema disclosed that the airline recorded 49 bird strike incidents between January and September alone, describing them as a major operational burden capable of grounding aircraft for weeks.

The issue is not entirely new.

In May 2021, a Max Air flight from Kano to Abuja was forced to return shortly after takeoff after birds struck its engine, damaging multiple blades and causing mid-air vibrations. The aircraft landed safely, but the incident illustrated the potential severity of such encounters.

What appears to be changing is not the existence of bird strikes, but their frequency and concentration within short periods, raising questions about underlying conditions.

Bird strikes are not unique to Nigeria. Globally, they remain one of the most persistent operational hazards in aviation.

One of the most well-known cases occurred in the United States in 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese shortly after takeoff from New Yorks LaGuardia Airport. Both engines lost thrust, forcing Captain Chesley Sully Sullenberger to land the aircraft on the Hudson River in what became known as the Miracle on the Hudson. All 155 people on board survived, but the incident highlighted how dangerous bird strikes can become under certain conditions.

Similarly, in the United Kingdom, a British Airways flight was forced into an emergency diversion after a suspected bird strike caused smoke to enter the cabin mid-flight. The aircraft landed safely, but the event triggered renewed attention to wildlife hazards around major airports.

These incidents underline a global reality: while most bird strikes do not result in crashes, they can still cause engine failure, emergency landings, and major operational disruptions, particularly during takeoff and landing phases when aircraft are most vulnerable.

Environmental Pressures and the Limits of Prevention Systems

Regulators have also had to contend with the consequences of such incidents. In December 2025, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority intervened after a bird strike involving a United Nigeria Airlines flight in Abuja left over 100 passengers stranded, highlighting how quickly technical disruptions can escalate into passenger welfare issues.

Experts say the persistence of bird strikes is closely linked to environmental conditions around airports.

Most incidents occur during takeoff and landing when aircraft operate at low altitudes where birds are most active. Airports located near open waste dumps, wetlands, or agricultural areas tend to attract birds, increasing collision risks.

In Nigeria, rapid urban expansion around airport corridors, combined with waste management challenges, has intensified this risk. Although airport authorities deploy bird control measures such as patrol teams and dispersal systems, the recurrence of incidents suggests that these efforts may not be keeping pace with changing environmental realities.

An aviation analyst, Nura Ahmad, said the recent incidents should not be seen in isolation, noting that bird strikes remain a persistent challenge where airport environments are not effectively managed.

Bird strikes happen globally, but when you see several within a short period, it raises concerns about conditions around the airfields, he said, pointing to waste disposal, nearby water bodies, and other environmental attractants.

He added that prevention remains critical, stressing the need for stronger wildlife hazard management by airport authorities.

The focus should be on prevention, because while most bird strikes are not catastrophic, their impact on operations, delays, and passenger confidence can be significant.

What is emerging from recent events is a shift in how bird strikes are perceived within Nigerias aviation sector. Once treated as isolated operational disruptions, they are increasingly being viewed as part of a broader systemic challenge linked to environmental management, infrastructure, and regulatory oversight.

As incidents continue across airlines and within short timeframes, attention is gradually shifting from how airlines respond to bird strikes to how effectively such risks are being prevented in the first place.
Security operatives have rescued the remaining 13 passengers abducted earlier in the week along the MakurdiOtukpo road in Benue State.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed the development in a message to journalists on Sunday, saying the victims would be brought to Makurdi for further briefing.

Yes, were planning a news conference this morning when they arrive Makurdi, Mr Emenari said.

The victims were seized on Wednesday night after gunmen intercepted a Benue Links bus along the Benue Burnt Bricks axis in Otukpo Local Government Area. The assailants robbed the passengers before taking several of them into the bush.

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Police had earlier confirmed that 14 passengers were abducted, with one person escaping shortly after the incident. By Friday, authorities said five victims had been rescued, leaving 13 in captivity before the latest operation.

The rescue follows a series of coordinated security efforts, including search operations in forested areas and the arrest of suspects linked to the attack.

The police had earlier announced that seven suspects were in custody and that some victims had been freed during joint operations in Amla Forest and surrounding locations.

The incident has drawn widespread attention, particularly over conflicting accounts regarding the identity of the victims.

While early reports indicated that many of those on board were young people travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Otukpo, the police later clarified that the passengers were not part of any organised convoy of candidates.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board also stated that none of its registered candidates was officially listed among the victims.

READ ALSO: JAMB says kidnapped Benue travellers not UTME candidates

However, relatives of some of those abducted disputed the official position. A family member of one of the passengers insisted that several victims were travelling for the examination.

My nephew was on that bus, and he was heading to Otukpo for his JAMB examination. In fact, most of the passengers were candidates, a relative said, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.

The abduction is part of a broader pattern of insecurity in Benue State, where recent weeks have seen a rise in attacks, kidnappings, and killings across several local government areas, including Otukpo, Apa, and Gwer East.

Authorities say investigations into the bus attack are ongoing, while security agencies continue efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating along major routes in the state.
The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has directed primary and secondary school teachers to begin an indefinite strike on Monday.

The union gave the directive in a communique issued at the end of an emergency SWEC meeting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Friday.

The communique was jointly signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; the State Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and the State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

In the communique, made available to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, the union directed the teachers to comply with the directive and await further instructions.

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It further advised parents to keep their children and wards in primary and secondary schools safe at home until further notice.

It said that the teachers would remain at home until all their demands are met.

The union explained that the decision was the outcome of the SWEC meeting, convened to review the seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on 11 March, which expired on 29 March.

It said that the SWEC appreciated Mr Wike for the implementation of the N70,000 Minimum Wage and payment of the nine months arrears to the primary school teachers in the FCT.

It, however, said that the Council noted with concern that the ministers intervention, which facilitated the suspension of the 14-week strike on 9 July 2025, was yet to be addressed.

The Minister constituted a committee on July 7, 2025, with a mandate to, within two weeks, harmonise all outstanding entitlements of primary school teachers.

The committee was also directed to make appropriate recommendations that would lead to a permanent solution to the frequent industrial disputes involving FCT Primary School Teachers.

The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025; however, the report is yet to be made public, it said.

The union explained that the seven-day ultimatum followed the unexplained delay in the implementation of the committees report.

It added that the move also became necessary following the continued silence on the legitimate demands of teachers amid the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country, particularly in the FCT.

It explained that the Wike-led FCT Administration was asked to, within the seven-day ultimatum, release and implement the report of primary school teachers outstanding entitlements.

The union further called for the removal of the vacancies precondition for the promotion of classroom teachers and for a full review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow for the unhindered promotion of eligible teachers.

It said that the SWEC was disturbed that, following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum on 19 March, including the additional 28-day grace period granted to the authorities, there had been no tangible response to all the issues raised in the ultimatum.

After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues and the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers welfare, the Council resolved that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, proceed on an indefinite strike until our demands are met, the union said.

(NAN)
Never miss an important update on your stock portfolio and cut through the noise. Over 7 million investors trust Simply Wall St to stay informed where it matters for FREE.

SES (ENXTPA:SESG) has caught investor attention after a period of mixed share performance, with a roughly 6.8% gain over the past month contrasting with a 4.5% decline in the past 3 months.

See our latest analysis for SES.

At a share price of 6.44, SES has a 30 day share price return of 6.8%, set against a 13.3% year to date share price return and a 40.0% one year total shareholder return. This suggests that momentum has been rebuilding after earlier weakness.

If SES has you looking more closely at communications and infrastructure themes, it can be helpful to see what else is out there via 31 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks

So with SES trading at 6.44, sitting on a 40.0% one year total shareholder return but an intrinsic value estimate at a large discount, is there still mispricing here, or are markets already factoring in future growth?

Preferred Price to Sales Multiple of 1x: Is it justified?

SES trades on a P/S of roughly 1x at 6.44, with mixed signals on value, looking inexpensive versus some fair value estimates yet richer than parts of the French media space.

The P/S ratio compares the companys market value to its annual revenue, so it is a simple way to see how much investors are paying for each euro of sales. For a satellite based data and video connectivity group like SES, where earnings are currently negative and profits are forecast based, sales based measures can provide a cleaner starting point than profit based ratios.

On one side, SES is described as trading at 75.7% below an intrinsic value estimate and as good value versus an estimated fair P/S of 1.5x. On the other side, the same 1x P/S is described as expensive versus the French media industry average of 0.5x, which suggests the market is willing to pay a higher price for SESs revenue than for the typical domestic peer.

This split view continues when comparing to a peer group. SES screens as good value on P/S relative to a 1.4x peer average, indicating investors are paying less per euro of sales than for similar companies. These differences highlight how sensitive the story is to which comparison set you use and whether you focus on broad industry or closer peers.

Explore the SWS fair ratio for SES

Result: Price to Sales ratio of 1x (ABOUT RIGHT)

However, there are still clear risks here, including current net losses of 106m and reliance on satellite demand across key markets such as the US and Europe.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said that Nigeria and Turkiye have reached an agreement for the immediate deployment of 200 Nigerian Special Forces for training in Turkiye.

Mr Musa disclosed this in an interview on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026) in Antalya, Turkiye, on Saturday, following discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day forum, themed Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties, which started on Friday, is attended by world leaders, ministers, and diplomats, among others.

The minister explained that following the agreement, Turkiye had allocated a training quota of 200 personnel from Nigerias Special Forces, who will be immediately deployed when the minister returns to Nigeria.

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We have a Special Forces training agreement. Turkiye has agreed to give us 200 Special Forces training, so as soon as I return, we are sending them here for training.

We will continue to do a lot. There will be exercises. The first exercise is coming up later in the year. So, in so many areas of defence, we are going to work together, he said.

The minister also disclosed that Nigeria and Turkiye had both agreed on joint defence equipment production and the transfer of military technology.

Mr Musa said that Nigeria and Turkiye had come a long way, working together over the years, adding that, since 1960, Turkiye has been like family to Nigeria.

According to him, Turkiye has a lot of defence experience from which Nigeria could learn through shared experiences.

Ive had a meeting with the Turkish Minister of Defence, where we shared a lot of ideas on how to improve on our relationship, defence-wise.

Turkiye has improved dramatically with regard to the production of military hardware.

Nigeria is still developing, and we have agreed that we are going to partner together so that we have a co-production of some of these items, he said.

The minister noted that while Nigeria had been fighting asymmetric warfare against insurgency for about 17 years, Turkiye has had a similar experience of fighting against terrorism for 40 years.

He added: Because of that, we will move into training, production and improving on our defence, industrial production, and exchange of officers and soldiers.

READ ALSO: Nigerian soldiers kill 10 suspected terrorists in Plateau

NAN reports that the annual event also featured panel discussions and sessions covering a wide range of topics shaped by contemporary global defence and security, political, economic, environmental, and technological dynamics.

Participants from about 150 countries, including 5,000 decision-makers, 20 heads of state and government, 40 foreign ministers, 60 invited foreign media, and diplomats, among others, attended the forum.

(NAN)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of two persons, 20 others injured, and eight unhurt in a road traffic crash at Wudil T-Junction on Maiduguri Road in Kano State.

The State Commander, Idris Muhammed-Lawan, disclosed this in a statement signed by FRSCs Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Labaran, on Saturday in Kano.

The statement said: We received a distress call at about 9:25 a.m. and arrived at the scene within 10 minutes.

The accident involved a DAF trailer loaded with goods and passengers, travelling from Wudil Market en route to Lagos State.

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The passengers were 30 male adults; two persons died, 20 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, while eight were unhurt.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations reveal that the driver lost control due to overspeeding while approaching the T-Junction and hit another vehicle parked by the roadside.

The statement added that the victims were taken to Wudil General Hospital for treatment.

It quoted the state commander expressing concern over continued violation of road safety regulations, particularly the use of trailers for conveying passengers.

READ ALSO: FRSC recovers stolen vehicle after 11 years

He said overspeeding and overloading remained major causes of road crashes and urged drivers to comply strictly with traffic rules.

Muhammed-Lawan advised the general public to avoid boarding trailers and other unsafe vehicles.

(NAN)
Journalist and politician, Wale Adedayo, has sparked concerns among colleagues, friends, and followers after his Facebook post suggesting he was ready to join the ancestors.

Mr Adedayo, who previously served as the chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marked his 60th birthday on Saturday.

He wrote on his Facebook page in commemoration of his birthday: Peace, at last! Ready to join the ancestors now. Others can take over from here as we have done our bit to the best of the abilities and available resources provided by Olodumare!

The post triggered concerns, with many in his sphere online and interpreting it as a possible suicide note and reaching out to him.

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However, in a follow-up message, the journalist dismissed such interpretations, saying his statement was misunderstood.

Sincere thanks to friends, who got in touch and also wrote on my Facebook wall yesterday. To some, what I wrote was like a suicide note. O ti o! To others, Babalawo has given up. Not at all! he wrote.

Mr Adedayo explained that his message reflected his spiritual beliefs and long-held views about mortality, rather than any intention to end his life.

Citing Islamic teachings and Yoruba proverbs, he said his perspective was shaped by the understanding that life is uncertain and that individuals must live with the consciousness of death.

In one Hadith that has been with me since my IRK days at Gaskiyah College II (now, Cardoso High School), Badia, Ijora, Lagos, the Prophet said, When you wake up in the morning, do not assume youll see the evening, and when you sleep at night, do not assume youll see the morning, he wrote.

He added that the message was an affirmation of his commitment to live responsibly and contribute positively to society.

Yesterday was the final day of my 60th birthday celebrations. And, my note was an affirmation to my Eleda that Ill NEVER betray my lifes journey  prepare more for the other side by doing everything possible to make my immediate society better than I met it, he said.

The clarification appeared to calm concerns among his followers, many of whom had earlier flooded his page with messages of worry and support.

Birthday felicitation

Meanwhile, birthday tributes continued to pour in for the journalist, who previously served as chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area in Ogun State.

In a congratulatory message, Oluwadare Kehinde, the executive chairman of the council, described Mr Adebayo as a leader whose courage, service, and commitment to grassroots development remain a reference point.

Sixty cheers to a leader whose courage, service, and commitment to grassroots development remain a reference point in our local government. Your contributions to Ijebu East and Ogun State at large are deeply appreciated.

As you mark this diamond jubilee, I pray that God grants you long life, sound health, and more wisdom to continue serving humanity. Happy 60th birthday, sir, he wrote.

READ ALSO: Tinubu extols journalist Chido Onumah on 60th birthday

Mr Adedayo, a journalist for decades, made headlines in September 2023, when he was controversially removed from office in the aftermath of accusing Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting statutory federal allocations of the 20 LGAs in the state.

In December 2025, the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu Ode nullified the removal of Wale Adedayo as the chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.

Judge Catherine Ogunsanya, in her judgement, awarded N30 million in general damages to Mr Adedayo after finding that the process leading to his removal was illegal, null and void.
The former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is expected to rejoin the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Shekarau announced his defection from the PDP on Sunday at his Mundubawa Avenue Residence in Kano, decorated with APC posters, following days of consultations, including with his Shura committee (supporters), who approved his defection to the APC.

Mr Shekarau, who served two consecutive terms as Kano governor between 2003 and 2011, rejoined the APC days after the APC national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, invited him to the ruling party alongside another PDP chieftain, Bello Hayatu.

In 2003, Mr Shekarau made history as the first challenger in Kano State to unseat an incumbent, defeating Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso. Following this landmark victory, Mr Shekarau was reelected in 2007 and thus served two consecutive terms in office.

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However, his attempt to install a successor, Salihu Takai, narrowly failed in 2011. Consequently, he handed over power to the PDPs opposition candidatethe same Mr Kwankwaso whom he had defeated eight years prior.

Shekaraus defection trend

Mr Shekaraus defection trend is often driven by power struggles within Kanos politics, particularly his long-standing rivalry with Mr Kwankwaso.

Mr Shekarau was a founding member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), under which he served as governor.

In 2014, Mr Shekarau defected to the PDP after his former party, the ANPP, merged with others to form the APC. A direct conflict of interest prompted the move: his arch-rival, then-sitting Governor Kwankwaso, had also joined the APC.

Feeling that the partys structure in Kano was being handed over to Mr Kwankwaso, Mr Shekarau sought refuge in the PDP.

Following the PDPs defeat in the 2015 general elections, Mr Shekarau remained with the party for several years before rejoining the APC in September 2018.

In a dramatic turn of events, Mr Kwankwaso concurrently defected from the APC back to the PDP.

History soon repeated itself. Mr Shekarau felt the PDPs national leadership was favouring Mr Kwankwasos Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano. To avoid being sidelined, Mr Shekarau returned to the APC and subsequently won the Kano Central senatorial seat in 2019.

APC to NNPP

Leading up to the 2023 elections, internal friction intensified between Mr Shekarau and then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. As leader of the G-7 faction within the APC, Mr Shekarau felt marginalised by Mr Gandujes absolute control over the party at the grassroots.

Consequently, he defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which Mr Kwankwaso then led.

For a brief period, he buried the hatchet with his long-term rival, Mr Kwankwaso, joined forces against Mr Ganduje, seeking a platform that would guarantee his followers tickets for the upcoming elections.

NNPP back to the PDP

Mr Shekaraus tenure in the NNPP lasted only three months. He returned to the PDP in August 2022, alleging that Mr Kwankwaso and the NNPP leadership had failed to honour an agreement to integrate his supporters into the partys list of candidates for the 2023 elections.

After moving his entire political machinery to the PDP to back Atiku Abubakars 2023 presidential bid, Mr Shekarau has made another dramatic pivot.

In a fresh twist, he is returning to the APC to bolster President Bola Tinubus 2027 re-election campaignthrowing his support behind the very man who was Atikus main rival in the previous election.

Although Mr Shekarau supported Atikus 2023 presidential bid, his supporters largely broke ranks to back the APCs Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, which resulted in an abysmal performance for Atiku in Kano State, despite Mr Shekaraus formal alignment with the PDP.
I am talking about strategic finances; the realm of more than enough. Finances are deeply spiritual. Satan knows this, which is why he employs cynicism and mockery to discourage believers from praying about money. But the battle for financial stability is not won in the flesh; but in the Spirit. As citizens of a different kingdom, we must engage both skills and prayers to prevail, consistently, courageously, and faithfully.

Amidst a terrible financial situation, God actually spoke to someone to clear a major bill. In 2022, during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, the Lord spoke to me concerning an impending global financial storm, one that would significantly erode the finances, assets, and economic stability of many. I shared this warning publicly. Regrettably, we did not respond with the level of focused, sustained prayer such a revelation demanded. In hindsight, I grieve this deeply, as many within my sphere subsequently lost jobs, homes, businesses, and longheld assets. Even now, the after effects of that financial turbulence continue to be felt.

For Goerge Muller, a man who founded and sustained five orphanages, caring for over ten thousand children, money or food arrived within minutes or hours of prayer when accounts were at zero on multiple occasions. In 1844, after praying over empty tables, a baker and a milkman arrived unannounced with enough food for all the children. Over his lifetime, the equivalent of tens of millions of pounds flowed through his hands strictly in response to prayers.

For Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, he prayed for the financial needs of the mission, and funds repeatedly arrived just before payroll deadlines. In fact, support often came from donors who said they felt urged by God to give without knowing the urgency. At its peak, the mission supported 800+ missionaries and 125 schools.

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Over the past decade, I have gained profound insight into the spiritual dimensions that govern finances. Sadly, some of this understanding came through painful personal experiences. I too suffered unnecessary financial losses, largely because I failed at critical moments to engage in prolonged and strategic prayer  both as a watchman over my own life and over the generation entrusted to my spiritual care. Words are insufficient to convey the scale of the economic devastation many believers have endured over the past three years.

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight  (John 18:36).

You may have the right products, sound strategies, excellent branding, and competent marketing, and still experience financial stagnation. This is where spiritual warfare must complement natural effort. The global economic system is structured to concentrate resources in the hands of a powerful minority who manipulate political and economic levers to preserve dominance. Scripture does not deny this reality; it explains it.

Beloved, do not be persuaded by church critics or those who mock faith. Finances are not purely material; they are deeply spiritual. History repeatedly confirms this truth. While the natural pathway to wealth, developing valueadding products and services and exchanging them for money, remains valid and globally proven, it does not operate in isolation for committed believers. Atheists may prosper solely within that framework. However, once you become a devoted son or daughter of God, you inevitably become a spiritual adversary to the systems that dominate this world.

Many believers have learnt this reality experientially. A pastor I know faced total financial collapse when his ministrys primary sponsor abruptly withdrew support during the pandemic. Rather than retreat, he led his church in weeks of focused prayer and fasting. Within months, unexpected donors emerged, longstanding debts were cleared, and the ministry entered its most financially stable season till date. Similarly, a business owner in my circle, after months of declining revenues, despite sound business practices, dedicated early morning hours to praying specifically over contracts and cash flow. Shortly thereafter, he secured two major contracts he had not even applied for, both initiated by former contacts who had suddenly felt impressed to reach out.

John Wesley prayed for daily provision, while intentionally giving away most of his income. Despite giving away the vast majority of his earnings, his material needs were consistently met. At death, he had almost no possession, yet both he and his ministry were fully sustained throughout life.

You may have the right products, sound strategies, excellent branding, and competent marketing, and still experience financial stagnation. This is where spiritual warfare must complement natural effort. The global economic system is structured to concentrate resources in the hands of a powerful minority who manipulate political and economic levers to preserve dominance. Scripture does not deny this reality; it explains it.

As a true son or daughter of Christ, you represent a threat to Satans agenda. When righteous individuals control resources, the hungry are fed, the hopeless are restored, communities are rebuilt, and the Kingdom of God advances tangibly. Satan resists this fiercely. He understands that sustainable wealth in righteous hands dismantles his strategy to steal, kill, and destroy. This is why he actively seeks to frustrate godly financial progress, through corrupted approval processes, delayed contracts, mismanaged public funds, and unjust policies. The enemys methods are numerous, but effective prayer sharpens discernment. Prayer exposes fraudulent investments, redirects misaligned partnerships, and releases supernatural intervention against financial sabotage.

Treat your financial life with the seriousness of a trained intelligence officer. The Bible reminds us of the madman of Gadara, who occupied the mountains, symbolic of strategic high places (Mark 5:5). Todays economic mountains are similarly dominated by spiritually unaligned individuals who aggressively pursue global influence across sectors such as technology, medicine, finance, real estate, and energy.

Many credible testimonies affirm this. One believer, facing imminent foreclosure, committed to nightly intercession over her finances. She received a debt cancellation offer within weeks, an administrative error, according to the lender. Another preacher recounts how, after praying specifically for favour, rather than income, a cancelled speaking invitation was reinstated with double the honorarium, opening doors to longterm partnerships.

Therefore, alongside diligent and intelligent work, you must consistently pray over your finances.

Treat your financial life with the seriousness of a trained intelligence officer. The Bible reminds us of the madman of Gadara, who occupied the mountains, symbolic of strategic high places (Mark 5:5). Todays economic mountains are similarly dominated by spiritually unaligned individuals who aggressively pursue global influence across sectors such as technology, medicine, finance, real estate, and energy.

You cannot dethrone such systems through intellect alone. Many influential figures supplement skills with spiritual allegiances that demand sacrifices that many believers cant even comprehend. In the year 2002, Pastor Paul Adefarasin preached a message Ill never forget, the spirit realm responds to the highest bidder. We bid on our knees to bring down the iron gates that are contending against our finances. This reality demands that Christians engage not only to win with excellence but with spirituality, deeply rooted in strategic intercession.

You must cover your projects, contracts, businesses, and careers in prayer. Fast when necessary. Ask God for divine favour, mercy, and discernment. Recognise your identity as a threat to darkness, and act accordingly.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.  (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Your skills and business acumen arent enough to take over the strategic gates of finances. I am not talking about ordinary and average levels of finance. I am talking about strategic finances; the realm of more than enough. Finances are deeply spiritual. Satan knows this, which is why he employs cynicism and mockery to discourage believers from praying about money. But the battle for financial stability is not won in the flesh; but in the Spirit. As citizens of a different kingdom, we must engage both skills and prayers to prevail, consistently, courageously, and faithfully.

Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through [email protected]. You can connect with him on: YouTube: @VoiceoftheWatchmen, TikTok: @drayoakerele, Instagram: @drayoakerele, Facebook: @Ayo Akerele
This past week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly claimed that in taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, he essentially succeeded himself. It was a proud assertion of both policy and political continuity. In saying so, he asserted clear ownership of more than one decade of complicity by Nigerias ruling party in the use of atrocity violence for political purposes. That is not the renewed hope he promised. For the Adara People, it has been dystopia on a vampire scale.

When he was inaugurated as Nigerias elected president on 29 May 2015, Muhammadu Buhari identified three priority issues for his immediate attention. In the order in which he itemised them, these were: insecurity, persistent corruption and energy. President Buhari asserted that he would tackle these head on and, switching mental gears into his role as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), promised that Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. He got that wrong but lets not get ahead of the story.

A mere 200 kilometres away, on the same day and at a similar event in Kaduna, at his inauguration as the elected governor of Kaduna State, one of Buharis acolytes in the same party, Nasir el-Rufai, identified insecurity as an obstacle to progress and promised to work with law enforcement officials to drastically reduce violent crime and insure safety of life and limb.

By the time both men left office eight years later  one as president and the other as state governor  they had each and together managed to achieve the exact opposite. What occurred was more than mere abdication on insecurity; it felt like active conspiracy in perpetrating and perpetuating it.

Few communities felt the consequences of this like the Adara. The Adara are found in Munya and Paikoro Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State as well as in Kachia (Kaduna South Senatorial Zone). In Kaduna Central, the Adara are in Chikun and Kajuru LGAs. The experience of the Adara across these state boundaries advertise the failures of government on insecurity, especially since 2015.

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As Nigeria prepared for general elections in 2019, Nasir el-Rufai as governor of Kaduna State decided to abolish the Adara Chiefdom and turn it into an Emirate. The Districts and Villages Restructuring (Amendment) Order ostensibly executed by the governor on the third anniversary of his inauguration in May 2019  with no notice to the affected populations  abolished the stool of the Adara, occupied at the time by the Agwam Adara, Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima. In its place, Governor el-Rufai proposed to create a Kachia Chiefdom and a Kajuru Emirate respectively. The order was not gazetted until three months later in August 2018.

Rumours of this development unsettled coexistence among ethnically diverse communities in the Adara Chiefdom. Upon learning about it, the Agwam Adara was reported to have resisted the change due to the fact that the Adara Chiefdom is dominated by an indigenous Christian population and therefore could not be described as an emirate or appointed an Emir.

Around 18 October 2019, murderous violence broke out in Kasuwan Magani within the Chiefdom. Over 55 persons were reportedly killed. The state governor visited the following day ostensibly to assess the situation and provide reassurance to a febrile community. The Agwam Adara was also present at the assessment by the Governor, accompanied by his wife. Later in the evening, on his way back to his palace from the events of the day along the Kaduna-Kachia Road, some armed men intercepted the convoy of the traditional ruler and opened fire, forcing them to stop. This happened in Maikyali village.

The attackers murdered four persons, including close-protection assets from the Nigerian Police Force attached to the Agwam Adara. They then abducted the traditional ruler with his wife. One week later, the abductors killed the Agwam Adara and his corpse was moved to Katari, about 85 kilometres between Abuja and Kaduna, before the kidnappers contacted the family of the late chief, informing them where to pick the corpse. The state governor was absent from his funeral.

The affected communities were not natural strongholds of the governor or his party. In what was projected to be a close contest for the control of the state, marginal shifts in voting or turnout were likely to be dispositive. What looked like a design to create maximum violence in time for the elections of 2019 became a self-fulling prophecy. As the country prepared to head to the polls, Adara-land in Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone descended into an orgy of mass atrocities.

The first reported attacks were in Anguwan Barde in the Maro Ward around 10 February 2019, resulting in the reported killing of 11 persons. The attack on Karamai village about one week later reportedly killed over 40, with many more wounded. A contemporaneous incident in Banono village in Anguwan Aku reportedly killed at least another 26.

Around the same time, Nasir el-Rufai as governor claimed publicly that 66 Fulanis had been massacred in Kajuru. Both the Police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were unable to confirm this and independent fact checkers accused the governor of peddling misleading narratives.

One month after the first attack, Unguwan Barde would witness another attack around 11 March 2019, which killed a reported 33 persons. Around the same day, a separate incident in Dogon Noma killed over 72 persons.

In one month, between February and March 2019, the Adara Development Association, (ADA), reported over 148 community members killed or massacred with at least 545 houses destroyed in multiple incidents. The Fulani community put the casualty count among their own community at 131. In what looked like a statistical duel in human tragedy, the government was actively complicit.

In the period from the first reported attack on Anguwan Barde in February 2019 to the second week of April, over 300 documented attacks or atrocity incidents occurred in the Adara communities of Kachia and Kajuru LGAs of Kaduna State, resulting in hundreds of human casualties and billions in destruction. Over 50 villages and settlements have been emptied into internal displacement.

Rather than find the perpetrators and bring them to book, the response of the government was to round up the leadership of the Adara community and lock them away in indefinite pre-trial detention for 112 days. As the Federal High Court would later find, they were consistently refused bail and were only released after the Director of Public Prosecutions found no grounds for their detention or prosecution.

The truth was to manifest five years later after the Adara leaders, through the secretary-general of the ADA, Awemi Dio Maisamari, sued for civil remedies in 2024. In defence of the claim, government claimed that the Adara Chiefdom and surrounding areas had become centres of violent crimes such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and murder, resulting in severe breakdown of law and order. It further asserted that the scale of these atrocities required immediate and extraordinary measures to restore peace and security.

However, the government did not accuse the Adara leadership of having committed any of these crimes. Instead, it said, their mere existence was prejudicial to peace and a significant threat to the stability of Kaduna State as a whole.

When she eventually decided the case in May 2025, Hauwau Buhari, a judge of the Federal high Court, found as a fact that the arrest and detention of the Adara leaders was not the result of an impartial, independent police investigation based on credible evidence of a crime, but rather stemmed from a politically motivated complaint.

On Easter Sunday, brave holdouts among the Adara in Ariko village in Kachia LGA went to church. While there, they were attacked in two different houses of worship by assailants who killed at least five and abducted over 38. Rather than deploy to rescue the victims, the government put out a false claim that they had been rescued. This reprised a similar script from January when the authorities similarly denied a deadly attack on Kurmin Wali community in which over 177 were abducted.

This past week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly claimed that in taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, he essentially succeeded himself. It was a proud assertion of both policy and political continuity. In saying so, he asserted clear ownership of more than one decade of complicity by Nigerias ruling party in the use of atrocity violence for political purposes. That is not the renewed hope he promised. For the Adara People, it has been dystopia on a vampire scale.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through [email protected].


The AI picture casting Donald Trump as Jesus Christ the Healer was, like many of the US presidents effusions, in bad taste. Since he made his entry into our consciousness, he has demonstrated that he respects no boundaries and nothing is sacred. He seems to share the same worldview with the witches in Shakespeares Macbeth: Fair is foul and foul is fair.

As always, as soon as the posting of the illustration on his TruthSocial page generated a massive backlash, Trump refused to apologise to his followers and other Christians who may have been offended by the trivialisation of Christs ministry

Trail of Blasphemy

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The attempt to equate Trump with Christ followed a pattern. The Christian conservative arm of Trumps MAGA movement has always tried to cast a sanctimonious halo over their hero, especially in the light of the countless moral indiscretions attributed to him. The issue of the Epstein files and allegations of paedophilia are still raging. In spite of the ongoing war of choice against Iran, that matter is still on the front burner of national discourse.

The US president has become well known for sacrilege, profanity, irreverence and blasphemous utterances. He routinely lobs insults at fellow heads of state in a manner that is both unprecedented and undiplomatic.

On the massive pushback that the AI picture elicited, Trump tried to rationalise the portrayal. It wasnt a depiction. It was me. I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor. And had to do with the Red Cross as a Red Cross worker, which we support It was supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better.

The now-deleted image showed Trump, wearing a white robe, with a glowing hand on the forehead of a sick man, like similar religious paintings of Jesus Christ healing the infirm. The background included a fluttering US flag, fighter jets, an eagle, a nurse, a woman praying, security personnel in uniform and a Statue of Liberty, horned figure which some critics have interpreted as symbolising the Antichrist. (The Antichrist is a figure in Christian eschatology prophesied to oppose Jesus Christ and falsely substitute himself as a saviour before the Second Coming.) Scary!

Pope-Bashing

Trumps recent spat with Pope Leo XIV was totally unnecessary. The pope has always commented on world affairs and called for restraint in a world where human life has been reduced to nothing. World leaders understand that the pope is a moral authority and that he has a role to play in ensuring that the world does not go over the brink. When the pope criticised the war against Iran, Donald Trump took it personally. In a social media tirade, he said Leo was weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy.

Claiming credit for the election of the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, he bragged that but for his tenancy of the White House, the Chicago native would not have been elected pope. Dont laugh! It is generally believed that Trump operates in his own delusional world. His supporters expect the rest of the world to simply tune in and humour their man whenever he undertakes one of his flights of fancy. The supreme irony of all this is not lost on the world. Pope Leo is the first American citizen to become pope, but, as Christ Himself said, A prophet is not honoured in his own town.

The pope was in Africa last week to proclaim his message of peace. In Cameroon, he was impressed that the people had resisted the urge to turn their separatist conflict to a religious war and that Christian and Muslim communities were working together. Indeed, your religious leaders have come together to establish a Movement for Peace, through which they seek to mediate between the opposing sides, he noted. He advocated a change of course for leaders who take resources from Africa and use the money for weapons, thereby perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death.

Beatitudes and Woes

In a sermon at St Josephs Cathedral in Bamenda, he stated, Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth. He warned against the masters of war who behave as if they dont know that it only takes a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild. Such warmongers spend billions on weapons but dedicate nothing to helping people heal. Rather, they manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.

Who the cap fits, let them wear it, says inimitable Bob Marley!

Actually, Trumps flight of fancy and self-portrayal as an entity that is higher than he really is gained social media attention last year when he posted a depiction of himself as the pope. At that time, his supporters said he was merely affirming his support for the papacy. Well, he has now graduated to impersonating Jesus, which no Christian  even a nominal one  should be caught doing. Many people will not be surprised if his next move is to claim godhood.

Earlier this year, in a fit of unprovoked cruelty, he posted an AI photo depicting former President Obama and his wife Michelle as apes. Even his racist base was shocked! How could a 79-year-old grandfather resort to such asinine barbarousness?

Responding to reporters questions in Cameroon, the Catholic pontiff said last week that he had no fear of the Trump administration. He affirmed that he would continue speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do. He has enjoyed widespread solidarity from European leaders, including Italys prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States, who said President Trumps remarks towards Pope Leo were unacceptable. The bishops statement is a rare intervention, reinforcing that the Popes comments are considered a reflection of core church teachings rather than just personal opinion.

Bomb Threat

However, more surprises were in store for the pope. His brother, John Prevost, was the target of a false bomb threat at his home in suburban Chicagoland, police said. Reuters noted that the threat came after President Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV over his criticism of the war in Iran.

Smarting from the negative reactions to his Jesus post, Trump has since posted another image of himself and Jesus in a semi-embrace. And yet another one with him wearing a lab coat to justify the puerile lie that it was all meant to portray him as a doctor. Judging by his compulsive nature, we have not seen the last iconography of Trump with the Jesus motif as he makes a mishmash attempt to weld the sanctimonious and the profane.

The holy book reveals that God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5, 34:14). He doesnt brook competition.

Online, historians have noted that individuals who claimed to be Jesus usually met tragic or violent ends. No sensible human being should dabble in such a spiritually dangerous game. It is provocatively blasphemous and carries ominous consequences.

You aint Jesus, Donald! For once in your life, apologise!

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021
The general public, and particularly the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may have recently taken note of sensationalised media reports alleging mass defections and resignations from the party in Jigawa State ahead of the 2027 general elections. Some of these reports often reference a purported internal crisis, claiming that a significant number of members have defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

It has become apparently evident that certain third-columnists and media propagandists are working in tandem to project the narrative that the APCs structure and electoral viability are being eroded. We assess these actions as a deliberate attempt to mislead the general public, undermine the partys stability, and stoke unnecessary political tension within the state.

For the avoidance of doubt, such reports are largely the handiwork of desperate opposition elements and a handful of disgruntled party membersparticularly those aligned with the former minister of defense, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar. These individuals have resorted to unconventional media platforms to falsely portray the current leadership as divided and ineffective. Their aim is to discredit the significant progress achieved by the present administration for personal political gain.

Contrary to these fabricated claims, the APC in Jigawa State remains stronger than ever. The reality on the ground reflects a different trend: since the inception of the current administration, thousands of members from the PDP and NNPP have officially defected to the APC. This influx has been so significant that opposition parties in the state have become virtually non-existent. Defectors consistently cite Governor Umar Namadis style of inclusive governancewhich prioritises the welfare of all citizens regardless of prior party affiliationas the sole motivator of their decision to join the APC.

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Since the beginning of his administration, Governor Umar Namadi has prioritised transparency through the Citizens Engagement Programme (Gwamnati Da Jamaa). This historic initiative saw the governor tour all 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and engage directly with grassroots electorates. During these sessions, the governor, alongside political appointees and officeholders, presented detailed scorecards of ongoing and executed projects, thereby allowing citizens to assess performance and provide direct feedback.

This programme has served as a vital feedback mechanism, ensuring that governance remains a two-way process. Remarkably, submissions made by citizens during these tours formed the foundation of the 2026 fiscal budget.

By integrating public input directly into financial planning, the administration has ensured that the states budget genuinely reflects the yearnings and aspirations of its people.

The impact of the tour extended beyond governance into the political sphere. Across the 27 LGAs, the Citizens Engagement Programme triggered a massive wave of defections from opposition parties, particularly the PDP and NNPP. Over 10,000 former opposition members joined the APC during the tour. In several instances, entire executive committeesfrom ward to LGA levelsdissolved their previous affiliations to align with the ruling party.

Following the conclusion of the programme, the APC has continued to witness a steady influx of new members.

Decampees have cited several key reasons for their shift in allegiance, including widespread confidence in Governor Namadis vision and leadership style, the impartial completion of inherited projects regardless of location or political background, and the equitable execution of developmental initiatives across the stateincluding in traditional opposition strongholdsdemonstrating a firm commitment to inclusive governance.

Some notable defections into the APC, which have significantly weakened opposition parties in the state, are highlighted below in chronological order:

In a noteworthy development, on 21st April 2025, the entire group of PDP propagandists, popularly known as Sojojin Baka, whose primary role was to promote the PDP agenda through electronic media, surrendered their membership cards and presented an Award of Excellence to Governor Umar Namadi.

Similarly, on 6th June 2025, a prominent financier of the PDP, Adamu Indallahi, defected to the APC alongside his teeming supporters. Mr Indallahi was a frontline sponsor of the PDPs 2023 governorship candidate, Mustapha Sule Lamido, under the popular platform Gobe ta Allah Ce. This defection represents one of the most significant setbacks for the PDP in Jigawa State.

Since then, Mr Indallahi has continued to mobilise grassroots support for the APC, particularly in Birnin Kudu LGAthe hometown of former Governor Sule Lamidowhich has long been regarded as a PDP stronghold.

On 21st June 2025, Umar Nabakin Dogo, an important founding member of the PDP in Jigawa State and leader in the Hadejia Emiratewhich includes eight LGAs like Hadejia, Auyo, Kafin Hausa, Guri, Mallam-Madori, Kiri-Kasamma, Birniwa, and Kaugamaleft the PDP to join the APC along with 30 other PDP members from their communities. This development significantly weakened the PDP in the zone, given that the defectors included ward executives, former sole administrators, former council secretaries, and former party chairmen at the LGA level.

Similarly, another prominent politician from Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area, Dahiru Gizo, alongside his followers, dumped the PDP for APC. In addition, on 19th September 2025, Aminu Jahun, a key pillar and stakeholder of the NNPP, joined the APC and subsequently encouraged several other NNPP members to follow suit.

Likewise, on 22nd September 2025, Muhammadu Gajarma, former State Secretary of the PDP, former member of the State House of Assembly representing Birniwa LGA, and then Chairman of the PDP Elders Forum in Jigawa State, defected to the APC alongside another PDP stakeholder, Sani Shuaibu.

And recently, on 15th April 2026, Hon Safiyanu Ubale Tauraa four-time member of the House of Representatives representing the Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency and a strong memberof NNPP who earlier decamped to ADC with his principal  Aminu Ringim, reversed and joined the APC. Abubakar Kazaure, a close associate of former governor Sule Lamido also joined the APC. In the same vein, Manu Vice, a former local government chairman and NNPP State Assembly candidate from Hadejia, announced his defection to the APC.

Also, Abdullahi Inusa Katako, former Chairman of Birnin Kudu Local Government Areahometown of former Governor Sule Lamido and the PDPs National ALGON Chairmanhas defected from the PDP to the APC alongside a large number of his supporters. Likewise, a serving PDP chairman in the same local government area has also defected to the APC. This is around the same time Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, who was PDPs candidate for the Ringim/Taura House of Representatives seat in 2023, also decamped to APC.

To cap it all, in a significant shift within the states political landscape, a grand rally was held on Sunday, 12th October 2025, at Dutse Stadium. The event served as a formal reception for over 66,000 defectors who transitioned from various opposition partiesprimarily the PDP, NNPP, and ADCinto the ruling APC.

Governor Umar Namadi led a delegation of top national and state APC leaders, including the National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Adviser to the President on Political Affairs to welcome the new members.

The gathering was widely rated as one of the largest political assemblies in the recent history of Jigawa State.

A critical factor in the APCs sustained success in Jigawa is the dogged support of the Jigawa Elders Forum, led by the Waziri of Gumel, Adamu Nasoro. The forum maintains a robust and cordial relationship with the governor and has consistently commended the administration for its people-oriented projects, which have delivered tangible benefits to the populace.

This synergy extends beyond the Elders Forum, as the State Government also maintains a harmonious and productive relationship with the states five Emirate Councils as well as the Jigawa state Council of Ulamah.. This unprecedented level of institutional cooperation and advisory support remains a cornerstone of the administrations stability.

In contrast, available records indicate that only a small fraction of individualsfewer than twenty notable figureshave exited the APC. These departures appear largely driven by personal grievances, particularly relating to political appointments or future electoral ambitions.

Notable among them is Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, a former senator representing the Jigawa Central Senatorial District and a 2023 APC governorship aspirant. Nakudu was the only APC senatorial candidate who did not secure victory in the 2023 general elections. His defection to the ADC followed his inability to secure a guaranteed ticket for the upcoming electoral cycle.

Also among those who left the party is Ibrahim Abdullahi Kemba, former representative of the Dutse/Kiyawa Federal Constituency. Having lost his re-election bid in 2023 to the opposition PDP candidate, Kemba has been described by constituents as a politician who resurfaces mainly during election periods.

Similarly, Hussaini Namadi Abdulkadir, who represented the Auyo/Hadejia/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency under the PDP, joined the APC after the 2023 elections with expectations of securing an appointment. Upon failing to do soan issue he explicitly cited in his resignation letterhe defected to the ADC.

There is also Ado Sani Kiri, the former State Chairman of the APC under the previous administration of Governor Badaru Abubakar, who had effectively withdrawn from active politics prior to the 2023 election cycle. He neither sought re-election nor participated actively in the campaign, remaining in Abuja even on election day.

These are the only identifiable individuals among those reported to have exited the party in the state. The rest largely consist of politically insignificant actors and loyalists of former Governor Badaru Abubakar, many of whom were appointees in his administration and also given appointments by the present administration but for reasons best known to them still decided to resign and join ADC, possibly to fulfill the wish of their master.

This category includes Adamu Sarki Miga, a former commissioner and former chairman of Miga LGA; Bala Usman Chamo, former chairman of Dutse LGA; Tukur Aliyu Zugai, former chairman of Roni LGA; Mubarak Ahmad Achilafiya, former chairman of Yankwashi LGA; Lawan Ismail, former chairman of Babura LGA; Mudassir Musa, former chairman of Garki LGA; and Shehu Sule Udi, former chairman of Ringim LGAall served under the administration of Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar.

Others include Muhammad T Muhammad, former Special Adviser on Tsangaya Education; Jamilu Uwaisu Zaki, former Senior Special Assistant on Agricultural Monitoring; Sanusi Lawan Kazaure, former senior special assistant on legal matters; Zakari Kafin Hausa, former senior Special Assistant on health monitoring; as well as Auwalu Ibrahim Sansani, former Special Assistant on Rural Water Supply.

It is pertinent to note that this group of reactionary elements had, over the past two years, been actively working to undermine the state government and foment disunity among party members. Having failed to gain traction with credible mainstream media through their unsubstantiated claims, they have now resorted to engaging select social media influencers to propagate misleading narratives against the government and the same leadership they once openly endorsed.

Furthermore, several individuals publicly announcing their defection on social media appear to be mere associates or political aides rather than established actors. Many lack verifiable party membership or valid voter registration and are being mobilised through stooges such as Zakari Kafin Hausa to artificially amplify the false narrative of mass defections.

Assessment

A critical review indicates that most of the defectors who claim political relevance can more accurately be described as liabilities driven by personal ambition. Their limited grassroots support and disconnect from the electorate underscore this position.

It is also evident that the ADC promoters have deliberately amplified these defections in a bid to gain cheap political advantage. In some instances, this has involved clear misinformationfor example, the misrepresentation of Mustapha Fatoma Ringim as a special adviser to the governor, rather than his actual role as a special assistant to the Ringim Local Government Chairman.

In view of the foregoing, the sensational claims of mass defections from the APC in Jigawa State are clearly inconsistent with verifiable realities on the ground and are unlikely to have any material impact on the partys electoral fortunes. When compared with the overwhelming number of individuals joining the APC, the number of defectors remains negligible.

Nevertheless, there remains the possibility that external political actors and opportunistic elements may continue to amplify such narratives in an attempt to create suspicion, foster mistrust, and weaken party cohesion. At present, however, the situation is assessed as low-level in terms of immediate threat, though it retains the potential for escalation through coordinated propaganda.

Looking ahead to the 2027 governorship and presidential elections, Jigawa State remains politically conscious and discerning. The electorate places a premium on integrity, performance, and quality leadershipvalues that are strongly reflected in the current APC-led administration. Consequently, individuals from opposition parties continue to join the APC on a near-daily basis. Meanwhile, key stakeholders have sustained strategic engagement through consultations and grassroots mobilisation to neutralise any emerging threats.

*The author, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel is the Press Secretary to the Governor of Jigawa State. He writes from Government House, Dutse, Jigawa State.
Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah has felicitated mothers on the occasion of the 2026 Catholic Mothering Sunday. The governor on Sunday 19 April reflected deeply on the sacrifices of mothers, commending their resilience, roles in the family, and contributions to nation-building.

He said, On this special occasion of Mothering Sunday, I extend my warmest felicitations to all Catholic Mothers worldwide, and indeed all Enugu and Nigerian mothers.

Today offers us a moment to pause and honour the strength, sacrifice, and boundless love that define motherhood.

Mothers are the quiet architects of our society  nurturing values, shaping character, and sustaining the moral fabric of our communities. Their resilience in the face of challenges and their unwavering commitment to family and nation remain a source of inspiration to us all.

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As a government, we recognise that the progress of our society is deeply tied to the wellbeing of our mothers. We, therefore, remain steadfast in our commitment to policies and programmes that empower women, protect maternal health, and create opportunities for families to thrive.

To everyplaying a motherly role, I say thank you. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed, and your impact will continue to echo through generations.

I celebrate you today and pray that God grants you continued strength, good health, and peace in your homes.

Governor Mbah wished them a happy Mothering Sunday.
Former Plateau governor Joshua Dariye has urged calm over the removal of Julius Dabilang as Senior District Head of Mushere, Bokkos LGA.

Mr Dariye spoke after an expanded Mushere Chiefdom stakeholders meeting held on Saturday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had earlier appointed Mr Dabilang as the senior district head of Mushere.

However, some individuals petitioned against the appointment, citing Mr Dabilangs conviction by a Nasarawa High Court in 2023.

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The removal triggered protests by women in the community, who marched naked through the streets.

Petitioners, relying on the court judgement, compelled the government to depose Mr Dabilang from office.

Mr Dariye, who was also convicted of stealing state funds but later pardoned by the president, said the removal followed due process and urged Mushere residents to remain calm and law-abiding.

He noted the meeting included district heads and title holders across Mushere chiefdom.

He lamented that the removal had caused deep divisions, prompting intervention by traditional leaders and key stakeholders.

At the time of selection, many selectors were unaware that Dabilang had been convicted of a criminal case.

They did not know. But the law is the law; he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

We must move forward and unite. We cannot remain divided while our women protest naked.

We have faced killings before, yet our women never protested naked. Nudity is alien to Mushere; it is strange to our land, he said.

Mr Dariye, who is also a former Plateau Central senator, commended the government for the removal but criticised poor communication.

He said authorities should have barred Mr Dabilang from the community, warning his presence was fuelling tensions.

He urged the swift appointment of an acting district head pending a substantive replacement.

Gideon Kuttu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the government acted within the law.

Mr Kuttu noted that petitioners also acted lawfully, backed by evidence of Mr Dabilangs conviction.

He said the deposed district head breached the law by concealing his conviction while seeking the position.

Once convicted, you should not contest such positions; the truth will eventually emerge.

Those who petitioned the Attorney General acted within the law, armed with evidence of his conviction, he said.

Mr Kuttu urged Mr Dabilang to stop inflaming tensions and advised residents to examine the facts carefully.

Also speaking, Mushere Youth Movement President, Kopmut Shadrach, pledged to calm aggrieved youths.

Our women acted in ignorance; now we know the truth and will sensitise our people.

Our youths planned protests, but with the facts clear, we will not allow it to happen, he added.

(NAN)
There's a simple reason income-focused investors gravitate toward dividend stocks: consistency pays.

As BlackRockCEO Larry Fink wrote in his 2026 letter to shareholders:

"We know that dividend income is important to many of our shareholders, including those in retirement."

And BlackRock (BLK) is now backing it up with some eye-catching numbers. The firm just capped off its strongest year of net inflows ever, surpassed the $14 trillion in assets under management milestone, and rewarded shareholders with a 10% dividend increase.

For a stock already known for steady dividend growth, that kind of momentum is hard to ignore.

Why BLK is in a class of its own as a dividend stock

BlackRock isn't your typical dividend stock in the financial sector.

Most asset managers see their fortunes ebb and flow with market conditions. BlackRock has built something more durable: a diversified platform that spans exchange-traded funds, private markets, and institutional technology.

Related: BlackRock CEO issues stark warning on recession risk

That mix insulates it in ways pure-play competitors can't match.

In 2025, BlackRock attracted nearly $700 billion in net new assets, the strongest year of net inflows in its history, and finished with a new AUM high of $14 trillion.

The firm's iShares ETF platform raked in a record $527 billion in net inflows in 2025, while its active strategies generated strong results even as the broader industry saw outflows.

BlackRock is bullish on future growthImage source: Shutterstock

Put simply, BlackRock's scale is compounding. The bigger it gets, the more recurring revenue it generates, and that stability is what supports a growing dividend.

What the 10% dividend hike really signals

Raising a dividend by 10% signals that management is confident in where cash flows are headed, not just this quarter, but over the next several years.

Fink pointed directly to the durability of BlackRock's cash flow as the reason for the increase, noting the firm delivered a 10% compounded annual growth rate on its dividend over the past decade alongside a 15% annualized return on share repurchases.

BLK has now raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years, a streak that puts it among the more reliable dividend payers in the financial sector.

The most recent quarterly dividend was $5.73 per share, with an annualized payout of roughly $22.92 per share.

After a blowout first quarter, multiple major firms raised their price targets.
Residents of Aco, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) estate, on Saturday, protested the killing of a six-year-old by a stone from the blast operation of a Chinese quarry company, Dai Jin Jia Ltd.

They also protested the persistent destruction of their property and other health issues arising from the companys unregulated, heavy blasts in the estate.

At 7 a.m., when the protest started, the residents, joined by traders and Fulani herders, blocked a section of the road leading to the company, preventing heavy-duty trucks from entering the area.

They also carried placards with inscriptions such as Community safety in danger, Children and families deserve safety, Stop Dai Jin Jia quarry company danger in Aco. And also chanting,  Chinese must go, Chinese, blasting must stop.

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PREMIUM TIMES had reported how a blast operation from the Chinese company killed the Fulani boy in February, and the subsequent payment of N4 million damages to the victims family.

The tragedy triggered fear among the residents, many of whom are wondering who could be the next victim.

This is the fourth protest by residents within a year, urging the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) to weigh in on the dangers posed by the unregulated operations of the Chinese stone company, which are jeopardising their lives and millions of properties.

According to the community chairperson, Sunny Kulutuye, who led the protest, he had written several letters and reports to all relevant authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the ministry to look into the matter, but all were futile.

We have written letters to the FCTA, to the Minister himself, to the AMAC chairman, to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), to the Ministry of Solid Minerals, and to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), we have tried all means, including dialogue, but all to nothing, and we are tired. Mr Kulutuye told journalists at the protest ground.

Residents demands

According to the demonstrators, the unregulated operation of Dai Jin Jia has resulted in serious environmental pollution, including heavy vibration that has caused cracking in buildings, air pollution from thick dust emanating from the quarry site, and an untarred road where reckless truck drivers have consistently knocked down residents, especially young children going to school.

They urged the government to stop blasting in the stone industry, conduct an environmental analysis to determine the damage to the community, and compensate the community.

They also demanded the eventual evacuation of the site by the company, which, according to them, aligns with the countys environmental regulations, which prohibit quarries from operating within less than three kilometres of a residential or commercial area.

Protesters added that several attempts to speak with the Chinese in charge of the company have been futile because the Chinese always turn down such requests.

During the protest, one of the Chinese, who gave his name as Sunday, also claimed to be the branch manager of the firm, was held by protesters, and subsequently marched to his house, where he lived with others.

All we want is for him and others to go to the police station so that we can resolve this matter, the protest leader, along with others chanting, insisted.

However, after hours of chanting and waiting for others to come out, three soldiers and a commandant showed up and asked the protesters to leave, failing which he would command the Nigerian Army Battalion to come and flush them out.

However, the leaders of the protest hurriedly summoned the police, who arrived on time. The Police came, and the matter was taken to the Aco Police Division.

Fulani/residents agitate

Hajara Haruna, one of the protesters, told PREMIUM TIMES that the consistent blasting by the Chinese company is discouraging her from staying in the estate.

You cannot go out to buy something outside and come back to your house without catching a sickness or catarrh, and accidents are frequent, especially with young children. We are not animals, she lamented.

Murtala Maiangwa, the head (Sarki) of the Fulani Community in Aco Estate, while speaking with journalists, also lamented the predicament of the residents, just as he condemned the death of the six-year-old hit by s stone from the company. .

READ ALSO: Chinese quarry company pays N4m compensation to family of boy killed during operation

It is not good that our people have to die because of this issue, and the government cannot do anything about it, Mr Maiangwa said.

Our members are dying, and our lives are no longer safe. This is a peaceful protest, and all we want is for the Chinese to do what the law says, that there should be no quarry operation in a residential area, another resident, John Ibekwe, said.

Decision to stop blasting

Mr Kulutuye, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the police intervention, said the quarry company had agreed to comply with blasting regulations immediately, while they (residents) wait for a response on other demands till the meeting with the companys management is held.

The man, who is the branch manager, said he doesnt have the right to take that decision, but what he assured us was that they will comply with the government standard given to them for operation.

He also promised to convey our demands to the management. But we said, while you are complying with that, what we need is that there shall be no blasting until we have a final discussion with the top management.

We have already taken a decision that there shall be no blast until when we have the final meeting with management. But once there is a blast, we are coming back the chairman said.

No response from FCT authorities

All efforts to speak with Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, were unsuccessful. He did not pick up calls on his mobile telephone, nor did he respond to messages sent to him.

Also, PREMIUM TIMES attempted to speak with the companys management but was stopped by two soldiers at the entrance gate. They said the Chinese people do not understand English, and they (soldiers) could not speak for them.
Infrared, traditional, and hybrid home saunas evaluated across heat performance, wood quality, EMF and VOC testing, red light therapy, warranty depth, and price  from $1,800 to $11,099

SAN DIEGO, April 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Home Saunas, the Inc. 5000-ranked infrared sauna company (No. 20, 2025), today published its 2026 home sauna buyer's guide  a comprehensive comparison of the best home saunas currently available across infrared, traditional, and hybrid categories. The full guide, available at sunhomesaunas.com/blogs/saunas/best-home-sauna-2026, compares eight models from eight different brands across ten evaluation criteria: heat type (infrared vs. traditional vs. hybrid), max temperature, construction quality, wood species and thickness, independently verified safety testing (EMF and VOC from named labs), red light therapy integration, app connectivity, cabin size and weight, warranty depth, and price. Six of the eight category wins go to competitor brands.

The guide identifies the Sun Home Luminar 2 ($11,099) as Best Overall Home Sauna  alongside the Finnmark FD-4 Trinity (~$7,795) as Best Hybrid, Health Mate Inspire 2 (~$5,000$6,000) as Most Established Brand, the Sun Home Eclipse 2 ($10,099) as Best Home Sauna with Red Light Therapy, Almost Heaven Pinnacle (~$5,995) as Best Traditional Barrel, Dynamic Barcelona (~$1,999) as Best Budget Infrared, Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin (~$8,000$15,000) as Best Premium Traditional, and Good Health Saunas GS-300C (~$4,299) as Best Value Full-Spectrum.

What Is the Best Home Sauna in 2026?

The best home sauna depends on heat type preference, space, budget, and which verified specifications matter most to you. After comparing eight saunas spanning infrared, traditional, and hybrid categories, the following brands scored strongest in their respective categories:

Category Winner Price Why It Wins Best Overall Sun Home Luminar 2 $11,099 Aerospace aluminum exterior, full-spectrum IR, 170F, 0.5 mG EMF (Vitatech), 27 g/m TVOC (VERT), indoor/outdoor, ltd lifetime warranty Best Hybrid Finnmark FD-4 Trinity ~$7,795 IR + traditional steam (loyly) + RLT in one cabin, UL-listed heaters, 4-person, 4" insulated walls Most Established Health Mate Inspire 2 ~$5,000$6,000 Manufacturing since 1979, patented Tecoloy heaters (lifetime warranty), own factory (Los Alamitos, CA), app control Best with Red Light Sun Home Eclipse 2 $10,099 360 LEDs, 1,800W RLT (660+850nm), dual-panel front+back coverage, 165F, 120V, 0.5 mG EMF (Vitatech) Best Traditional Barrel Almost Heaven Pinnacle ~$5,995 1-3/8" cedar, Harvia 6kW heater, 195F, 4-person, loyly capable, ltd lifetime warranty, since 1977 Best Budget Infrared Dynamic Barcelona ~$1,999 Far-infrared, hemlock, 120V/15A plug-and-play, available at Amazon/Costco/Home Depot Best Premium Traditional Redwood Outdoors Cabin ~$8,000$15,000 Thermowood construction, Nordic design, Harvia heaters, custom sizing, commercial-grade build quality Best Value Full-Spectrum Good Health Saunas GS-300C ~$4,299 Full-spectrum IR, reforested Canadian red cedar, 3rd-party EMF tested (0.5 mG), lifetime heater warranty

Comparison Methodology

This guide is published by Sun Home Saunas. Two Sun Home models are included alongside six competitor models. We evaluated each sauna using the same criteria: heat type and max temperature, construction materials and wood thickness, independently verified safety data (EMF and VOC from named labs where available), red light therapy integration, app connectivity, warranty depth, and price. Six of the eight category wins go to competitors. Where a specification is manufacturer-stated without independent verification, that is noted  including for our own products. Data is sourced from manufacturer product pages, third-party lab reports, independent editorial reviews, BBB profiles, and published customer reviews. All specifications checked April 2026. For the complete guide with detailed specifications, buyer-type routing, and additional FAQs, visit sunhomesaunas.com/blogs/saunas/best-home-sauna-2026.

Which Type of Home Sauna Is Right for You?

Infrared saunas heat your body directly using infrared wavelengths rather than heating the air. They operate at lower ambient temperatures (typically 120170F) and use standard 120V or 240V residential circuits. Best for: buyers who want daily-use wellness therapy, lower operating temperatures, and compact indoor placement. Brands in this comparison: Sun Home, Health Mate, Dynamic, Good Health Saunas.

Traditional saunas heat the air using an electric or wood-burning heater, typically reaching 170200F. They can produce loyly (steam from water poured on hot stones). Best for: buyers who want the authentic Finnish sauna experience with high heat and optional steam. Brands in this comparison: Almost Heaven, Redwood Outdoors.

Hybrid saunas combine infrared panels with a traditional electric heater in the same cabin. Best for: buyers who want both modalities without purchasing two separate units. Brands in this comparison: Finnmark.

What Makes a Great Home Sauna? 5 Specifications That Matter Most

Before comparing individual models, buyers should understand the five specifications that most reliably predict long-term satisfaction with a home sauna purchase.

1. Heat type and max temperature. Infrared saunas heat your body directly at 120170F. Traditional saunas heat the air to 170200F and can produce loyly (steam). Hybrid saunas combine both. The best home sauna for you depends on whether you want moderate-temperature wellness therapy (infrared), high-heat authentic Finnish sessions (traditional), or both (hybrid). Max temperature is one of the most commonly under-specified metrics  many budget infrared saunas max out at 130140F, which some users find insufficient.

2. Wood species and construction quality. Canadian red cedar and eucalyptus are the most durable woods for sauna construction  both resist warping, cracking, and moisture damage over thousands of heating cycles. Hemlock is less expensive but less dense and more susceptible to degradation over time. Wall thickness and total weight are reliable proxies for build quality: heavier saunas with thicker panels generally retain heat better and last longer. Thermowood (thermally modified timber) offers the highest dimensional stability for traditional outdoor saunas.

3. EMF and VOC testing. For infrared saunas, electromagnetic field (EMF) levels should be independently tested and verified by a named third-party lab  not self-reported. VOC (volatile organic compound) testing measures off-gassing from adhesives, wood treatments, and construction materials when the sauna is heated. As of April 2026, most sauna manufacturers do not publish VOC testing results.

4. Warranty depth. A home sauna is a 1020 year investment. Warranties range from 1-year parts-only (budget brands) to limited lifetime with in-home labor (premium brands). The warranty gap between budget and premium saunas is one of the largest in any home wellness category.

5. Integrated features. Red light therapy (photobiomodulation), mobile app control with guided sessions, remote preheat, and breathwork protocols are available on premium infrared models. Traditional saunas offer loyly (steam) and optional aromatherapy. Not all buyers need or want these features  but understanding what is and isn't included before purchase prevents regret.

8 Best Home Saunas of 2026, Reviewed

1. Sun Home Luminar 2  Best Overall Home Sauna ($11,099)

Specs: Full-spectrum infrared (halogen + carbon)  Max temp: 170F (GGR independently verified 165170F)  EMF: 0.5 mG (Vitatech Electromagnetics, January 2025)  VOC: 27 g/m TVOC (VERT Environmental, AIHA-accredited lab, April 2026)  Exterior: Aerospace-grade aluminum + stainless steel roof  Interior: Canadian red cedar  Voltage: 240V  App: Yes (guided breathwork, remote preheat)  RLT: Available as add-on  Cabin size: 57"W  51.5"D  82.7"H  Weight: 870 lbs  Warranty: Limited lifetime; in-home technician visits  Indoor/outdoor.

Why it wins Best Overall: As of April 2026, among the brands compared in this guide, the Luminar 2 is the only home sauna we identified with a fully metal exterior (aerospace aluminum + stainless steel roof) that requires no cover, no sealing, and no wood maintenance for outdoor placement. It also works indoors. The combination of full-spectrum infrared at 170F, independently verified EMF (0.5 mG, Vitatech) and VOC testing (27 g/m, VERT Environmental  the only brand in this guide publishing both named-lab results as of April 2026), mobile app with guided breathwork, and in-home warranty service across all 50 states earned it the top position. Ranked Best Outdoor Sauna Overall by Fortune (2026), GGR, and BarBend.

Trade-offs: At $11,099, the Luminar 2 is the highest-priced model in this comparison. Requires 240V  professional electrician install ($500$1,500). Red light therapy is an add-on, not included as standard (unlike the Eclipse 2). Infrared only  cannot produce loyly (steam). Sun Home was founded in 2021, making it the youngest brand in this comparison.

2. Finnmark FD-4 Trinity  Best Hybrid Home Sauna (~$7,795)

Specs: Hybrid  full-spectrum infrared (Spectrum Plus panels) + traditional electric heater with stones (loyly) + 650nm RLT  Heaters: UL-listed (the only UL-listed infrared sauna heaters we identified as of April 2026)  Wood: Western red cedar / thermal aspen  Wall thickness: 4" mineral wool insulated  Voltage: 240V  Capacity: 4-person  Warranty: Lifetime heaters, 10-year cabin.

Why it wins Best Hybrid: The FD-4 Trinity is the only home sauna in this comparison combining all three modalities  infrared heat, traditional steam (loyly), and red light therapy  in a single cabin. The UL-listed heaters and 4" insulated walls represent the most robust build construction in this comparison.

Trade-offs: Backordered through August 2026. Sold through dealers  buyer experience varies. Requires 240V. RLT is a single 650nm panel (not dual-panel, not dual-wavelength). Not BBB accredited. Indoor only.

3. Health Mate Inspire 2  Most Established Brand (~$5,000$6,000)

Specs: Full-spectrum infrared + 96-diode NIR LED panel  Heaters: Patented Tecoloy dual-wave (lifetime warranty) + TruInfra FAR  Wood: Eucalyptus  EMF: Low (3rd-party tested; specific mG not prominently published)  Voltage: 120V/15A  App: Yes (WiFi 2.4GHz)  Own factory: Los Alamitos, CA  Brand history: Since 1979  Warranty: Lifetime Tecoloy heaters; 5-year TruInfra/power/wood.

Why it wins Most Established: Health Mate produced the first infrared sauna sold in the United States and has been manufacturing continuously since 1979  the longest operating history of any infrared sauna brand in this comparison. The patented Tecoloy heaters are proprietary and carry a lifetime warranty. All saunas are built in Health Mate's own factory with a 5-stage quality control process. Trustpilot: 4.6/5.

Trade-offs: The 96-diode LED panel is primarily chromotherapy with near-infrared capability  not a dedicated dual-wavelength RLT system. Specific EMF mG reading not prominently published. Max temperature not prominently published. BBB profile (parent PLH Products) rated B-, not accredited. TruInfra heaters and power supply covered 5 years only. Indoor only.

4. Sun Home Eclipse 2  Best Home Sauna with Red Light Therapy ($10,099)

Specs: Full-spectrum infrared + RLT  RLT: 360 LEDs (180 per panel  5W), 1,800W total RLT wattage, 660nm + 850nm, dual-panel front + back  Max temp: 165F  EMF: 0.5 mG (Vitatech)  Wood: Canadian red cedar  Cabin size: ~49"W  42"D  75"H  Weight: 925 lbs  Voltage: 120V  App: Yes  Warranty: Limited lifetime; in-home technician visits.

Why it wins Best with RLT: Among the brands compared in this guide, the Eclipse 2 is the only 2-person home sauna we identified with dual factory-installed RLT panels providing simultaneous front-and-back full-body photobiomodulation as of April 2026. The total RLT output (360 LEDs, 1,800W across two panels at 660nm + 850nm) is the highest among the models compared. Runs on standard 120V  no electrician needed.

Trade-offs: At $10,099, this is the second-highest-priced model. Irradiance (mW/cm) is not published. Two wavelengths (660 + 850nm)  narrower than multi-wavelength systems. Indoor only. Cannot produce steam. 165F max is below the Luminar 2 (170F) and traditional saunas (195F).

5. Almost Heaven Pinnacle  Best Traditional Barrel Sauna (~$5,995)

Specs: Traditional electric (Harvia 6kW)  Max temp: 195F  Loyly: Yes (water on stones)  Wood: 1-3/8" ball-and-socket rustic red cedar  Cabin size: 72"W  71"D  75"H  Capacity: 4-person  Voltage: 240V/30A  Brand history: Since 1977 (Greenbrier Valley, WV)  Warranty: Limited lifetime (sauna room); 5-year heater components.

Why it wins Best Traditional Barrel: Almost Heaven has been building saunas in West Virginia since 1977  the longest operating history of any sauna brand in this comparison. The Pinnacle reaches 195F with a Harvia heater (Finland-made, the industry standard for traditional sauna heaters), supports loyly for authentic steam sessions, and is built with 1-3/8" thick cedar  one of the thickest wall measurements published among the brands compared. The barrel design promotes efficient heat circulation. HSA/FSA eligible through Truemed.

Trade-offs: Traditional only  no infrared, no red light therapy, no full-spectrum wavelengths. No app control. No EMF testing needed (no infrared heaters), but also no integrated wellness technology. Requires 240V/30A. Outdoor-focused design  indoor placement requires ventilation planning. No chromotherapy. Heater warranty is 5 years, shorter than brands with lifetime heater coverage.

6. Dynamic Barcelona  Best Budget Infrared Home Sauna (~$1,999)

Specs: Far-infrared only  Heaters: Low-EMF carbon  Wood: Canadian hemlock  Wood thickness: Not prominently published  Max temp: ~135140F  Voltage: 120V/15A  App: No  RLT: No (chromotherapy only)  Capacity: 2-person  Parent: Golden Designs  Warranty: 5-year (1-year wood)  Retail: Amazon, Costco, Home Depot.

Why it wins Best Budget: At ~$1,999, the Barcelona is the most affordable home sauna in this comparison  typically $3,000$9,000 less than every other model. It plugs into a standard 120V/15A household outlet with no electrician needed, assembles quickly, and is available through major retailers with familiar return policies. For buyers whose primary decision factor is price, the Barcelona provides basic far-infrared at the lowest entry point.

Trade-offs: Far-infrared only (no full-spectrum, no near-IR, no mid-IR). Hemlock construction  less dense and less moisture-resistant than cedar or eucalyptus. Wood thickness not published. 135140F max  2560F below every other model in this comparison. EMF described as "low" but we were unable to locate independent lab attribution with a specific mG reading. 1-year wood warranty is the shortest in this comparison. No app. No red light therapy (chromotherapy only). No in-home service. Parent company Golden Designs' BBB profile is not accredited. Cabin size is smaller than premium competitors.

7. Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin  Best Premium Traditional (~$8,000$15,000)

Specs: Traditional electric (Harvia heaters)  Max temp: 190200F  Loyly: Yes  Wood: Thermowood (thermally modified timber)  Construction: Nordic cabin design, tongue-and-groove  Capacity: 26 person (multiple sizes)  Voltage: 240V  Custom sizing available.

Why it wins Best Premium Traditional: Redwood Outdoors uses Thermowood  lumber that has been thermally modified at 400F+ to improve dimensional stability, moisture resistance, and rot resistance beyond what untreated cedar provides. The Nordic cabin design with Harvia heaters delivers an authentic Finnish sauna experience with premium construction. Multiple size options and custom configurations are available, including changing rooms and covered porches. Strong presence in the outdoor sauna category with editorial coverage from Business Insider and others.

Trade-offs: Traditional only  no infrared, no red light therapy. Price varies widely by size and configuration ($8,000$15,000+). Requires 240V. Outdoor-focused  indoor placement is uncommon. No app control. Lead times may apply depending on configuration. No published EMF testing (not applicable for traditional heaters).

8. Good Health Saunas GS-300C  Best Value Full-Spectrum (~$4,299)

Specs: Full-spectrum infrared (near + mid + far)  Max temp: ~150F  EMF: 0.5 mG (3rd-party tested)  Wood: Reforested Canadian red cedar  Voltage: 120V  App: No  RLT: No  Capacity: 3-person  Warranty: Lifetime heater; 7-year wood/electrical.

Why it wins Best Value Full-Spectrum: The GS-300C delivers full-spectrum infrared with third-party EMF testing at 0.5 mG  the same level as Sun Home  at a significantly lower price point (~$4,299 vs. $10,099$11,099). Canadian red cedar construction (reforested) is a meaningful step up from the hemlock used in most budget saunas. The lifetime heater warranty provides long-term coverage. For buyers who want full-spectrum infrared with verified EMF in cedar at the most accessible price, Good Health represents strong value.

Trade-offs: ~150F max  1520F below Sun Home's full-spectrum models. No red light therapy. No app control. No published VOC testing. No outdoor models. No in-home warranty service. Not a major editorial-tested brand (limited coverage from Fortune, Forbes, GGR as of April 2026). 7-year wood/electrical warranty is shorter than brands with limited lifetime coverage on all components.

Full Specification Comparison



Luminar 2 Eclipse 2 Finnmark FD-4 Health Mate Almost Heaven Dynamic Redwood Good Health Category Best Overall Best RLT Best Hybrid Most Established Best Barrel Best Budget Best Premium Trad Best Value FS Heat type Full-spectrum IR Full-spectrum IR + RLT IR + Traditional + RLT Full-spectrum IR Traditional electric Far-IR only Traditional electric Full-spectrum IR Max temp 170F 165F 170F+ (IR); 200F+ (trad) Not published 195F ~135140F 190200F ~150F Red light Add-on Yes (1,800W, 360 LEDs) 650nm (single panel) 96-diode NIR/chromo No No (chromo only) No No Loyly (steam) No No Yes No Yes No Yes No Wood Canadian red cedar + aluminum ext Canadian red cedar WRC / thermal aspen Eucalyptus 1-3/8" rustic red cedar Hemlock Thermowood Reforested red cedar EMF (verified) 0.5 mG (Vitatech) 0.5 mG (Vitatech) Not published Low (3rd-party) N/A (trad) Low (mfr-stated) N/A (trad) 0.5 mG (3rd-party) VOC testing 27 g/m (VERT) 27 g/m (VERT) Not published Not published Not published Not published Not published Not published App Yes Yes No Yes (WiFi) No No No No Indoor/Outdoor Both Indoor Indoor Indoor Both Indoor Outdoor Indoor Voltage 240V 120V 240V 120V/15A 240V/30A 120V/15A 240V 120V Price $11,099 $10,099 ~$7,795 ~$5,000$6,000 ~$5,995 ~$1,999 ~$8,000$15,000 ~$4,299 Warranty Ltd lifetime; in-home Ltd lifetime; in-home Lifetime heaters; 10-yr cabin Lifetime Tecoloy; 5-yr other Ltd lifetime room; 5-yr heater 5-yr; 1-yr wood Varies by model Lifetime heater; 7-yr wood Brand history Founded 2021 Founded 2021 Founded 2020 Since 1979 Since 1977 Sub-brand (Golden Designs) Founded 2018 Est. brand

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best home sauna in 2026?

It depends on heat type preference, budget, and which verified specifications matter most. In this comparison of eight brands across infrared, traditional, and hybrid categories, Sun Home Luminar 2 ($11,099) scored strongest overall for combining full-spectrum infrared at 170F, independently verified EMF and VOC testing, aerospace aluminum outdoor construction, and in-home warranty service. For traditional sauna buyers, Almost Heaven Pinnacle (~$5,995) scored strongest for authentic loyly-capable heat at 195F with 1-3/8" cedar construction and a Harvia heater. For budget buyers, Dynamic Barcelona (~$1,999) provides basic far-infrared at the lowest price. For buyers who want both infrared and traditional steam in one unit, Finnmark FD-4 Trinity (~$7,795) is the only hybrid in this comparison. For the full evaluation, see sunhomesaunas.com/blogs/saunas/best-home-sauna-2026.

Should I buy an infrared sauna or a traditional sauna?

Infrared saunas heat your body directly at lower ambient temperatures (120170F) and are typically easier to install indoors on standard circuits. Traditional saunas heat the air to 170200F and can produce loyly (steam from water on hot stones). If you want daily-use wellness therapy at moderate temperatures with potential red light therapy integration, infrared is the better fit. If you want high-heat sessions with optional steam and the classic sauna experience, traditional is the better fit. Hybrid saunas like the Finnmark FD-4 Trinity combine both modalities in a single cabin.

How much does a good home sauna cost?

In this comparison, prices range from ~$1,999 (Dynamic Barcelona, far-infrared, hemlock) to $11,099 (Sun Home Luminar 2, full-spectrum, aluminum outdoor). The most meaningful price gaps align with construction quality (hemlock vs. cedar vs. thermowood), heat type (far-IR only vs. full-spectrum vs. traditional), verified safety testing (EMF, VOC), warranty depth, and integrated features (red light therapy, app control). Budget saunas under $2,000 typically use hemlock with shorter warranties and fewer published safety specs. Premium saunas above $7,000 typically use cedar or hardwood with lifetime warranties and more verified data.

What is the best home sauna for small spaces or apartments?

For small spaces, the most important factors are cabin footprint, voltage requirements, and assembly method. The Dynamic Barcelona (~$1,999) has the smallest footprint in this comparison at 39"W  36"D and runs on 120V/15A  no electrician needed. The Good Health Saunas GS-300C (~$4,299) also runs on 120V and fits in most spare rooms. Sun Home's Equinox 2 (not in this comparison but available at sunhomesaunas.com) runs on 120V with tool-free Magne-Seal assembly. Any sauna requiring 240V will need a professional electrician, which is typically impractical in rental apartments.

What is the safest home sauna for EMF and VOC?

Among the brands in this comparison, Sun Home Saunas publishes both independent EMF testing (0.5 mG, Vitatech Electromagnetics, January 2025) and independent VOC testing (27 g/m TVOC, VERT Environmental, AIHA-accredited lab, April 2026). Good Health Saunas publishes third-party EMF testing at 0.5 mG. Health Mate describes EMF as "low" with third-party testing but does not prominently publish a specific mG reading. Dynamic describes EMF as "low" without independent lab attribution. Traditional saunas (Almost Heaven, Redwood Outdoors) do not produce EMF from infrared heaters. As of April 2026, among the brands compared in this guide, Sun Home is the only one publishing AIHA-accredited VOC testing results.

What is the difference between red light therapy and chromotherapy in a sauna?

Chromotherapy uses colored LED ambient lighting for mood  it is not the same technology as red light therapy (photobiomodulation). Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths (typically 630850nm) at sufficient irradiance to trigger cellular responses including collagen production and inflammation reduction. In this comparison, only the Sun Home Eclipse 2 includes dedicated dual-panel RLT (360 LEDs, 1,800W at 660 + 850nm). The Finnmark FD-4 includes a single 650nm panel. Health Mate Inspire 2 includes a 96-diode panel with chromotherapy and near-infrared capability. Dynamic Barcelona includes chromotherapy only.

What is the best home sauna brand?

The best home sauna brand depends on your priorities. Sun Home Saunas (founded 2021) scored strongest for verified safety data, editorial testing coverage, and integrated technology. Health Mate (since 1979) scored strongest for manufacturing heritage and patented heater technology. Almost Heaven (since 1977) scored strongest for traditional sauna craftsmanship. Finnmark scored strongest for hybrid flexibility. Dynamic scored strongest for budget accessibility. No single brand leads in every category  which is why this guide evaluates each brand against the specific criteria that matter most to different buyer types.

Editorial Note

"We built this guide because the home sauna market has expanded significantly, and buyers now have to navigate infrared, traditional, and hybrid options across a wide price range," said Timothy Munene, Sauna Researcher and Editorial Director at Sun Home Saunas. "Our goal was to evaluate every brand  including our own  using the same criteria and to be transparent about where each one leads and where each one falls short. Six of the eight category wins in this guide go to competitors, because a useful comparison has to reflect the full market honestly. The complete evaluation with detailed specifications for all eight brands is available at sunhomesaunas.com/blogs/saunas/best-home-sauna-2026."

About Sun Home Saunas

Sun Home Saunas is a San Diego-based infrared sauna and cold plunge company co-founded by Tyler Fish and Adam Fischer. Ranked No. 20 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. Great Place to Work Certified (October 2025, 100% employee satisfaction). Editorial coverage includes Fortune, Forbes, Rolling Stone, Garage Gym Reviews, BarBend, Men's Fitness, Family Handyman, Sports Illustrated, and Variety. EMF independently tested by Vitatech Electromagnetics (0.5 mG, January 2025). VOC testing performed by VERT Environmental using EPA Method TO-15 at an AIHA-accredited lab (April 2026). ETL/ETL-C/RoHS/Intertek certified. For more information, visit sunhomesaunas.com or read the full best home sauna buyer's guide at sunhomesaunas.com/blogs/saunas/best-home-sauna-2026.

SOURCE Sun Home Saunas
Matea Canizarez, Age 18, of Quito, Ecuador, Receives Top Honors and $400,000 in Education Prizes for her Original Video Explaining Quark-Gluon Plasma

SAN FRANCISCO, April 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Breakthrough Prize Foundation today announced Ecuador-based student Matea Canizarez as the winner of the 11th annual Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a global competition that empowers young people to creatively communicate complex ideas in the life sciences, physics, and mathematics.

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge will provide $400,000 in educational awards to Matea and her teacher, Roberto Procel. As the student winner, Matea will be granted a $250,000 college scholarship. In recognition of his work as a science teacher, Mr. Procel will receive a $50,000 award. The prize package also includes a cutting-edge science laboratory, designed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and valued at $100,000, to be installed at Colegio Johannes Kepler, Matea's current school, located in Quito, Ecuador.

Matea was honored alongside the 2026 Breakthrough Prize laureates at The Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.

"It's exhilarating to meet bright, curious young people like Matea," said Julia Milner, co-founder of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, "And to see them pursuing their passion for ideas and communicating it to others makes me truly hopeful for the future," said Julia Milner, co-founder of the Breakthrough Prize.

Matea's winning entry explains quark-gluon plasma, an extreme state of matter that existed just after the Big Bang, in which quarks and gluons move freely instead of being bound inside protons and neutrons. Her short video can be seen here. This was Matea's first entry to the Breakthrough Junior Prize, and she is currently applying for college next fall.

"Coming from a rural town in Ecuador, my passion for science was not a given. I am humbled by the honor of winning the Breakthrough Junior Challenge and hope to work in the service of society and nature by making the most of this opportunity," said Matea.

"Congratulations on your beautiful video explaining the quark-gluon plasma," said David Gross, winner of the 2026 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, whose theories led directly to the discovery of the phenomenon in Matea's video. Gross continued, "Very exciting, very well done, and I hope you stay in physics and help us understand even better the properties of the quark-gluon plasma in the laboratory, in the early Universe, and perhaps in the core of neutron stars."

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global program designed to showcase and advance young people's understanding of science and core scientific principles, spark enthusiasm for STEM fields, encourage pursuit of STEM careers, and engage the broader public in fundamental scientific concepts. Each year, students ages 13 to 18 are invited to produce original videos of up to two minutes that explain a concept or theory in life sciences, physics, or mathematics.

Entries are judged on how effectively participants communicate complex scientific ideas in clear, compelling, and creative ways.

"Seeing students take on complex topics and explain them with enthusiasm and creativity is inspiring," said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy and Vision Steward of TED. "Their work is a reminder that when young people are given access and opportunity to explore their interests, they can achieve great things."

This year, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge attracted more than 2,500 applicants from around the world. Submissions were narrowed down to 30 semifinalists, which represented the top submissions after two rounds of judging: first, a mandatory peer review, followed by an evaluation panel of judges. Sixteen finalists were selected in December 2025.

Celebrating its 11th year, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge has reached a global community of more than 100,000 students, parents, and educators, drawing upwards of 30,000 applications from students in over 200 countries, including Canada, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States. Since its launch, the program has distributed more than $2.5 million in college scholarships, invested $1 million in state-of-the-art science laboratories, and awarded $500,000 to exceptional science and mathematics teachers. Winning submissions have explored subjects ranging from Mechanogenetic Cellular Engineering, Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Circadian Rhythms, Neutrino Astronomy, and more. Challenge alumni have continued their academic journeys at top-tier universities such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

This year's Selection Committee was comprised of: Thea Booysen, MsC, social media director for neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson and founder of MadeByHuman; Rachel Crane, space and science correspondent, CNN; Pascale Ehrenfreund, PhD, president, Committee on Space Research COSPAR; Dennis Gaitsgory, professor, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, and Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics Laureate; John Grunsfelt, PhD astronaut, associate administrator for science, chief scientist at NASA Headquarters; Mae Jemison, physician, former astronaut, entrepreneur; Jeffery W. Kelly, professor of chemistry, Scripps Research Institute and Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences laureate; Scott Kelly, retired NASA astronaut; Salman Khan, founder and CEO, Khan Academy; Ijad Madisch, CEO, co-founder, ResearchGate; Samaya Nissanke, University of Amsterdam, Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics laureate; Nicole Stott, NASA astronaut, and co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation; Andrew Strominger, professor of physics, Harvard University, and Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics laureate; Terence Tao, UCLA professor and Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics laureate; Esther Wojcicki, founder, Palo Alto High Media Arts Center; Richard Youle, National Institutes of Health, and Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences laureate; and S. Pete Worden, chairman, Breakthrough Prize Foundation.

Partners

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, co-founded by Julia and Yuri Milner, is a global science video competition, aiming to develop and demonstrate young people's knowledge of science and scientific principles and communications skills; generate excitement in these fields; support STEM career choices; and engage the imagination and interest of the public-at-large in key concepts of fundamental science.

The Breakthrough Prize

The Breakthrough Prize, renowned as the "Oscars of Science," recognizes the world's top scientists. Each prize is $3 million and presented in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics (one per year) and Mathematics (one per year). In addition, up to three New Horizons in Physics Prizes, up to three New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes and up to three Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes are given out to early-career researchers each year. Laureates attend a gala award ceremony designed to celebrate their achievements and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The Breakthrough Prizes were founded by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki. The Prizes have been sponsored by the personal foundations established by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner and Anne Wojcicki. Selection Committees composed of previous Breakthrough Prize laureates in each field choose the winners. Information on the Breakthrough Prize is available at breakthroughprize.org.

About Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Since 2008, Khan Academy has provided an education safety net, a free platform designed to provide global access to high-quality learning for students and free resources for teachers. Khan Academy partners with more than 600 school districts in the United States and works with school systems in countries around the world, providing tools that personalize education. Khan Academy is at the forefront of using AI in education to support students while ensuring educators remain at the heart of the classroom. Worldwide, more than 200 million registered learners have used Khan Academy in 190 countries and more than 50 languages. For more information, please see research findings about Khan Academy and our press center.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)

The Breakthrough Prize Lab for the winning student's school is designed in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). Founded in 1890, CSHL, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, powers transformational discoveries in cancer, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, plant biology, and quantitative biology. Through world-renowned science and education divisions, CSHL nurtures a culture of curiosity, discovery, and innovation to make lives better. CSHL's DNA Learning Center (DNALC) is the largest provider of hands-on instruction in genetics and biotechnology, reaching nearly 40,000 middle and high school students through field trips, day camps, summer camps, mentored research projects, and teacher training. For more than a century, CSHL has been a powerful and productive environment for developing, connecting, and sharing world-changing ideas. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu<http://www.cshl.edu/>>.

Contact

For more information, including competition rules, video submission guidelines and queries, go to: breakthroughjuniorchallenge.org.

SOURCE Breakthrough Prize
Today, Jean Bennett, MD, PHD, and Albert Maguire, MD, both emeritus professors of Ophthalmology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Katherine High, MD, an emeritus professor of Pediatrics and the founding director of the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), received the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for their work in developing the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited condition, which dramatically improves sight in people with a form of blindness called Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA).

Their work blazed a trail for the more than 140 gene therapy trials for retinal conditions, including macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, diseases that collectively impact about 30 million people in the US. Eighty more trials are currently underway.

"Even 20 years ago, treating people with gene therapy was seen by some as an impossibility," said Jonathan Epstein, MD, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System. "But this group of incredible physician-scientists persisted and created something that is providing sight to people who would have been completely blind as early as kindergarten. Their belief in the power of life-changing science has led to breathtaking results and richly deserved global recognition."

The Breakthrough Prizes are called the "Oscars of Science" for their high-profile celebration of research and support from celebrities spanning numerous areas of pop culture. Created in 2012 by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Anne Wojcicki, the prizes are given out in five categories including Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Math, each with an accompanying $3 million award.

This year's accolade now means that nine Penn-affiliated researchers have received the Breakthrough Prize, tied for the most with Harvard University. The prior Penn Medicine award winners are Carl June, PhD (2024), Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, and Katalin Kariko, PhD (2022), and Virginia M.Y. Lee, PhD (2019). Additionally, Penn faculty members Charles Kane, PhD, and Eugene Mele, PhD, won the prize for Physics in 2019. Mathew Madhavacheril, PhD, an assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences, also received recognition at this year's Breakthrough Prize ceremony when he was honored with the New Horizons in Physics award, given to researchers early in their careers.

"Science is rarely a straight path, and those who make the most profound discoveries are resilient and persistent, overcoming obstacles along the way," said J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, president of the University of Pennsylvania. "That is exactly what I see in this year's awardees, and it has been true of all our remarkable faculty who have been recognized for scientific breakthroughs. Whether they are discovering what lies beneath Alzheimer's Disease, curing cancer by engineering a patients' own immune cells, or reversing blindnessthey have persisted with imagination and rigor. Their steadfastness has pushed the boundaries of what medicine can achieve."

"Developing cell and gene therapies has long been a top priority for our organization," said Madeline Bell, CHOP's CEO. "This breakthrough is the result of decades of investment and collaboration, and reflects our commitment to translating scientific discoveries into therapies that will transform patients' lives. It has paved the way for many more cell and gene therapy innovations and has given hope to families around the world."

"They can see!"

Bennett and Maguire met and married during medical school in the 1980s. It was then that they both became intrigued by the concept of genetic therapy, the practice of replacing a mutated or faulty gene with a functional copy, and started dreaming of treating inherited forms of blindness with the technique, which at that time remained the stuff of science fiction.

It was "like thinking you wanted to go to the moon in 1950," Maguire said many years later.

Both Bennett and Maguire joined Penn's Scheie Eye Institute in the 1990s and began working on their ideas with lab mice. They learned that the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine housed a group of blind dogs who had a condition similar to the human disease: Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). People born with a mutation on the RPE65 gene have poor vision starting at birth and often progress rapidly to complete blindness, usually by their 20s, but sometimes in early childhood.

The pair developed a therapy that used a virus as a transport, carrying a piece of DNA into cells that would then correct the faulty, blindness-causing proteins formed by the bad gene. The idea: Once the proteins were set right, some sight might return. First, they tested the therapy by injecting it into a single eye in each of three dogs.

It wasn't long until they knew whether it worked. Bennett recalls receiving an excited phone call from a technician at the lab, who exclaimed, "They can see!"

Sure enough, the dogs were twirling around, using their treated eyes to see. Before treatment, the dogs had bumped and tripped through an obstacle course set up to test their sight. After the full treatment, the course was an easy task for the dogs.

A knock on the door

In parallel with Bennett and Maguire's dreams of gene therapy, High was also working to bring the field forward. Like Bennett and Maguire, she had achieved long-term reversal of a serious genetic disease in a dog model: In her case, for hemophilia, a life-threatening bleeding disorder. High had advanced these studies from success in dogs to initial clinical trials in humans, delivering the donated gene into skeletal muscle and the liver.

The work was promising, but the human immune response to the gene delivery vesselwhich was derived from a virus in the same way Bennett and Maguire's therapy wasprevented sustained benefits from the therapeutic gene. At the same time, companies and investors, discouraged by high profile negative events, began to turn away from gene therapy. Progress stalled.

But with support from CHOP, High founded the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics (CCMT) in 2004. She recruited experts in all aspects of clinical gene therapy, including specialized knowledge in the manufacturing and release of gene therapy vectors, which are the particles that deliver a healthy copy of a defective gene to patients.

After vector production was set up at CHOP, High went to Bennett's office and knocked on the door with a proposition to start a clinical trial in humans. In 2007, Maguire, who was then a surgeon in Pediatric Ophthalmology at CHOP, administered an injection of the experimental therapy at CHOP into a clinical trial participant  a 26-year-old womanfor the first time. Her twin, with the same condition, received the treatment shortly after.

When the team assessed the treatment of the 37 eligible participants from the original clinical trials, 72 percent reported the maximum possible improvement in a test of low-light conditions, which simulates night vision. Amid these, many reported improved peripheral and central vision, too. One patient, who could only detect changes in light, was suddenly able to navigate walking through Philadelphia at night, unaided, and could make out the clock on City Hall. Another patient was able to see a star for the first time in her life just six days after the procedure.

In 2017, the therapyby then manufactured by Spark Therapeutics, a spinout from CHOP, and called Luxturnareceived approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It became the first FDA approval of a genetic therapy for an inherited disease. Today, hundreds of people around the world have successfully received the treatment.

A celebration of decades of work

Today's celebration in Los Angeles marks a celebratory milestone in roughly 40 years of work led by Bennett, Maguire, and High that has inspired others in the now vibrant field of gene therapy. In fact, a treatment stemming from High's original work with hemophilia received FDA approval in 2024.

"We always just did what we thought you were supposed to do if you were a doctor: Find treatments for diseases," said Maguire. "Both my father and Jean's worked in science, and it seemed normal to try to push the envelope."

"I think the only surprise for us was that things worked out so well," Bennett said. "For every success, there are usually so many failures. That's just the nature of science. But our team hit on something that has helped so many people and helped progress the field, and we're really grateful for our part in that."

High described the journey between the start of her collaboration with Bennett and Maguire in 2005 and the FDA approval in 2017 as "an arduous one."

"At times, it seemed that the number of obstacles we needed to overcome to reach regulatory approval was never-ending," High said. "Working without the benefit of the guidelines and precedents we now have today, we sought to solve each day's problems so that the program would have a tomorrow. It was a bold and uncertain investment of time, effort, and resources. Few were willing to take on the risks, but it ultimately paid off, and it helped build the foundation of modern gene therapy."

About Penn Medicine:

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service.

The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn's Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school.

The Perelman School of Medicine is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with more than $588 million awarded in the 2024 fiscal year. Home to a proud history of "firsts," Penn Medicine teams have pioneered discoveries that have shaped modern medicine, including CAR T cell therapy for cancer and the Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System cares for patients in facilities and their homes stretching from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the New Jersey shore. UPHS facilities include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Doylestown Health, Lancaster General Health, Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospitalthe nation's first hospital, chartered in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Penn Medicine at Home, GSPP Rehabilitation, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.

Penn Medicine is a $13.7 billion enterprise powered by more than 50,000 talented faculty and staff.

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:

A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. CHOP also operates the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia, the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center (including a 24/7 Crisis Response Center) and the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health outpatient facility. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit www.chop.edu.

Media Contacts:

CHOP PR Contact:

Ashley Moore

[email protected]

267-426-6071

Penn Medicine PR Contact:

Frank Otto

[email protected]

267-693-2999

SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
NEW YORK, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) resulting from allegations that Barclays may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased Barclays securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=23523 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On February 27, 2026, Reuters published an article entitled "Wall Street hit by UK mortgage lender collapse, raising fears of more credit 'cockroaches.'" The article stated that lenders were "rocked by the implosion of little-known UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd ["MFS"], fuelling concerns about wider losses among banks and reviving warnings of more "cockroaches" in the booming private credit industry." It further stated that another publication "reported Barclays has a 600 million pound ($809.70 million) exposure to MFS."

On this news, Barclays American Depositary Shares ("ADS") fell 3.99% on February 27, 2026, and 2.3% on March 2, 2026.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

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The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
2,000 Teamsters Demand a Fair Contract at Major Chicago Hospital

CHICAGO, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers at University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), represented by Teamsters Local 743, will hold a two-day practice picket starting on Monday, April 20 at 5 a.m. and ending on Tuesday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. to demand better wages and improved working conditions. Teamsters will hold a press conference during the two-day practice picket on Monday, April 20 at 12 p.m. joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

While the more than 2,000 Teamsters make several key departments of this hospital run, management claims they don't have the money to pay them for it  despite paying their CEO nearly $4 million annually.

UCMC's total operating revenue reached $3.5 billion last year, up $450 million from 2024, and yet this hospital refuses to pay Teamsters what they deserve. Local 743 members are fighting for their fair share and are calling on UCMC to recognize their hard work and dedication by finally agreeing on a fair contract.





WHEN: Monday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 21



12  3:30 p.m. CT (availability for interviews)







WHO: Teamsters Local 743 members







WHERE: University of Chicago Medical Center



E 57th St & Cottage Grove Ave



Chicago, IL 60637



Media Contact:

Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279

[email protected]

On-site Contact:

Denise Stiger, (773) 633-5333

SOURCE Teamsters Local 743
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Costco's treasure hunt model drives membership during strong economic times, but the chain's low prices push people toward the warehouse club during more challenging times.

We think the company continues to deliver compelling value, quality, and newness, UBS analysts wrote after the warehouse club reported its April sales. As a result, its customers continue to consolidate their shopping at this retailer."

Costco has been steadily adding share for five years, growing at a pace that was only behind one rival.

"According to Numerators data, Walmart, in a finding that will surprise no one, gained the most grocery market share over the last five years of any major player," Grocery Dive reported.

The warehouse club has made steady gains.

"But hot on its heels was club giant Costco, which went from a 7% share in the 2020-2021 period to an 8.4% share in the 2024-2025 period. It was the only retailer in the top 20 that made market share gains each year.

That's not surprising when you look at Costco's pricing compared to its rivals.

Costco offers the lowest grocery prices

While Costco does not offer the same selection as a traditional grocery store, it does offer better prices, according to a study commissioned by Consumer Reports.

The consumer advocate company worked with Strategic Resource Group (SRG), a retail- and grocery-industry market research company in New York, compared prices on baskets of commonly purchased items at mainstream grocery chains in six regionally representative cities across the U.S.

Related: History of Costco: Company timeline and facts

"The comparisons were based on the total price of grocery baskets that included packaged goods, produce, and meat, but differed in size depending on which items were available in each store. The comparisons were most robust for mainstream retailers carrying a wide selection of identical national-brand goods that could be compared across supermarkets," Consumer Reports shared.

Walmart was used as the baseline and Costco, along with Walmart's own Sam's Club had dramatically lower prices.

Grocery prices compared to Walmart

Costco : -21.4%

BJ's Wholesale: -21%

Target : +5.9%

Kroger: +14.8%

Publix: +20.3%

Source: Consumer Reports

In addition to Costco and BJ's, only Lidl (-8.5%), Aldi (-8.3%), Winco (-3.3%), and H-E-B (-0.2%) were priced below Walmart. Sam's Club, which is owned by Walmart, was not included in the research. Market Basket (+1.2%) was the only regional grocery chain not priced at least 8% higher than Walmart.

Costco sells a limited selection compared to traditional retailers.Shutterstock

Costco commits to low prices

Costco CEO Ron Vachris talked about his chain's continued plans to invest in expanding the business, while keeping prices low, during the company's second-quarter earnings call.

"As far as investing in the business, seeing the same values in that, no, we feel that we still get the same return from our members as we continue to invest in the business out there. And the members are responding very nicely to it, both with traffic and with sales that we see as well. So we feel good that we will continue to reinvest," he said.

CFO Gary Millerchip also commented on keeping prices down in a non-grocery area that has become increasingly important to customers.

"We want to be the pricing authority on gas. And so when prices are higher, that will tend to cause members to maybe take the extra mile that it might be involved to get to the gas station because of the incremental value they see there," he said.

JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers has described Costco as offering the best pricing, underscoring how its low-margin model allows it to consistently undercut traditional grocery retailers.

"[Costco] offers an unquestioned value prop with the best pricing, curated assortment, strong private label offering and treasure hunt atmosphere," Horvers wrote in a note to clients, as reported by CNBC.

Related: McDonalds rival closes after 79 years

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New Delhi, April 19 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to lead a series of high-profile roadshows across Tamil Nadu on Sunday, spearheading the BJP's campaign in the crucial final phase of the Assembly elections.

Party sources earlier said that HM Shah would land in Coimbatore on Saturday night and stay there before launching his campaign engagements the next day. His visit comes as the BJP intensifies efforts to boost its presence across key constituencies ahead of polling on April 23.

On Sunday, Shah will begin his campaign with a roadshow in Modakurichi Assembly constituency in Erode district, where he will canvass support for BJP candidate Kirthika Shivkumar.

The western belt is considered strategically important for the party, and the leadership is focussing on direct voter outreach in the region.

Later in the day, Shah will travel to Chennai for another major roadshow in support of BJP nominee Tamilisai Soundararajan.

As part of his visit to the city, he is also expected to offer prayers at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore before the roadshow.

Senior BJP leaders said the twin roadshows are aimed at energising party cadres and strengthening last-mile mobilisation in both western and northern Tamil Nadu.

"The focus is on direct engagement with voters and consolidating support in the final stretch," a party functionary noted.

The visit is part of a broader push by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with top leaders stepping up their campaign in the State.

HM Shah is also expected to offer prayers at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore before his Chennai roadshow.

The Coimbatore City Police have implemented heavy security protocols and traffic diversions across the city to accommodate the high-profile visits.

With the campaign entering its closing phase, the BJP is relying on high-impact public outreach and the presence of senior leaders like Shah to maximise its electoral prospects in the State.
New Delhi, April 19 : India's Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday departed for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

The visit is notable as the first bilateral official trip by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka, underscoring the growing momentum in diplomatic engagement between the neighbours.

Confirming the departure, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, posted on X, "Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri. C. P. Radhakrishnan @VPIndia has departed for Sri Lanka. A rich agenda involving meeting with Sri Lankan leadership and interacting with Indian community lies ahead."

During the visit, VP Radhakrishnan is scheduled to call on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and hold discussions with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. His engagements will also include interactions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community and Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island nation.

The Vice President will also address members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Colombo. At the event, he will virtually hand over houses to beneficiaries from Tamil communities constructed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. With this phase, the total number of houses built for Tamil communities will reach 50,000, while an additional 10,000 houses are currently being developed under the initiative's fourth phase.

On Monday, the Vice President will travel to Nuwara Eliya, where he will visit project sites and interact with the local Tamil community. Indian-origin Tamilians form a significant segment of Sri Lanka's population, numbering around 1.6 million, or approximately 7 per cent.

The visit comes amid a series of recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, including President Disanayaka's visit to India in February and Prime Minister Amarasuriya's trip in October 2025. It is expected to further deepen the millennia-old civilisational and people-to-people ties shared by India and Sri Lanka.
Madrid, April 19 : The governments of Brazil, Mexico and Spain expressed deep concern over the grave humanitarian crisis facing the Cuban people and urged necessary measures to ease the situation, according to a joint statement published on the Spanish Foreign Ministry's website.

The three governments on Saturday, also called relevant parties to avoid actions that worsen the living conditions of the population or that violate international law, and pledged to increase, in a coordinated manner, their humanitarian response to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the statement, Brazil, Spain and Mexico also reiterated the need to respect international law at all times, as well as the principles of territorial integrity, sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to human rights, democratic values and multilateralism, and called for a sincere and respectful dialogue in line with international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

They said such dialogue should aim to find a lasting solution to the current situation and ensure that the Cuban people themselves decide their future in full freedom.

Fuel shortages in Cuba have deepened after Washington took measures at the end of January to block oil supplies from entering the Caribbean nation, according to the United Nations.

Despite the reported arrival of limited fuel supplies, including a recent oil shipment sent by Russia which was allowed to dock by the United States despite its blockade last week, "the humanitarian needs in the country remain quite acute and persistent", said the top UN official in the country, adding that the impacts of the energy shock have 'worsened' since the end of March.

The humanitarian situation has reached a critical tipping point following three months without sufficient fuel to meet the Caribbean nation's energy needs, which had been largely met by Venezuela until the US rendition of President Nicolas Maduro in January.
New Delhi, April 19 : In a swift and high-risk operation, the Delhi Police apprehended two accused involved in an attempted murder in the Chhawla area, following an early morning gunfire exchange in Dwarka. The case, which involved a targeted killing attempt, was solved within 24 hours of registration, officials said.

The incident took place on April 17 in Shyam Vihar Phase 2 under Police Station Chhawla, where two armed assailants arrived on a motorcycle. One of them attempted to fire at the complainant at point-blank range, but the weapon failed to discharge. A case was subsequently registered under relevant sections of the law on April 18, prompting an intensive manhunt.

Acting on "precise human intelligence", a team from AATS Dwarka intercepted the accused, identified as Rocky (22) and Sumit alias Koki (24), near the Urban Extension Road (UER) at around 5.35 a.m. on Sunday. According to the police, the duo was travelling on a Yamaha motorcycle when they were stopped.

"When challenged to surrender, the accused person, Rocky, opened fire upon the police team, discharging three rounds with intent to endanger lives," the press release stated, adding that one of the bullets struck the bulletproof vest of a head constable.

The police team exercised restraint and retaliated in controlled self-defence. "The police team retaliated with three rounds hitting the accused Rocky below his left knee and apprehending him after a brief scuffle," the statement said. The second accused, Sumit, was overpowered and found carrying a loaded country-made firearm.

Police confirmed that Rocky was the one who attempted to fire during the original incident, while Sumit was riding the motorcycle. A 7.65 mm pistol with two live cartridges and three spent shells was recovered from Rocky, while another firearm with a live cartridge was seized from Sumit. The motorcycle used in the crime has also been recovered.

The injured accused was shifted to a hospital, and a fresh case has been registered under additional provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.

Calling the operation a success, the police said it reflects their "Zero Tolerance Against Crime", adding that "perpetrators of heinous acts and armed assailants are confronted with courage, restraint, and swift justice".
New Delhi, April 19 : A large number of devotees gathered at the sacred Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday to take a holy dip and offer prayers on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and Parshuram Jayanti.

The spiritually significant day witnessed people from different parts of the country arriving early in the morning to participate in rituals believed to bring prosperity and blessings.

Devotees described the occasion as highly auspicious. "It is an auspicious occasion. We have come to the Sangam for a holy bath. Taking a dip today is considered very sacred and brings blessings through prayers. Today is a very auspicious day, and we pray for the happiness and prosperity of our families. We have come here with the wish that everyone remains happy and well," one devotee told IANS.

Another devotee emphasised the importance of well-being, saying, "I prayed for my family, for my nation's health and prosperity, because health is everything."

Highlighting the tradition of charity associated with the festival, a third devotee said, "As today is Akshaya Tritiya, we performed charity. Doing charity on this day is believed to bring greater rewards."

Meanwhile, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, special prayers were held at the revered Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple on the occasion of Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya. Devotees participated in a special aarti, marking the spiritual significance of the day across different regions of the country.

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu and Jain calendars. The word "Akshaya" signifies "eternal" or "never-diminishing", and it is widely believed that any good deed or investment made on this day yields lasting benefits. Purchasing precious metals such as gold and silver is a common tradition, as it is thought that wealth acquired on this day will never diminish.

Across regions, the day was being marked by spiritual fervour, with devotees emphasising faith, charity, and collective prayers for harmony and happiness.
Seoul, April 19 : President Lee Jae Myung departed for India on Sunday for a two-nation trip that also includes a visit to Vietnam for summit talks, likely to focus on stabilising supply chains amid global energy market uncertainties stemming from the war in the Middle East.

Lee will arrive in New Delhi later in the day and hold summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. It will mark their third in-person meeting, following earlier talks on the sidelines of the G7 and G20 summits last year, reports Yonhap news agency.

The summit is expected to focus on expanding economic cooperation in areas such as shipbuilding, maritime industries, artificial intelligence and defence, as well as coordinating responses to energy supply chain uncertainties linked to the Middle East situation, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Thursday.

He also plans to attend a business forum to explore new opportunities and support the operations of Korean companies in India, a key production hub and major consumer market for Korean electronics and automakers.

Lee is scheduled to head to Hanoi, Vietnam, on Tuesday for a state visit and hold talks on Wednesday with To Lam, Vietnam's president and general secretary of the Communist Party, with cooperation on energy supply chains and critical minerals expected to be high on the agenda.

The visit will make Lee the first foreign leader to travel to Vietnam since To Lam was elected state president earlier this month, consolidating his authority by holding the country's two most powerful positions.

The following day, Lee is set to meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, the No. 2 official, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the No. 3 official, and attend a business forum to explore ways to bolster economic cooperation between the two countries.

In light of the trip, Lee will seek to strengthen strategic cooperation with fast-growing economies and broaden South Korea's diplomatic reach, according to Wi.

a"IANS

na/
Bhopal, April 19 : In a significant boost to tourism and religious pilgrimage in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will inaugurate a new sector connecting Bhopal with the historic towns of Chanderi and Orchha under the ambitious 'PM Shri Heli Tourism' service.

The event will take place as the Chief Minister flags off the helicopter and personally distributes boarding passes to the first batch of passengers. This new route, operating as Sector-2 of the service, aims to make travel seamless for devotees and tourists alike.

It will link the state capital directly to Orchha, the royal abode of Lord Shri Ram, home to the revered Shri Ram Raja Temple, and Chanderi, a town celebrated for its rich historical heritage, magnificent monuments, and exquisite Chanderi sarees and handicrafts.

Chanderi is a historic town as well as known for its silk sarees. Devotees can now undertake a comfortable darshan at the Ram Temple, while visitors can explore Chanderias cultural treasures in a matter of hours instead of a long road journey.

The helicopter service will operate five days a week -- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One-way fares have been set at Rs 5,500 for the Bhopal-Chanderi leg and Rs 6,500 for Bhopal-Orchha.

A comprehensive aend-to-enda package priced at Rs 14,500 will offer added conveniences, including taxi services, VIP darshan, and prasad, officials said. Additionally, a aJoy Ridea facility will be available at both destinations for Rs 3,500, allowing tourists a thrilling aerial experience over these scenic locations. Safety and passenger comfort remain top priorities.

The service, run on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, deploys a modern six-seater helicopter. Pre-arranged facilities at the destinations include comfortable accommodation, meals, and experienced local guides.

The PM Shri Heli Tourism Service was originally launched by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on November 1, 2025, coinciding with Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day. Since then, it has successfully connected key circuits: the spiritual route linking Indore, Ujjain, and Omkareshwar, and the wildlife circuit covering Jabalpur, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Chitrakoot, and Maihar.

So far, over 2,648 tourists and devotees have benefited from the initiative, marking it as a pioneering effort in intra-state air connectivity for tourism, the officials said.

This expansion is expected to further enhance Madhya Pradeshas position as a leading tourism destination by reducing travel time dramatically, promoting religious tourism, and showcasing the stateas rich cultural and natural heritage.

Officials believe the new sector will particularly attract pilgrims seeking easy access to Orchha and culture enthusiasts eager to experience Chanderias timeless charm.
Dehradun, April 19 : The portals of the Shri Yamunotri Dham and Shri Gangotri Dham are set to open on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya on Sunday, marking the start of the annual Char Dham Yatra.

Temples have been beautifully decorated with flowers, and elaborate security arrangements have been put in place.

The ceremonial palanquin ('Doli') of Goddess Ganga has already departed from her winter abode in Mukhba village after special prayers and rituals, amid great enthusiasm and devotion among locals and pilgrims. Meanwhile, the palanquin of Goddess Yamuna also departed from her winter abode in Kharsali village.

The village witnessed vibrant celebrations, with chants of "Jai Maa Gange", accompanied by traditional instruments such as 'dhol-damau' and 'ransingha'. A large number of devotees, priests, sadhus, and officials participated in the procession, reflecting a deep sense of faith and unity.

On Sunday, the idols will be placed inside the Yamunotri and Gangotri temple premises.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "Today, on the sacred occasion of Akshay Tritiya, the gates of Shri Gangotri and Shri Yamunotri Dham will be opened for devotees with full rites and rituals. With this, the Char Dham Yatra-2026 is also being inaugurated."

He said that the state government has ensured "comprehensive and robust" preparations to make the Char Dham Yatra "safe, well-organised, and devotee-friendly".

"I pray to Mother Ganga and Mother Yamuna that they fill all your lives with happiness, prosperity, and progress," CM Dhami added.

In another post, the Chief Minister said, "A warm welcome and greetings to all devotees in the land of the gods, Uttarakhand. During the journey, please adhere to the prescribed rules and, keeping environmental conservation in mind, actively contribute to making this holy pilgrimage plastic-free. May the Lord bless this sacred journey with happiness, prosperity, and spiritual advancement in all your lives."

Meanwhile, Shri Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22, followed by Shri Badrinath Dham on April 23.

Till Saturday evening, 18.9 lakh pilgrims had registered online for the yatra. Kedarnath had the highest registrations at 6.5 lakh, followed by Badrinath (5.5 lakh), Gangotri (3.3 lakh) and Yamunotri (3.2 lakh).

Earlier on Saturday, CM Dhami flagged off the yatra from the Char Dham Yatra Transit Camp in Rishikesh, marking the formal commencement of one of the most sacred pilgrimages in Sanatan Dharma. The Chief Minister interacted with devotees, extended his greetings, and wished them a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.

Given the cold weather conditions in the mountainous regions, additional facilities have been arranged across all four shrines -- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

The Char Dham Yatra traditionally begins from Haridwar or Rishikesh and proceeds through Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and finally Badrinath, drawing thousands of devotees from across India and abroad every year.
New Delhi, April 19 : Investors remain keen on cues from the US-Iran negotiations, global crude oil price trend and ongoing Q4 FY26 earnings commentary to assess market trends this week, analysts said on Sunday.

Market participants said that softer crude prices, improving global cues and more stable flows are supporting the recovery this week.

Indian equity markets need a followthrough buying to confirm a durable uptrend even as easing Middle East tensions support the uptrend, they said.

"Downside risks appear relatively contained in the near term, while upside momentum is gradually buildingsuggesting a transition from recovery toward a more stable structure, albeit one still dependent on external catalysts," an analyst said.

Continued stability or further moderation in crude prices could provide a meaningful tailwind for equities and support the broader macro outlook.

Markets ended the truncated week with notable gains, extending their uptrend for the second consecutive week, supported by an improvement in global sentiment.

"Optimism surrounding a potential USIran peace agreement underpinned market confidence, while stable domestic fundamentals further aided momentum," an analyst said.

Last week, indices remained intermittently volatile, but maintained an upward bias, with broader markets outperforming the frontline indices.

Nifty and Sensex gained over 1 per cent each to close at 24,353 and 78,493, respectively.

A temporary easing of shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, helped Brent crude correct toward the $86 level before stabilising in the $9293 range.

Foreign institutional investors showed early signs of stabilisation, turning net buyers in the final three sessions of the week.

However, on a cumulative basis, flows remained marginally negative for the week at around Rs 250 crore, causing investors to look for sustained inflows to confirm reversal in sentiments.

In contrast, domestic institutional investors, who had been providing consistent support, turned net sellers in the final sessions, reflecting some profit-taking at higher levels. On a weekly basis, DII outflows stood at approximately Rs 6,300 crore.

Technically, Nifty is consolidating in the 24,10024,400 range with immediate resistance near 24,400 and support around 24,000. A sustained breakout above this level could extend the rally towards the 24,80025,000 range, an analyst said.

The 56,80057,000 band remains a critical resistance zone for Bank Nifty, and only a sustained breakout above this range can push the index towards 57,50058,000 levels.

Portfolio allocation may remain tilted towards fundamentally strong large-cap stocks, while selectively participating in broader market opportunities, market participants suggested.

Sectorally, energy and metal & mining sectors may continue to outperform, while other sectors could participate on a rotational basis, they forecasted.

On the macro front, infrastructure output data for March will be released on April 20, followed by Manufacturing, Services, and Composite PMI data for April on April 23, providing insights into economic momentum.
Amaravati, April 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who underwent surgery on the evening of April 18.

The Prime Minister posted on 'X' on Sunday that he spoke to Pawan Kalyan and enquired about his well-being.

"I spoke with Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Pawan Kalyan garu, and inquired about his well-being. He is a person endowed with immense courage and valor. Believing that Shri Pawan Kalyan garu will recover very soon, I am praying for his complete health," PM wrote on X.

Pawan Kalyan thanked the Prime Minister for his kind words and for taking the time to speak with him and enquire about his health following the surgery.

"Your concern, encouragement, and wishes for a speedy recovery give me great strength. I remain grateful for your continued guidance, support, and healing wishes," posted the Jana Sena leader.

Jana Sena Party earlier said in a statement that Pawan Kalyan underwent surgery on Saturday evening.

"While discussing administrative matters with his officials on Friday morning, he experienced severe discomfort. He has been facing health-related issues for the past few months. Following the advice of his personal physicians, he cancelled Friday's official engagements and visited the hospital. At the hospital, doctors conducted medical examinations, including an MRI. After reviewing the reports, the medical team decided that surgery was necessary and performed the procedure," it said.

"Doctors have advised that he may resume official duties after a week to ten days of rest. However, they have also indicated that long-term precautions will be necessary, and that full recovery may take a longer period," reads the statement.

The party, however, did not share details about the nature of the surgery.

However, according to sources, he underwent a sinusitis procedure at a hospital in Hyderabad.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wished Pawan Kalyan a speedy recovery. "May he regain his strength quickly and come back healthier than ever," posted CM Naidu.

Governor S. Abdul Nazeer also took to 'X' to wish the actor-politician a speedy recovery. "May Almighty bestow the strength on him for his fast recovery and good health."
Critical Metals (CRML) stock pushed significantly higher on Friday as Greenland formally cleared the transfer of an additional 50.5% stake in the Tanbreez rare-earth project to the New York-based firm.

As CRML confirmed that it now has a commanding 92.5% interest in the Tanbreez asset, its price ripped through key moving averages (MAs), signaling that bulls are taking back control across multiple timeframes.

More News from Barchart

Despite this rally, however, Critical Metals shares remain down about 35% versus their YTD high.

www.barchart.com

Significance of Tanbreez News for Critical Metals Stock

Greenlands approval is nothing short of a transformative de-risking event for CRML shares. Why? Because the company now controls the worlds largest rare earth deposit.

Tanbreez is particularly rich in terbium and dysprosium, minerals essential for the high-strength permanent magnets used in electric vehicle (EV) motors and advanced defense technologies.

For investors, a complete operational autonomy over Tanbreez means the removal of a major structural overhang. It positions Critical Metals as a primary alternative to Chinese supply chains, aligning perfectly with Western friend-shoring initiatives and securing the projects path toward production.

How High Could CRML Shares Fly in 2062?

The Tanbreez announcement made Texas Capital initiate coverage on Critical Metals stock with a Buy rating on April 17. Its $20 price target signals potential upside of another 53% from here.

A $120 million letter of intent from the Export-Import Bank of the United States underscores the projects national importance, the firms analysts told clients in their research note.

According to Texas Capital, CRMLs recent $1.5 billion joint venture with Saudi conglomerate TQB makes the rare earth stock even more attractive to own in 2026.

All in all, with a pilot plant set to commission in May 2026, Texas Capital believes Critical Metals is uniquely positioned to fill the growing global gap in critical mineral supply.

Whats the Consensus Rating on Critical Metals?

Other Wall Street analysts also remain positive on CRML stock even though its 14-day RSI sits in the early 70s currently, indicating overbought conditions.
New Delhi, April 19 : Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Sunday, with discussions held on strengthening bilateral and cultural ties between the two nations.

During the meeting, Radhakrishnan reaffirmed India's commitment to the Neighbourhood policy and further strengthening cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for the benefit of people of two nations.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Vice President Shri. C.P. Radhakrishnan called-on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today. They held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India -Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history and cultural values."

"Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan reaffirmed Indiaas commitment to the Neighbourhood First policy and to further strengthen our cooperation for the benefit of both nations. The discussions also focused on various initiatives including the Indian Housing Project and projects being implemented under the USD 450 mn package for areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President arrived in Colombo on Sunday for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

This visit underscores the growing momentum in diplomatic engagement between the neighbours.

The Vice President was accorded a warm welcome upon his arrival in the Lankan capital with a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

The visit is notable as the first bilateral official trip by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. This visit will focus on strengthening the civilisational and people-to-people ties between the two nations.

During the visit, VP Radhakrishnan is scheduled to hold discussions with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. His engagements will also include interactions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community and Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island nation.

The Vice President will also address members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Colombo. At the event, he will virtually hand over houses to beneficiaries from Tamil communities constructed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. With this phase, the total number of houses built for Tamil communities will reach 50,000, while an additional 10,000 houses are currently being developed under the initiative's fourth phase.

On Monday, VP Radhakrishnan will travel to Nuwara Eliya, where he will visit project sites and interact with the local Tamil community. Indian-origin Tamilians form a significant segment of Sri Lanka's population, numbering around 1.6 million, or approximately 7 per cent.

The visit comes amid a series of recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, including Sri Lankan President Dissanayake's visit to India in February and Prime Minister Amarasuriya's trip in October 2025. It is expected to further deepen the millennia-old civilisational and people-to-people ties shared by India and Sri Lanka.
New Delhi, April 19 : The Union Budget 2026-27 marked a strategic shift towards crop-specific and regionally aligned strategies for promoting high value agriculture in India, the government said on Sunday.

India's agricultural sector showed record growth in the last decade at 4.45 percent, an official statement said, adding that the country ranks second in the world in coconut production.

The coconut production sector supports the livelihoods of about 30 million people, including nearly 10 million farmers, the statement said.

Indiaas cashew exports stood at $369.17 million in 2024-25 and cocoa exports reached $295.58 million in the same year.

India's walnut exports were valued at $7.8 million in FY 2024-25, with key markets including the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Singapore, Algeria, Qatar, Bhutan, Kuwait, Seychelles and Nigeria.

Targeted interventions have been proposed in the recent budget for coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, and cashew in coastal regions; agarwood cultivation in the North Eastern States; and premium nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts in hilly areas.

Over the past decade, horticultural production has increased substantially from 277.35 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 370.74 million tonnes in 2024-25.

The country ranks second worldwide in the production of vegetables, fruits and potatoes. Fruits account for 9.18 percent and vegetables account for 8.18 percent of global production.

Further, India is the worldas largest producer of onions and shallots (dry excluding dehydrated), contributing close to 22.42 percent of global production.

As of January 2026, India has around 150 million agarwood trees, with nearly 90 percent located in the North Eastern states under plantation and agroforestry systems.

Tamil Nadu leads in overall coconut production, while Andhra Pradesh records the highest productivity, followed by West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

These regional variations highlight the diverse production strengths across Indiaas coconut-growing states, the statement noted.

Beyond primary production, the coconut sector has emerged as an increasingly important contributor to agricultural exports, in line with the governmentas vision of achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030 and $21 trillion by 2047.
New Delhi, April 19 : Ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday cautioned candidates and political parties against the misuse of AI-generated or manipulated content, highlighting that 11,000 illegal social media posts have been removed since March 15.

"All stakeholders shall ensure responsible and ethical use of social media and digital platforms, in compliance with extant legal provisions including the Information Technology Act, 2000, IT Rules, 2021 and the Model Code of Conduct," said the ECI in a statement.

The poll panel said political parties, candidates and campaign representatives are required to ensure that any synthetically generated or AI-altered content used for campaigning is clearly labelled as "AI-Generated", "Digitally Enhanced" or "Synthetic Content", along with disclosure of the originating entity, to maintain transparency and voter trust.

"Social media content such as posts which are MCC violations, disrupt or which have the potential to disrupt law and order, false narratives against the polling process or machinery are being monitored and acted upon by the concerned State IT Nodal Officers notified under IT Act," said the ECI.

The Commission had directed that any misleading or unlawful AI-generated or manipulated content shall be acted upon within three hours of being brought to the notice of the social media platforms.

"Since the announcement of elections on March 15, over 11,000 such social media posts/URLs have been identified and acted upon, including removal of content, FIR, clarifications and rebuttals in the ongoing elections," said the ECI.

The Commission also reiterated provisions under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibit the display of any election matter in polling areas during the 48-hour silence period prior to the conclusion of the poll.

Media platforms, including television, radio, print and social media, are also required to strictly adhere to these provisions, it said.

The ECI said citizens/political parties/candidates can report MCC violations using the C-Vigil Module on ECINET.

"From March 15 till April 19, 3,23,099 complaints have been lodged using the C-Vigil App in these elections. Of these, 3,10,393 complaints or 96.01 per cent were resolved within the stipulated time period of 100 minutes," said the official statement.

Kerala, Assam and Puducherry went to the polls on April 9. West Bengal has voting in two phases -- April 23 and April 29. Tamil Nadu has a one-phase poll on April 23. Vote counting for all four states and the union territory will be held on May 4.
Seoul, April 19 : South Korean President Lee Jae Myung renewed his calls for the National Assembly to swiftly begin procedures to appoint a special inspector general tasked with investigating corruption involving the presidential family and other officials, a senior aide said on Sunday.

In a press briefing, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said that Lee stressed the need to appoint the independent inspector general to oversee misconduct by the president's spouse and close relatives as part of efforts to tighten discipline among public officials and enhance public trust, reports Yonhap news agency.

Former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol did not appoint anyone to the position.

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, have been jailed since August over various corruption charges. Both were indicted on charges of accepting 270 million won (US$183,000) worth of opinion poll results for free from a self-proclaimed power broker in exchange for securing the nomination of former People Power Party Rep Kim Young-sun for a parliamentary by-election in June 2022.

Speaking about this, Kang said, "Lee believes the appointment of an inspector general is necessary in accordance with the principles of democracy and people's sovereignty that 'all powers must be monitored through institutions'."

"We ask that the National Assembly swiftly resume the procedures as the president has expressed his firm commitment," the presidential chief of staff added.

The independent inspector general position was established in 2014 under then-President Park Geun-hye, but it has been left vacant since 2016.

By law, the National Assembly must recommend three candidates with at least 15 years of legal experience, from whom the president is required to select one.

Lee pledged to promptly fill the post throughout his presidential campaign, but progress has stalled in the Assembly.
Bankura : , April 19 (IANS) As locals thronged the rally venue on Sunday, to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address, their excitement and joy knew no bounds on seeing the Prime Minister in person. They were vocal in showing support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which they said will mark an end to "era of atrocities" under the incumbent Mamata Banerjee regime.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Bishnupur area, as part of his whirlwind campaign in poll-bound Bengal, to address an election rally ahead of April 23 and 29 polls.

An elderly villager who was part of the gathering spoke to IANS, stated why he and his fellow villagers will vote for the BJP this time.

"We want the BJP because we want to end the atrocities under the Mamata government. All of us, including people in my village, are supporting the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.

A man who took a day off from work expressed his excitement to witness the Prime Minister, whom he considered an "icon".

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is our biggest icon. He is an emotion for us. That is why I have taken leave from the office to come here and listen to him," he told IANS.

A youngster at the rally mentioned that he wished to know what the BJP plans to do for the youth of the state.

He said, "The Prime Minister wants to speaks to us about development in our state. We want to know what they (BJP) will do for us in the future. We want to know what they can do for the future of us youths."

Meanwhile, PM Modi accused the Trinamool Congress of inflicting cruelty on potato farmers. "I understand the pain of the youth and farmers here. The cruelty being inflicted on potato farmers is a great injustice. I have only one request, as long as the Trinamool's syndicate remains in the markets, farmers will continue to be exploited," he said at the public meeting.

He added, "The BJP will do permanent surgery of the syndicate."

Further, the Prime Minister assured the youths that 'rozgar melas' will be conducted in Bengal too.

"Appointment letters will be distributed at the rozgar mela. This is also Modi's guarantee," he said.
New Delhi, April 19 : When the results of the women's reservation bill were announced in the Lok Sabha on the evening of April 17, the reaction was immediate -- desks were thumped, slogans filled the air, and the 230 opposition members were on their feet, celebrating. It felt strange, almost uncomfortable to watch. This was a bill many believed could mark a real shift in India's political landscape, yet its defeat was being greeted with applause rather than disappointment.

There was something unsettling about this. A proposal that promised to alter the landscape of Indian politics -- to finally widen the narrow doorway through which women enter Parliament -- had just been voted down. And still, the opposition was jubilant. It felt less like politics and more like a moment where instinct overtook introspection.

At one level, the reaction is not difficult to decode. For the first time in over a decade, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been handed a clear legislative setback in the Lok Sabha. For the opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, this was the moment to claim political ground -- an opportunity to stall what the government had positioned as a flagship reform.

But politics, when reduced purely to scorecards, often forgets the people it is meant to serve. In that moment, the larger significance of the bill appeared to recede. This was not just another piece of legislation. It was an idea that had been deferred for decades. The promise of reserving seats for women in Parliament has hovered over India's legislative history like an unfinished sentence -- spoken of, debated, postponed, revived, and now, once again, stalled.

The opposition has tried to articulate its reasons. Rahul Gandhi and his allies -- including M.K. Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mamata Banerjee -- argued that linking the bill to delimitation raises deeper structural concerns. They contended that any redrawing of constituencies tied to population changes could alter the balance of political power across states, potentially disadvantaging those that have managed population growth more effectively, particularly in the South.

The resistance was not merely rhetorical. M.K. Stalin, holding a constitutional post, burnt a copy of the bill and asked his MPs to wear black as a mark of dissent. His argument centred on the fear that population-based delimitation would penalise southern states by reducing their relative representation in Parliament. Mamata Banerjee, too, opposed the linkage, going so far as to call it a "conspiracy" that could eventually be used to manipulate electoral rolls and pave the way for measures like the National Register of Citizens.

These concerns were firmly countered by the government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed them as a deliberately constructed narrative aimed at derailing the reform. He attempted to allay fears with numbers, pointing out that the five southern states -- Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala -- currently hold 129 Lok Sabha seats, accounting for 23.76 per cent of the total 543. Even with a hypothetical 50 per cent increase in seats, he argued, their share would rise proportionately, reaching 195 seats, thereby preserving their political weight.

On paper, the argument appears reasonable. But politics is rarely settled on paper alone. The Rahul Gandhi-led opposition remained unconvinced. Akhilesh Yadav went a step further, remarking that even if the BJP were to promise a woman Prime Minister, he would not take it at face value.

In downing the bill, the opposition may have won a tactical momentary victory. But it sidestepped what could have been a moment of reckoning. Beyond the procedural disputes and political positioning lay a simple reality -- women remain significantly underrepresented in India's highest decision-making body.

The numbers tell the story. From just 22 women in the first Lok Sabha to 78 in the 17th -- the highest ever -- the trajectory shows progress, but at a pace that is difficult to defend. The current House, with around 75 women members, still falls far short of reflecting a country where women constitute nearly half the population.

The proposed reform, particularly if tied to a future expansion of seats, could have transformed that equation. With the Lok Sabha potentially growing to over 800 members, nearly 272 seats could be reserved for women. That is not a marginal adjustment; it is a structural shift -- one that could redefine participation, reshape policy priorities, and alter the very grammar of representation.

And that is precisely why this moment feels heavier than a routine legislative defeat. It is not just about what was rejected, but about what has been postponed yet again. It also raises uncomfortable questions for the Congress-led opposition.

Indian politics has never lacked powerful women leaders. From Indira Gandhi to J. Jayalalithaa, individual success stories have been celebrated. But these exceptions coexist with a system that remains structurally skewed. The rise of a few does not compensate for the absence of many.

Perhaps that is why the opposition's celebration in the House felt jarring. It seemed disconnected from the larger goal. Governments will come and go. Victories will be claimed and losses absorbed. But some ideas demand a politics that rises above immediate advantage -- one that recognises when the stakes extend beyond electoral gain.

It is here that the Rahul Gandhi-led opposition appears to have fallen short.

Reforms of this magnitude require more than legislative numbers; they require political trust and accommodation. The question now remains unavoidable -- should a reform of this scale become collateral damage in a broader political contest?

The image of that April 17 evening -- desks thumping, slogans echoing -- will eventually fade into the archive of parliamentary theatre. But the discomfort it leaves behind should not lessen because beneath the noise was a quieter truth -- an opportunity slipped through once again.

India does not lack capable women leaders. It lacks enough of them in the rooms where decisions are made. And until that changes, every delay carries a cost -- not measured in votes or victories, but in voices that remain unheard.

The real tragedy of April 17 is not that the government lost a bill. Sadly, the country lost an opportunity which women across India continue to wait for. The thumping of the desks in celebration by the opposition will continue to echo for a long time.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)
Bengaluru, April 19 : Highlighting the growing need for collective action, the Indian Plumbing Association said on Sunday that PlumbexIndia 2026 showcased how partnerships between industry, government and academia can drive sustainable water management solutions.

Organised by the IPA, the three-day event emerged as a key platform for advancing discussions on water security, sanitation and plumbing infrastructure.

Gurmit Singh Arora, National President of the IPA, said the event reflected a shared commitment across government, industry and academia to develop resilient and sustainable water systems, especially as India continues to urbanise rapidly.

"The conversations, innovations, and partnerships forged here reflect a shared commitment across government, industry, and academia to build resilient, efficient, and sustainable water systems," Arora said.

"As India continues to urbanise rapidly, platforms like PlumbexIndia are essential in translating ideas into actionable solutions on the ground," he added.

Echoing similar views, Chandra Shekhar Gupta said the event underscored the importance of combining engineering expertise with policy direction and implementation.

"The strong participation and the MoU signing with CaHO are significant steps towards improving water and sanitation standards, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare," Gupta mentioned.

The event featured high-level discussions on urban water management, groundwater sustainability, engineering-led infrastructure and design-driven innovation, with participation from experts across sectors.

Among the notable initiatives were the IPA Bathroom Challenge, a live technical competition supported by International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and International Water Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation, as well as "Around the Drop," a student-focused design platform in partnership with Ethos Empowers.

The exhibition saw participation from over 15,000 visitors and 180 exhibitors, along with international representation from countries including the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, France, Israel, Japan, Taiwan and China.

The event was supported by major government bodies such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
Hyderabad, April 19 : Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, on Sunday accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of not only betraying the women of the country but also the entire South India.

Addressing a press conference here, she said that April 17 will go down in the history of Indian women as a dark day.

She claimed that the NDA government had introduced the Delimitation Bill -- alongside the 33 per cent reservation Bill long sought by women -- specifically to safeguard the interests of the southern states.

She clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's objective was to provide protection to the southern states -- which have been diligent in practising population control -- to ensure that they face no injustice following future census exercises.

She said that when these Bills failed in Parliament, leaders of the Congress and INDIA alliance parties, casting aside national interests, celebrated the failure as if it were a festival. She remarked that their laughter and embraces served as proof of a conspiracy to divide the nation along North-South lines.

She stated that the Opposition, in its blind opposition to the PM Modi-led government, has ignored the significance of the Womenas Reservation Bill and the rightful aspirations of women. In its pursuit of power, Congress and its allies have effectively stood against women, once again delaying their long-pending rightful representation in legislative bodies, she said.

Shobha Karandlaje expressed deep anguish over the fact that, despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in Parliament with the intention of ensuring justice for South India -- proposing to increase seats for every state by 50 per cent and offering to introduce a new Bill if given just one hour -- the Congress and INDIA bloc parties rejected the proposal.

She criticised them for acting solely for their own political gain, in a manner that is bound to further exacerbate regional divisions in the future.

She alleged that the INDIA bloc has betrayed South India by blocking the proposal to increase the number of parliamentary seats in the southern states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

She charged that the INDIA bloc thwarted the opportunity for Telangana to see its MP seats rise from 17 to 26, and for Andhra Pradesh to go from 25 to 38.

She lashed out at the A. Revanth Reddy-led government in Telangana, highlighting what she termed the failures of Congress rule and the injustices inflicted upon the public.

She expressed outrage that the Congress has failed to fulfil a single promise made during the last elections -- including financial assistance of Rs 2,500 for women, electric scooters for female students, unemployment allowances for the jobless, an increase in Asara pensions, and the provision of one tola of gold for married daughters.

The minister accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of making inappropriate remarks against PM Modi solely to appease the party's High Command, and charged that, having failed to implement his promises, he is effectively "pickpocketing" the people of the state.

She stated that, under the leadership of PM Modi, significant priority has been accorded to women's empowerment over the past decade.

Karandlaje noted that, in addition to initiatives concerning education, scholarships and insurance schemes, 60 per cent of Mudra loans and 53 per cent of MSME subsidies have been extended specifically to women.
New Delhi, April 19 : Global technology firms accelerated job cuts in the first quarter of 2026, with over 73,200 layoffs by 95 companies, according to industry data.

The data from Layoffs.fyi showed that the past two weeks saw a fresh surge in headcount reductions. Snap Inc., The Walt Disney Company, Meta Platforms and Oracle Corporation, announced layoffs recently as firms streamline operations to cut costs and shift resources toward artificial intelligence.

Social media platform Snap Inc. said it would cut about 1,000 jobs or roughly 16 per cent of its workforce and eliminate over 300 open roles to boost efficiency and accelerate growth.

Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel said advances in AI were enabling automation of repetitive tasks, and with streamlining operations, the company expects savings of over $500 million by the second half of 2026, while severance costs are estimated at $95 milliona"$130 million.

It announced four monthsa severance pay, continued healthcare and accelerated equity vesting for its US-based employees.

The Walt Disney Company plans to cut around 1,000 roles in its first major restructuring under new CEO Josh DaAmaro, according to multiple reports.

Meta Platforms continues its headcount reductions, with 198 roles planned layoffs across its California offices in Burlingame and Sunnyvale. In March, Meta had already cut 700 roles across recruitment, sales and operations, including positions in its Reality Labs division.

In January, the company announced 1,500 job cuts from augmented and virtual reality divisions.

US tech giant Oracle plans to cut 20,000 to 30,000 jobs to expand its AI dataa'centre capacity, while Amazon recently announced lay off 16,000 employees as part of its AI restructure plan.

India is among the hardest-hit regions from layoffs in Oracle, with estimates suggesting around 12,000 employees affected across cloud, healthcare, sales and NetSuite divisions.

Several tech industry leaders have said that most whitea'collar roles that rely on computers could be automated within the next 12 to 18 months
Los Angeles, April 19 : Hollywood actor Miles Teller has said that he is here to stay, and is "not retiring from acting anytime soon". The actor said after he cashed out on a drinks brand.

The 39-year-old actor had a "minority stake" in a beverage company, and he is now set to pocket a big chunk of cash, reports 'Female First UK'.

Speaking about the payout, the actor refused to say how much he will take home, telling The Hollywood Reporter, "I don't really talk numbers. I was always taught that's not in good taste. All I'll say is that I'm not retiring from acting anytime soon".

However, the 'Top Gun: Maverick' star said the sale, which he regards as "an opportunity to continue to scale", may influence him to produce and fund films about "underdog stories".

He said, "I really like chip-on-the-shoulder characters, odds stacked against you, a person or a community. This gives me a lot of confidence to trust my instincts. I've been producing for the last several years. Certain actors can get movies made on different budgets. If you can say, 'Hey, I'm attached to this thing, let me find a director, and what actors do we like for this, do I have relationships with them?'. So, it certainly helps".

As per 'Female First UK', 'Deadpool' star Ryan Reynolds found himself in a similar situation to the actor with the buyout of his liquor brand to Diageo for up to $610 million in August 2020.

Asked if Ryan, 49, reached out to congratulate him on the acquisition, the actor said, "That first wave of guys with Ryan and Clooney and Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, it kind of started it all off, where you had a lot of these celebrity copycats come in and say, 'Oh man, look at this cash grab'. But anyone in the industry will tell you that's just not how it goes. If you do the research on the celebrity brands, a lot of times it doesn't work out. It's tough to build a business, in general. I can tell you, I've had a lot of texts from various friends and people who have built companies and had companies fail, and they said, 'Miles, this is a huge, huge win. It doesn't happen very often, it's extremely rare'".

"I'm sure it's less than one per cent of people who start companies who end up selling it for any kind of profit. It feels good because it was a new arena for me and I'm really proud of it", he added.
We recently published Jim Cramer Discussed AI "Mojo" & Commented On These 13 Stocks. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer.

Investment bank The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) was at the center of media attention on the day of Cramers remarks as it had reported its fiscal first quarter earnings. Since the earnings release, the shares are up by a modest 1%. The results saw the firm post $17.23 billion in revenue and $17.55 in earnings per share to beat analyst estimates of $16.97 billion and $16.49. However, the shares fell after the earnings, and the dip didnt fail to register on Jim Cramers radar. The CNBC TV host tweeted after the earnings were released and remarked that while estimates had gotten too high, the stock nevertheless still offered excellent return on equity. Jefferies discussed The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS)s stock on April 6th as it lowered the share price target to $1,049 from $1,125 and kept a Buy rating on the stock. Jefferies coverage saw it boost the banks second-quarter earnings estimate to $15.60. In this appearance, Cramer maintained that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) fared off against high expectations:
Los Angeles, April 19 : Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock is quite "excited" to join Instagram, and is looking forward to her time on the content-sharing app.

The 61-year-old actress recently joined the platform, gaining more than five million followers within days, reports 'Female First UK'.

However, the actress shared that she's still learning how to use Instagram. She said at CNBC's event, "It didn't feel like it would ever be my thing. I do have two kids, and I was like, I need to figure this out. So I'd been on social media, but quietly, just to learn and shop".

Sandra wanted a plan before launching her Instagram account and admitted she is far from spontaneous when it comes to social media.

She said, "I'm not spontaneous. I need to think about it. How does that affect what I can contribute? How badly can I f*** it up? Which, that will come, and I'm just going to lean into that".

As per 'Female First UK', the actress also asked for advice on how to post during a visit to the studio, making clear what kind of content fans should not expect from her.

She said, "OK, talk to me, tell me what you see, because if I need to be able to make myself look like an idiot and have fun, I will not be doing selfies or makeup tutorials".

Meanwhile, Sandra previously warned fans of the threat posed by social media scammers. The actress' image was being used as part of a bogus campaign on social media platforms, and Sandra engaged with the police in a bid to tackle the problem.

She told 'People' magazine, "My family's safety, as well as the innocent people being taken advantage of, is my deep concern, and there will be a time when I will comment more, but for now our focus is helping law enforcement handle this matter".

"Please be aware that I do not participate in any form of social media. Any accounts pretending to be me or anyone associated with me are fake accounts and have been created for financial gain or to exploit people around me", she added.
Colombo, April 19 : Ceylon Workers Congress President Senthil Thondaman said on Sunday that it was an honour to meet Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and expressed gratitude to Indian government for their continuous support to Sri Lanka during the Cyclone Ditwah.

Speaking to IANS after meeting the Vice President, Thondaman said that he requested him to grant Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status to Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka.

"It was an honour to welcome the Indian Vice President, His Excellency C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji. It has been very nice. We had a very good, cordial discussion with him on behalf of the Ceylon Workers' Congress. And we first of all thank the Indian government for their continuous assistance during the Ditwah Cyclone in Sri Lanka, where they contributed $450 million, which was the largest contribution to Sri Lanka. And also the Indian High Commission team, His Excellency Santosh Jha, for implementing it (the aid programme) in the shortest and quickest time. And also, I appreciated him for his continuous support even during the Covid (pandemic) and other times."

"India has always been a neighbour. Under the Neighbourhood First policy, they've always been remarkably supportive of Sri Lanka. So, I thanked him, and I also requested him on the OCI... we have more than one million Indian origin Tamils living here, where it's been more than 200 years we have resettled here, but we don't have the OCI status... So I'm expecting a positive announcement from the Indian government," he added.

Tamil Progressive Alliance Party leader Mano Ganeshan termed his discussion with Vice President Radhakrishnan "conducive." He demanded simplifying the status for the status of Overseas Citizen of India for Indian-origin people in Sri Lanka. He also mentioned that indigenous Tamils are living in the northeastern province of Sri Lanka.

Speaking to IANS, Ganeshan said, "We met Excellency Radhakrishnan, Vice President of India, and we had a very glad, very conducive discussion with him. And it is, I believe, a follow-up of our discussion we had with His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, who was visiting Sri Lanka in recent times, and also with the External Affairs Minister, (S.) Jaishankar. So, we have been raising many issues. The important issue had been simplifying the status, provision of the status of Overseas Citizen of India to Sri Lankan Indian origins, and people of Indian origin. So, he has brought some good news... also, we have been seeking support for the education, health, and housing sectors in Sri Lanka. I told the Vice President, and elsewhere also, because we, the people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka, speak Tamil. There are people of Indian origin living elsewhere also in the globe, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, everywhere. But our situation is very peculiar, because, though we have been living here for the last 200 years, as other people of Indian origin elsewhere in the globe, there have been indigenous Tamils living in the northeastern province of Sri Lanka. They have been living here for thousands of years. So, they are fighting for self-determination."

"So, Tamil nationalism has a crisis, conflict with the Sinhala nationalism in this country. So, we are caught in between, since we also speak Tamil. Therefore, our citizenship is not full yet. So, India should consider us, our situation, very calmly, very deeply, very stoutly. It is very, very important. So, now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, as I believe so, as a leader of the TPA, the prime party of Indian origin community in Sri Lanka, I believe so, I trust that Prime Minister Modi is really capable of understanding our issues. He has understood, and he has been sending External Affairs Minister Jaishankar here, and the Vice President is here today. So, they are coming with good news, a good plan. So, we are confident now. Therefore, there are about 1.5 million Indian origin community population in Sri Lanka. The whole 1.5 million should be able to obtain OCI status. Obviously, they are willing. It is optional, no? They are willing. We are Sri Lankans first, but we consider Sri Lanka as our motherland, and we consider India as our fatherland, confidently," he added.

Vice President Radhakrishnan is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka. This visit underscores the growing momentum in diplomatic engagement between the neighbours.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President held a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya
Bhubaneswar, April 19 : Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday said that Odisha has emerged as an ideal destination for the global semiconductor industry, due to its resources, talent, infrastructure, and determination.

CM Majhi was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of India's first Advanced 3D Glass substrate packaging facility Unit by 3D Glass Solutions at Infovally in Bhubaneswar.

The foundation stone was laid in the presence of Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha Electronics and Information Technology (E&IT) Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling.

It is worth noting that the project, being set up with an investment of around Rs 2,000 crore, will produce 70,000 glass panels annually, along with 50 million assembled units and 13,200 advanced 3DHI modules.

The project is expected to generate around 2,500 employment opportunities in the state.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister further added that the day is not only significant for Odisha but also a memorable moment in India's journey towards technological leadership. He noted that this project will establish the country's first advanced 3D glass substrate packaging facility. Components manufactured at this unit will play a crucial role in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and defence electronics.

"Odisha has emerged as an ideal destination for the global semiconductor industry. We have resources, talent, infrastructure, and the determination. If you want to build the technologies of the futureOdisha is your destination," stated Majhi.

Highlighting why Odisha has become a preferred investment destination, the Chief Minister cited five key factors that include abundant natural resources, world-class infrastructure, a skilled youth workforce, strong connectivity, and responsive governance.

Appealing to the youths of Odisha, Majhi said, "This is a golden opportunity for students and engineers of Odisha. They should move ahead in this emerging sector by acquiring the required skills in the sector."

During his address, the Chief Minister informed that investments exceeding Rs 10,000 crore have already been made in Odisha's semiconductor sector. Companies such as RIR Power Electronics and SiCSem have already established their units in the state.

He emphasised that Odisha would play a key role in the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and would serve as a launchpad for eastern India.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Vaishnaw stated that efforts will continue to industrialise Odisha and develop it into an IT hub in the coming years.

"Today's foundation laying will bring widespread prosperity to the state. The glass substrate packaging unit of 3D Glass Solutions will produce the first-of-its-kind products in the country, and this technology is expected to define the future of the semiconductor industry," he said.
New Delhi, April 19 : A team of around a dozen Indian officials is set to arrive in Washington, D.C. on April 20 for a three-day round of negotiations with US authorities, marking the next step in discussions on the first phase of a proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA).

The talks, scheduled from April 20 to 22, will be led by Indiaas chief negotiator Darpan Jain, an additional secretary in the Department of Commerce, along with representatives from the customs department and the external affairs ministry.

The upcoming discussions come against the backdrop of significant shifts in the US tariff regime.

Following a ruling by the US Supreme Court against sweeping tariffs imposed earlier by President Donald Trump under emergency powers, the US administration introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff on imports from all countries for 150 days beginning February 24.

This move has altered the trade landscape and is expected to prompt both sides to revisit the framework of the agreement, which was initially released on February 7.

Officials indicated that the revised tariff environment could necessitate a recalibration of the proposed deal.

Earlier, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from a high of 50 per cent, including the removal of certain punitive duties linked to Indiaas purchase of Russian oil.

However, the imposition of a uniform 10 per cent tariff across trading partners has diluted Indiaas relative advantage under the earlier framework, making renegotiation essential.

In addition to tariff-related concerns, the talks are also expected to address two ongoing unilateral investigations launched by the US Trade Representative under Section 301 of US trade law.

India has strongly rejected the allegations in these probes, arguing that they lack sufficient justification and has called for their termination.

The original framework of the BTA included Indiaas proposal to significantly reduce or eliminate tariffs on a wide range of US industrial goods and agricultural products.

These included items such as soybean oil, tree nuts, fruits, wine and spirits, and animal feed products.

India had also expressed its intent to increase imports from the US, targeting purchases worth $500 billion over five years across sectors such as energy, aviation, technology, precious metals, and coking coal.
Islamabad, April 19 : The Pakistan government has denied granting visas to 92 Indian devotees, according to an article published in Khalsa Vox news portal.

The article said that initially the nation had issued visas to the devotees for the period from April 10 to 19, during which pilgrims celebrated Khalsa Sajna Diwas at Gurdwara Panja Sahib.

Though these 92 devotees do not use "Singh" or "Kaur" in their names, all of them have firm faith in all the ten Sikh gurus, Sudeep Singh writes in Khalsa Vox.

In his article, Singh blamed the "flawed policies" of the Pakistan government for hurting the religious sentiments of the Indian families by depriving them of the opportunity.

He said that the incident should be a lesson for those who still aspire for friendship with Pakistan.

"It appears that Pakistan's intention is to distance people of the Hindu community from Gurdwaras. Under what seems like a calculated move, Sehajdhari devotees have been denied visas," Singh wrote for Khalsa Vox .

The article noted that a large number of non-Sikh families exist not only in India but also in Pakistan's Sindh province and across the world, who bow before the Guru Granth Sahib and conduct all their family ceremonies in accordance with Sikh traditions.

Singh, in his editorial, cautioned that Pakistan would make a "grave mistake" for harbouring such intentions.

He called the relationship between Hindu and Sikh families as "deeply intertwined, like flesh and nails", which cannot be separated.

Pakistan's previous approval of visas from April 10 to 19, was against India's schedule.

The Indian government, based on recommendations from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Punjab government, had announced sending the 'Jatha' from April 12 to 21, Singh wrote in Khalsa Vox.

He highlighted Pakistan's pretense to be "sympathetic" towards the Sikh community, even as its Intelligence agency ISI is allegedly involved in sending drugs and weapons into India and also providing financial support to pro-Khalistan elements based abroad.

Earlier, investigators in India's Punjab had busted a drug smuggling module, with alleged links to Pakistan.

The police had reportedly recovered 64.62 kg of heroin from the accused.

Meanwhile, Sudeep Singh mentioned in the article that according to Paramjit Singh Chandok, Advisor on Foreign Affairs to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, the issue has been raised with the Pakistan government.

Singh underlined the faith that the Sindhi community, in particular, has on Sikh institutions.

He also mentioned about a "growing concern" that in accordance with such policies, the Pakistan government might, in the future, even restrict their entry into gurdwaras.
Kolkata, April 19 : In a candid moment during his Assembly election campaign in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made an unexpected stop in Jhargram for a quick bite of the popular Bengali street snack -- the 'jhalmuri'.

The Prime Minister was seen enjoying jhalmuri at a local stall, interacting with residents, sharing smiles, and at the same time creating a memorable moment of outreach beyond the campaign trail. He also shared jhalmuri with children and women who were present at the shop.

Locals were caught by surprise after PM Modi paid a visit to the shop during his trip to Jhargram to address a public meeting.

Later, the Prime Minister shared moments from his visit to the snack shop on his social media handles.

"In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, I had some delicious jhalmuri in Jhargram," PM Modi wrote on his X handle. After spending some time there, PM Modi left the area.

PM Modi was in West Bengal on Sunday to address four election rallies across the state, which will go to polls in the first phase of the Assembly elections on April 23.

The owner of the shop, Vikram Shaw, told a section of media persons that he was very happy to have served jhalmuri to the Prime Minister.

"He stopped his car and came out of his vehicle. He told me to make jhalmuri. I asked him whether he wanted it to be spicy; he told me to make it spicy. He told me that the jhalmuri was delicious. He also shared it with children and their parents. He asked them their names. I am very happy to meet him," said Shaw.

Jhalmuri is a popular, spicy and crunchy street food snack from West Bengal. It is typically made by tossing puffed rice (muri) with chopped onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, roasted peanuts, chickpeas, chillies, and a distinctive dressing of raw mustard oil, lemon juice, and Bengali bhaja moshla (roasted spice blend).
Gandhinagar, April 19 : Any force that opposes women has never survived and will not survive in the future, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Sunday, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accused the Congress and its allies of blocking the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Amendment Bill' in Parliament.

Addressing a press conference at the State BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Patel said the proposed legislation was "not merely a law but a decisive step towards women's empowerment" through 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

"On one hand Congress speaks about women's welfare, while on the other it attempts to block their legal empowerment. Its double standards have been exposed," he added.

Union Minister and Maharashtra MP Raksha Khadse said the Bill, introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was aimed at ensuring dignity and rights for women but was obstructed in the Lok Sabha.

"The 'anti-women' Congress has betrayed the women of the nation and the future of youth by blocking the passage of the bill," she said, adding that despite a clear provision in the 2023 legislation that it would come into force only after delimitation, "Congress politicised the issue and did injustice to women".

Khadse said the measure was intended for "all women and youth of the country, not any one party", and noted that delimitation would have led to an increase in Lok Sabha seats.

"Women of the country had hoped that Congress and its allies would support this bill," she said.

Referring to criticism from Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, she added, "The allegation that the Prime Minister is doing politics in the name of women is baseless."

She also cited Union government initiatives to underline what she described as efforts towards women's empowerment.

"Since 2014, work has been done not just on paper but on the ground, including providing gas connections to more than 11 crore households under Ujjwala Yojana and strengthening women through self-help groups," Khadse said.

The Union Minister also added, "Even in local body elections, several states have provided up to 50 per cent reservation to women, yet the historic path to increase their representation in Parliament and Assemblies has been blocked."

state BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma said the developments in Parliament were "not just the defeat of a bill but a direct attack on the dreams of 70 crore mothers, sisters and daughters".

He added, "Promoting women within their own families while blocking ordinary women reflects the mindset of Congress", and claimed that the party feared that women from non-political backgrounds would enter Parliament and challenge "dynastic politics".

Vishwakarma also alleged that opposition parties had deliberately prevented the bill from securing the required majority.

"Empowering women is not a matter of power for us, but of equality and rights," he said, adding that women across the country were observing these developments.

The BJP leaders said the legislation was intended to ensure representation for women across political lines and was linked to the delimitation process to ensure balanced constituencies.
New Delhi, April 19 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday launched a broadside against the Congress and its allies for defeating the women's reservation bill, expressing remorse over the parties 'celebrating' women's loss as a victory of democracy.

Addressing a press conference at the Delhi BJP office, CM Gupta said, "Is it possible for democracy to win with the loss of women? For decades, they have used women as instruments for garnering votes, but when the time came to give them their due, they stepped back."

Endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's view that the Congress is an anti-reform party, Gupta said, "The Congress has always opposed change. They raised questions on 'Operation Sindoor', they opposed digital payments and GST, CAA, Article 370 and one nation, one poll and others."

She said for over three decades, the women's quota bill has been blocked  either torn or not passed in Parliament.

The Chief Minister said the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' amendment bill was brought by the government with the hope that the Opposition would back it the way it did in 2023.

"But the Opposition exposed their anti-women face by raising objections. They raised technical issues like north-south disparities, implementing the quota at the current strength of Lok Sabha or quota within quota," she said.

She said the Opposition parties backed the linking of women's quota with delimitation in 2023, but changed their stance and opposed the process now.

"The amendment bill was the best possible opportunity to give women a reservation without denying the male politicians their seats in the Lok Sabha," she said.

She also accused the Congress of appeasement and hit out at the party for opposing triple talaq and even challenging the Shah Bano case to reverse the Muslim women-friendly court verdict on their maintenance.

Chief Minister Gupta said the Opposition parties are afraid that if women's reservation is implemented, then women from common families will challenge their women leaders, who have been occupying certain dynastic seats of these parties.
New Delhi, April 19 : South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day state visit.

Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra received President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung at the airport in New Delhi.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the South Korean President's visit to India marks an "important milestone" in advancing the Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

"A very warm welcome to H.E. President Lee Jae Myung of Republic of Korea as he arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. This is President Leeas first visit to India," Jaiswal posted on X.

"President Lee was received by Shri Harsh Malhotra, MoS, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The visit marks an important milestone in advancing the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership," he added.

President Lee is on a three-day visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on Monday and the two leaders will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including shipbuilding, trade, investments, AI, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies, people-to-people connect and cultural exchanges. They will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, the MEA stated.

PM Modi is also scheduled to host a lunch in honour of the visiting leader.

President Lee will also hold talks with President Droupadi Murmu. President Murmu will also host a banquet in his honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will call on the South Korean President.

President Lee will also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on Monday.

"India and the ROK share a multifaceted partnership rooted in ancient civilizational ties and shared values of democracy and rule of law. The visit of President Lee underscores the shared aspiration of both countries to further strengthen the existing areas of cooperation while expanding collaboration in new and emerging areas of mutual interest," the MEA stated.

Last November, PM Modi held a meeting with the South Korean President on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. This was their second meeting in 2025, following their talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada.

"Had a wonderful meeting with President Mr Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea during the Johannesburg G20 Summit. This is our second meeting this year, indicative of the strong momentum in our Special Strategic Partnership. We exchanged perspectives to further deepen our economic and investment linkages," PM Modi posted on X following the meeting.
Washington, April 19, : US President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Iran of breaching a ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz and warned of sweeping retaliation, even as he announced fresh negotiations in Pakistan aimed at ending the conflict.

"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz  A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!" Trump wrote on social media. He added that "many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom."

The President said American representatives would travel to Islamabad for talks. "My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan  They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations," he said.

The US and Iran are vying to take control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Two tankers attempting to exit the Strait turned back, with traffic in the waterway "practically at a standstill," The Wall Street Journal reported, citing vessel-tracking data provider Kpler.

Trump reiterated that Iran's actions had undermined efforts to stabilise the region, while also claiming that US measures had already effectively halted traffic. "Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it," he said.

He argued that the closure was hurting Tehran more than Washington. "They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing," Trump said.

At the same time, he issued a stark warning of military action if diplomacy fails. "We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!" he said.

Trump added: "They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done."

Iranian officials, however, signalled that negotiations remain far from resolution. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, said talks had made some progress but "we are far from a final agreement," according to The Wall Street Journal.

Separately, The New York Times reported that the Strait of Hormuz remained "largely closed" as vessels hesitated to transit amid uncertainty and threats from Tehran.

Meanwhile, US officials are preparing for tougher enforcement measures at sea, including plans to board Iran-linked oil tankers in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas supplies, according to The New York Times.
(Bloomberg) -- Aevex Corp. shares rose 35% after the maker of military drones raised $320 million in a US initial public offering.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Shares of the Madison Dearborn Partners-backed firm closed at $26.93 each on Friday in New York, versus an IPO price of $20 apiece. The offering of 16 million shares was marketed in a range of $18 to $21 each.

The trading gives Aevex a market value of $3 billion based on the outstanding shares listed in its filings.

A substantial portion of the companys revenue last year came from Ukraine, the filing shows. Its two main unmanned systems programs, called Phoenix Ghost and EUCOM AOR Deep Strike, have delivered or committed to deliver more than 9,300 systems, representing more than $1.2 billion in contract value through the end of this year.

The activities we have seen in Ukraine and more recently in Iran just validate the fact that autonomous unmanned systems are going to be a part of modern warfare now and long into the future, Roger Wells, the companys chief executive officer, said in a Bloomberg Television interview Friday.

As defense budgets shift toward advanced technologies, Aevex is well positioned to benefit from rising investor focus on the sector. The Trump administration is expected to prioritize newer contractors as it expands and modernizes its missile stockpile, directing funding toward companies that can produce weapons faster, at lower cost, and with more advanced technology while easing supply chain constraints exposed by recent conflicts.

Aevex is validated by the fact that the US governments fiscal year 2027 budget proposal came in over $50 billion for the same types of systems that the company brings to the market, Wells said.

We are able to execute in highly contested environments where GPS is denied, communications are jammed and electronic warfare is pervasive with technologically sophisticated adversaries, he said.

The company had a net loss of $16.9 million on revenue of $432.9 million for the year ended Dec. 31, compared with net income of $78.5 on revenue of $392.2 million a year earlier, according to its filings.

Madison Dearborn and CoVant Management acquired the company in a $450 million leveraged buyout in 2020, according to data provider PitchBook. Madison Dearborn was expected to hold 79% of the shareholder voting power after the IPO, the filings show.
Colombo, April 19 : Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan met Sri Lanka's Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa on Sunday, with discussions held on further deepening bilateral ties.

"During the ongoing visit of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to Sri Lanka, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa called on Vice President in Colombo. Both leaders discussed further strengthening India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Premadasa said that he and visiting Indian leader held talks on enhancing trade, deepening economic ties and unlocking practical opportunities that can benefit the two nations.

"Warmly welcome Vice President, C. P. Radhakrishnan, to Sri Lanka on his first bilateral visit. We held constructive discussions on expanding trade, deepening economic ties, and unlocking practical opportunities that can benefit both our nations. Sri Lanka and India are not just neighbours we are true partners with shared history, shared challenges, and a shared future. It is time we move with greater ambition, intent and trust, to reap the benefits of this partnership for all citizens," Premadasa posted on X.

Vice President Radhakrishnan is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka. This visit underscores the growing momentum in diplomatic engagement between the neighbours.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

During his meeting with Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, Vice President Radhakrishnan reaffirmed India's commitment to the Neighbourhood policy and further strengthening cooperation for the benefit of the two nations.

"Vice President Shri. C.P. Radhakrishnan called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today. They held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India -Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history and cultural values," Jaiswal said on X.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Amarasuriya, the two leaders, recalling the shared civilisational heritage between the two countries, discussed the importance of further strengthening the bilateral ties, including people-to-people bonds," he added.

Upon his arrival in Sri Lanka on Sunday, Vice President was accorded a warm welcome in Colombo with a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

The visit is notable as the first bilateral official trip by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. This visit will focus on strengthening the civilisational and people-to-people ties between the two nations.

His engagements also included interactions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community and Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island nation.

The Vice President will also address members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Colombo. At the event, he will virtually hand over houses to beneficiaries from Tamil communities constructed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. With this phase, the total number of houses built for Tamil communities will reach 50,000, while an additional 10,000 houses are currently being developed under the initiative's fourth phase.

On Monday, VP Radhakrishnan will travel to Nuwara Eliya, where he will visit project sites and interact with the local Tamil community. Indian-origin Tamilians form a significant segment of Sri Lanka's population, numbering around 1.6 million, or approximately 7 per cent.
New Delhi, April 19 : In a significant shift towards alternative fuel adoption, more than 39,000 consumers have surrendered their LPG connections and switched to piped natural gas (PNG), the government said on Sunday.

The transition, facilitated through the MYPNGD.in platform, is part of a broader strategy to ensure long-term energy stability and reduce dependence on LPG.

The government said it has been working closely with States and Union Territories under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000 to monitor supplies and curb malpractices such as hoarding and black marketing.

States have been asked to take the lead in ensuring smooth availability of petrol, diesel and LPG, with the Centre reiterating this responsibility through multiple communications and review meetings.

To strengthen coordination, regular meetings have been held with state authorities, including high-level reviews chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in early April.

During these discussions, states were directed to issue daily press briefings, counter misinformation on social media, and intensify enforcement drives through district administrations in coordination with oil marketing companies.

As part of enforcement measures, more than 2,400 raids were conducted across the country on April 18 alone to check hoarding and black marketing of LPG.

Public sector oil marketing companies have also stepped up vigilance, imposing penalties on 264 LPG distributorships and suspending 67 others for violations.

At the same time, the government is accelerating the expansion of city gas distribution networks to boost PNG adoption.

Since March 2026, over 4.85 lakh PNG connections have been activated, while more than 5.43 lakh new consumers have registered for connections.

To further encourage the shift, city gas companies such as Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), GAIL Gas and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) are offering incentives for both domestic and commercial users.

The Centre has also linked additional commercial LPG allocation to states with their progress in PNG expansion, with 22 States and Union Territories already benefiting from this reform-driven approach.

Fast-track approvals for city gas infrastructure are being implemented under a special three-month accelerated framework introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

On the supply front, the government has ensured uninterrupted availability of natural gas for key sectors, with 100 per cent supply being maintained for domestic PNG and CNG transport.

Gas allocation to fertiliser plants has been increased to around 95 per cent of their average consumption, while supply to other industrial and commercial sectors has been enhanced up to 80 per cent.
Cape Town, April 19 : In recent weeks, India has sent 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to drought-stricken Malawi, 1,000 metric tonnes to Burkina Faso, and 500 metric tonnes plus relief supplies, including tents, hygiene kits, and medicines to Mozambique, but will its sole efforts solve the issue, an article in a South African news outlet asked.

Indiaas shipments alone cannot reverse the food crisis in Africa, the South Africa-based Independent Online (IOL) said in a report.

However, India's gesture showcases solidarity in a world obsessed with taking sides and not ready to examine the real cost of conflict on the most vulnerable, it stressed.

"The US-Iran war has exposed, once again, the fundamental asymmetry of global power. As major state actors openly fight for influence over energy corridors, regional hegemony and military positioning, the African continent is being left to manage its most severe food crisis in a generation," the IOL said.

While the US, Iran, Russia, and China have been trying to take advantage in West Asia, Africa is facing a humanitarian crisis, a crisis directly exacerbated by the wars that have sparked instability from the Niger Delta to the Great Lakes. African countries, especially those reliant on food and fuel imports, are disproportionately exposed. A joint report from the African Development Bank, African Union Commission, and United Nations agencies has stated that the war could reduce the GDP of Africa by 0.2 percentage points if it extends for over six months.

Projections signal a 21 per cent rise in food-insecure populations in West and Central Africa, and a 17 per cent increase in East and Southern Africa. This is a man-made catastrophe designed by a global order that prioritises the strategic interests of a few over the survival of many. As of April 2026, over 87 million people in East and Southern Africa are facing acute hunger, while around 52 million are projected to be food insecure by mid-year in West and Central Africa. As many as 31 nations in Africa now need external food assistance to avoid catastrophe, as per the report.

"These figures, drawn from the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, describe a humanitarian emergency of staggering scale. Yet the crisis is unfolding largely beyond the gaze of global news cameras, eclipsed by the intensifying conflict in the Middle East that has consumed diplomatic bandwidth and media attention alike. The numbers tell a story of systemic failure. In Zambia, a brutal El Nino cycle has obliterated 70 per cent of the national maize harvest; in neighbouring Zimbabwe, the figure stands at 80 per cent. Five countries, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, have declared national disasters over the drought and resultant hunger," the IOL report said.

The Malawi government faces a funding shortfall for its national relief programme, leaving millions of families dependent on the uncertain goodwill of the international community. Crops have been destroyed, and livestock have been decimated due to four consecutive failed rainy seasons in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, according to a report in IOL.

The World Food Programme has warned of acatastrophic shortfalls" in Somalia, which immediately needs $95 million to conduct operations between March and August 2026. The situation is grim in West and Central Africa. Burkina Faso has initiated a national humanitarian response plan worth over 769 billion CFA francs targeting 4.4 million vulnerable people, a huge amount for a nation where many households are now managing to live on a single meal per day.

"It is in this crisis that India's humanitarian aid has arrived on the continent. In recent weeks, New Delhi has dispatched 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to drought-stricken Malawi, 1,000 metric tonnes to Burkina Faso, and 500 metric tonnes plus relief supplies, including tents, hygiene kits, and medicines to Mozambique. The shipments themselves are modest in scale relative to the continentas immense needs. But their significance lies not in volume but in timing and framing," the IOL report said.

"Indiaas Ministry of External Affairs has explicitly characterised the aid as 'humanitarian assistance' aimed at 'supporting food security for vulnerable communities and internally displaced persons', describing the gesture as reflecting 'Indiaas continued commitment as a reliable developmental and HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) partner to Global South countries.' Indiaas rice and food shipments alone cannot reverse a continent-wide food crisis. But they represent something increasingly rare in contemporary geopolitics: a gesture of solidarity in a world obsessed with taking sides and unwilling to analyse the real cost of conflict on the most vulnerable. In a year when 31 African nations require external food assistance and global attention is fixed elsewhere, that may be the most valuable export New Delhi can offer," it added.
Imphal, April 19 : Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh said on Sunday that additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) would be deployed in the state after the conclusion of elections in West Bengal and other poll-bound states.

Around 88 companies of central forces had earlier been withdrawn from Manipur for Assembly election duties in states, including West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu, the Home Minister told the media.

He added that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had planned to withdraw more forces from the state, but following the intervention of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the MHA assured that no further companies would be withdrawn.

The Home Minister appealed to civil society organisations and the public to reconsider and withdraw the proposed five-day total shutdown in the interest of public welfare and the normal functioning of the state.

Various organisations have called for a five-day shutdown in Ukhrul district and adjoining areas to protest the killing of two Naga civilians in the district on Saturday by suspected Kuki militants.

Highlighting the hardships caused by prolonged shutdowns, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said daily wage earners, farmers, and students were among the worst affected, particularly as educational institutions remain closed.

He assured that the state government is taking public concerns seriously and actively addressing the issues raised.

The Home Minister said that most demands put forward by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) related to the April 7 Tronglaobi incident (in Bishnupur district) in which two children were killed, have been accepted by the government.

Following a meeting with Mangal Singh, father of the two children who died in the incident, the state government offered Singh a suitable government job equivalent to his current position in the Border Security Force (BSF).

Additionally, the state government has offered employment to the children's mother, a trained nurse, in the state health services.

However, the family requested time to consider the proposals.

Subsequently, the decision to call a five-day shutdown was taken, which the Manipur Home Minister described as "highly unfortunate".

Referring to Saturday's incident at T. Kasom village in Ukhrul district, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh termed it "highly unfortunate" and reiterated that the state government has strongly condemned the act.

He told that the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) had submitted a memorandum outlining various demands.

These were discussed during a joint meeting with TNL leaders and Naga MLAs, led by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho.

The Home Minister assured that compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased as per government norms, and medical assistance will be extended to those injured in the incident.

Calling for cooperation, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh urged all communities to maintain peace and resolve issues through dialogue.

He reaffirmed the state government's commitment to addressing public grievances.

Providing details on security deployment, the State Home Minister said that out of 272 CAPF companies earlier stationed in Manipur, 88 companies have already been withdrawn for election duties, with another 15 initially scheduled for redeployment, making a total of 103.

However, following the Chief Minister's request, 184 CAPF companies will remain in the state to ensure security and stability.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh also announced the induction of advanced security equipment, including mine-protected Vehicles and bullet-proof vehicles, to enhance public safety.

"We appeal to all communities to cooperate with the government. Our commitment is to protect the life and property of every citizen. Following a period of President's Rule, this government, though new in its tenure, is dedicated to restoring peace and normalcy. We request the public to give us some time," the State Home Minister said.
Guwahati, April 19 : The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment towards ensuring passenger safety and security through a series of successful operations conducted across different locations, officials said on Sunday.

NFRas Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that a team from Crime Prevention and Detection Squad (CPDS), Rangiya, apprehended one individual, onboard a train on April 13, for involvement in theft of passenger belongings. A stolen mobile phone valued at approximately Rs 40,000 was recovered from his possession. The accused, along with the recovered item, was handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP), Rangiya, where a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered.

In another operation on April 14, the RPF, Katihar (East) personnel apprehended one person at Katihar Railway Station. A stolen mobile phone worth approximately Rs 15,000 was recovered. The accused was subsequently handed over to GRP, Katihar, which registered a case under the appropriate sections of BNS.

On the same day, RPF personnel from CPDS, Guwahati, successfully apprehended one person at Guwahati Railway Station. The team recovered a stolen mobile phone valued at approximately Rs 15,000. The accused was handed over to GRP, Guwahati, where a case has been registered under relevant provisions of BNS.

Sharma said that, further continuing its crackdown, on April 16, RPF Post, New Bongaigaon, apprehended one person at Bongaigaon Railway Station with a stolen mobile phone worth approximately Rs 10,000. The accused was handed over to GRP, New Bongaigaon, for further legal proceedings.

These successful operations highlight the alertness and prompt action of RPF personnel in safeguarding passengers and their belongings. The NFR reiterates its commitment to maintaining a safe and secure travel environment and urges passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to railway authorities, the CPRO said.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the Northeastern states as well as in seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar.
Shimla, April 18 : Days after the salary cuts of the lawmakers, comprising Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, now 30 per cent pay cut has been made temporarily for senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta and the Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tiwari, on Sunday.

The Congress government has taken a major decision to address financial crisis in the hill state.

The state government has issued an order temporarily suspending a portion of the salaries of senior officials for the next six months.

According to a notification issued by Finance Department Secretary Ashish Singhmar, a monthly amount of Rs 1.10 lakh of the Chief Secretary's salary, Rs 1.05 lakh of the Additional Chief Secretary's salary, Rs 97,500 of the Principal Secretary's and Rs 60,000 of the Secretary's salary will be suspended for six months.

This arrangement will be effective from the April salary, which will be received in May.

According to the state government notification, this step has been taken to address the state's weak economic situation and strengthen financial management.

The state government has also directed boards, corporations, universities and grant-receiving institutions to implement this decision.

The state government has clarified that this move is temporary and part of a collective effort to improve the state's financial situation.

According to a notification, department heads promoted from the Himachal Administrative Service rank receive a monthly salary of Rs 3.10 lakh, while IAS officers receive a salary of around Rs 3 lakh.

The state government has nearly 60 department heads, and around 200 officers will be affected by the temporary salary freeze.

Their salaries will likely be cut by nearly Rs 1 crore per month.

Senior officers like Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary have also been included among the officers whose salaries have been cut by 30 per cent.
Patna, April 19 : In a bid to impress upon the people of Supaul district in Bihar, on the momentous possibility of solar power in lighting up and powering homes, a grand solar fair is being organised on Monday.

The one-day solar fair, beginning at 10 a.m., will be organised at the Electricity Office premises located at Degree College Chowk, where the people as well as beneficiaries will be informed about the benefits of solar energy and also sensitised on how to utilise the renewable energy to unburden them with inflated electricity bills.

"The primary objective of the fair is to raise public awareness regarding solar energy and to provide information on measures to help citizens find relief from electricity bills," said an official.

According to departmental officials, consumers can significantly reduce their electricity expenses by installing solar panels on their rooftops.

With enough subsidies being offered by the government, installing a solar system has become more affordable and accessible compared to the past.

A team of experts from the solar energy sector will be present at the fair to educate the people in simple terms on why one should subscribe to it and also motivate others to join the scheme. People will also be briefed about the steps for availing the subsidies under the scheme, and also the procedure of application of licence.

A key highlight of the event is that interested consumers will be able to apply for the scheme on the spot, right at the fair. Information regarding the necessary documents required for the application will also be provided at the venue.

The Electricity Department has appealed to all electricity consumers in the district to participate in this Solar Fair in large numbers and to take advantage of this scheme.

The initiative not only helps reduce people's electricity bills but also leads to a substantial shift in promoting clean and green energy.

Electricity department official Alok Kumar Ranjan, speaking to the news agency IANS, said, "A Solar Fair is being organised to promote the 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.' At this fair, consumers will be made aware of the scheme. Detailed information regarding subsidies will be provided, and consumers will also have the opportunity to apply on the spot."
Quetta, April 19 : Officials of the National Highway Authority (NHA) have stated that Pakistan's Balochistan province was given only Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 million from the national annual revenue pool of PKR 130 billion despite the province having over 4,000 kilometres of national highways, local media reported.

NHA officials made the statement during an interactive session with office-bearers and members of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where National Highway Authority General Manager Agha Inayatullah and Director Maintenance Raheel Ahmed Baloch informed participants on revenue, maintenance, and development initiatives, Pakistan-based Daily Independent reported.

They mentioned that approximately PKR 15 billion is needed annually for maintaining highways in Balochistan, a cost currently being met through revenue generated from other provinces. The NHA officials stressed that the support from the local business community is crucial for improving revenue generation and road infrastructure, stressing that nearly 95 per cent of business activity in Balochistan depends on highways managed by the authority, Daily Independent reported.

During the event, representatives of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce welcomed the NHA's development initiatives. However, they voiced concern over the dismantling of already operational roads, stating that such practices put additional burden on the people due to the geographical challenges of Balochistan. They demanded the timely completion of delayed projects and expressed concerns about road safety and the quality of infrastructure.

Earlier in March, a report claimed that the pattern of resource extraction from Pakistan's Balochistan without meaningful participation of local residents will continue to fuel resentment, militancy, and human rights crisis. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area and holds a disproportionate share of Pakistanas minerals, energy reserves, and strategic coastal infrastructure. However, the local residents of Balochistan have not been included in decisiona'making, benefits, and basic development.

"In recent years, the expansion of extractive projects, securitya'driven megaa'infrastructure schemes, and a heavya'handed state response to dissent have intensified grievances over land, livelihoods, and political autonomy, pushing questions of indigenous rights to the centre of Balochistanas crisis," a report in the European Times detailed.

Balochistan possesses roughly half of Pakistanas discovered mineral wealth, with more than 50 minerals identified and around 39 actively exploited under more than 1,600 licences. Balochistan hosts about 90 per cent of Pakistanas copper reserves, substantial gold, sizable coal deposits, chromite, barite, marble, and other industrial minerals.

Despite having resources, the people of Balochistan remain among the poorest in Pakistan. The Baloch Board of Investment and Trade stated that Balochistan produces key minerals like coal, copper, and leada'zinc barite; however, revenue and employment from these sectors largely flow to federal structures and private or foreign companies instead of local residents.

International and local human rights groups have repeatedly said that major projects, including the Chinaa'Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and porta'city development in Gwadar, focus on national and foreign strategic interests over the consent of local residents and equitable benefita'sharing.

"The connection between resource exploitation and indigenous rights is visible in Gwadar. The port city, heavily promoted as a CPEC flagship, lacks basic services such as clean drinking water and reliable electricity despite hosting multia'billiona'dollar infrastructure. Local fishermen, who have relied on the sea for generations, report harassment, restrictions on access to traditional fishing grounds, and loss of livelihoods as commercial and securitya'related projects expand. Simultaneously, Baloch activists and civil society documentation highlight that jobs and contracts around Gwadar and other CPEC corridors are often awarded to nona'Baloch workers and firms, reinforcing perceptions of economic exclusion and extraction," the report in European Times stated.
Kolkata, April 19 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday arrested Kolkata-based businessman Joy Kamdar after conducting raids against him and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged criminal-linked syndicate.

Kamdar, Managing Director of Sun Enterprise, was taken into custody after four hours of questioning, an ED official said.

He was detained from his residence in the Behala area of south Kolkata during raids early in the morning and brought to the ED office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake. After questioning, he was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He will be produced before a court, where the agency will seek his custody for detailed questioning, officials said.

However, on the way to a hospital for a medical check-up, the businessman fell ill. He was then taken to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for further check-up. It is not clear whether he would be produced before a court on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, ED officials conducted a raid at his residence in Behala. The ED also raided two premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas in the Ballygunge area of south Kolkata as part of the same operation.

"ED is raiding Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas's residence in Ballygunge and Sun Enterprise Managing Director Joy Kamdar's residence in Behala. So far, two premises belonging to Shantanu Sinha Biswas and one belonging to Joy Kamdar have been raided in connection with Sona Pappu and Joy Kamdar in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002," said a statement issued by the ED earlier in the day.

Locals claimed that Kamdar is mainly involved in the business of promoting (real estate development) and construction. His house had been searched earlier as well. His name came up during the search of Sona Pappu's house earlier this month. The central investigation agency had recovered cash from his house in Behala. The ED had also summoned the businessman twice for questioning. However, he avoided appearing on both occasions. After that, ED officials went to his house again on Sunday.

The raid was conducted to investigate a money laundering case against Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion, an ED official said.

Sona Pappu allegedly runs syndicates in the south Kolkata areas of Kasba and Ballygunge and has several FIRs against him over various allegations. He is also a prime accused in the Golpark clashes that took place in February. He is at present absconding and from time to time has gone live on social media to target the central investigation agency for allegedly harassing his family members.

Officials have alleged that Pappu used to extort crores of rupees from construction companies, which would be rerouted to influential people. The ED conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.

The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore, apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh, and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.

The investigation stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against Pappu for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, and Arms Act violations.

The accused, including Pappu, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in West Bengal and generated funds illegally through syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9. The ED had issued summons to Pappu, but he has failed to appear before its officials so far.
Jakarta, April 19 : A Chinese undersea monitoring system was found near an island in a strategically important strait between Indonesia's Lombok and Bali last week, media reports said.

The 3.7 metre-long device was found by fishermen north of Gili Trawangan island in the Lombok Strait and taken by the Indonesian navy to the Mataram naval base on Lombok for further investigation, according to Australia's ABC news.

Indonesian Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Tunggul said that a thorough examination of the device will be conducted by the navy to identify the device, including its purpose, stored data, and its origin.

Defence analyst H.I. Sutton identified the device as a Deep-Sea Real-Time Transmission Mooring System developed by the Chinese 710 Research Institute.

According to Sutton, the institute focuses on underwater attack and defence.

He added that the device monitors things like current, depth, temperature and "sound and target information".

The report highlighted that "the 710 Research Institute was part of the Chinese state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), now merged into the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)".

The device has the letters CSIC and the logo of the corporation.

The system is designed to send data home via a communication buoy deployed to the surface while the device itself is moored to an anchor on the sea floor.

While contending that they could have military use, Sutton said that "it is likely concerning to Indonesian authorities that a Chinese sensor buoy has been found in the area".

A spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "it did not have specific details on the matter", but mentioned that "China had always conducted marine scientific research activities and used related equipment in accordance with international law".

"Based on international practice, it is not unusual for marine research equipment to drift into the territorial waters of other countries due to malfunctions or other reasons," the spokesperson told ABC. "There is no need for excessive interpretation or suspicion."

The system's array of sensors combined with its ability to communicate back home made it "undersea warfare capable", said Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and an expert in maritime security and naval affairs.

He also highlighted that submarines could be detected by the device's acoustic sensor, but the signal would need to be sent for processing to a shore station.

"This is often the problem that we face when it comes to these sorts of dual-use technologies that concern marine scientific research and data collection."

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the discovery of the device was concerning and suggested a "level of aggressive behaviour" by China in anticipation of military activity in the future.
In an unorthodox move, Elon Musk is making banks involved in SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) sign up for Grok, X's AI chatbot.

Banks are not the only ones the SpaceX CEO feels have to pay-to-play. His demand encompasses law firms, auditors and other advisors working on the IPO, according to the New York Times (1).

Must Read

Some banks have already agreed to spend tens of millions on Grok, with the chatbot already being integrated into their IT systems. The banks' names, however, were not disclosed in the paperwork filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this month.

SpaceX is slated to be the largest IPO in history, at an approximate $1.75 trillion (2). With fewer companies (3) making it to public offering, Wall Street is eager for this landmark deal.

As of February 2026, Grok became a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX.

Into the great wide open

So, why is Musk making Grok mandatory for banks? He wants to generate recurring enterprise contracts for xAI. This would shift revenue from individual users to big business.

Ahmad Shadid, co-founder of the confidential development environment, ORGN, shared his concerns with Moneywise.

"These banks stand to benefit immensely from one of the biggest IPOs in history, with potential underwriting fees estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, so Elon finds himself in a position of power and unusual leverage where he can easily demand something in return," he said. "What could benefit him more than direct revenue into a company that is not profitable?"

The Grok subscription injects revenue directly into xAI, which is now part of the consolidated SpaceX group. Income from subscriptions and enterprise contracts from big banks is a huge boost.

Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Start investing with just $10

"These banks are potentially thinking that the money they will get from underwriting fees and the IPO's prestige will probably dwarf the tens of millions they will pay annually for Grok subscriptions," Shadid added.

He added that large and long-term enterprise contracts are strong signals to investors, making fundraising and IPO easier.
New Delhi, April 19 : "By relying on Pakistan to mediate the most acute national security concerns, US President Donald Trump essentially does the equivalent of hiring a child molester to teach in a kindergarten," Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, wrote in The Sunday Guardian about Islamabad's mediation in the West Asia conflict.

In a post on social media platform X on April 9, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had described Israel as "evil", "a curse for humanity", a "cancerous state", and pronounced Tel Aviv guilty of "genocide".

Shortly after, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt praised Pakistan for being "incredible mediators" in the US-Iran conflict. Moreover, the US also appreciated "their friendship", he noted in the article.

Referring to Pakistan, Leavitt had reportedly in her X post said, "They are the only mediator in this negotiation."

A few days back, President Trump said, "The Field Marshal (Asim Munir) has been great. The Prime Minister (Shehbaz Sharif) has been really great in Pakistan so I might go" to a signing ceremony for any deal.

According to Rubin, Trump's comments reflect "diplomatic fantasy".

He called Pakistan's role in the US-Iran negotiation as 'malevolent'.

Rubin reminds that Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan had helped Iran establish its nuclear programme and what is noteworthy is the fact that now Washington is apparently rewarding Islamabad "for the mess their own corruption created".

Rubin wrote in The Sunday Guardian that Pakistan is "one of the most anti-American countries" in the world.

Referring to the 2011 killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden by US Navy SEALs, he said in his editorial that the then Pakistani government officially labelled the raid as "deep disappointment".

Rubin mentioned in his article that more than half of the calcium ammonium nitrate used by the Taliban to make improvised explosive devices originated in "just two Pakistani factories".

He stressed that Pakistan's support for the Taliban insurgency resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans.

He feels the reliance on Pakistan will not only be humiliation for the United States, but also "danger of an arrogant and empowered Islamabad that believes Trump has given it broad immunity to continue its terror".
New Delhi, April 19 : Amid rising tensions in West Asia, around 10.97 lakh passengers have travelled from the region to India since February 28, while Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima is slated to arrive safely in Mumbai on April 22, the government said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of seafarers and continuity of shipping operations.

While Desh Garimaas safe passage offered reassurance, two other Indian vessels -- VLCC Samnar Herad and bulk carrier Jag Arnav -- reported a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours.

Both ships returned to the Persian Gulf following the incident, and no injuries were reported among crew members.

In response, India conveyed its concerns to Iran, with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi being called in for a meeting with the Foreign Secretary.

During the discussion, India stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and urged Iranian authorities to facilitate the movement of India-bound vessels through the Strait at the earliest.

On the aviation front, flight operations continue from countries where airspace remains open, although services are being managed based on safety and operational considerations.

In the UAE, around 110 flights are expected to operate between the UAE and India on Sunday, including limited non-scheduled commercial services.

Flights are also continuing from airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman, while Qatar Airways is likely to operate 10 to 11 flights to India with partial reopening of Qatari airspace.

Iranas airspace remains partially open for cargo and chartered flights, and the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the evacuation and movement of 2,378 Indian nationals via Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. This includes over 1,000 Indian students and several hundred fishermen.
Jerusalem, April 19 : The Israeli military said Sunday it killed Hezbollah's Bint Jbeil commander, Ali Rida Abbas, along with more than 150 members of the group in "pre-ceasefire strikes" during the 24 hours before a US-mediated truce took effect, media reports said.

The military said Abbas was the fourth Hezbollah commander for the Bint Jbeil area killed by Israel since October 2023. It described Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon as a key frontline area for Hezbollah attacks, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Abbas was considered one of the most senior officials in Hezbollah's armed wing and had survived Israeli strikes on the group's military leadership in 2024. There was no confirmation from Hezbollah.

Separately, the military said one soldier was killed, and nine others wounded "during combat" in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops remain deployed despite the ceasefire.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported the reservist was killed when a military bulldozer struck an explosive device planted by Hezbollah. The death marked the second Israeli military fatality since a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT).

Since six weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in early March 2026 amid the Iran war, 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to military figures.

The military said it has killed about 1,800 Hezbollah members and struck 300 military infrastructure sites, including launchers, command centres, and weapons storage facilities across several areas in Lebanon.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli military said it "will continue to act to remove any threat to Israeli civilians and its soldiers."

While lifting the wartime restriction on Lebanon, Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said that disarming Hezbollah, whether through military or political means, remains a central objective of the campaign.

a"IANS

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New Delhi, April 19 : Minister for Delhi Social Welfare and MLA from Bawana Assembly Constituency, Ravinder Indraj Singh, inaugurated the newly constructed Phirni Road in Dariyapur Kalan, developed at an approximate cost of Rs 5.73 crore, an official said on Sunday.

The road connects the Dada Maldev Talab side to Nangal Mor Road in Bawana, thereby significantly enhancing connectivity in the region.

This important project has been completed through the dedicated efforts of the minister under the Delhi Village Development Board (DVDB) fund, with key support from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the official said in a statement.

Pending for nearly 20 years, the project has now been successfully completed, marking a major achievement for local residents, the minister said.

Despite consistent public demand over the years, no substantial action had been taken earlier. With the completion of this road, development in Dariyapur and nearby areas has gained new momentum, he said.

The construction of this Phirni Road will provide thousands of residents with smooth, safe and faster connectivity. It will reduce travel time and improve traffic management in the area. The project represents a significant step towards strengthening basic infrastructure in rural parts of Delhi, he added.

Local residents said that villages such as Dariyapur and Sultanpur Dabas had long remained on the margins of development. However, with ongoing works in the region, visible improvements are now being experienced, leading to a better quality of life.

Ravinder Indraj Singh said that the development of village and rural areas remains a matter of special concern and priority.

He emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring the availability of all essential facilities in rural regions and will continue to undertake more development works in the future.

He stated that strong infrastructure and improved connectivity form the foundation of progress for any region.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mumbai, April 19 : Many netizens expressed their disappointment as it seemed like senior actor Sudhir Pandey was being ignored during an event of the forthcoming sequel "Ginny Wedss Sunny" starring Avinash Tiwary and Medha Shankr.

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Many netizens expressed their disappointment as it seemed like senior actor Sudhir PandeyA was being ignored during an event of the forthcoming sequel "Ginny Wedss Sunny" starring Avinash Tiwary and Medha Shankr.

Avinash has now asked Sudhir Pandey to explain what transpired that day in his own words.

Recently, a video surfaced on social media where it looked like Sudhir Pandey was being ignored during an event of "Ginny Wedss Sunny 2". While Avinash was busy interacting with the media, everyone else seemed to be ignoring Sudhir Pandey. He was even seen walking off the stage in the back.

On Saturday, Sudhir Panday dropped a video expressing his gratitude for all the love he has been receiving since the trailer launch of "Ginny Wedss Sunny 2".

In the comment section, one of the netizens said, "@avinashtiwary15 bro why didnat u stopped him when he left the stage ? I mean Iam ur fan but didnat expected this from u tho".

Reacting to this, Avinash requested Sudhir Panday to explain the matter.

He wrote, "Kaisi baat kar di aapne @sudhirpande22 Sir ab aap hi bataiye :)"

Sudhir Panday revealed that he had reached the event from the middle of a shoot and hence had to get back.

"@avinashtiwary15 It was nothing Avinasha I had come to attend the launch of OUR filmas trailer from the middle of my shoot so there was an urgency to get back to my shoot a," explained the senior actor.

Meanwhile, Sudhir Panday was heard saying in his post, "Since a few days, after the launch of the trailer for Gimme with Sunny 2 on Insta, I have received so many good reactions, so many good wishes from people, so many good views. The more I read those views, a new energy was born within me. Thank you, I would like to thank all my fans from the bottom of my heart. And to be honest, I don't have the words to thank you in these words."

--IANS

pm/
Tehran, April 19 : Iran's Civil Aviation Authority said Sunday that it has approved the resumption of international flights from Mashhad International Airport in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi from Monday.

The authority, in a statement published on its official website, said the decision follows an earlier announcement that eastern Iranian airspace has been reopened to international flights, Xinhua news agency reported.

It added that some airports resumed operations at 7 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Saturday.

The agency said no permission has yet been granted for the sale of tickets for domestic flights.

Iran shut down its airspace after joint US and Israeli strikes started on February 28, halting civilian aviation operations across the country.

The aviation authority said that flight services at Iranian airports will gradually return to normal once technical and operational preparations are completed by military and civilian authorities.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran had indicated that there had been "progress" in its ongoing discussion with the United States, though it stressed that a final agreement is still a long way off, with the current two-week ceasefire due to expire on April 22, according to local media reports.

Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran is pursuing diplomatic efforts while remaining prepared for military confrontation, stressing that Iran does not trust its adversaries and stands ready to respond to further escalation.

In a televised address on Saturday, he said the latest conflict began during negotiations, which he accused the United States of undermining through "deception," according to Tasnim News Agency.

Qalibaf described Iran as having achieved success both "on the ground and in diplomacy," while warning that tensions could escalate at any moment. He said negotiations are continuing alongside what he described as full preparedness for any necessary action.

He also reiterated Iran's distrust of its opponents and said Tehran remains committed to pursuing a lasting peace, while seeking guarantees that would prevent a return to cycles of war, ceasefire and renewed conflict.

IANS

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Srinagar, April 19 : Two US tourists were detained on Sunday for questioning after a satellite phone was recovered from their luggage at the Srinagar international airport.

Police said that two American tourists were detained for questioning after a satellite phone was recovered from them at the Srinagar international airport.

"A restricted communication device was detected during their luggage screening after which they were detained for questioning," police said.

Police said that satellite phones are regulated communication devices in India, and specific permission is required for the use of these communication devices in the country.

Officials said the detection of the device triggered security protocols, leading to immediate detention and questioning of the individuals to verify compliance with legal requirements governing such equipment.

Under Indian regulations, possession and use of satellite phones require prior authorisation, and non-declaration at entry points can invite legal scrutiny.

Police have initiated verification of the individuals' travel history and purpose of visit to determine whether procedural norms were followed. Further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiry.

Using satellite phones (sat phones) in India without prior permission is illegal and strictly regulated under the Indian Telegraph Act, with unauthorised possession leading to seizure and potential arrest.

Foreigners and citizens must obtain a licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and declare all devices to customs upon arrival.

Use of foreign satellite services like Thuraya and Iridium is strictly banned, and carrying them can lead to severe penalties.

Only satellite phones permitted by the government, such as those provided by BSNL (which launched authorised satellite-to-device services), are allowed.

They are used in remote trekking and mountaineering areas lacking cell connectivity, but require specific clearances for each trip.

Unauthorised possession of a satellite phone in India can lead to, and in some cases, result in arrest and heavy fines.

If you are permitted to carry a device, it must be declared to customs on arrival. It is strongly advised not to bring Thuraya/Iridium phones into India, as per the rules.
Surat, April 19 : Additional special train services operated by Indian Railways helped ease congestion at the Udhna railway station in Gujarat on Sunday, hours after videos of overcrowding and disorder at the station circulated widely.

According to Railway officials, more than 23,000 passengers were facilitated through regular and special train services during the day, with two additional special trains scheduled to depart at 21:40 hrs and 23:30 hrs to further decongest the station area.

The measures were implemented amid an unusually high passenger turnout during the summer travel season.

The official note followed reports of severe overcrowding earlier in the day at Udhna, one of the key railheads serving Surat, where thousands of passengers -- many of them migrant workers -- gathered to return to their hometowns in northern and eastern states.

Long queues stretching up to two to three kilometres were reported outside the station, with some passengers waiting for several hours in high temperatures.

Railway and police personnel were deployed to manage the crowd, and officials acknowledged that the demand had exceeded expectations.

In some instances, passengers were seen attempting to bypass queues, prompting intervention by security personnel to restore order.

Against this backdrop, Western Railway said coordinated arrangements at Udhna ensured smoother movement later in the day.

Controlled boarding, systematic queue management and continuous monitoring were credited with improving the situation compared with earlier conditions.

Passengers at the station expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.

One passenger travelling to Banaras said railway staff were "actively managing queues and helping passengers board the train in an orderly manner, ensuring safety and timely departure".

Another passenger travelling from Valsad to Mau said that "additional stopovers and better coordination" had helped him reach his destination more conveniently.

Officials said that effective crowd and queue management, deployment of ground staff and provision of essential amenities contributed to a safer and more comfortable travel experience during the peak rush period.

Passengers also noted improvements in seating arrangements and reduced overcrowding due to the availability of special trains.

The surge in passenger numbers has been attributed to a combination of summer holidays, seasonal migration and increased demand for travel to states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Indian Railways said it continues to assess demand and operate additional services where required.

Authorities have also advised passengers to rely only on official communication channels and avoid misinformation, particularly in light of viral content circulating earlier on Sunday.

The Railways added that continuous monitoring and coordinated efforts would remain in place to ensure safe, efficient and smooth passenger operations during the summer travel season.
Mumbai, April 19 : The South Indian Film Producers Association has issued a strong statement on the ongoing issue with regards to the films' OTT window.

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) The South Indian Film Producers Association has issued a strong statement on the ongoing issue with regards to the filmsa OTT window.

On Sunday, the body took to their X, formerly Twitter, and shared a letter addressed to the producers, exhibitors and distributors.

The South Indian Film Producers Association (SIFPA), which comprises of the Telugu Film Producers Council, Active Telugu Film Producers Guild, Tamil Film Producers Council, Tamil Film Active Producers Association, and Kerala Film Producers Association, convened at Hyderabad to address the OTT window mandates proposed by various Theatre Owners and Exhibitors Associations.

The body said that it has formed a Steering Committee.comprising of all language industry Associations, which will meet all the stakeholders from other sectors to decide on the steps to be taken for the betterment of the industry regularly

The SIFPA today specifically addressed the recent embargoes issued by certain associations In Tamil Nadu that restrict the release of films unless Producers sign an 8-week OTT window commitment. Following a unanimous discussion among representatives of the Associations from all the film industries of South India, we have reached the following decisions

The body has rejected unilateralism to ensure fair play for all sectors including producers, distributors, and exhibitors. No association can take unilateral decisions that impact the entire ecosystem without a formal consultative process.

It has also called for stakeholder consultation seeking a joint meeting with all stakeholders on May 10, 2026 in Hyderabad.

Producer members are advised to continue their current production and release processes and are specifically instructed not to issue any individual letters of commitment regarding OTT window to any Association, until a collective decision is reached among all of us in South India.
New Delhi, April 19 : NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said on Sunday that "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" is not merely a campaign but an emotional and social commitment that inspires us to honour our mothers while fulfilling our responsibilities towards nature.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said on Sunday that "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" is not merely a campaign but an emotional and social commitment that inspires us to honour our mothers while fulfilling our responsibilities towards nature.

Leading the plantation drive in Palika Niwas Housing Complex in Lodhi Colony, Chahal said that the campaign, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is receiving widespread public support across New Delhi.

The programme commenced with Chahal offering prayers and seeking the blessings of Lord Balaji at the Balaji Temple, Palika Niwas. On this auspicious occasion, he also received the warm blessings of the temple's chief priest.

On the occasion, RWA President Kaluram Rana, along with other members Arvind Sharma and Shyamsunder Gautam, as well as several distinguished citizens and local residents, actively participated in the plantation drive and contributed significantly towards making the campaign a people's movement.

The active involvement of women further strengthened and inspired the initiative, said a statement.

Addressing the gathering after the plantation drive, Chahal said, "'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' is not merely a campaign, but an emotional and social commitment that inspires us to honour our mothers while fulfilling our responsibilities towards nature."

He added that the initiative plays an important role in promoting environmental awareness, a sense of responsibility, and ensuring a greener legacy for future generations.

Chahal further stated that the initiative is being carried forward with continuity and full commitment, and plantation drives are being organised not only every Sunday but also on other days without any interruption, ensuring that the momentum of the campaign is maintained.

He emphasised that this sustained effort by NDMC is instrumental in transforming the initiative into a strong people's movement.

He said that NDMC has prepared a special "Sunday Green Calendar" for the entire year, under which plantation drives are being conducted every Sunday at different locations.

He highlighted that NDMC's Horticulture, Health, Civil, and Sanitation departments are working in coordination to ensure scientific plantation, proper maintenance, and long-term sustainability of the saplings.

Chahal stated that NDMC's initiative aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of "Viksit Bharat @2047", which prioritises a clean environment, sustainable urban development, and active public participation.

Through initiatives like #EkPedMaaKeNaam_OnSunday, NDMC is not only expanding green cover but also strengthening a collective sense of environmental responsibility among citizens, he said.

During the programme, RWA representatives also raised certain maintenance-related issues of the area, upon which Chahal directed the officials to ensure their resolution in a time-bound manner.
With a market capitalization of $37.9 billion, WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) is a Milwaukee-based regulated utility holding company that provides electricity and natural gas to millions of customers across the U.S. Midwest, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. Its operations are primarily conducted through subsidiaries like We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, and Peoples Gas, which manage localized energy distribution and infrastructure.

The company is expected to release its Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts anticipate WEC Energy to generate earnings of $2.37 per share, up 4.4% from $2.27 per share reported in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed the Streets bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters.

More News from Barchart

For the current year, analysts forecast the company to report an EPS of $5.60, indicating a 6.3% increase from $5.27 reported in fiscal 2025. Also, its EPS is expected to grow 7.5% year over year to $6.02 in fiscal 2027.

www.barchart.com

Shares of WEC have surged 6.9% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming both the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 34.9% rise and the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLU) 18.7% return during the same time frame.

www.barchart.com

WEC shares rose 1.4% on Apr. 16 after the company announced a quarterly dividend of 95.25 cents per share, payable on June 1, 2026, to shareholders on record as of May 14, 2026. The declaration underscores WECs strong income profile, marking its 335th consecutive quarterly dividend payment, a streak that dates back to 1942.

Analysts consensus view on WEC is moderately bullish, with a Moderate Buy rating overall. Among 19 analysts covering the stock, eight suggest a Strong Buy, 10 give a Hold, and the remaining one analyst gives a Strong Sell. Its mean price target of $123.56 represents a 6.6% potential upside to current price levels.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah 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
Kohima, April 19 : Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Sunday highlighted the rich cultural diversity of Northeast India, describing the region as a vibrant mosaic of traditions.

He noted that it is home to numerous tribes, each with its own distinct languages, attire, music, dance forms and customs, reflecting the unique heritage of the region.

The Nagaland Governor, who is also the Chairman of the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), attended the first edition of the "Uttar-Poorv Janjatiya Basant Utsav" -- North East Tribal Spring Festival -- held at NEZCC Shilpgram in Guwahati on Sunday.

Emphasising the need to preserve indigenous knowledge and cultural identity in a rapidly changing world, Yadav urged the youth to take pride in their roots while embracing progress and innovation.

Expressing confidence in the future of the festival, the Governor said that the Northeast, with its vibrant tribal traditions, stands as a shining example of how culture can serve as a powerful force for unity and development. He conveyed his hope that the festival will grow in scale and significance in the years to come.

The Governor expressed his delight at being part of the inaugural edition of the festival, which celebrates the vibrant spirit, rich traditions and cultural diversity of the Northeastern region.

He extended his salutations to the distinguished guests of honour, including Guru Jatin Goswami, Guru Drona Bhuyan, Guru Sanyusang S. Pongener, and Pokhila Lekthepi, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to art, culture and society.

Highlighting the significance of the festival, the Governor stated that the event symbolises not only the arrival of spring but also the blossoming of unity in diversity.

Yadav said that such festivals provide an important platform to showcase and celebrate this rich heritage.

Speaking on the essence of Basant Utsav, the Governor remarked that it represents renewal, hope and harmony, and reflects the deep connection between nature and culture upheld by tribal communities.

He observed that their sustainable lifestyles, respect for nature and strong community values offer valuable lessons for contemporary society.

The Governor commended the efforts of the organisers led by Dr Prashanna Gogoi, Director, NEZCC, for conceptualising the festival, which promotes cultural exchange and strengthens national integration.

He stated that bringing together artists and communities from across the region fosters mutual respect and understanding.

The Governor also congratulated the organisers and extended his best wishes for the grand success of the festival, expressing hope that it will continue to flourish as a symbol of cultural pride, harmony and shared heritage.
Bhubaneswar, April 19 : Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday underlined the rapid transformation of railway infrastructure in Odisha, emphasising the Union government's strong focus on connectivity and capacity enhancement across the state.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of India's first advanced 3D glass semiconductor packaging unit in Bhubaneswar, Union Minister Vaishnaw told that railway projects worth more than Rs 90,000 crore are currently under execution in Odisha, marking an unprecedented expansion of the rail network.

He highlighted that this scale of investment reflects the Centre's commitment to strengthening both passenger and freight infrastructure in Odisha.

During his visit to Odisha, the Union Minister also inspected the ongoing redevelopment of Bhubaneswar Railway Station, underscoring the importance of timely completion and high-quality execution.

Union Minister Vaishnaw interacted with passengers, who expressed satisfaction with the transformation underway and appreciated the airport like facilities being developed at the station.

He directed officials to expedite the pace of work and ensure timely completion.

Reviewing the proposed elevated corridor on the eastern side, Union Minister Vaishnaw instructed that all pending issues be resolved on priority to facilitate its early completion.

He emphasised that the upgraded station will deliver enhanced passenger comfort with modern amenities, reflecting Indian Railways' commitment to transforming railway stations into world-class infrastructure hubs aligned with evolving passenger expectations.

In his address, Union Minister Vaishnaw said that Odisha has received a record railway budget allocation of Rs 10,928 crore, significantly higher than past allocations, enabling faster execution of projects.

He also noted that 59 railway stations are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, aimed at transforming railway stations into modern, passenger-friendly hubs with enhanced amenities.

Highlighting connectivity goals, Union Minister Vaishnaw said that all 30 districts of Odisha are being brought under rail connectivity through planned interventions.

He emphasised that this will ensure inclusive development and better integration of remote and interior regions with the mainstream rail network.

The Union Minister also pointed to major infrastructure initiatives such as the proposed four-line coastal rail corridor from Balasore to Berhampur, which will significantly enhance capacity along the coastal belt.

He noted that such projects will improve regional mobility, reduce congestion, and boost economic activity across Odisha.

Union Minister Vaishnaw concluded that these transformative railway initiatives will strengthen regional connectivity, support economic growth, and integrate Odisha more closely with national freight and passenger networks.

The ongoing investments and policy push are set to position Odisha as a key beneficiary of India's expanding railway infrastructure.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Imphal, April 19 : Normal life across the Imphal valley districts of Manipur was severely disrupted on Sunday following the imposition of a five-day shutdown called to protest the killing of two minor children by suspected Kuki militants.

The shutdown was called by Meira Paibis, a most influential women's body, and various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The shutdown, which came into effect from midnight on Saturday, led to a near-complete halt in daily activities across the Imphal valley, comprising five to six districts. In capital Imphal, roads wore a deserted look, with only a very few vehicles seen plying.

Members of the Meira Paibis and groups of women protesters were visible at several locations, blocking roads and restricting vehicular movement. Passenger and commercial vehicles remained off the roads, while shops, business establishments and roadside vendors stayed shut, contributing to the widespread disruption.

The agitation by the Meira Paibis and other CSOs is being spearheaded in connection with demands for justice over the killing of two minors in an incident that occurred in Bishnupur district on April 7, which has triggered widespread public outrage.

Earlier, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the Bishnupur incident had stated that it had reached an understanding with the state government, which reportedly assured that the demands placed by the JAC would be fulfilled.

However, in a fresh development on Saturday, the JAC introduced a new condition, setting a deadline of April 25 for the arrest of those responsible for the killings.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC), an apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, has separately called a three-day total shutdown across all Naga-inhabited areas of the state from midnight on Sunday.

The shutdown has been announced to protest the killing of two Naga civilians, including a retired Indian Army personnel, in Ukhrul district on Saturday, allegedly by suspected Kuki militants. In a statement, the UNC said that in view of the "outrageous aggression over their homeland and the cold-blooded killing of two Naga civilians," it convened a joint emergency meeting with various organisations on Sunday at Tahamzam in Senapati district.

The statement added that the total shutdown would be observed from midnight on Sunday until midnight of April 23 across all Naga areas, both to mourn the deaths and as a collective expression of condemnation. During this period, all public and private institutions, business establishments and vehicular movement will remain suspended, except for emergency services.

The UNC also announced that a candlelight vigil would be held on the evening of April 23 in all Naga-inhabited district headquarters as well as in Imphal to honour the departed and reaffirm a commitment to peace with dignity.

"During the three days of mourning, the Nagas in the state of Manipur shall suspend all social and economic ties with the Kukis in accordance with Naga customary practice," the UNC statement said.

In another development, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of the Meitei community, has accused security forces of using excessive force against protesters and sharply criticised Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh over what it described as a failure to contain the escalating violence in the state.

COCOMI spokesperson Shanta Nahakpam said that recent incidents, including the killing of two minors earlier this month and subsequent civilian deaths in fresh attacks, have triggered widespread public anger and sustained agitation across the Imphal valley.

He added that despite the deteriorating situation, the Chief Minister has continued district visits projecting progress in the peace process, a claim the organisation has rejected.
New Delhi, April 19 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a plea filed by the Muslim side challenging the survey order issued by the Chandousi court for the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a plea filed by the Muslim side challenging the survey order issued by the Chandousi court for the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradeshas Sambhal district.

As per the cause list published on the website of the apex court, a Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe will take up the matter for hearing on April 20.

The petition has been moved by the mosque committee opposing the survey exercise ordered in connection with the ongoing dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid, which Hindu plaintiffs claim was built over a pre-existing temple structure.

Earlier, the top court had directed both Hindu and Muslim parties to maintain the status quo at the disputed site while hearing a special leave petition (SLP) challenging the Allahabad High Courtas refusal to stay the survey proceedings.

The dispute pertains to claims by the Hindu side that the mosque stands on the ruins of an ancient Harihar temple allegedly demolished during the Mughal period.

On the other hand, the mosque committee has contested the maintainability of the suit and raised objections over the manner in which the survey was ordered.

The controversy intensified after the Allahabad High Court upheld the Chandousi trial courtas direction permitting a survey of the site, finding no legal infirmity in the order.

The Allahabad High Court had also dismissed the mosque committeeas plea seeking a stay on the proceedings. Subsequently, the mosque committee approached the apex court, arguing that the survey order was passed without granting it an adequate opportunity to be heard and in violation of established legal principles.

The matter assumes significance in light of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which bars the conversion of places of worship and mandates the maintenance of their religious character as it existed on August 15, 1947.

However, the Hindu side contends that the dispute lies beyond the scope of the Act, referring to provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The Shahi Jama Masjid dispute had earlier witnessed tensions on the ground, with violence erupting in Sambhal during a court-ordered survey, which had resulted in multiple fatalities.

In its submissions before the court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has stated that the Shahi Jama Masjid is a centrally protected monument and cannot be treated as a place of public worship in the absence of supporting records.
Business

Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society Highlights Key Details of Etiwanda Heights Development

The Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society (RCPS) is working to provide residents with clear, accessible information regarding the Etiwanda Heights development, one of the largest proposed housing projects in the city.

Located in the northern portion of Rancho Cucamonga, the Etiwanda Heights project was originally approved for approximately 3,000 residential units. Current plans now reflect a proposed expansion to as many as 6,300 homes, significantly increasing the scope of the development.

As the project has evolved, residents throughout Rancho Cucamonga have begun asking questions about how this level of growth may affect surrounding communities, infrastructure, and long-term city planning.

Discussions involving the Rancho Cucamonga City Council continue to address development across the city, including the Etiwanda Heights area. City leadership, including Mayor Dennis Michael and District 2 Council Member Kristine Scott, are part of the broader conversation around growth and infrastructure.

The Etiwanda Heights project borders established neighborhoods and open space, prompting residents to seek more information about potential impacts such as traffic flow, road capacity, water resources, and public safety services.

Chris Little, President of the Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society, emphasized the importance of keeping the conversation focused on facts and clarity.

Our focus is on helping residents understand the full scope of the Etiwanda Heights project, said Little. When people have a clear picture of what is being proposed, they can better engage in discussions and ask meaningful questions about how it may affect their community.

The Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society continues to encourage residents to stay informed, review available project materials, and participate in public discussions related to development in Rancho Cucamonga.

As the city continues to grow, community awareness and engagement remain key factors in shaping informed conversations about projects like Etiwanda Heights. More information is available by clicking Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society
FINRA Wants Broke Kids to Blow Up Their Margin Accounts Faster - Moby

THE GIST

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is about to let day traders in the U.S. go all in.

Bloomberg reports that a group of retail brokerages met to draft a proposal that could potentially lower the entry for day trading from $25,000 to just $2,000.

Before you quit your job and throw on "The Wolf of Wall Street," the $25,000 pattern day trading (PDT) rule is still in force, but could be up for a vote by FINRAs board as soon as this fall.

For publicly traded companies like Robinhood (HOOD), Webull (BULL), and Coinbase, which recently announced U.S.listed stocks and ETFs, this is a win. More traders. More volume. More fees. With the bar for entry set to decrease by some 92%, the most glaring risk is obviously that these would-be retail day traders will lose what little they already have.

WHAT HAPPENED

The $25,000 rule was ironically established as a never again rule after the dot-com crash. In the late 90s, discount and online brokers, better known as day trading shops, made trading stocks cheap and easy. The house set the rules, riskbased controls, and lowered their fees while federal agencies looked the other way. Naturally, a bunch of small accounts got in and then promptly got blown up in the dot-com bust. This left many traders broke, as well as leaving these brokers with credit risk, due to the amount of margin most of these small traders were using.

If all of this is looking eerily familiar, it is. Robinhood charges zero commissions and makes its money on payment for order flow. Coinbase offers almost 24-hours-a-day, 5-days-a-week trading with zero commission on thousands of U.S. stocks and ETFs, with $1 fractional shares and instant funding, all in the same app where you can also trade volatile, monstrous things like meme-coins on Solana and other blockchains. They also both offer prediction markets.

After the dust of the crash had settled, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in February 2001 green-lit new rules that defined a pattern day trader as someone making 4-plus day trades in 5 business days. They were also required to hold at least $25,000 equity in a margin account. If you tripped 4 day trades in 5 days, they dropped the hammer. Robinhood, for example, lets its users know if they are about to do that fourth day trade. Be it from the Dow recently hitting $50,000 or the S&P 500 hitting a new all-time high on Wednesday, FINRA and the SEC apparently feel that it is no longer necessary.

WHY IT MATTERS

With a reported 50 brokerages and individual investors already submitting comments to FINRA, this proposal, if its OKd, could lead to a repeat of the past. Instead of the dot-com bust, though, it could be private credit, over-inflated AI stocks (see Allbirds), Bitcoin and crypto, or worse, all three, leaving a whole generation of young, unemployed, and financially desperate newbies to trade and gamble their way to life-changing wealth. According to the New York Fed, recentgrad unemployment in late 2025 (ages ~2227 with a BA+) sat around 5.65.8%. This is the highest its been since 2013. Bloomberg reported in November 2025 that Americans with four-year college degrees now comprise a record 25% of total unemployment, with more than 1.9 million Americans aged 25 and over with at least a bachelors degree who were unemployed in September.
This article was first published 23 years ago

With Julie Ganapathy, Balu Mahendra proves even after five years he has not lost his touc h as director.

Julie Ganapathy frightens, scares and shocks you. Yet, you love the film.

Julie (Saritha) is an obese, disturbed woman who possibly murdered her husband in a fit of jealousy. Her story is incomplete without Thenkasi Balakumaran (Jayaram), a popular writer of Tamil television serials.

Balu, a Malayalee born and brought up in Thenkasi, writes the much loved serial Manga. Julie identifies strongly with its protagonist Manga and that makes her crazy about the serial and its writer.

She calls herself Balu's number one and most loyal fan.

Balu goes to a hotel at a hill-station, as has been his practice, to write the final 25 episodes of the serial. On his way back, he meets with a near fatal accident and is rescued by Julie Ganapathy.

The narrative gains momentum from this point on. Julie couldn't have asked for more. She has her favourite writer in her home with broken legs, a sprained arm and a bruised body. She nurses him with the demented intensity of the jealous and maniacal lover that she is.

While the outside world searches for the writer, Julie keeps him to herself without anyone -- not even the watchman of her bungalow -- aware of his presence. As her mood swings, Julie's behaviour changes. Compassionate and loving one moment, violently obsessive the next. She threatens and abuses Balu one moment but becomes caring and gentle the next.

Balu is practically locked inside the room. In the beginning, Julie makes him believe that the town is cut off due to heavy rain. Slowly, he realises he has become a prisoner. As he gets desperate to escape, she becomes the mad jailer.

She also turns violent when she gets to read the last episodes of the serial where the protagonist dies. After burning the pages, she asks him to turn the story into a happy ending. Every day, every moment in Balu's life becomes a struggle from then on.

To the director's credit, he sustains the viewers' interest with just two characters in a room. They are not the typical hero and heroine -- Balu, the hero, is confined to the bed. Julie, the heroine, is an unattractive woman.

If it were not for Saritha who makes a grand comeback with this film and Jayaram, Julie Ganapathy would not have been half as powerful. Julie trudges the thin line between sanity and insanity. Very rarely do you see restrained performances from artistes portraying eccentric characters on the Indian screen. Not once does Saritha cross the line. Her mood swings are so convincing and abrupt that she keeps you on tenterhooks.

It is a difficult role for Jayaram -- as a bed-ridden patient, he has to emote with his eyes alone. He turns in a very good performance. Like the audience, he is frightened, scared and helpless in front of the unpredictable Julie.

Ramya Krishnan as Balu's wife doesn't have to do much so also the other characters. The film is not without flaws. One can't understand why Balu Mahendra decided to insert a seductive number by Ramya Krishnan in the film. She is portrayed as Balu's very ordinary wife but she pops up as sultry 'Ramya Krishnan' in a sequence totally out of place and unwarranted. It only takes your mind off the intense narrative.

Another sore point is the jarring and loud background score. Indian films still cannot accept that sometimes silence can be far more effective than loud noises.

Except for these discordant notes, Julie Ganapathy is a film worth watching.
This article was first published 16 years ago

O ne of the fast vanishing qualities in human beings living in the rural India these days is simplicity, what with rapid urbanisation and materialistic approach towards life.

Everyone is becoming an island of sorts, protecting his own space without caring for others. What happens if in such a scenario a person lands oozing rustic charm and keeping the old values intact? That is what the National award-winning director Jayaraj tries to explore in his latest Malayalam film Loud Speaker starring Mammootty and Sashi Kumar (former Chairman of Asianet and the director of Kaya Tharan).

The idea may be old but the way he presents it floors us. The charm of human bonding and staying one with nature without malice towards anyone forms the crux of this film.

Mike Philipose (Mammootty), a person with a loud booming voice from the rustic hinterland lands up in an apartment building (a symbolic representation of city life) as an organ donor for an old expatriate scientist Menon (Shashi Kumar). How he changes the lifestyle of the inhabitants of that building forms the story.

The story is laced with humour. So, the underlying pathos of the situation is glazed over by it. The area of conflict initially is the sophistication of city dwellers versus the uncouth ways of a rural migrant. The tug of war between the two forms the major chunk of the first half of the film. The building being the microcosm wealthy society: a kindergarten attending children with unbridled mischief to college students who do not have the courtesy or respect, a man who tends to a dog while the wife works in a foreign country, a warring middle-aged couple who even cook their food separately, old aged parents abandoned after they have distributed their wealth among their children.

These characters are portrayed well. Jagathy Sreekumar, the secretary of the housing society is the husband who tends to a German shepherd. Kalapana and Bheeman Raghu are the warring couple and Janardhanan is the anguished father, who has filed a case against his children to get back his property.

And, to fill the place of a leading lady, Gracy Singh is cast as a nurse attending to Menon at his home.

The first half moves breezily with mirth. The second half becomes sentimentally heavy as Menon revisits his childhood, the place from where he had run away as teenager for having an illicit affair with his cousin. This part of the narrative is a bit too slow but, considering the overall package, this can be termed as a minor glitch, and can be overlooked.

Mammootty excels in handling both humour and seriousness with elan. His performance in this film proves that he does not require to do kiddie stuff to establish his comic credentials. Here he shoulders the responsibility of entertaining a section of the audience while keeping the serious undercurrent intact.

Shashi Kumar as the vulnerable but sure-footed man needing urgent kidney transplant is believable. His voice modulation is soft but firm in contrast with that of Mike, showing off his exposure to the aristocratic world.

With Loud Speaker, Jayaraj gets back into his groove.
Abhishek Banerjee challenges Prime Minister Modi to release West Bengal's pending dues of Rs 2 lakh crore before the upcoming assembly elections, accusing the BJP of empty promises and criticising their stance on the 'Jai Bangla' slogan.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Abhishek Banerjee urges PM Modi to release Rs 2 lakh crore in pending central dues to West Bengal.

Banerjee asserts that 'Modi's guarantee' means 'zero guarantee', contrasting it with Mamata Banerjee's commitments.

Banerjee criticises BJP leaders for their negative reaction to the 'Jai Bangla' slogan, linking it to Bengali pride.

TMC highlights its investment in the Muriganga bridge project to improve connectivity to Sagar Island.

Banerjee promises rehabilitation for displaced people in Ghoramara islands if TMC wins the upcoming election.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to first release the pending Rs 2 lakh crore central dues to West Bengal before professing his love for the people of the state and their well-being.

Addressing an election meeting at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district, Banerjee also asserted that "Modi's guarantee" means "zero guarantee" while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee keeps her words.

Banerjee's Demand For Bengal's Financial Dues

"I am telling the hon'ble PM with all respect, please speak like the Prime Minister. I wish you a long life. Please facilitate sending the Rs 2 lakh crore dues you failed to release for Bengal over the last few years," he said.

Banerjee claimed that "people from Gujarat" are issuing threats to people of Bengal to put them in jail.

"Let me tell Modi and Shah, use central force and agencies, but your game plan and conspiracy have been exposed before the people. Wait for May 4 to see the (election) results."

Criticism Of BJP's Promises And Slogans

Banerjee, the de facto number 2 in the TMC hierarchy, demanded that Modi show his commitment to the welfare of women and youth by sending money to the accounts of women, youth, fisherfolk and farmers.

Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders have become "allergic" to the TMC's slogan 'Jai Bangla' which, he said, is a call to strengthen Bengali pride and the growth and welfare of the state in the federal structure.

The BJP has been alleging that the 'Jai Bangla' slogan belongs to Bangladesh.

"Some of the BJP leaders are behaving like madmen on hearing the Jai Bangla slogan at rallies. They are trying to get down from the vehicles to confront those who chant the slogan. I pity such leaders," the TMC leader said.

Banerjee was apparently referring to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who, during a recent roadshow in Bally, had engaged in an argument with TMC workers who raised the slogan.

Development Projects And Election Promises

He accused the BJP of failing to act on its promise to develop the Sagar islands in South 24 Parganas district, where the Gangasagar Mela is held.

The TMC MP claimed that in sharp contrast, the Mamata Banerjee government spent Rs 1700 crore for building the Muriganga bridge to connect the island with Namkhana and facilitate traffic movement.

In the next two years, this bridge will be ready and improve the connectivity in a big way, he said.

"In 2021, Amit Shah had promised a Rs 2 lakh crore package for Sagar Island, but nothing happened afterwards. While Modi's guarantee is nothing but a zero guarantee, Mamata Banerjee's guarantee means a lifetime guarantee," he said.

Gangasagar Mela Comparison With Kumbh Mela

Underscoring the annual organisation of Gangasagar Mela being held smoothly without any untoward incident under the TMC reign, Banerjee urged BJP leaders to come and compare the hosting of that fair with Kumbh Mela.

"While no mishap had taken place in Ganga Sagar, hundreds died in stampedes in Kumbh Mela under the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh," he claimed.

Banerjee said while 35,000 youths received money under the state government's Yuva Sathi scheme in the past two months, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee believes in delivering the promise.

"However, as the model code of conduct is in force now, some youths did not get it despite registration. They will get the same after May 4," he said.

He said once the TMC come to power for the fourth time in a row, 1,200 displaced people in Ghoramara islands of the Sunderbans, which had bore the brunt of past natural calamities and erosion, will be rehabilitated.

The election to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held on April 23 and 29, and votes will be counted on May 4.

The central government's alleged withholding of funds has been a recurring point of contention between the TMC-led West Bengal government and the BJP-led central government. The upcoming West Bengal assembly election results will determine the state's political landscape for the next five years and could influence national politics.
Abhishek Banerjee has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release West Bengal's pending dues of 2 lakh crore before expressing affection for the state, amidst accusations of BJP threats and defence of the 'Jai Bangla' slogan.

Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points Abhishek Banerjee demands that PM Modi release 2 lakh crore in pending dues to West Bengal.

Banerjee accuses BJP leaders of threatening the people of Bengal and misusing central agencies.

Banerjee defends the 'Jai Bangla' slogan, asserting it represents Bengali pride and welfare.

Banerjee criticises BJP's Suvendu Adhikari for allegedly bowing to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Banerjee highlights TMC government's development work, including the Muriganga bridge and healthcare initiatives.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to first release the pending Rs 2 lakh crore central dues to West Bengal before professing his love for the people of the state and their well-being.

Addressing an election meeting at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district, Banerjee also asserted that "Modi's guarantee" means "zero guarantee" while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee keeps her words.

"I am telling the honourable PM with all respect, please speak like the Prime Minister. I wish you a long life. Please facilitate sending the Rs 2 lakh crore dues you failed to release for Bengal over the last few years," he said.

Banerjee claimed that "people from Gujarat" are issuing threats to people of Bengal to put them in jail.

"Let me tell Modi and Shah, use central force and agencies, but your game plan and conspiracy have been exposed before the people. Wait for May 4 to see the (election) results."

Banerjee's Criticism of BJP Leaders

At another meeting at Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee said that Modi had claimed TMC is filled with goondas who should either surrender by April 29 or face arrest afterwards.

"Let me tell him that TMC does not have goondas and he should look into his own party. The biggest goonda is in the BJP, and going by the logic put forward by Modiji, half of his party in West Bengal must be lodged in jail," he said without elaborating.

Banerjee asserted that from the ED and CBI to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, none can ensure the BJP's win in this election.

Referring to the BJP candidate from Nandigram and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, he said, "Only those suffering from bankruptcy in ideals" can think about getting votes by the name of religion.

He claimed that Adhikari had touched the feet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at a rally in Purba Medinipur district a few days back.

"Being a son of the district of freedom fighters and social reformers, who never bow their heads excepting to seniors but are always respectful to fellow humans, it is unbelievable that Suvendu Adhikari is touching the feet of someone around his age," Banerjee said.

"People like him (Adhikari) are used to bow down before their masters in Delhi, UP and Gujarat but we will never do it. We cannot be like the servants ofA Delhi, we are Royal Bengal Tigers," he said.

Adhikari, who is also contesting against Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur seat, had earlier explained that Adityanath is a revered monk of a reputed Hindu monastic order, and hence he touched his feet out of respect.

Focus on Development and Promises

The BJP legislator failed to build roads and bring central funds to his constituency, Banerjee said, urgingA the people to vote for TMC candidate Pabitra Kar to "cleanse" the soil of Nandigram from the saffron party's grip.

Banerjee called upon Union Home Minister Amit Shah to be present in Bengal after 12 noon on May 4, the day of counting, to see the mood of the people and the celebrations.

He was responding A to Shah's caution to "TMC troublemakers" to remain confined to homes on April 23 and 29, and particularly after May 4, to save themselves from the "wrath" of people.

"BJP seeks your votes using the name of Ram, but remember: despite building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, they were defeated by the electorate in the next polls," he said.

Accusing Adhikari of imitating TMC's public outreach initiative, he said, "When I started the Sebaashray programme to provide healthcare facilities to the people in Diamond Harbour and also in Nandigram, he also came up with another health camp in his assembly segment. But may I ask him what prevented him from going ahead with that in all these years?"

"Go with the original, not with duplicates," Banerjee told the electorate.

'Jai Bangla' Slogan and Bengali Pride

At Sagar,A Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders have become "allergic" to the TMC's slogan 'Jai Bangla' which, he said, is a call to strengthen Bengali pride and the growth and welfare of the state in the federal structure.

The BJP has been alleging that the 'Jai Bangla' slogan belongs to Bangladesh.

"Some of the BJP leaders are behaving like madmen on hearing the Jai Bangla slogan at rallies. They are trying to get down from the vehicles to confront those who chant the slogan. I pity such leaders," the TMC leader said.

Banerjee was apparently referring to Adhikari who, during a recent roadshow in Bally, had engaged in an argument with TMC workers who raised the slogan.

The TMC MP claimed that in sharp contrast, the Mamata Banerjee government spent Rs 1700 crore for building the Muriganga bridge to connect the island with Namkhana and facilitate traffic movement.

"In 2021, Amit Shah had promised a Rs 2 lakh crore package for Sagar Island, but nothing happened afterwards. While Modi's guarantee is nothing but a zero guarantee, Mamata Banerjee's guarantee means a lifetime guarantee," he said.

Underscoring the annual organisation of Gangasagar Mela being held smoothly without any untoward incident under the TMC reign, Banerjee urged BJP leaders to come and compare the hosting of that fair with Kumbh Mela.

The election to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held on April 23 and 29, and votes will be counted on May 4.

The central government's alleged withholding of funds has been a recurring point of contention between the BJP and TMC-led West Bengal government. State governments rely on timely disbursement of central funds for various development projects and welfare schemes. Any perceived delay or discrimination can escalate into a major political issue, especially during election season.
Outrage erupted in Ghaziabad after a B R Ambedkar statue was vandalised, triggering protests and traffic disruptions as police investigate the incident.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A statue of B R Ambedkar was vandalised in Loni, Ghaziabad, causing outrage.

The vandalism led to a sit-in protest that disrupted traffic on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway.

Police have detained several suspects for questioning and are reviewing CCTV footage.

A new statue has been ordered to replace the damaged one.

Authorities are working to maintain law and order in the area following the protests.

Unidentified persons vandalised a statue of B R Ambedkar in Loni here, triggering a sit-in protest that led to traffic disruption on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway on Sunday, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari said several suspects have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident that occurred late Saturday night near Indrapuri Colony.

Police Investigation Underway

"A new statue has been ordered, and efforts are underway to identify the culprits. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined. Strict action will be taken against those found involved," he said.

The statue was found damaged on Sunday morning, following which activists of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and other outfits held a sit-in on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway. The protesters blocked vehicular movement on the busy stretch.

Protests and Reactions

Police personnel reached the site soon after receiving information and attempted to pacify the agitated crowd.

Loni Municipality Chairperson Ranjita Dhama also arrived at the site and expressed support for the protesters, demanding strict action against culprits.

Sloganeering was reported as tensions briefly escalated.

The police said the situation was now under control and efforts were underway to maintain law and order in the area.

Under Indian law, defacing or vandalising statues of national figures can attract charges related to property damage and inciting unrest. The investigation will likely involve forensic analysis of the damaged statue and a review of security protocols in the area. Such incidents have previously triggered caste-related tensions in Uttar Pradesh.
Amritpal Singh, the Khadoor Sahib MP, will appear virtually in the Ajnala police station attack case following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, addressing security concerns and potential breaches of public order.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Amritpal Singh will appear virtually in the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case due to security concerns.

The Punjab government sought to keep Amritpal Singh in Assam jail after his NSA detention ends.

The High Court cited potential breaches of public order as the reason for the virtual appearance order.

Amritpal Singh's NSA detention, extended in April 2023, is set to end on April 22.

The court has assured Amritpal Singh will have access to legal counsel via virtual mode from Dibrugarh jail.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, who is lodged at the Dibrugarh jail in Assam, will appear virtually before a trial court in Amritsar in the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case.

The interim order by a division bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu came on a Punjab government's plea seeking directions to keep Amritpal in the Assam jail after his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) comes to an end on April 22.

Court Cites Security Concerns

The high court observed that there are sufficient reasons for the court to be satisfied that exceptional circumstances of proximate danger of breach of public order exist, in case the respondent physically attends the trial court proceedings in Amritsar.

Amritpal has been under NSA detention since April 2023. His detention, which was extended in April 2025, will come to an end on April 22, and the state government will not extend it further.

The chief of the Waris Punjab De group who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Amritpal was arrested in Moga's Rode village on April 23, 2023, following a manhunt lasting more than a month.

Details of the Ajnala Incident

Punjab Police had launched the crackdown after the February 23, 2023, Ajnala incident in which Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades, barged into a police station on the outskirts of Amritsar, and clashed with police for the release of his aides.

He successfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as an Independent nominee from Khadoor Sahib.

In its plea filed on Thursday, the state government informed the bench that the state intended to arrest Amritpal and continue his custody in Dibrugarh jail, citing intelligence inputs and security concerns.

Virtual Proceedings and Legal Assistance

In its interim order dated April 17, the bench said the Amritsar trial court is permitted to virtually conduct all proceedings concerning remand (police as well as judicial) in the said case to enable respondent No. 3 (Amritpal) to defend himself.

"As assured by the learned counsel for the state of Assam, the state shall ensure that respondent No.3 can seek legal assistance/advice/aid from his chosen attorney or from the legal aid panel, as the case may be, through virtual mode from the Dibrugarh jail for preparing his defence during pre and post-trial hearings conducted by the trial court in Amritsar," the bench said.

"The aforesaid order has been passed to prevent a possible breach of public order by making arrangements for respondent No. 3 to virtually appear in pre and post-trial proceedings triggered by FIR No. 39 dated 24.02.2023 to be conducted by the trial court in Amritsar," it added.

Government's Concerns and Submissions

A counsel representing the Punjab government submitted that Amritpal's preventive detention is coming to an end on April 22, and in case he is released and physically brought to face the trial, in all probability, the law and order situation and public order in Amritsar and the entire state of Punjab shall stand breached.

The counsel also submitted that the court had earlier upheld the preventive detention order of April 17, 2025, against Amritpal.

The counsel contended that virtual mode is an acceptable means of conducting a trial, especially in cases where exceptional circumstances exist.

It was also submitted that exceptional circumstances were prevalent in this case to adopt the mode of virtual hearing to afford an opportunity to Amritpal to be heard during all stages of trial.

The counsel informed the bench that arrangements for Amritpal to virtually appear before the trial court shall be made available.

The SSP (Amritsar Rural), who filed the plea on behalf of the Punjab government, sought the indulgence of the high court to issue appropriate directions to confine Amritpal in Dibrugarh Jail, consequent to his arrest, with further permission to permit police to investigate him at a designated place there.

The petitioner also sought appropriate directions to conduct the entire judicial proceedings from the beginning, including the production of the accused after arrest, remand, and presentation of chargesheet through videoconferencing.

Under Indian law, charges related to the Ajnala incident could include rioting, unlawful assembly, and potentially sedition depending on the specific actions and intent proven. The next stage typically involves the trial court framing charges and commencing the trial, with the prosecution presenting evidence and witnesses.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accuses the Trinamool Congress of betraying women by preventing the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, turning the issue into a key campaign point for the West Bengal assembly elections.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves during a public meeting, in Bishnupur, West Bengal, April 19, 2026. Photograph: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery/ANI Photo

Key Points Modi claims TMC opposes women's empowerment because women are challenging their 'mahajungleraj' in West Bengal.

BJP aims to capitalise on the failed bill to gain support from women voters in West Bengal.

Modi promises free ration, housing assistance, and healthcare benefits for women if BJP wins in West Bengal.

Modi accuses TMC of appeasing infiltrators and promoting religion-based reservations, undermining the Constitution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to turn the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre's setback over the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 into an election weapon in West Bengal, accusing the Trinamool Congress of "betraying" women by opposing the move in Parliament and warning that they would punish the ruling party in the assembly polls.

Addressing four back-to-back rallies across Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Medinipur in the politically crucial Junglemahal belt and adjoining districts, Modi attacked the TMC over its stand on the women's reservation bill in a state where women voters, who constitute nearly half the electorate, and welfare beneficiaries have emerged as the most decisive electoral constituency.

At the same time, Modi framed the coming assembly election as a wider battle over Bengal's identity, language and culture, accusing the TMC of favouring "infiltrators", neglecting tribals and presiding over corruption and "cut-money" politics.

The speeches, delivered across the BJP's old stronghold in western Bengal where the party is trying to regain lost ground, reflected a calibrated attempt to stitch together five themes into one campaign narrative -- women allegedly betrayed by the TMC, tribals deprived of development, native Bengalis threatened by infiltration, ordinary people frustrated by corruption, and a state in danger of losing its identity.

Beginning the day in Bankura, Modi put the failed women's reservation bill at the centre of his political attack.

"We want more and more daughters to enter politics. The sisters of West Bengal wanted 33 percent reservation, and Modi ensured it. They wanted it implemented from 2029 itself, but TMC did not want it," he said.

The PM accused the Mamata Banerjee-led party of conspiring with the Congress to prevent the passage of the bill, which sought to reserve one-third of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women before 2029.

"The TMC has once again betrayed the sisters of West Bengal. The women of Bengal will punish TMC in this election," he said.

Modi alleged that the TMC feared greater participation of women in politics because women were increasingly challenging what he called the ruling party's "mahajungleraj".

From Bankura, Modi carried the same attack into Purulia, where he sharpened the BJP's tribal and Junglemahal pitch.

Accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of changing Bengal's language and culture through infiltration, he said the state was witnessing a gradual erosion of its social character.

"Due to infiltration, Bengal's language and culture are witnessing a change," Modi said.

He alleged that the Santali language was being humiliated while the state government was spending heavily on madrasa education, calling it an example of appeasement politics.

Modi repeatedly described the TMC regime as "Maha jungleraj", accusing it of leaving tribal districts such as Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram without roads, jobs, drinking water, irrigation and healthcare.

Linking corruption with growing unemployment, Modi referred to the school jobs scam and claimed that the TMC had robbed thousands of youths of jobs and left schools without teachers.

The ideological core of Modi's campaign, however, emerged most sharply in Jhargram, where he described the coming election as a battle to save Bengal's identity.

"This election is to save the rich heritage of this land. Today, there is fear of Bengal losing its identity," he said.

According to Modi, the TMC was trying to create a "government of infiltrators and for infiltrators" that would protect only the religion, language and customs of outsiders rather than those of Bengal's own people.

"The path that the TMC is treading is very dangerous," he said, alleging that the ruling party was giving priority to infiltrators over native Bengalis.

He claimed that every community and region of Bengal had resolved to remove the TMC from power, and accused the state government of doing little for tribal areas in 15 years, except to deepen poverty and neglect.

In Jhargram, Modi returned to the issue of tribal deprivation, alleging that the region had received neither education, nor income, nor healthcare, nor irrigation under the TMC rule.

The final rally in Medinipur added the corruption and governance layer to the BJP's larger Bengal pitch.

Modi alleged that the ruling party had "earned a PhD in looting" during its 15 years in office and survived on infiltration and appeasement politics while pushing women, youths and farmers into despair.

"TMC only thinks about its vote bank. It thinks about infiltrators. It has no concern for anyone else," he said.

The PM accused the state government of corruption in teacher recruitment, jobs, housing schemes, rural roads, and even relief for cyclone-hit people.

He alleged that young people were being forced to leave Bengal in search of work as their jobs have been taken away by infiltrators and that women were returning from Delhi and Mumbai only to cast their votes.

Seeking to reassure state government employees, Modi promised implementation of the 7th Pay Commission if the BJP came to power in the state.

Modi claimed that the TMC opposed the women's reservation bill because it feared women from villages and small towns would enter politics and ask questions about corruption.

He also accused the TMC and the Congress of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and alleged that both parties were opposed to tribal empowerment.

Modi further claimed that the TMC was ignoring the grievances of the Kurmi community while selectively extending benefits to its "vote bank".
BJP President Nitin Nabin accuses West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of betraying the women of Bengal by conspiring to block the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Photograph: @AITCofficial/X

Key Points BJP President Nitin Nabin blames Mamata Banerjee for the failure of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Nabin accuses Banerjee of conspiring with parties like the Congress to obstruct the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill.

Nabin promises to drive out infiltrators from Bengal and ensure the safety and security of all citizens if the BJP comes to power.

Nabin highlights Prime Minister Modi's achievements, including the abrogation of Article 370 and surgical strikes, as examples of prioritising national security.

Nabin assures transparent recruitment, implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, and direct transfer of benefits to bank accounts under a BJP government.

BJP president Nitin Nabin on Sunday blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and opposition parties such as the Congress for the setback to the implementation of women's reservation in legislatures.

Addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Bidyut Roy in Balurghat, Nabin said removing the TMC from power had become essential to drive out infiltrators from Bengal, prevent demographic change and safeguard national security.

Nabin's Allegations Against Mamata Banerjee

"Despite being a woman, Mamata Banerjee betrayed the women of Bengal by conspiring with parties like the Congress so that the women's reservation bill could not be passed in the Lok Sabha," he alleged.

Urging women voters in the state to "teach her a lesson", he claimed that the TMC government had failed to ensure the safety and security of women, citing incidents such as those at RG Kar hospital and the medical college in Durgapur.

A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated on Friday.

BJP's Promises for West Bengal

Nabin also accused the chief minister of protecting infiltrators and said the BJP, if voted to power, would ensure good governance.

"Infiltrators will be driven out, and every bona fide citizen will be able to live peacefully in a secure environment if the BJP comes to power," he said.

Nabin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had delivered on promises and prioritised national security, citing the abrogation of Article 370 and surgical strikes against Pakistan-backed terrorists.

"We need a government in Bengal which will ensure the state's well-being and security in every aspect," he said.

Call to Action for Voters

Appealing to voters to back the BJP, Nabin said, "If not now, then never."

"Let it be a historic victory. A new dawn will come, and after May 4, a government that will look after the aspirations of mothers, sisters, youth, the elderly and farmers will be installed in Bengal," he said.

Accusations of Corruption and Deteriorating Law and Order

At another election rally at Ratua in Malda district, Nabin claimed that time has come for the chief minister to "bid goodbye".

Alleging deterioration in law and order, he said women were unsafe "from Park Street to Kamduni, and from R G Kar to Durgapur Medical College", while there were many "unreported cases".

He also alleged the involvement of ruling party leaders in various illegal activities.

"Wait for a few days. Members of the 'bhaipo (nephew) syndicate' of the TMC will be on the run, and caught one by one with legal action taken against them," Nabin asserted.

He was referring to allegations by state BJP leaders about extortion syndicates "patronised by top TMC leaders" running into crores of rupees.

"At least one minister had been jailed, while many officials are behind the bars. Those involved in corruption would face strict action after May 4," the BJP chief said.

Promises of Employment and Welfare

Promising employment and welfare measures, Nabin said a BJP government would create job opportunities for the youth and ensure support for farmers.

He also assured the people of transparent recruitment based on merit, implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, and direct transfer of benefits to bank accounts without "cut money" (commission).

Referring to the 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' slogan of the Narendra Modi government, Nabin said "there will be inclusive growth involving all sections of society under the double engine government."

"There will be no appeasement for one particular community, which caused change in the demography in several border districts of Bengal," he said.

Nabin also took part in a programme of the 'Balmiki Samaj' a an outfit of backward Hindu castes a where he stressed on the need for inclusive growth.

Earlier, the BJP president led a colourful roadshow covering around 2 km in Balurghat town and adjoining areas of Dakshin Dinajpur district.

Under Indian law, obstructing the passage of legislation can attract various charges depending on the specific actions taken. The Election Commission of India is likely to review the statements made during the rallies for any violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
The tragic Vedanta power plant explosion in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has claimed 24 lives, prompting investigations into the cause and accountability for the industrial accident.

Key Points The death toll in the Vedanta power plant blast in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has reached 24.

The explosion occurred in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam, causing severe burn injuries to workers.

Police have registered an FIR and named several individuals, including Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal, in connection with the incident.

Preliminary investigations suggest excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace led to the explosion.

The Sakti district administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

The death toll in a blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has gone up to 24 with one more worker succumbing to injuries on Sunday, officials said.

Eleven other persons were undergoing treatment in different hospitals. Two of them were reported to be in critical condition, they said.

A worker, identified as Manish Kumar, a native of Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh, died during treatment at Raigarh medical college in the wee hours, a government official told PTI.

With this, the death toll has gone up to 24 in the incident that occurred on April 14.

Cause Of The Vedanta Power Plant Explosion

The explosion occurred in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant located in Singhitarai village, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries.

According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while nine others succumbed to injuries soon after the incident. Seven more injured workers succumbed to injuries in hospitals on April 15, while another worker died on April 16 at a hospital in Raipur. Two more workers died in hospitals on Saturday.

The deceased include seven labourers from West Bengal, five from Chhattisgarh, four from Jharkhand, four from Uttar Pradesh, and two each from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Investigation And Accountability

Of the 11 injured, six are admitted to Jindal Hospital, Raigarh, and two each at Balaji Metro Hospital and Apex Hospital, Raigarh. Another worker is undergoing treatment at Shri Shankara Hospital, Raipur, an official said.

Of them, two are critical, he said.

Police have registered an FIR under sections related to causing death by negligence and negligent conduct with machinery.

"Eight to ten individuals, including Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal and plant head Devendra Patel, have been named in the FIR. If more persons are found responsible during the investigation, their names will be added," Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur had said.

Findings Of Preliminary Investigation

A preliminary technical investigation into the blast found that excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace led to a pressure build-up, triggering the explosion, police officials earlier said.

A report by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti also confirmed that the accumulation of fuel and the resulting excessive pressure were the primary causes of the explosion, they said.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had directed the Bilaspur divisional commissioner to conduct a probe into the incident.

The Sakti district administration has also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

The Opposition Congress has demanded that stricter charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder be invoked in the case.

Under Indian law, charges related to negligence causing death typically fall under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation will likely involve gathering forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and determining if safety protocols were violated at the Vedanta plant. Such industrial accidents raise concerns about safety standards and regulatory oversight in the power sector.
In a shocking incident highlighting persistent caste discrimination, a Dalit man in Muzaffarnagar attempted self-immolation after allegedly suffering casteist abuse and assault.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Key Points A Dalit man in Muzaffarnagar attempted self-immolation after alleged casteist abuse.

The victim, Himanshu, was allegedly assaulted and subjected to casteist slurs by Tinku alias Gaurav.

Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the BNS and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The victim sustained burns over 30 per cent of his body and is in critical condition in a Delhi hospital.

A Dalit man attempted self-immolation in Muzaffarnagar district after allegedly being assaulted and subjected to casteist slurs by an influential local man, a senior police official said on Sunday.

Details of the Casteist Attack

According to the police, the incident occurred in Gangdhadi village in the district's Khatauli tehsil, where the accused, identified as Tinku alias Gaurav, 28, allegedly beat up the Dalit man Himanshu, 25, and hurled casteist abuses at him apparently after he refused to do some work.

Distraught by this humiliation, Himanshu set himself afire in an attempt to commit suicide, the officer said, adding that he sustained burns over more than 30 per cent of his body.

Police Action and Investigation

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjay Kumar on Sunday told reporters that the police have registered a case against Tinku alias Gaurav under Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the BNS and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and have arrested him.

Victim's Condition

The SSP also said that the injured, Himanshu -- who has sustained burns over more than 30 per cent of his body -- has been shifted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital in a critical condition.

According to the complaint lodged with the police by Himanshu's family, it is alleged that when he refused to perform the work, Tinku, alias Gaurav, slapped him and made derogatory remarks targeting his caste.

Under Indian law, the accused could face charges related to causing grievous hurt, abetment of suicide, and offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation will likely involve gathering witness statements and collecting forensic evidence from the scene. Such incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing caste-based discrimination in certain regions of India.
General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is one of the best defense stocks that will skyrocket. On April 14, General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:GD) secured three US Navy contracts worth $273.45 million. The companys General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk secured a $183.23 million firm-fixed-price contract for the maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Truxtun (DDG 103).

Is General Dynamics Corporation (GD) The Best Defense Stock on Big Military Contracts?

rommma/Shutterstock.com

Work on the contract is to be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is scheduled for completion by April 2028. It also includes the option to increase to $183.58 million. On the other hand, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, Connecticut, secured a $55.55 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to continue New England Maintenance Manpower Initiative support for non-nuclear maintenance of submarines.

It also secured a $34.68 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification contract to continue New England Maintenance Manpower Initiative support for non-nuclear maintenance of submarines. The $55.55 million and $34.68 million contracts are to receive $20 million in fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance Navy funds.

General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is a major global aerospace and defense company that provides products and services to military, government, and commercial customers. It operates in four main segments: business aviation (Gulfstream), marine systems (submarines), combat systems (armored vehicles), and technologies (IT/mission systems).

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In a major crackdown on drunk driving, Delhi Traffic Police booked 269 people during a special night operation aimed at improving road safety.

Key Points Delhi Traffic Police booked 269 individuals for drunk driving during a special night operation.

The three-hour operation involved coordination with local police and PCR units across Delhi.

38 vehicles were impounded for serious breaches during the drunk driving crackdown.

Delhi Traffic Police data shows 7,478 drivers prosecuted for drunk driving this year.

Enforcement drives will continue, especially during late-night hours and weekends to curb drunk driving.

Delhi Traffic Police has booked 269 people for drunk driving during a special integrated night checking across the national capital, officials said on Sunday.

The three-hour operation was conducted between 9 pm and midnight on Saturday in coordination with local police and PCR units as part of an ongoing campaign against driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drunk Driving Offences and Vehicle Impoundments

Police said 269 offenders were caught for drunk driving during the drive, with 38 vehicles impounded for serious breaches.

"All categories of vehicles, including two-wheelers, cars, heavy transport vehicles, light goods vehicles and autorickshaws, were checked during the drive," a senior traffic police officer said.

City-Wide Traffic Enforcement

The drive was conducted simultaneously across all traffic ranges in the city, with teams deployed at key junctions and vulnerable stretches to identify the violators.

The initiative was part of a sustained effort to curb road accidents caused by drunk driving, which remains a major concern in the capital, police said.

Drunk Driving Statistics in Delhi

According to Delhi Traffic Police data, 7,478 drivers have been prosecuted for drunk driving from January 1 to date. Of these, 6,844 cases resulted in prosecution, and 634 vehicles were impounded.

Two-wheeler riders accounted for the majority of the violations, with 4,906 cases recorded so far this year, followed by car drivers with 908 cases.

Continued Enforcement and Public Advisory

"Strict enforcement drives will continue in the coming days, especially during late-night hours and weekends, when instances of drunk driving tend to rise. People are advised not to drink and drive," the officer said.

Under Indian law, drunk driving can lead to fines, imprisonment, and suspension of driving licenses. Repeat offenders often face harsher penalties. The Delhi Traffic Police will likely continue these enforcement drives, especially during weekends and holidays, to deter drunk driving and improve road safety.
Delhi Police have arrested two individuals after uncovering a counterfeit engine oil manufacturing unit in Ghazipur, seizing hundreds of litres of fake, branded oil.

Photograph: Emily Chow/Reuters

Key Points Delhi Police busted a counterfeit engine oil manufacturing unit in Ghazipur, East Delhi.

Two men, Rakesh Kumar Chhabra and Kuldeep Singh, were arrested for manufacturing and supplying duplicate engine oil.

Police seized approximately 700 litres of fake engine oil, packaging materials, and manufacturing equipment.

The accused started the illegal operation in 2022 after facing financial difficulties due to Covid-19 and health issues.

Delhi Police has arrested two men after busting a counterfeit engine oil manufacturing unit operating in east Delhi's Ghazipur, an official said on Sunday.

Rakesh Kumar Chhabra (52) and Kuldeep Singh (52), both residents of Delhi, were arrested during a raid at a godown on Thursday, in which police recovered around 700 litres of duplicate engine oil, packed and labelled as popular brands, he said.

Details Of The Seizure

"The seizure included 28 oil cans of 20 litres each and 140 bottles of one litre each, along with more than 550 empty bottles of various brands, stickers, coupons, barcodes, labels, and other packaging material," a senior police officer said.

A bottle sealing machine, drum, buckets, funnels, filter meshes, and other equipment used in the manufacturing and packaging of counterfeit oil were also recovered from the premises, he said.

Investigation Uncovers Illegal Trade

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were involved in manufacturing and supplying duplicate engine oil in the market under the labels of reputed brands, the officer said.

Chhabra ran a garments business in Haryana, which shut down during the Covid-19 period, while Singh quit his job as a truck driver due to health issues, following which both got involved in the illegal trade in 2022, police said.

Efforts are underway to identify others involved in the supply chain, they said.

Manufacturing and selling counterfeit goods can attract charges under the Indian Penal Code for fraud, cheating, and potentially trademark violations. The investigation will likely focus on identifying the source of the raw materials and the distribution network for the fake engine oil.
Delhi Police successfully dismantled a major drug trafficking network in West Delhi, leading to the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of MDMA valued at around Rs 1 crore.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted a drug trafficking network in west Delhi, arresting four individuals.

The arrested include two Nigerian nationals involved in supplying MDMA.

MDMA worth approximately Rs 1 crore was seized during the operation.

The syndicate sourced MDMA from Nigerian suppliers and distributed it across Delhi-NCR.

The accused allegedly ran an escort service as a front for drug trafficking.

Delhi Police has busted a drug trafficking network in west Delhi and arrested four persons, including two Nigerian nationals, with MDMA valued at around Rs 1 crore, officials said on Sunday.

The accused were identified as Gurmeet Singh and Mukesh Kumar alias Vicky, both residents of Uttam Nagar, and Nigerian nationals Mancabo David and Emeka Emmanuel alias Peter, they said.

Details of the Arrest and Seizure

"Emmanuel is a habitual offender who was earlier arrested under the NDPS Act and had served a five-year jail term. The operation was carried out after a tip-off about drug trafficking activities in the Tilak Nagar area," a senior police officer said.

A police team conducted a raid on April 6 at a premises in Ganesh Nagar, leading to the arrest of Gurmeet and Mukesh. During the search, around 73 grams of MDMA were recovered along with 112 zip-lock pouches, weighing machines, packing material and Rs 37,500 in cash suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Further Investigation and Arrests

Subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of Mancabo David on April 9, from whom over 10 grams of MDMA were seized. Another accused, Emeka Emmanuel, was later apprehended and 7 grams of the contraband recovered from his possession on the same day, the police said.

Modus Operandi of the Drug Syndicate

"The syndicate operated in a well-organised manner, sourcing MDMA from Nigerian suppliers and distributing it across Delhi-NCR. Gurmeet was identified as the kingpin managing procurement and supply, while Mukesh handled local distribution," the officer said.

Police also found that the accused were allegedly running an escort service from the rented premises, which was used as a front for drug trafficking activities.

The syndicate used CCTV surveillance and password-based access systems to evade law enforcement agencies, he added.

Ongoing Investigation

Police have seized vehicles and mobile phones used in the operation, and are probing interstate and international linkages of the network. Further investigation is underway.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the accused could face significant jail time if convicted. The investigation will likely focus on tracing the source of the MDMA and identifying other members of the drug trafficking network. Delhi has seen a rise in drug-related arrests in recent months, prompting increased police vigilance.
Delhi Police successfully rescued a 13-year-old girl who had been missing since January after running away with a social media acquaintance, highlighting the potential dangers of online interactions for teenagers.

Key Points A 13-year-old girl missing from Delhi since January has been rescued by police.

The girl disappeared after befriending a boy on social media.

She was traced to Sikar, Rajasthan, and brought back to Delhi.

Delhi Police registered a case after the girl went missing from the Shahbad Dairy area.

Delhi Police has rescued a 13-year-old girl who went missing from outer Delhi in January after she left home with a boy she had befriended on social media, police said on Sunday.

The girl, from the Shahbad Dairy area, had been missing since January 22, they said, adding that three days later, the police had registered a case.

Social Media's Role In The Girl's Disappearance

"During the inquiry, it was found that she had come in contact with the boy through the social media platform and later left with him. She was taken to Sikar in Rajasthan," a police officer said.

She was eventually traced and brought back to Delhi, where she reunited with her family, he added.

Under Indian law, the boy involved could face charges related to abduction and potentially offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, depending on the circumstances. The police investigation will likely focus on the nature of their relationship and whether any coercion or exploitation was involved.
A 19-year-old newly married woman was discovered dead in Delhi, with police suspecting her missing husband of murder.

Key Points A 19-year-old newly married woman was found dead in her Delhi home with signs of strangulation.

Police suspect the woman's husband, who is currently missing, in connection with her death.

Multiple police teams are searching for the husband and analysing CCTV footage and mobile phone data.

A forensic team has collected evidence from the scene, and a post-mortem examination is underway.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been informed to initiate proceedings under relevant legal provisions due to the recent marriage.

A 19-year-old newly married woman was found dead, with strangulation marks on her neck, inside a room at her residence in central Delhi on Sunday, an official said.

According to the police, a PCR call was received regarding the incident in the Nai Basti area of Anand Parbat, following which a team rushed to the spot and found the woman lying dead inside the room.

Police Investigation Underway

"The woman had been married for around three months. During inspection of the scene, marks were noticed on her neck, raising suspicion of strangulation," a senior police officer said.

A crime team examined the spot and collected forensic evidence to ascertain the sequence of events leading to her death. Police said the husband of the deceased is missing and is a suspect in the case.

Efforts to Locate Suspect

Multiple teams have been formed to trace him, and raids are being conducted at possible hideouts. Investigators are also scanning CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to track the movement of the suspect before and after the incident.

In addition, technical surveillance is being used, and the husband's mobile phone data is being analysed to establish his location and movements, police said.

Legal Proceedings Initiated

Given that the couple had recently married, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has been informed to initiate proceedings under relevant legal provisions.

The body has been sent for post-mortem. Police are also recording statements of family members and neighbours as part of the probe. No arrests have been made so far.

Under Indian law, murder charges typically apply in cases of suspected homicide. The next stage of the investigation will likely involve a thorough examination of forensic evidence and the husband's potential motive.
A woman tragically died in Delhi's Adarsh Nagar after being stabbed while trying to save her husband from a brutal attack by unidentified assailants, prompting a police investigation.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points A woman was stabbed to death and her husband seriously injured in Adarsh Nagar, Delhi.

The couple, who were balloon sellers, were attacked by unidentified assailants.

The woman was killed while trying to protect her husband from the attackers.

Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the accused.

The motive for the attack is currently unknown.

A 32-year-old woman was stabbed to death while her husband sustained serious injuries after they were attacked by unidentified assailants in northwest Delhi's Adarsh Nagar area, police sources said on Sunday.

According to sources, a PCR call was received around 9.30 pm reporting that two people had been stabbed near DTP Jhuggi. A police team immediately rushed to the spot and found the couple with multiple stab injuries.

Details Of The Attack

The victims, identified as Ashu (40) and his wife, were balloon sellers who used to sleep near the railway lines, sources said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that some unidentified men suddenly attacked Ashu with a knife while the couple was resting.

"When he attempted to flee, his wife intervened in an effort to save him, but the attackers also assaulted her repeatedly," the source informed.

Community Response And Investigation

A local, identified as Kiranpal, said he was passing through the area when he noticed a child sitting nearby and crying for help. On reaching closer, he found the injured couple lying at the spot and rushed them to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital declared the woman brought dead, while Ashu is undergoing treatment and is said to be in a critical condition, he said.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. Multiple teams have been formed to identify and apprehend the accused, sources added.

The motive behind the attack is yet to be ascertained, and further investigation is underway.

Under Indian law, the attackers could face charges of murder and attempted murder, depending on the evidence gathered. The police investigation will likely focus on identifying the assailants through CCTV footage and witness statements. Such incidents raise concerns about safety and security in vulnerable communities in Delhi.
A Kolkata businessman has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate as part of a money laundering investigation linked to a criminal syndicate, raising concerns about financial crime in West Bengal.

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested a Kolkata businessman, Kamdar, in connection with a money laundering probe.

Searches were conducted against Kamdar and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas.

The money laundering case is linked to an alleged criminal syndicate in West Bengal involving Biswajit Podder.

The ED previously seized Rs 1.47 crore in cash, gold jewellery, and a revolver during earlier searches related to the case.

The investigation stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against Biswajit Podder for alleged rioting, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy.

The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday arrested a Kolkata-based businessman after it conducted searches against him and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal-linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.

Kamdar, Managing Director of Sun Enterprise, was taken into custody following a brief round of questioning. He was picked from his residence during the raids and brought to the ED office, after which he was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

He will be produced before a local court, where the agency will seek his custody for detailed questioning, the officials said.

ED Raids and Investigation Details

The day began with the ED searching the premises of Kamdar and Biswas, including the latter's residence in the Ballygunge area of Kolkata.

Biswas, chief coordinator and nodal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police welfare committee, was not present on his premises, they said.

Links to Criminal Syndicate and Previous Seizures

The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.

The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.

The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore, apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.

FIR and Allegations Against Accused

The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations.

The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED alleged in a statement on April 9.

Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence at Kankulia Road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run.

The ED has issued summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.

Assembly election campaigning is underway in West Bengal, which will have two-phase polling on April 23 and April 29.

Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Kamdar could face significant fines and imprisonment if convicted. The ED will likely trace the flow of funds to determine the full extent of the money laundering operation and identify other involved parties. This case highlights ongoing concerns about financial crime and potential links to political activities during the West Bengal elections.
The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe, raiding the premises of a Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner and others linked to an alleged criminal syndicate.

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas's premises in connection with a money laundering probe.

The investigation targets Biswajit Podder, an alleged criminal involved in attempted murder and extortion.

Previous searches in the case led to the seizure of Rs 1.47 crore in cash, gold jewellery, and a firearm.

The case originates from a Kolkata Police FIR against Podder for rioting, attempted murder, and Arms Act violations.

The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and on another person as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.

Details of the ED Raids

Two premises of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge area and one location of a man named Joy Kamdar, Managing Director of a company named Sun Enterprise, have been raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Money Laundering Case Against Biswajit Podder

The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.

The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.

The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.

Origin of the Investigation

The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations.

The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.

Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence in Kankulia road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run. The ED has issued summons to Pidder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.

Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED has the power to attach and seize assets believed to be derived from illegal activities. The investigation will likely focus on tracing the flow of funds and identifying all individuals involved in the alleged money laundering scheme. Such cases often involve complex financial transactions and shell companies.
The Allahabad HC has ruled that a father, as the natural guardian, cannot be said to illegally detain his children, dismissing a mother's plea for custody and highlighting the complexities of child custody battles in India.

IMAGE: A view of the Allahabad high court. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Allahabad high court dismisses habeas corpus petition filed by a mother seeking custody of her minor children.

The court cites that a father is a natural guardian of a Hindu minor under Indian law.

Habeas corpus in child custody matters can only be invoked when custody is illegal or without lawful authority.

The court noted that no extraordinary circumstances were presented to indicate the children's custody with the father was illegal or detrimental.

The Allahabad high court has dismissed as non-maintainable a habeas corpus petition moved by a woman seeking custody of her minor children from her estranged husband, observing that a father is a natural guardian of a Hindu minor and cannot be said to illegally detain a child even if he forcibly takes custody unless such an act is in violation of court order.

The petitioner's mother had moved to court alleging that her estranged husband forcibly took away their two minor children at gunpoint in 2022 and had kept them under illegal detention since then.

Dismissing the petition, Justice Anil Kumar-X, relying on the Supreme Court's judgment in Tejaswini Gaud and others vs Shekhar Jagdish Prasad Tewari and others, observed that habeas corpus in child custody matters can be invoked only when the custody of a child is illegal or without lawful authority.

On behalf of mother, Anjali Devi, it was submitted that several applications were filed before different forums seeking custody of the minors. However, no effective action had been taken by the authorities.

The petitioner's counsel also relied upon the high court's recent judgment in Rinku Ram alias Rinku Devi and another v. State of UP and seven others to argue that the court can invoke its extraordinary jurisdiction in the best interest of the child even in cases where a child is in the custody of another parent.

The state counsel and the counsel for the respondent submitted that both minors have been residing with the father since 2022, and the petitioner-mother, before moving to the high court, had not availed of any remedy under the Guardian and Wards Act to date.

It was also argued that the custody disputes between parents ordinarily cannot be adjudicated in a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution.

It was also contended that the judgment in the Rinku Ram case was distinguishable on facts, as in that case the custody of the minor was forcibly taken in violation of an order passed by the Child Welfare Committee, which had directed that custody be handed over to the mother.

However, in the present case, no such circumstance existed.

The court, in its judgment passed on April 10, noted that an offence would be attracted only when the minor is removed from the custody of a person who is legally recognised as the guardian and the person taking the minor is not himself a lawful guardian.

The court also referred to section 4(2) of the Guardians and Wards Act to note that the law recognises the father as a natural guardian.

In view of this, the court held that a mere allegation that the father has forcibly taken the minors from the custody of the mother, even if accepted on its face value, would not lead to the conclusion that the minors are in illegal detention.

"The father, being a natural guardian, cannot be said to have taken the minors out of lawful guardianship so as to attract any criminality.

Such forcibly taking away will constitute an offence only if it has been done in violation of a legal order or legal prohibition," the court observed.

The court noted that, in the present case, the minors, who are over five years of age, have been residing with the father since 2022, and no extraordinary circumstance had been brought on record to indicate that their custody is illegal or detrimental so as to warrant interference by this court in the exercise of its writ jurisdiction.

Under Indian law, disputes over child custody often involve considerations of the child's welfare, parental capacity, and the child's preference if they are of a suitable age. The next step in such cases typically involves proceedings under the Guardians and Wards Act, where a court will determine the best arrangement for the child's upbringing.
Goa Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar after alleged objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier, the revered patron saint of Goa, ignited widespread political and religious backlash.

Key Points Goa Police file FIR against Gautam Khattar for allegedly hurting religious sentiments regarding St Francis Xavier.

Controversy erupted after a video of Khattar's remarks at an event went viral, drawing condemnation from Congress leaders.

Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti distanced itself from Khattar's statement and apologised to Christians.

Congress MLA Altone D'Costa demanded Khattar's immediate arrest for insulting the patron saint of Goa.

Opposition leaders strongly condemned Khattar's remarks, calling for strict action to maintain communal harmony.

Goa Police on Sunday night registered an FIR against right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar over his alleged objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, amid a political row.

Superintendent of Police (South) Santosh Desai told PTI that Khattar has been booked for hurting religious sentiments.

"The future action would be initiated as per the law," he said.

Controversy Erupts Over Saint Remarks

A row erupted after a video of Khattar, the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, addressing an event on Saturday evening in the presence of Swami Brahmeshanand, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar, went viral.

A complaint was lodged against Khattar by Congress leader Peter D'Souza at Vasco police station.

The relics of St Francis Xavier are preserved at the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church, Old Goa, which draws a large number of people from India and abroad.

Political Fallout and Demands for Arrest

As the controversy gained traction with Congress leaders condemning Khattar, Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti has distanced itself from his statement and apologised to Christians, citing their harmonious co-existence.

Congress MLA Altone D'Costa has demanded Khattar's immediate arrest, condemning the statement as hurtful to religious sentiments and capable of disturbing communal harmony in Goa.

D'Costa said the Goa Police should immediately arrest Khattar for "insulting" Goencho Saib (Patron Saint of Goa) in the presence of Godinho and BJP MLAs.

"His speech was a clear attempt to spread communal disharmony in Goa. Goencho Saib is a revered saint worshipped by people from all religions. Khattar should be arrested before he leaves Goa," D'Costa said in a statement.

He also demanded registration of a case against the organisers of the event, organised by Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti, Mormugao, to mark Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav.

Opposition Calls for Strict Action

Congress leader Peter D'Souza alleged Khattar has purposely hurt the religious sentiments. "I have filed a case under relevant sections of BNS against Khattar," he said.

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai also demanded Khattar's arrest.

"I strongly condemn the malicious and deeply offensive remarks made by Gautam Khattar, who insulted Goencho Saib and hurt the religious sentiments of Goemkars (Goans). I urge the Chief Minister to take immediate action and ensure his arrest," Alemao said in a statement.

He said such divisive and hateful statements have no place in Goa, which is known for communal harmony.

"We will not allow anyone to disturb our unity or disrespect our faith. This case must be dealt with an iron hand," he added.

Sardesai appealed to the chief minister to initiate strict action.

Organisers Apologise

Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti has tendered an apology to all our Christian brothers with whom we have been living like brothers.

"We never expected Khattar to make such a statement, and we had tried to stop him," the organisers said in a video statement.

Under Indian law, hurting religious sentiments can attract charges under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation will likely involve gathering evidence, recording witness statements, and potentially leading to a trial if charges are filed. Goa has historically been known for its religious tolerance, making this incident particularly sensitive.
Global Payments Inc. (GPN) is a Georgia-based payments technology and software solutions provider that enables businesses to accept, process, and manage electronic payments across physical, online, and mobile channels. The company has a market capitalization of $19.5 billion, and operates globally, serving millions of merchants in more than 100 countries.

The company is expected to release its Q1 2026 earnings soon. Ahead of this event, analysts anticipate the company to generate earnings of $2.85 per share, representing an increase of 5.6% from $2.70 per share reported in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed the Streets bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters.

More News from Barchart

For fiscal 2026, analysts expect the company to report an EPS of $13.76, indicating a 12.6% increase from $12.22 reported in fiscal 2025. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise 19.6% year over year to $16.46 in fiscal 2027.

www.barchart.com

GPN stock has surged 4.2% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 34.9% rise and the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLK) 60.1% return during the same time frame.

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Global Payments has underperformed the broader market over the past year due to complexities surrounding major strategic moves, including large acquisitions and portfolio reshaping, which have raised integration risks and debt concerns. At the same time, a broader re-rating of fintech stocks, driven by a shift toward profitability and earnings quality, has compressed valuations across the sector.

Analysts consensus opinion on the stock is somewhat optimistic, with a Moderate Buy rating overall. Among the 32 analysts covering the stock, 12 are recommending a Strong Buy, 17 suggest a Hold, and the remaining two analysts suggest a Strong Sell for the stock. GPNs average analyst price target is $98.25, indicating an upside of 35.7% from the current levels.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah 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
Explore the key questions and government's answers surrounding the Women's Reservation Bill, including its impact on delimitation, representation, and the timing of implementation.

IMAGE: BJP MPs raise slogans against opposition at Parliament premises following the defeat of a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on April 17, 2026. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Key Points The Women's Reservation Bill aims to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The government sought to delink the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act from the census and delimitation process to ensure timely benefits for women.

The proposed delimitation would have increased Lok Sabha seats to 850 to ensure fair representation based on population growth.

The government clarified that the proposed changes would not adversely affect southern or smaller states, nor would they delay the caste census.

The Constitution does not allow for reservation based on religion; reservation policies are based on social and economic backwardness.

The government on Sunday came out with a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the reservation for women in legislatures following the defeat of a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha that seeks to provide 33 per cent quota for women in the Lower House and state assemblies.

The FAQs came amid the Opposition's claim that in the name of women quota, the government was trying to carry out delimitation on its own will based on 2011 census.

Understanding The Proposed Bills

1. Which Bills were introduced by the central government in the Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026?

A:- On April 16, the central government introduced three key Bills in the Lok Sabha: The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, The Delimitation Bill, 2026 andAA The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Rationale Behind The Bills

2. Why were these three Bills brought at this point in time?

A:- The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as the Women Reservation Act, provides that reservation for women will be implemented based on delimitation after the Census conducted post-2026.

If the government had waited for the Census and subsequent delimitation, women would not have been able to benefit from 33 per cent reservation even in the 2029 general elections as the Census and subsequent delimitation period takes time.

Therefore, to ensure timely benefits to half the population, it was considered necessary to delink implementation of the Act from this condition.

Potential Benefits Of Passing The Bills

3. What would have been the benefits if these Bills had been passed?

A:- If passed and approved, these Bills would have enabled women to receive 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha as early as the 2029 general elections.

Delimitation And Seat Increase Explained

4. Why was delimitation linked with the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, and why was there a proposal to increase seats?

A:- Delimitation means finalising the boundary of a constituency. It is essential for implementing women's reservation. The limit on seats in the Lok Sabha was set at 550 in 1976. In 1971, the population of India was 54 crore. Today it is 140 crore. Therefore, it is important to increase seats to 850 in the Lok Sabha. This would enable fair representation of people in Parliament.

Addressing Concerns About Political Advantage

5. Was there any attempt to modify the Delimitation Commission Act for political advantage? Would ongoing state elections be affected?

A:- No changes were proposed to the Delimitation Commission Act. The existing legal framework remains intact, and any recommendations of the commission would require parliamentary approval and Presidential assent.

Ongoing elections, including those in states like Tamil Nadu or West Bengal, would not be affected, as elections up to 2029 will be conducted under the current system.

Rationale Behind Increasing Lok Sabha Seats

6. What was the rationale behind increasing Lok Sabha seats to 850?

A:- The proposal was based on a proportional expansion approach. A uniform 50 per cent increase in seats would maintain the proportion for all states and UTs. Applying this principle to the current 543 seats would lead to approximately 815 seats. Therefore, the upper limit on seats was increased from current cap of 550 seats in Lok Sabha to 850 seats.

Impact On Southern And Smaller States

7. Would southern or smaller states have been adversely affected by the new delimitation proposal?

A:- No. All states would see uniform 50 per cent increase in seats. Southern states would not face any reduction in representation; rather, their overall share would remain stable. For example, Tamil Nadu's seats would increase proportionally, ensuring no disadvantage. The southern states currently have 23.76 per cent seats in Lok Sabha. This would have become 23.87 per cent after the passage of the Bills.

Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka would have increased to 42 from present 28; in Andhra Pradesh, the seats would have been 38 from the present 25; in Telangana, the total seats would have been 26 from the present 17; in Tamil Nadu, it would have been 59 seats from the present 39 and in Keralam, it would have been 30 from the present 20 seats.

Total seats in the five southern states would have been increased to 195 from the present 129.

This is 543 seats to 816 seats - A 50 per cent increase model.

Addressing Concerns About Population Control

8. Would states that have controlled population growth face any disadvantage?

A:- No, as the increase in seats was proposed uniformly across states, their proportional representation would remain unchanged or slightly improve.

Impact On Scheduled Castes And Tribes

9. Would the representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes be affected?

A:- No, the process of delimitation ensures proportional reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. With an expanded House, the number of reserved seats would increase significantly, thereby strengthening their representation.

Caste Census Clarification

10. Was this Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced to delay caste census?

A:- No, the government has already started a time-bound programme for caste census. The process includes detailed enumeration, and caste-related data will be recorded during the population count phase.

Reservation For Muslim Women

11. Why was there no separate quota for Muslim women within the reservation framework?

A:-A The Constitution of India does not provide for reservation based on religion. Reservation policies are based on social and economic backwardness, as laid out in the Constitution.

Implementation Timeline

12. Why was women's reservation not implemented in the 2024 general elections itself?

A:- Implementing reservation requires delimitation of seats. Delimitation is an extensive consultative process. It takes about two years to complete delimitation. Therefore, these Bills (including Delimitation Bill) were brought in Parliament for implementing women's reservation.

Rationale For Introducing The Bill In 2023

13. Why was the Women's Reservation Bill introduced in 2023 if it was not to be implemented immediately?

A:- The Bill was introduced and passed in 2023 to establish the legal and constitutional framework for women's reservation. Its unanimous passage reflected broad political support at the time, enabling the enactment of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

Union Territories Bill Explanation

14. Why was a separate Union Territories Bill required?

A:- Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories such as Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry are governed by separate legal provisions. Therefore, specific amendments were required to implement women's reservation in these regions, necessitating a separate Bill.

The defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill means the 33% quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will not be implemented as initially proposed. The government may need to explore alternative strategies to achieve the goals of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Future discussions and potential revisions to the bill are anticipated to address the concerns raised by the Opposition.
A Gurugram school principal has been arrested for allegedly defrauding students by falsely representing CBSE accreditation, highlighting the critical importance of verifying school credentials.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Gurugram school principal arrested for allegedly defrauding students with fake CBSE accreditation.

The arrest follows an FIR filed by parents after students were denied admit cards for board exams.

The school falsely claimed CBSE accreditation up to Class 10, jeopardising students' futures.

The school chairman was previously arrested in connection with the same accreditation fraud case.

More than a month after Gurugram Police arrested the chairman of a private school for allegedly defrauding students by showing them fake CBSE accreditation up to Class 10, the principal of the school has now been arrested in the same case.

The action followed an FIR filed by the parents of a Class 10 student against the principal, directors and others connected to the Educrust International School in Sector 9B, after she was denied an admit card for her board exams, police said on Sunday.

According to police, the principal, Riddhima Kataria from Basai village, fled to Gujarat after the FIR was lodged, from where she has now been arrested.

Accusations Of False Accreditation

The matter first came to light on February 17 when 11 Class 10 students missed their CBSE mathematics board examination after not receiving admit cards, police said.

A case was registered against the management of the school on February 18, they said.

In his complaint, the father of the Class 10 student alleged that the school management defrauded his daughter by not issuing her an admit card despite regularly charging various fees.

Details Of The Complaint

The complainant alleged that at the time of admission, the school management claimed to be CBSE-accredited and even showed an accreditation certificate and registration number.

But the registration number shown was also incorrect, a lapse that cost his daughter a year besides jeopardising her future, the complainant said.

Many parents of Class 10 students also alleged that the school management falsely claimed to be CBSE-accredited, but when their children did not receive admit cards for the board exams, it was found that the school was not accredited by the CBSE up to the tenth grade.

Investigation And Previous Arrest

Based on the complaints, police booked school chairman Vinay Kataria, principal Riddhima Kataria, vice principal Simar Batra, coordinator Sonia and other staff members under the relevant sections of the BNS.

Kataria was arrested from Bilaspur in the district on March 6, police said.

During interrogation, Kataria revealed that he had been running the school for the past eight years, which was accredited by the CBSE up to the eighth grade only, a spokesperson for Gurugram police had said last month.

He showed a fake Class 10 accreditation to 25 students and enrolled them in classes 9 and 10, the spokesperson said.

Under Indian law, charges of fraud and forgery are typically applied in such cases. The investigation will likely involve gathering further evidence and potentially questioning other school staff and parents to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and any additional victims.
The diplomatic row erupted following the circulation of a video purportedly capturing radio communications from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy.

IMAGE: Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

The Iranian embassy in South Africa has launched a biting social media attack on US President Donald Trump, using a viral maritime audio clip to label him an "idiot".

The diplomatic row erupted following the circulation of a video purportedly capturing radio communications from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy.

Key Points Taking to X, the embassy stated, "You idiot, he meant your Idiot President, Trump. Just google 'idiot'--you'll understand who it is."

The underlying audio, attributed to the IRGC Navy, issued a stern warning to all vessels attempting to navigate the strategic Strait of Hormuz

Tehran claims this blockade is a direct "violation of the conditions of the ongoing ceasefire".

In the recording, a voice is heard using the term "idiot", a remark that some social media accounts claimed was directed at Iran's own Foreign Minister.

However, the Iranian mission in Pretoria moved quickly to dismiss these claims, asserting that the insult was intended for the American President. Taking to X, the embassy stated, "You idiot, he meant your Idiot President, Trump. Just google 'idiot'--you'll understand who it is."

The underlying audio, attributed to the IRGC Navy, issued a stern warning to all vessels attempting to navigate the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The radio message, broadcast on maritime Channel 16, declared that the waterway remains under Tehran's strict control.

"This is Iranian Sepah Navy calling on channel 16, Strait of Hormuz is still closed, we will open it by the order of our Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiot," the radio communication announced.

The broadcast further warned of military consequences for any ships defying the closure. "If you want to pass through the Strait, you must ask for the permission from the Iranian Sepah navy. All vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be targeted if they try to pass the Strait of Hormuz," the message added.

Providing further context to this escalation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has officially announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian state media outlet Press TV, the move follows the United States' decision to uphold a blockade of Iranian ports.

Tehran claims this blockade is a direct "violation of the conditions of the ongoing ceasefire". In a formal communication issued on Saturday, the IRGC Navy clarified that, following the initial ceasefire declaration, the Islamic Republic had opted to permit the passage of non-military ships through the vital waterway via a "specific corridor designated by Tehran".

However, this policy has been abruptly rescinded due to perceived American aggression. "Due to the violation of the ceasefire conditions, and as the American adversary has not lifted the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed as of this evening until this blockade is removed," the Corps stated.

Press TV noted that the move marks a significant escalation in the maritime standoff between the two nations.

Following this closure, the IRGC issued a stern directive to all maritime traffic in the region, warning that no ship should attempt to leave its "anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman" to navigate towards the waterway.

The IRGC further cautioned that any such maritime activity would be viewed as "cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted", according to the statement.

This warning places international shipping on high alert as the IRGC asserts total control over the region's primary energy transit route.

Reiterating its command over the area, the statement insisted that the IRGC's Navy is the "only official authority" regarding the management and regulations of the waterway.

The Iranian military also dismissed recent rhetoric from Washington, declaring that "statements made by the terrorist US president regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf have no validity".

The strategic importance of the "Strait of Hormuz" remains a focal point of international concern, as it serves as one of the most vital conduits for the global oil trade.

Any operational interference within this waterway carries instant consequences for international energy distribution and the stability of maritime logistics.
Acting swiftly on the information, District Childline Coordinator Ramnaryan Gurjar, along with case worker Archana Meena, reached the spot and found that an eight-year-old Class 5 girl was set to be married off.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

An eight-year-old boy's timely intervention helped prevent the child marriage of his friend from Class 5, scheduled on the night of Akshaya Tritiya, highlighting both the persistence of the social evil and the strength of awareness among children.

Key Points Acting swiftly on the information, District Childline Coordinator Ramnaryan Gurjar, along with case worker Archana Meena, reached the spot and found that an eight-year-old Class 5 girl was set to be married off.

Shockingly, another 16-year-old girl was also found in the same place, whose marriage was scheduled for the evening.

Besides, its crackdown on child marriages, on proceeding by Bundi district administration, the judicial magistrate on Sunday issued four prohibitory (injunction) orders in recent cases to prevent such incidents.

"Bhaiya/Didi, please stop my friend's marriage, she is very young, we play together, go to school, she doesn't want to get married, she wants to study," the boy reportedly told Childline 1098 officials.

Acting swiftly on the information, District Childline Coordinator Ramnaryan Gurjar, along with case worker Archana Meena, reached the spot and found that an eight-year-old Class 5 girl was set to be married off.

Child marriages are prohibited under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. However, in Rajasthan, such marriages are solemnised every year during Akshaya Tritiya, locally known as Akha Teej, which is considered one of the most auspicious days for weddings in many rural areas.

Shockingly, another 16-year-old girl was also found in the same place, whose marriage was scheduled for the evening.

With assistance from Dablana SHO Priya Vyas, they rescued both minor girls and produced them before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which subsequently directed that the two girls be taken to the shelter home.

Bundi CWC chairperson Seema Poddar said, "The boy's intervention is deeply moving, indicating his courage and sense of right and wrong helped stop a grave violation of children's rights."

His act also motivated the child rights protection activists, justifying the fruitfulness of the awareness campaign against child marriage, she said.

In Bundi district, child marriages are often reported among the Gurjar, Meena, Meghwal, Mali, Regar, Barwa and Bheel communities, which are often conducted discreetly as part of mass weddings or individual events on Akshaya Tritiya.

In this regard, Bundi district administration has activated a multi-layered monitoring mechanism, particularly in sensitive rural pockets where child marriages have been prevalent for decades, officials said.

A dedicated Child Marriage Control Room has been set up at the district headquarters with a 24-hour helpline (0747-2442305), while grassroots workers, including ASHA workers and Saathin volunteers, have been sensitised to report suspected cases.

Besides, its crackdown on child marriages, on proceeding by Bundi district administration, the judicial magistrate on Sunday issued four prohibitory (injunction) orders in recent cases to prevent such incidents.

In the Bundi Sadar area, two minor girls aged 16 and 17 were being married to youths aged 15 and 21. Prompt action by Tehsildar Arjun Meena led to judicial intervention and halted both marriages. The girls, students of Classes 11 and 12, were rescued in time.

In another case in a different part of Bundi, a Class 10 minor girl was being married to a 28-year-old man. A prohibitory order issued by the judicial magistrate stopped the marriage, with Childline worker Ravi Kumar playing a key role.
Hyderabad Police's 'Operation Octopus 2.0' has successfully dismantled a vast cyber fraud network, leading to the arrest of 52 individuals, including complicit bank officials, across nine states in India.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points Hyderabad Police dismantled a pan-India cyber fraud network in 'Operation Octopus 2.0'.

52 individuals were arrested across nine states, including bank officials and mule account holders.

The network facilitated investment scams, trading frauds, and 'digital arrest' scams.

The fraudsters used 350 bank accounts to siphon off victims' funds, amounting to nearly Rs 150 crores.

'Operation Octopus 2.0' builds on the success of 'Operation Octopus 1', which led to 117 arrests.

Hyderabad Police on Sunday said that they have dismantled a pan-India cyber fraud network involving bank officials by arresting 52 accused across nine states.

Under 'Operation Octopus 2.O', as many as 32 bank officials, 15 mule account holders and five middlemen were apprehended for complicity, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said in a release.

Details of Operation Octopus 2.0

The operation launched recently led to the arrest of bank officials who were found to be in connivance in the opening of mule bank accounts, which were used to facilitate cyber frauds, he said.

Police said there has been a significant rise in investment scams, trading frauds, and "digital arrest" scams, wherein fraudsters exploit victims through manipulation, intimidation, and emotional coercion, leading to substantial financial losses.

Impact of the Cyber Fraud Network

Recognising the seriousness of the situation, 'Operation Octopusa 1' was conceptualised to deliver a decisive strike against these illegal networks. Through an intensive investigation into the surge of such frauds, the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS), uncovered a nexus of 350 bank accounts used to siphon off victims' funds, police said.

These accounts were linked to approximately 850 cases across the country involving transactions amounting to nearly Rs 150 crores, police said.

Previous Operation and Continued Efforts

Accordingly, in February this year, 'Operation Octopusa 1' was executed across 16 states by 32 police teams, resulting in the arrest of 117 accused persons.

Building on the outcomes of Operation Octopusa 1, Operation Octopus 2.O was launched, they said.

The operation Octopus 2.O was executed simultaneously across nine states with 16 special teams deployed to identified bank official targets in Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar. The operation went on for seven days, and 52 individuals, including bank officials who played pivotal roles in the execution of the fraud, were apprehended, police said.

The mule account holders knowingly permitted their bank accounts to be used for layering and laundering illicit funds; the five key middlemen were responsible for procuring these accounts and facilitating the movement of funds to the masterminds, police added.

The entire operation was conducted under the direct supervision of DCP (Cybercrimes) V Aravind Babu and ACP (Cyber Crime police station) R G Siva Maruthi, the release added.

Under Indian law, those involved in cyber fraud and money laundering can face charges under the Information Technology Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The next stage of the investigation will likely involve tracing the flow of funds and identifying the masterminds behind the operation, as well as any additional accomplices.
India expresses serious concerns to Iran regarding the safety of merchant ships after vessels were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy transit point.

IMAGE: Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points Two other vessels, Samnar Herad and Jag Arnav, reported being fired upon and turned back.

India's Foreign Secretary summoned Iran's ambassador to convey 'deep concern' over the shipping incidents.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical energy artery, handling a fifth of global oil and gas flows.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have driven up energy prices and triggered supply shortages.

An Indian-flagged crude tanker safely transited the Strait of Hormuz even as two other vessels were forced to turn back after being fired at, prompting New Delhi to raise concerns with Iran over the safety of merchant shipping.

Crude oil tanker Desh Garima, with 31 Indian seafarers onboard, crossed the strategic waterway on April 18 and is expected to reach Mumbai on April 22, according to an update released by the government on developments in West Asia.

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) tanker is the 10th India-flagged vessel to have crossed the strait since early March.

In contrast, very large crude carrier Samnar Herad and bulk carrier Jag Arnav reported a firing incident while transiting the strait in the past 24 hours and returned to the Persian Gulf.

No injuries were reported among the crew.

MarineTraffic data showed oil tankers Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor also reversing course near the chokepoint, taking the number of India-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf to 14.

India's foreign secretary summoned Iran's ambassador in New Delhi to convey "deep concern" over the incident and underscored the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and mariners.

He urged Tehran to relay India's position to its authorities and to resume facilitating India-bound vessels through the route at the earliest.

"The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi was called in yesterday by the Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with Foreign Secretary. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India's deep concern at the shooting incident earlier yesterday involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners," the update said.

Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, "Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait," it said.

The situation, it said, "continues to be closely monitored in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and relevant stakeholders. All Indian seafarers are safe."

Details of the involved vessels

State-run SCI owns Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor, while Sanmar Herald is operated by Sanmar Shipping and Jag Arnav by Great Eastern Shipping Company.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker reported being approached by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats and fired upon about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.

This may have prompted the turning back of Indian vessels.

According to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com, two India-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to turn back after coming under fire.

Impact on global energy supplies

The disruptions come as scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the West Asia war on February 28, which has sharply curtailed movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world's most critical energy arteries. Iran's ability to disrupt traffic through the narrow passage has emerged as a key lever in the conflict.

The halt in transit has driven up energy prices, triggered supply shortages in parts of the world, and forced some countries to ration fuel, underscoring the global impact of the standoff.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will likely issue an advisory to Indian-flagged vessels transiting the area. Under international law, attacks on civilian vessels can be considered acts of piracy, depending on the circumstances and location of the incident.
Six juveniles have been apprehended by Delhi Police for the alleged murder of a 19-year-old man in Samaypur Badli, following a heated dispute that escalated into a fatal attack.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Six juveniles have been apprehended for the murder of 19-year-old Rajeev in Delhi's Samaypur Badli area.

The murder occurred after a heated exchange between the victim and the accused group.

A 15-year-old is suspected of inflicting the fatal injury, while the others are aged between 14 and 16.

The motive appears to be a personal grudge stemming from an argument the day before the attack.

Delhi Police are continuing their investigation to identify and apprehend any other individuals involved in the murder case.

Six juveniles have been apprehended for allegedly murdering a 19-year-old man in outernorth Delhi's Samaypur Badli area, police said on Sunday.

The police apprehended the accused on Saturday after analysing CCTV footage and gathering local intelligence, they said.

The murder occurred on the evening of April 14 in the MCD Colony area, when the victim, identified as Rajeev, was attacked, they added.

The police received information about the stabbing at around 7.44 pm at Samaypur Badli Police Station. Rajeev, a tempo driver, was rushed to a hospital in Shalimar Bagh but succumbed to his injuries.

What Sparked The Deadly Dispute?

Preliminary investigation revealed that the dispute began on April 13, when a group of locals gathered near the victim's residence, leading to a heated exchange.

"The confrontation intensified the following evening when the group returned and attacked Rajeev with a knife," a senior police officer said.

Investigation And Apprehension Of Suspects

The police registered a case at the Samaypur Badli station and took up an investigation. The team successfully traced and apprehended six juveniles, with a 15-year-old identified as the one who allegedly inflicted the fatal injury. The others are aged between 14 and 16.

Motive Behind The Crime

The motive behind the crime appears to be a personal grudge. A day before the incident, the main accused and his grandmother had an argument with Rajeev and his father.

Derogatory remarks made during the argument are suspected to have triggered the retaliatory attack, police said.

Ongoing Investigation Details

Further investigation is underway, with efforts being made to identify and apprehend any other individuals involved in the case, police said.

Under Indian law, juveniles involved in serious crimes may be tried as adults depending on the circumstances. The investigation will likely focus on gathering more evidence and witness statements to build a strong case against the accused juveniles.
Kannur Dental College refutes claims of caste discrimination in the tragic death of a BDS student, suggesting a loan app issue was the primary factor, as police investigate allegations of abetment.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Kannur Dental College denies allegations of caste discrimination in the death of a BDS student.

The college attributes the student's death to issues related to a loan taken through a mobile app.

Police are investigating the case, including allegations of abetment of suicide against faculty members.

The college management has provided CCTV footage and other documents to the police.

Cyber police have arrested three individuals in connection with the loan and related threats.

The management of Kannur Dental College, where a BDS student died after allegedly jumping from a building, on Sunday said his death was not due to caste discrimination but linked to a loan taken through a mobile app.

The statement was issued by Medical Director Dr Adnan Siddique.

Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student at a private dental college in Anjarakandy, was found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.

Police have registered a case against two faculty members for abetment of suicide and under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following allegations that Raj was harassed over his caste and complexion.

College Denies Caste Discrimination Allegations

In its statement, the management said it was wrong to claim that Raj died due to caste discrimination.

The college said that neither Raj nor his family nor his classmates had complained of caste discrimination.

The allegation is that one teacher made improper comments, and Raj had said a month ago that he would attend the teacher's class, the statement said.

The college authorities claimed that no formal complaints were filed against the teacher.

They also said they had handed over CCTV footage, letters Raj wrote to his father, and his examination papers to the police investigating the case.

Loan App Involvement and Investigation

According to the management, Raj had taken a loan through an app, following which one of his teachers began receiving frequent calls and messages from loan operators, which she reported to the principal.

Raj was then called to the principal's office, where he said the loan had been taken for his brother-in-law, identified as Asokan, it said.

He was asked to remove the teacher's name from the reference list.

However, Raj claimed he had not given the teacher's name as a reference.

The college said it attempted to contact Asokan, but was unable to reach him.

Subsequently, the teacher decided to file a complaint with the cyber police regarding the repeated calls.

After this, Raj left the principal's room and allegedly jumped from the building, the statement said.

The management said CCTV footage of the incident has also been handed over to the police.

College Claims Support for the Student

It further claimed that the college had always supported Raj, including during an earlier issue outside the campus, though it did not elaborate on the matter.

The family had assured that counselling would be provided to him after that incident, the statement added.

The college said the clarification was issued in response to what it termed as false allegations raised after the incident.

Recently, the Cyber Police arrested three persons from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a loan provided to Raj and the threats to him regarding repayment.

Under Indian law, abetment of suicide can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The SC/ST Act aims to prevent discrimination and atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the police investigation will likely focus on whether caste-based harassment contributed to the student's distress.
Kannur Dental College refutes claims of caste discrimination in a student's death, attributing the tragedy to complications arising from a mobile loan app and prompting a police investigation into potential abetment of suicide.

Key Points Kannur Dental College denies allegations of caste discrimination in the death of a BDS student, Nithin Raj.

The college management suggests a loan taken through a mobile app may have contributed to the student's distress.

Police have registered a case against two faculty members for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act.

The college claims it has provided CCTV footage and other evidence to the police to aid the investigation.

The student's brother-in-law expresses dissatisfaction with the ongoing police probe, alleging key individuals are being protected.

The management of Kannur Dental College, where a BDS student died after allegedly jumping from a building, on Sunday said his death was not due to caste discrimination but linked to a loan taken through a mobile app.

The statement was issued by Medical Director Dr Adnan Siddique.

Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student at a private dental college in Anjarakandy, was found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.

Police have registered a case against two faculty members for abetment of suicide and under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following allegations that Raj was harassed over his caste and complexion.

College Denies Caste Discrimination Allegations

In its statement, the management said it was wrong to claim that Raj died due to caste discrimination.

The college said that neither Raj nor his family nor his classmates had complained of caste discrimination.

The allegation is that one teacher made improper comments, and Raj had said a month ago that he would attend the teacher's class, the statement said.

The college authorities claimed that no formal complaints were filed against the teacher.

They also said they had handed over CCTV footage, letters Raj wrote to his father, and his examination papers to the police investigating the case.

Details Emerge About Mobile Loan App Involvement

According to the management, Raj had taken a loan through an app, following which one of his teachers began receiving frequent calls and messages from loan operators, which she reported to the principal.

Raj was then called to the principal's office, where he said the loan had been taken for his brother-in-law, identified as Asokan, it said.

He was asked to remove the teacher's name from the reference list.

However, Raj claimed he had not given the teacher's name as a reference.

The college said it attempted to contact Asokan, but was unable to reach him.

Subsequently, the teacher decided to file a complaint with the cyber police regarding the repeated calls.

After this, Raj left the principal's room and allegedly jumped from the building, the statement said.

The management said CCTV footage of the incident has also been handed over to the police.

College Claims Support for Student

It further claimed that the college had always supported Raj, including during an earlier issue outside the campus, though it did not elaborate on the matter.

The family had assured that counselling would be provided to him after that incident, the statement added.

The college said the clarification was issued in response to what it termed as false allegations raised after the incident.

Brother-in-Law Expresses Dissatisfaction with Investigation

Recently, the Cyber Police arrested three persons from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a loan provided to Raj and the threats to him regarding repayment.

Meanwhile, Asokan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, that he was unaware of claims that a loan had been taken for him by Raj.

Asokan said he had not received any communication from the college authorities regarding the matter

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing probe.

"In the loan app case, only those handling customers have been arrested. The main accused and the financial sources behind the loans have not yet been identified," he said.

Asokan further alleged that the prime accused, Dr M K Ram, Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, is still absconding.

"They managed to arrest loan app operators from Noida. But Ram is still absconding and they have not been able to trace him," he said.

He also alleged that two faculty members, Dr Ram and Dr Sangeetha Nambiar, are being protected in the case.

"There is some pressure in the case. From the management side, pressure has been exerted, due to which these faculty members are being protected," he alleged.

Under Indian law, abetment of suicide can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Police will likely investigate the financial trail of the loan app and any potential coercion or harassment that led to the student's death. The case highlights the growing concerns around unregulated loan apps and their impact on vulnerable individuals.
In a shocking incident in Kanpur, a father has been arrested for the alleged murder of his twin daughters, prompting a police investigation into the motive and circumstances surrounding this tragic crime.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A man in Kanpur allegedly murdered his 11-year-old twin daughters by slitting their throats after drugging them.

The accused, Shashi Ranjan Mishra, has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

Mishra's wife claims he was mentally disturbed and had expressed a desire to die with the children.

Police are investigating the motive, considering psychological distress, depression, and financial strain as potential factors.

The wife of the accused has demanded the death penalty for the murder of her daughters.

A man allegedly killed his 11-year-old twin daughters by slitting their throats with a cleaver after giving them food laced with sleeping pills at an apartment in Kanpur, police said.

Shashi Ranjan Mishra, 48, a medical representative, was arrested from his house, police said.

According to his wife, Reshma, Mishra had been mentally disturbed following his mother's death and had repeatedly expressed a desire to die along with the children. She demanded the death penalty for him, saying that he "does not deserve to live".

Details of the Crime in Kidwai Nagar

The crime took place at Kidwai Nagar's Trimoorti Apartment in the Naubasta area, where Mishra lived with his wife, Reshma, who hails from West Bengal's Siliguri, his 11-year-old twin daughters, and their six-year-old son.

Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal told PTI, "A police response vehicle received a call at around 4.30 am about the murder of twin sisters. On reaching the flat, the personnel found both girls lying dead in a pool of blood, while the accused was present inside."

Mishra, who originally hails from Bihar, himself alerted them about the incident. He has been detained and is being questioned, Lal said, adding that "Prima facie, the father appears to be mentally disturbed. Further investigation is underway."

Forensic teams have inspected the scene and collected evidence, while a sniffer dog unit was also called. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for a post-mortem.

Police Investigation and Preliminary Findings

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Deependra Nath Chaudhary said preliminary findings suggest that the girls were attacked while they were fast asleep, but the motive remains unclear.

The police are also examining the sequence of events inside the house, including how the mother, who was present at the time, became aware of the crime.

She is in shock and has not yet been interrogated, said an official, adding that footage from the CCTV camera is being examined.

Wife Demands Death Penalty

Hours after his arrest, the accused's wife, Reshma, demanded the death penalty for Mishra, saying that he "does not deserve to live" after the brutal killing of their twin daughters.

She told police that she married Mishra in 2014 after meeting him while working at a parlour in Kanpur, and alleged that while their marriage was initially stable, he later turned violent, often assaulting her under the influence of alcohol and consuming sleeping pills.

She also claimed that he was excessively suspicious and had installed CCTV cameras throughout the house, restricting her access to his room, where the daughters stayed.

According to her, Mishra had been mentally disturbed following his mother's death and had repeatedly expressed a desire to die along with the children.

Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy

Recounting the sequence of events, Reshma said the night appeared normal as the family had dinner before Mishra took the daughters to his room.

Later, when she monitored the CCTV feed, she reportedly saw that around 2.30 am, her husband took one child to the washroom, and later switched off the lights. By the morning, the children were found dead.

Police said the accused has confessed to mixing sleeping pills in the children's food, strangling them, and later slitting their throats with a cleaver purchased a day earlier, before calling the police and surrendering.

During questioning, he reportedly cited anxiety about his daughters' future as a reason. An FIR has been registered at Naubasta on the wife's complaint, the weapon has been recovered, and investigators are probing psychological distress, depression, and possible financial strain as contributing factors, officials said.

Under Indian law, the accused would likely face charges of murder, which carries a potential death sentence or life imprisonment. The police investigation will now focus on gathering evidence to build a case and determining the exact motive behind the crime. Such incidents of filicide, while rare, often highlight underlying mental health issues or severe domestic conflicts.
Home Depot is the biggest retailer by market capitalization, and its share price reflects the rise in earnings over the years. While the company rewards its C-suite executives handsomely for meeting internal targets, it also pays attention to its frontline workers in its retail stores.

Heres who gets paid the most at Home Depot and what the median compensation among employees is.

Who are Home Depots highest-paid executives?

Home Depots top executives were among the highest-paid employees in fiscal 2025 as the retailer continued to post strong earnings and meet company targets. CEO Ted Decker had a base salary of $1.4 billion, but stock options and cash awards lifted his total compensation to $16.19 million.

Among executive vice presidents, Ann-Marie Campbell, who oversees U.S. stores, had a salary of $1 million, but her total compensation was seven times that amount.

Executive 2025 Salary Total compensation Edward P. Decker, Chair, President, and CEO $1,400,000 $16,191,127 Richard V. McPhail, EVP, and CFO $971,923 $6,224,296 Ann-Marie Campbell, Senior EVP, U.S. Stores $1,053,769 $7,452,600 William D. Bastek, EVP, Merchandising $788,462 $5,383,781 Jordan Broggi, EVP, Customer Experience, and President, Online $730,769 $4,716,130 Hector A. Padilla, former EVP for U.S. Stores and Operations (served until September 12, 2025) $452,012 $6,418,376 Fahim Siddiqui, former EVP and Chief Information Officer ( served until May 29, 2025) $228,227 $5,640,440

Related: How many employees does Home Depot have?

What is Home Depots median compensation & CEO pay ratio?

Home Depots median compensation, which includes salary and stock awards, was $37,881 in fiscal 2025. That was based on the hourly pay of an associate in the U.S. Deckers compensation as CEO amounted to $16.19 million, which puts the company's CEO pay ratio at 427 to 1.

This pay ratio is down from five years earlier. Its CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio was 511 to 1 in fiscal 2020, when CEO compensation was almost $14 million, and the median was $27,389.

By comparison, at Nvidia, where the media employee compensation was much higher at around $300,000, the CEO pay ratio was 166 to 1 in fiscal 2025.

How much do Home Depots associates make?

Home Depot generally refers to its employees as associates, whether they work on the floor at its stores or in an office at the companys corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The retailer had about 472,400 associates at the end of fiscal 2025, but the majority work in the companys 2,359 stores and are paid hourly.

Related: Home Depot's Atlanta headquarters: Everything you need to know

On Home Depots careers page on its website, as of mid-April 2026, there were almost 19,000 job listings for various roles in departments including customer service/sales, distribution center and warehouse, merchandising, and support.
A father in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for the alleged murder of his 11-year-old twin daughters, prompting a police investigation into the motive behind the shocking crime.

Key Points A man in Kanpur, India, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 11-year-old twin daughters.

The accused, Shashi Ranjan Mishra, is a 48-year-old medical representative.

Police were alerted to the crime around 4:30 am and found the girls dead at the scene.

The motive for the Kanpur twin daughters' murder is currently unclear, and an investigation is underway.

The mother of the victims was present in the house and is in shock; CCTV footage is being examined.

A 48-year-old man allegedly killed his 11-year-old twin daughters by slitting their throats with a sharp-edged weapon at his flat in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur in early Sunday, police said.

The accused, identified as Shashi Ranjan Mishra (48), a medical representative, was arrested from the spot, they said.

Crime Scene and Investigation Details

The crime took place at Trimoorti Apartment in Kidwai Nagar in the Naubasta police station area, where Mishra lived with his wife Reshma, who hails from Siliguri in West Bengal, his twin daughters, and their six-year-old son.

Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal told PTI, "A police response vehicle (PRV) received a call around 4.30 am about the murder of twin sisters. On reaching the flat, the PRV personnel found both girls lying dead in a pool of blood, while the accused was present inside."

The police said Mishra, who originally hails from Bihar, himself alerted them about the incident. He has been detained and is being questioned.

Possible Motive and Mental State

"Prima facie, the father appears to be mentally disturbed. Further investigation is underway," Lal said.

Forensic Evidence and Post-Mortem Examination

Forensic teams have inspected the scene and collected evidence, while a sniffer dog unit was also called. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Mother's Condition and CCTV Footage

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Deependra Nath Chaudhary said preliminary findings suggest that the girls were attacked while they were fast asleep. The motive remains unclear.

The police are also examining the sequence of events inside the house, including how the mother, who was present at the time, became aware of the crime.

She is in shock and has not yet been interrogated, said an official, adding that footage from the CCTV camera is being examined.

Under Indian law, Shashi Ranjan Mishra would likely face charges related to murder. The police investigation will focus on determining the motive, which could influence the specific charges and potential penalties. The mental state of the accused will also be a key factor in the legal proceedings.
In a shocking incident in Kanpur, a man has been arrested for the alleged murder of his twin daughters, prompting a police investigation into the motive behind the heinous crime.

Key Points A Kanpur man allegedly drugged and murdered his 11-year-old twin daughters in a horrific crime.

The man, Shashi Ranjan Mishra, reportedly confessed to strangling and slitting the throats of his daughters after giving them sleeping pills.

Police are investigating the motive, exploring psychological distress, depression, and financial strain as potential factors in the Kanpur murders.

The mother of the victims described a turbulent marriage marked by suspicion, accusations of infidelity, and the husband's struggles with depression.

"He does not deserve to live," lamented a mother of twin 11-year-old girls after she woke up to the horror of finding her daughters dead in a pool of blood, allegedly drugged and killed by her husband.

The crime has tore apart the family of five -- parents, two daughters and a young son.

Reshma, who had come to Kanpur from West Bengal's Siliguri and married Shashi Ranjan Mishra, 48, in 2014, described a life that had slowly unravelled behind closed doors. The family lived in a rented apartment in Kidwai Nagar, and were estranged by routines. She slept with their six-year-old son, while Mishra shared another room with the twin girls.

Family Background and Marital Discord

Once a medical representative, Mishra had left his job a few years ago to start a business, but had recently been without work. Reshma, too, who earlier worked at a beauty parlour, was unemployed.

According to Reshma, the marriage had turned turbulent over the years. Mishra allegedly grew increasingly suspicious and accused her of infidelity and installed CCTVs across the house.

He drank, took sleeping pills, and had been battling depression, especially after his mother's death. "He had said earlier that he would end his life," she told police, adding that he had even spoken about dying along with the children.

The Night of the Crime

On the night of the incident, Mishra took the daughters to his room, as was the routine. Reshma said she went to sleep with her son.

CCTV footage later showed Mishra taking one of the girls to the washroom around 2:30 am and returning, suggesting both children were alive at that point. What happened afterwards remains the most chilling gap in the timeline.

Police said Mishra confessed to mixing sleeping pills into the children's food, rendering them unconscious before strangling them and later slitting their throats with a cleaver he had purchased a day earlier.

Investigation and Aftermath

Investigators noted the absence of any signs of struggle, reinforcing suspicions that the girls were incapacitated before the attack. Mishra himself called the police around 4:30 am and was found inside the flat when officers arrived.

Reshma said she had no idea of the killings until police reached their door in the early hours. "I was asleep. I did not know when it happened," she told officials, still in shock. Her statement has formed the basis of an FIR registered at Naubasta police station.

Police officers say the motive remains unclear, though Mishra reportedly cited anxiety about his daughters' future.

Police are examining possible psychological distress, depression, and financial strain as contributing factors. Forensic teams have combed the flat, collecting evidence, while CCTV footage is being analysed to reconstruct the final hours.

Under Indian law, Shashi Ranjan Mishra would likely face charges of murder, potentially carrying a sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the court's assessment of the crime's severity. The police investigation will now focus on gathering forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and establishing a clear motive for the killings.
Kerala's Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, has accused the state government of misleading the public by prematurely inaugurating a landslide victim township in Wayanad, citing construction flaws and political motives.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points V D Satheesan alleges the Kerala government inaugurated a Wayanad township for landslide victims to mislead the public.

Houses in the Wayanad Model Township, intended for 2024 landslide victims, reportedly have cracks and leaks.

Satheesan criticises the Revenue Minister's assessment of construction issues, suggesting engineers should conduct the examination.

Satheesan claims the houses are not fit for habitation and the inauguration was a deceptive pre-election tactic.

Satheesan also questions the effectiveness of probes into the Sabarimala gold loss case and the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank case.

Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan on Sunday alleged that the state government inaugurated a township for the 2024 landslide victims in Wayanad to "mislead" people.

Nearly two years after the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide, the Kerala government developed the Wayanad Model Township at Elton Estate and handed over houses to 178 families at an event inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on March 1 this year.

Concerns Over Housing Quality

Speaking to reporters here, Satheesan was responding to recent reports about cracks and leaks in the houses built for the landslide victims and the visit of Revenue Minister K Rajan to assess the situation.

He said the minister is not an expert to examine construction issues and that such assessments should be carried out by engineers.

According to him, the houses are not yet fit for habitation.

Allegations of Deception

He said the CPI(M) leaders had raised allegations over a housing project for landslide victims by the Congress.

"The allegation against us is that we could not begin our housing project even after laying the foundation stone. Nobody is living in the houses inaugurated by the Chief Minister as they are not ready. So, the inauguration was done to deceive people before the elections," he said.

Satheesan further alleged that the houses were inaugurated without the work being completed and that the project received wide publicity during the election period.

He demanded that the Chief Minister and the government answer to the public.

Doubts Over Investigation Integrity

On the probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the Sabarimala gold loss case, Satheesan said the investigation would not lead anywhere.

He claimed that courts had denied bail to the accused, considering the gravity of the case, but the SIT, allegedly under pressure from the Chief Minister's Office, did not file a preliminary chargesheet, leading to the accused obtaining statutory bail.

"All the accused have been released from jail. Now there may not be any evidence left in the case," he alleged.

He also alleged that the ED would not conduct a proper investigation in cases linked to the LDF government.

"ED had issued a summons to the Chief Minister's son. What happened to that? Will they investigate the Sabarimala case?" he asked.

Karuvannur Bank Case

Referring to the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank case, Satheesan said the ED had earlier initiated a probe into alleged loan misappropriation involving CPI(M) leaders.

"After that, CPI(M) leaders helped the BJP candidate win the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Thrissur. Since then, no investigation has taken place. ED investigations are only a show during election periods," he alleged.

He further said that CPI(M) leaders had misled the public and that the truth would come out soon.

Under Indian law, charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust could apply if the allegations of misleading the public are proven. The next step in such investigations typically involves gathering evidence and recording statements from relevant parties. This controversy adds to the ongoing political tensions in Kerala.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of attempting to divide the state along religious and caste lines ahead of the upcoming elections, alleging voter roll manipulation and divisive tactics.

Photograph: @AITCofficial/X

Key Points Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of deleting names from electoral rolls, targeting minority and migrant communities.

Banerjee alleges the BJP is attempting to divide West Bengal society based on caste, religion, and community.

She claims the BJP is trying to 'capture Bengal by force' using central agencies and money power.

Banerjee assures that West Bengal will remain a place where all religions can be freely practised.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday held her first community outreach programme in her Bhabanipur constituency since filing her nomination on April 8, using the platform to sharpen her attack on the BJP over alleged deletion of names from electoral rolls and attempts to divide people on religious and caste lines.

At the meeting, organised at Ladies' Park in her constituency, Banerjee described elections as a "festival of democracy and not autocracy" and urged people from different communities to remain united ahead of the assembly polls.

Banerjee's Bhabanipur Battleground

Bhabanipur has emerged as one of the most keenly watched contests of the 2026 assembly polls, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a three-term MLA from the seat, locked in a direct battle against Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The contest has acquired added significance as it is being seen as a rematch of the 2021 Nandigram battle, where Adhikari had defeated Banerjee after quitting the TMC and joining the BJP.

Addressing a community interaction programme, Banerjee alleged that names of several voters belonging to minority and migrant communities had been removed from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision process.

Allegations of Voter Roll Manipulation

"Election is the festival of democracy, not autocracy," the Trinamool Congress supremo said before a gathering comprising members of the Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Gujarati, Sindhi, Bihari and ISKCON communities.

She appealed to those present to carry her message back to their respective communities and maintain social unity.

Banerjee claimed that around 300 nuns had found their names missing from the voters' list during the revision exercise.

She also alleged that names of voters from Muslim, Bihari and Gujarati communities had been struck off without any valid reason.

Accusations of Divisive Politics

Without naming the BJP directly at first, Banerjee accused her political opponents of trying to divide society on the basis of caste, religion and community in the run-up to the elections.

Referring to the recent controversy surrounding the women's reservation bill, she said attempts were being made to create social divisions instead of addressing people's concerns.

She accused the BJP of trying to "capture Bengal by force" and alleged that central agencies, security forces and money power were being used in the state because the party feared defeat.

Pledge to Protect Communal Harmony

She assured people that West Bengal would continue to remain a place where people of every caste, creed and religion could practise their faith freely.

"Everyone has the right to follow his or her religion in Bengal. We have always protected communal harmony," she said, adding that she had personally attended programmes of different communities over the years.

The meeting began in the evening after Banerjee arrived at the venue directly from Tarakeswar.

Though a chair had been kept for her on the dais, she chose to sit among those gathered in the front rows and addressed the audience with a hand-held microphone.

After the chief minister's speech, representatives of several communities expressed support for her and voiced hope that she would return to power for a fourth consecutive term.

Under Indian election law, manipulating electoral rolls can lead to criminal charges and potential disqualification from contesting elections. The Election Commission of India typically investigates such allegations to ensure a fair electoral process. The upcoming West Bengal elections are expected to be closely contested, with significant implications for national politics.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of misleading the nation over the women's quota bill and using it as a cover for a politically motivated delimitation exercise.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Mamata Banerjee accuses Narendra Modi of misleading the nation on the women's quota bill.

Banerjee alleges the central government is plotting delimitation using women as a shield.

TMC claims to champion higher political representation for women, citing their parliamentary representation.

Banerjee opposes altering Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution and gerrymandering through delimitation.

Banerjee questions the timing of the delimitation exercise, linking it to the Women's Reservation Bill and upcoming elections.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday claimed that it was "deeply unfortunate" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to "mislead" the nation over the women's quota bill.

She also alleged that the central government was plotting to push through the delimitation exercise by "using women as a shield".

Banerjee's Allegations Against Modi

"It is deeply unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation rather than address it honestly," Banerjee said in a post on X.

In an address to the nation on Saturday, a day after a bill to implement 33 per cent women's reservation in legislatures from 2029 was defeated in the Lok Sabha, Modi warned the Congress and its allies that the women of India will severely punish them for "the sin of foeticide".

Banerjee said, "The Trinamool Congress has always championed higher political representation for women. We have the highest proportion of female elected representatives in both Parliament and the state legislature."

In the Lok Sabha, 37.9 per cent of TMC's elected members are women, she said, adding that the party has nominated 46 per cent women members in the Rajya Sabha.

She said that the question of opposing the women's reservation does not arise.

Opposition to Delimitation Exercise

"What we are fundamentally opposed to is the delimitation exercise that the Modi government was plotting to push through by using women as a shield for its vested political agenda," the TMC chief said.

Banerjee said her party opposed "the altering of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, the division of this nation and the usurpation of power through gerrymandering, by redrawing political contours to hand greater representation to BJP-ruled states at the expense of others".

Claiming that this is an "assault on federal democracy", the TMC chief said, "We will not watch it happen in silence."

Banerjee's Challenge to the Prime Minister

Lashing out at the Prime Minister, she wrote, "The next time you address the nation, have the courage to do so from the Floor of Parliament, where you are subject to scrutiny, challenge and accountability."

"What you did yesterday was cowardly, hypocritical and fork-tongued. You can feel power slipping through your fingers. And you are prepared to go to any extent to hold on for just a little while longer," the West Bengal CM said, targeting Modi.

On April 16, the central government introduced three key Bills in the Lok Sabha - The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, The Delimitation Bill, 2026 and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The government stated that the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as the Women Reservation Act, provides that reservation for women will be implemented based on delimitation after the Census conducted post-2026.

Questions on the Timing of the Bill

"If this government was genuinely serious about this noble cause, why did it wait nearly three years after the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill on September 28, 2023?" she said.

"Why rush it through when several states are in election? And why couple it with Delimitation?" Banerjee questioned, asserting that the Trinamool Congress has stood for women for decades.

The assembly election process is on in five states, including West Bengal.

"We will not be lectured on a subject that the ruling dispensation neither understands nor respects," Banerjee said.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, The Delimitation Bill, 2026 and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 are likely to face intense scrutiny and debate in the coming weeks. The delimitation exercise, if implemented, could significantly alter the political landscape by redrawing constituency boundaries, potentially impacting the representation of various states and political parties in future elections.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in Bihar's Nalanda district after allegedly causing a serious eye injury to a 13-year-old boy over a minor dispute, sparking a police investigation.

Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi on X

Key Points A 22-year-old man has been arrested in Nalanda, Bihar, for allegedly causing a serious eye injury to a 13-year-old boy.

The incident stemmed from a minor dispute between children in the Harnaut police station area.

Police have registered two complaints, one regarding the boy's eye injury and a counter-complaint alleging injuries to the accused's family's children.

The main accused has been remanded to judicial custody, and police are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining accused.

Police on Sunday arrested a man for allegedly causing "serious eye injury" to a 13-year-old boy over a minor dispute in Bihar's Nalanda district, officials said.

The incident occurred in the Harnaut police station area of the district.

Details of the Bihar Incident

"We received a written complaint on Saturday that a 13-year-old boy was injured in the eye by his neighbour on Friday over a minor dispute with fellow children," Bihar Sharif-2 SDPO Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal told PTI.

He said that the main accused, a 22-year-old man, has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody in the case.

Counter-Complaint Filed

"Meanwhile, a counter-complaint has also been registered by the other party, in which they claimed that the children of their family were also injured," the SDPO added.

Police Investigation Underway

According to a police statement, while four persons have been named as accused in one case, and six in the other.

"Raids are being conducted to apprehend the remaining accused. Investigation is underway," the SDPO said.

Under Indian law, causing grievous bodily harm can lead to charges under Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation will likely involve gathering witness statements and medical reports to determine the extent of the injuries and establish culpability. Such incidents often highlight underlying tensions within communities.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested in Delhi for opening fire at a CNG pump following a dispute, highlighting the dangers of escalating conflicts.

Photograph: PTI Photo from the Rediff Archives

Key Points A 31-year-old man was arrested for firing at a CNG pump in Narela, Delhi.

The accused had a dispute with the CNG pump staff the previous night.

Police recovered a country-made pistol and other evidence from the accused.

An investigation is underway to determine the source of the illegal weapon used in the Delhi CNG pump shooting.

A 31-year-old man was arrested for opening fire at a CNG pump in the Narela area of outernorth Delhi, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday at a CNG pump in Sector A-7.

Arrest and Confession

"The accused, identified as Vinit Kumar alias Binny, was arrested after CCTV footage was analysed", a senior police officer said.

During questioning, Kumar confessed to the firing and told police that he had a dispute with the CNG pump staff the previous night, the officer said.

Weapon and Investigation

He returned to the spot with a country-made pistol to take revenge and fired a shot aimed at the staff.

The police have recovered a country-made pistol, one live cartridge, one empty cartridge, a bullet fragment and the motorcycle used in the crime.

Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the illegal weapon, the police said.

Under Indian law, the accused could face charges related to attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms. The investigation will likely focus on identifying the source of the illegal weapon and whether the accused has a prior criminal record. Such incidents raise concerns about the availability of illegal firearms in the Delhi region.
A 33-year-old man was allegedly murdered in Kerala after a drunken brawl with his friend, leading to an arrest and a murder investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 33-year-old man named Rahul was allegedly murdered in Erattayar, Idukki, Kerala, following a drunken brawl.

The victim, Rahul, was allegedly strangled by his friend Sajayan after they consumed alcohol together.

Local residents alerted the police, but Rahul succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Sajayan has been arrested and a murder case has been registered by Kattappana police.

A 33-year-old man was allegedly murdered following a drunken brawl with his friend at Erattayar here, police said on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Rahul, a native of Erattayar.

Police have arrested his friend Sajayan in connection with the incident.

According to police, the incident occurred around 10.45 pm on Saturday near the old panchayat office in Erattayar.

Details of the Altercation

Rahul and Sajayan were engaged in painting work and had reportedly purchased liquor and consumed it together on Saturday night.

After consuming alcohol, a quarrel broke out between the two.

During the altercation, Sajayan allegedly assaulted Rahul and later strangled him, police said.

He then dragged Rahul to some distance before leaving the spot, police said.

Investigation and Arrest

Local residents who witnessed the incident alerted the police. Rahul was rushed to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

Police later took Sajayan into custody from his residence.

A case of murder has been registered by Kattappana police, and the accused will be produced before a court as part of remand proceedings, police added.

Under Indian law, Sajayan could face charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder. The investigation will likely involve gathering forensic evidence and witness statements to build a case against the accused.
A 59-year-old man in Jharkhand was arrested after police seized opium worth Rs 25 lakh from his home, disrupting his plans for his son's grand wedding.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 59-year-old man was arrested in Palamu, Jharkhand, for possession of opium.

Police seized opium worth Rs 25 lakh from the man's house.

The accused, Shankar Singh, was allegedly involved in buying and selling opium.

The raid was conducted based on a tip-off about the man's illegal activities and plans for his son's wedding.

A 59-year-old man was arrested after opium worth Rs 25 lakh was seized from his house in Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Sunday.

Opium Seizure and Arrest Details

The accused has been identified as Shankar Singh of Kedal village in the Manatu police station area, they said.

"On Saturday, a raid was conducted following a tip-off that the accused was involved in the buying and selling of opium and was planning to celebrate his son's wedding in a grand manner next month. During the raid, a total of 5 kg of the drug was recovered from his house," said Vicky Kumar, the officer in charge of Manatu police station.

Legal Proceedings

An FIR has been registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and he has been sent to judicial custody, police said.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Shankar Singh could face a lengthy prison sentence and a substantial fine if convicted. The investigation will likely focus on identifying the source of the opium and any other individuals involved in the drug trafficking network. Jharkhand has seen increased Naxal activity in recent years, with drug trafficking often used to fund operations.
A Ballia court sentenced a man to 25 years rigorous imprisonment under the POCSO Act for abducting a minor girl with false promises of marriage, highlighting the severity of crimes against children.

Key Points A man in Ballia has been sentenced to 25 years in jail under the POCSO Act.

The conviction relates to the abduction of a 15-year-old girl under the false promise of marriage.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 35,000 on the convicted man.

The incident occurred in November 2023 in a village under Bhimpura police station.

A Ballia court has sentenced a man, charged under the POCSO Act, to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for abducting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage, police said on Sunday.

Court Imposes Strict Penalty

The court of Additional District Judge (POCSO) Pratham Kant on Saturday also imposed a fine of Rs 35,000, they said.

According to the prosecution, the case pertains to a village in Bhimpura police station, where, in the early hours of November 23, 2023, Bunty Chauhan abducted a 15-year-old girl (a resident of the same village) by luring her with a false promise of marriage.

Investigation and Charge Sheet

Based on a complaint by the girl's mother, the police registered a case against the accused under the POCSO Act and other relevant sections.

Upon completing the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against the accused in court.

On Saturday, the court held Chauhan guilty and sentenced him to 25 years of imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 35,000, the SP said.

Under Indian law, offences under the POCSO Act often involve stringent penalties to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The next stage typically involves ensuring the victim receives appropriate counselling and support services, while the convicted individual may appeal the court's decision to a higher court.
We recently published Jim Cramer Discussed AI "Mojo" & Commented On These 13 Stocks. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer.

Contract chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM)s shares closed 3.3% lower on Thursday, on the day the firm reported its first quarter earnings. The results saw the firm post NT$1.134 trillion in revenue and NT$572 billion in net income. The results saw Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) beat analyst estimates of NT$1.127 trillion and NT$543 billion. While Cramer typically doesnt discuss the firm in his morning appearance, he watched the share price like a hawk on Thursday. In a flurry of tweets, the CNBC TV host criticized sellers of the shares and remarked that those selling the stock should listen to the firms earnings call. Before the earnings, Citi had discussed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM)s shares on March 30th as it raised the share price target to NT$2,800 from NT$2,600 and increased earnings projections on the back of growing demand for AI chips. As the market evaluated Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM)s earnings, Cramer wondered what drove the selling:

Sellers appearing in Taiwan Sem as the stock failed to pop. Have the sellers READ the conference call, which was a tour de force. Or are they just watching the stock and acting.. Bears frantically trying to keep Taiwan Semis stock down. Maybe they should listen to the call?

Jim Cramer Didn't Hold Back When Discussing Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) Sellers

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Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Two security personnel were killed in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after an attack by unidentified militants, prompting a security response and investigation.

Photograph: Screen grab/X

Key Points Two security personnel were killed in a militant attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

The attack occurred in the Kurram Garhi area of Bannu district.

Security forces have launched a search operation to find the assailants.

Additional security contingents have been dispatched to the area.

Two security personnel were killed by unidentified militants on Sunday in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police said.

Details Of The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Attack

The militants opened fire at two Federal Constabulary troops in the Kurram Garhi area within the jurisdiction of Cantt Police Station, in Bannu district bordering North Waziristan, a police official said.

Security Response And Investigation

Following the attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the assailants.

FC troops also responded with retaliatory fire during the incident.

Police confirmed that additional contingents have been dispatched to the scene, while a clearance operation is currently underway in the surrounding area.

Attacks targeting security forces are not uncommon in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, often claimed by various militant groups. Investigations into such incidents typically involve intelligence gathering and combing operations in the affected area. Under Pakistani law, perpetrators of such attacks could face charges related to terrorism and murder.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a scathing attack on the TMC government in West Bengal, accusing it of prioritising infiltrators and neglecting the state's identity as the assembly elections approach.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points PM Modi claims the West Bengal election is a fight to preserve the state's identity and heritage.

Modi accuses the TMC government of prioritising 'infiltrators' over the local population.

The Prime Minister alleges the TMC is involved in corruption, extortion, and depriving people of welfare schemes.

Modi highlights the lack of development in tribal areas under the TMC's 15-year rule.

Modi promises action against those involved in the coal scam in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that the upcoming assembly election in West Bengal was a battle to save the state's identity, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of pursuing politics that favoured "infiltrators" over the native population.

Addressing a rally in the tribal-dominated Jhargram district ahead of the April 23, Modi alleged that the TMC wanted to form a "government of infiltrators and for infiltrators", urging voters to unite to remove it from power.

Modi's Allegations Against TMC's Governance

"This election is to save the rich heritage of this land. It is for saving the identity of Bengal. Today, there is fear of Bengal losing its identity," he said.

"The path that the TMC is treading is very dangerous. The TMC wants to form a government of infiltrators and for infiltrators. A government that will protect only the religion of infiltrators, the language of infiltrators and the customs of infiltrators, rather than those of the people of Bengal," he alleged.

Modi claimed that for such a government, the biggest obstacle would be the ordinary people of West Bengal.

"For the TMC's infiltrator government, if there is any enemy, it will be the brothers and sisters sitting here who will be the enemies of the infiltrators," he said.

Resentment Against TMC Across Bengal

The PM claimed resentment against the TMC government had spread across communities and regions of the state.

"Therefore, every community, every class, every region of Bengal has resolved this time, and has taken a pledge to oust this TMC government," he claimed.

Modi accused the TMC of ignoring people's problems and of presiding over a system of corruption and extortion.

"If one has to build a house, one has to depend on TMC's syndicate. TMC MPs and MLAs are least bothered about your problems. They are busy filling their pockets," he alleged.Welfare Schemes and Tribal Neglect

Modi alleged the TMC was depriving people of various welfare schemes.

"TMC is stealing your ration and free housing. The BJP will ensure that you get your ration and free housing," he said.

Sharpening the BJP's pitch in the tribal belt, Modi accused the TMC of neglecting the region despite being in power for 15 years.

"You gave 15 years to the ruthless TMC government. Fifteen years is no small amount of time. What has the TMC government given you? What have the tribal areas received? No education, no income, no medicine and no irrigation. Everything here is in dire straits," he alleged.

Coal Scam and Electricity Issues

The PM also alleged that TMC leaders were illegally occupying tribal land in several parts of the state.

Referring to complaints of erratic power supply in parts of Jhargram, he said people remained in darkness while TMC leaders prospered.

"Tell me that if electricity goes out once here, it takes days to come back. Sometimes it does not come back at all. But the hefty electricity bill surely arrives. Here you are in darkness, while the bungalows and cars of TMC leaders are shining bright," he alleged.

The PM also warned of action against those allegedly involved in the coal scam.

"That is why Modi has taken a pledge. Those who loot the coal here, those who keep you in darkness, will not be spared. They will be identified one by one and held to account," he said.

The charges levelled by Modi are part of the BJP's broader strategy to consolidate Hindu votes while discrediting the TMC. Under Indian election law, making appeals to voters based on religion or caste is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission of India is responsible for ensuring fair and unbiased elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticised the TMC government in West Bengal, accusing them of widespread corruption and appeasement politics during a rally ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Prime Minister Modi accuses the TMC of corruption and 'loot' in West Bengal over the past 15 years.

Modi alleges the TMC prioritises vote-bank politics and illegal immigration over the development of local youth, women, and farmers.

The Prime Minister promises to address corruption and provide jobs if the BJP is voted to power in West Bengal.

Modi criticises the TMC for opposing women's reservation and pursuing religion-based reservation policies.

Modi pledges to implement the Seventh Pay Commission for state government employees and boost fish production in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the ruling TMC in West Bengal, alleging that it "earned a PhD in looting" over the last 15 years, and thrived on infiltration and the politics of appeasement, pushing the youth, women and farmers into despair.

Addressing a massive rally in Narayangarh here as the BJP stepped up its campaign for the assembly elections, Modi sought to frame the battle for Bengal as a contest between what he called the TMC's "loot and vote-bank politics" and the BJP's promise of development under a "double-engine government".

Modi's Allegations Against TMC's Governance

"TMC only thinks about its vote bank. It thinks about infiltrators. It has no concern for anyone else," he asserted, repeatedly invoking the issue of illegal immigration and alleging that the ruling party was interested only in the development of "infiltrators".

"In 15 years, TMC has earned a PhD in looting," the PM said, as the crowd cheered.

Modi said that while India had moved from 3G to 5G, expanded metro rail networks to more than two dozen cities, became the world's third-largest startup ecosystem and planted the tricolour on the Moon's south pole, West Bengal under, the Mamata Banerjee government, had seen little beyond corruption and flight of jobs.

"The child who started school when the first TMC government came to power is today preparing to leave Bengal in search of work," he said.

Women from West Bengal were now returning from Delhi and Mumbai only to cast their votes, the PM said.

"The jobs that should have been available to them here forced them to leave their homes, parents and friends. The TMC is giving away your share of jobs to infiltrators. The BJP will stop this loot. This is Modi's guarantee," he asserted.

BJP's Promises For West Bengal

The Prime Minister accused the Trinamool Congress government of presiding over a series of scams, from recruitment irregularities to alleged diversion of welfare funds.

There has been"loot in youth recruitment, teacher appointments, children's mid-day meals, rural employment work, money meant for houses for the poor, village roads and even in relief meant for cyclone-hit people," Modi alleged.

The corruption charge, already a potent political issue after the school jobs and teachers' recruitment scam cases, formed the core of Modi's attack as he attempted to tap public anger among unemployed youth and government job aspirants.

He promised that if voted to power, the BJP government would identify those responsible and take action.

"We will follow the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' model. But, the looters and aggressors will be identified and made to pay... Those who destroyed the future of thousands of youths will not be spared," the PM said.

Focus On Women Voters And OBC Status

Seeking to turn the spotlight on women voters, a constituency crucial to the TMC's electoral success in recent years, Modi accused the ruling party of being "anti-women".

He claimed that the TMC had opposed the women's reservation law because it feared that women from villages and small towns would enter the assembly and seek answers over corruption.

"A law was passed to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and assemblies. But, the TMC tried to block it. It strangled the dreams of Bengal's women," he said.

The Prime Minister then linked the issue of reservation to the BJP's larger campaign against the state government over OBC status.

Accusing the TMC of pursuing religion-based reservation for political reasons, Modi alleged that the state government was trying to take away the rights of OBC communities.

"The TMC is snatching OBC reservation and trying to hand it over to Muslims. This is wrong according to the Constitution and wrong according to the courts," he said.

Pledges For Government Employees And The Fishing Community

In an attempt to reassure state government employees, who have long been demanding parity with central government staff, Modi promised implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission if the BJP came to power in Bengal.

"I want to tell every government employee of Bengal a you are our eyes and ears. When a BJP government comes, you will have nothing to fear and you will get the benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission," he said.

The PM also promised unemployment allowance and jobs through "Rozgar Melas" for the state's youth.

"The BJP government will provide allowance and appointment letters through Rozgar Melas. This is Modi's guarantee," he asserted.

He also said that a BJP government would implement the 'VB G-RAM G' scheme in the state, under which villagers would be guaranteed 125 days of employment.

Modi also sought to strike a chord with Bengal's politically influential fishing community, promising that a "double-engine government" would bring a "Blue Revolution" in the state.

"The BJP will make Bengal self-reliant in fish production," he said.

Fish production, the PM claimed, had doubled in Bihar and risen by more than 150 per cent in Odisha under BJP governments, while Bengal had lagged because of the TMC's "bad policies".

Modi exuded confidence that the BJP would form the next government in West Bengal, and even predicted a wipeout of the TMC in some districts.

"From my political experience, I can say this time a BJP government in Bengal is certain. There will be some districts where the TMC will not win even a single seat," he said.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

The allegations of corruption come at a crucial time as West Bengal is undergoing assembly elections. Under Indian law, corruption charges can lead to investigations by agencies like the CBI or ED, potentially resulting in imprisonment and fines if proven.
A bouncer has been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly facilitating drug peddlers' access to a concert where two MBA students died from suspected drug overdoses, intensifying the investigation into the tragic incident.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Key Points A bouncer was arrested for allegedly allowing drug peddlers into a Mumbai concert where two people died of suspected drug overdose.

The bouncer allegedly took bribes to allow the peddlers entry without tickets.

Two MBA students died after consuming alcohol and ecstasy pills at the music concert.

Police have arrested a total of ten people in connection with the case, including alleged drug suppliers and event organisers.

The victims were part of a group of students who attended the concert, with some consuming ecstasy beforehand.

A "bouncer" was arrested on Sunday in the Mumbai concert drug overdose deaths case for allegedly allowing two persons to enter the venue without tickets to peddle drugs, a police official said.

Two MBA students, a man and a woman, died of suspected overdose after consuming alcohol and ecstasy pills during the music concert that took place on April 11 in Goregaon in the north-western part of the metropolis. Both died on April 12, while a third student is undergoing treatment at Bombay Hospital.

Bouncer's Role in Drug Peddling at Mumbai Concert

The Vanrai police station official said Pradip Arvind Gupta, a bouncer who was part of the security crew at the concert, gave alleged drug peddlers Ayush Sahitya and Vinit Garlani entry into the venue though the two did not have tickets.

"Gupta took Rs 1000 each from both to let them in. With Gupta's arrest, the number of people held in the case has reached 10. The other nine who have been arrested comprise six alleged drug suppliers and three individuals linked to the organisation of the concert," the official said.

Identities of Those Arrested in Mumbai Drug Case

He identified the 10 as Ayush Sahitya, Prateek Pandey, Raunak Khandelwal, Anand Patel, Vinit Garlani, Shubh Agarwal, Akash Sanal, Sunny Jain, Balkrishna Kurup and Pradip Gupta.

The victims were part of a group of around 20 to 22 students who had attended the event, the official said.

Investigation Details and Drug Consumption at Concert

"Preliminary investigations indicate some of them had consumed ecstasy before entering the venue, while alcohol was also consumed during the concert. Several attendees reportedly felt unwell and were rushed to hospitals in Jogeshwari and other private medical facilities," he added.

A case under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and other relevant provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered at Vanrai police station.

Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, culpable homicide charges can carry a sentence of up to ten years. The investigation will likely focus on tracing the supply chain of the ecstasy pills and determining the level of negligence on the part of the event organisers.
Union Minister J P Nadda has launched a strong attack against West Bengal's TMC, alleging appeasement politics, corruption, and a breakdown of law and order in the state.

Photograph: Abdul Goni/Reuters

Key Points J P Nadda accuses the TMC of appeasement politics and allowing infiltration, aiming to turn Bengal into Bangladesh.

Nadda promises that a BJP government in West Bengal would identify and expel infiltrators.

The BJP plans to release a white paper on TMC corruption and take legal action against those involved.

Nadda criticises the TMC and Congress for allegedly blocking 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Nadda pledges that the BJP will restore law and order and combat corruption in West Bengal.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the ruling TMC in West Bengal, accusing it of pursuing a politics of "appeasement", shielding infiltrators and presiding over a regime marked by corruption, extortion and lawlessness.

Addressing an election rally in north Bengal's Jalpaiguri, Nadda alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was attempting to "turn Bengal into Bangladesh" by allowing infiltration from across the border.

Nadda's Allegations of Appeasement and Infiltration

"The TMC's job is appeasement. They are in pursuit of turning Bengal into Bangladesh by allowing Bangladeshi infiltrators," the former BJP national president said.

Seeking to make infiltration a central poll plank, the senior BJP leader asserted that a BJP government in the state would identify and expel infiltrators.

"I assure you that a BJP government will come to power in Bengal, and we will identify and remove the infiltrators. We will root them out one by one," Nadda said.

He claimed that the people of Bengal had decided to bid farewell to the Mamata Banerjee government and bring in a "double-engine" BJP government in the state.

Accusations of Corruption and Extortion

Turning his guns on the TMC over corruption, Nadda accused the ruling party of running a system based on extortion, "cut money," syndicates, and loot.

"The TMC government is engaged in extortion, cut money, syndicates and now from sand theft to stealing government jobs. They also steal the grain meant for the poor under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana," he alleged.

He said the BJP had decided to bring out a "white paper" on corruption in West Bengal if voted to power.

"We have decided that we will bring a white paper on the corruption of the TMC. Legal action will be taken against those who have committed corruption in Bengal," Nadda said.

Warning to TMC Leaders and Workers

In an unusually sharp warning directed at local TMC leaders and workers, the BJP leader said action would be taken against those who had "taken the law into their own hands".

"Listen with your ears wide open, TMC goons. After May 5, your time is up. Action will be taken against TMC goons under the law, and the people here will be freed from this ruthless government," he said.

BJP's Stance on Women's Reservation

Nadda also sought to turn the BJP-led Centre's setback over the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 into an election issue, accusing the TMC and the Congress of depriving women of their rights.

He said the BJP-led government at the Centre planned to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies beginning with the next general election, but opposition parties blocked the move.

"Prime Minister Modiji brought a bill so that women would get 33 per cent reservation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and in state assemblies. But the TMC and Congress opposed the bill. They did not oppose the bill, they opposed the rights of women," Nadda said.

He alleged that not only the TMC and Congress, but also the DMK, Samajwadi Party and the Left parties had joined hands to stall the move in Parliament.

"The people of Bengal and especially women will never forgive the TMC for what happened in Parliament two days ago," he said.

BJP's Vision for West Bengal

Projecting the BJP as the only alternative in West Bengal, Nadda said the party would restore law and order, act against corruption and move the state towards what he described as "Ram Rajya".

"The people of Bengal are suffering in misery today. It is your responsibility to bring down such a government," he told the gathering.

He also conducted a road show in the Dabgram-Fulbari area in Jalpaiguri district.

West Bengal has often witnessed political clashes between the ruling TMC and BJP, especially during election periods. Charges of corruption can trigger investigations by central agencies like the CBI or ED, depending on the nature of the allegations.
Following a series of tragic incidents, NIT Kurukshetra has launched an investigation into the recent spike in student suicides, aiming to address underlying issues and improve student welfare.

IMAGE: A view of the NIT campus in Kurukshetra, Haryana. Photograph: Courtesy NIT-Kurukshetra website

Key Points The investigation follows the alleged suicide of a 19-year-old B.Tech student, sparking protests.

The institute has ordered students to vacate hostels temporarily to defuse the 'tense' situation.

NIT Kurukshetra has established mentorship and support committees to address student concerns and provide regular interaction with faculty.

Previous suicides at NIT Kurukshetra include incidents in February, March and April, raising concerns about student mental health.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Kurukshetra in Haryana has constituted a five-member committee to investigate the recent case of student suicide on campus, besides forming three separate committees to look into issues faced by students.

The probe panel will interact with students, professors, wardens, and other staff.

NIT's public relations officer, Prof Gian Bhushan, said on Sunday that the committee has been constituted to investigate the recent suicide cases on campus.

The panel is headed by dean of student welfare Prof Lillie Dewan and includes Prof J K Kapoor, Prof Praveen Aggarwal, Dr Sandeep Singhal, and Dr Manoj Sinha.

The development comes days after a 19-year-old B.Tech student, Diksha Dubey, who hailed from Bihar, allegedly died by suicide on Thursday. Her death, which sparked protests on campus, marked the fourth such incident on the campus in the past two months.

After Dubey's death, a first-year BTech student allegedly attempted to take her own life on Friday night, police said. The female student, a Maharashtra native, allegedly threatened and tried to jump off the hostel building, but was stopped by fellow hostellers.

Prof Bhushan also informed that the administration has ordered all students to vacate the hostels by Sunday in light of the events and keeping in mind the well-being of all students.

Additionally, all UG, PG and PhD students are to be on vacation until further notice, and are required to vacate their hostels by April 19, according to a notice from the NIT administration.

Bhushan further informed that out of approximately 5,300 students residing in hostels, nearly 4,300 had left by Sunday evening, while around 1,000 students were still on campus.

Notably, the situation has been particularly challenging for students hailing from far-off states. Prof Bhushan said the administration is looking into the requests from such students to allow them to continue staying in the hostels.

The revised examination schedule, including practical examinations, will be communicated in due course. Students will be informed well in advance, before the commencement of examinations. Students have been advised to stay updated through the institute website for further announcements, the notice issued by the registrar-in-charge of NIT said on Saturday.

However, some students alleged that the notice to leave hostels has caused problems for them and disrupted their studies.

On Sunday, a 'havan' was organised at the campus of the NIT here, which has been witnessing a tense atmosphere following four suicides in past two months. Chairperson of the Board of Governors, NIT, Tejaswini Ananthkumar, who arrived on campus late Saturday evening, also participated in the ritual.

Prof Bhushan said the chairperson also visited various hotels late into the night to interact with students and assess their concerns firsthand.

She further held meetings with senior faculty members on Sunday to coordinate administrative efforts, particularly regarding arrangements for students returning home, he said.

A police investigation into Dubey's case is also currently underway.

The institute has replaced key hostel officials, including the chief warden and deputy warden of the girls' hostel.

Interacting with media persons on Saturday, the officiating Director of NIT, Prof Brahmjit, said the institute is taking students' issues seriously. He said each student has been assigned a faculty member for regular interaction. These faculty members will stay in touch with students, understand their concerns, and work towards resolving them, he said.

To further strengthen student support, the institute has also formed three separate committees.

The first committee comprises wardens who visit hostels daily and interact directly with students. The second is a mentorship committee, where one mentor is assigned to a group of 20-25 students and remains in regular contact, including through phone conversations.

The third committee includes two faculty members for each hostel, who continue to visit regularly and engage with students to understand their problems.

An NIT student told reporters here that "there is a gap between students and faculty/management, which should be properly addressed. Merely assigning mentors is not going to solve the problem". Another student noted, "Students are traumatised at four suicides in just two months."

A heavy police force has been deployed outside the campus gate to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, the developments have triggered strong reactions from various student bodies, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Students' Federation of India (SFI), and Indian National Students' Union (INSU), all of which have extended support to students and raised concerns over the handling of the situation.

Expressing serious concern over the recurring incidents, the ABVP urged authorities to act decisively and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging that both the police and the institute administration are trying to suppress the matter.

It urged the government to take immediate cognisance and ensure transparency in the investigation. The organisation also appealed to students not to take extreme steps and to voice their concerns fearlessly.

The SFI, in a statement, accused the administration of attempting to downplay the matter by terming the suicides as "personal issues" and demanded accountability along with a fair and impartial inquiry.

Student organisations have also announced plans to hold a candle march, stating that the situation on campus is "completely unacceptable" and warrants urgent intervention.
Delhi Police have arrested a man for allegedly desecrating a temple in Dayalpur, northeast Delhi, sparking an investigation into the motive and potential accomplices.

Key Points Delhi Police arrested a man for allegedly placing objectionable material at a temple gate in Dayalpur.

An FIR was promptly registered following the incident reported on April 15.

The police have not disclosed the identity of the arrested individual.

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the temple desecration and potential involvement of others.

Preventive measures are in place to maintain law and order in the Dayalpur area.

Delhi Police has arrested a person for allegedly placing objectionable material at the gate of a temple in northeast Delhi's Dayalpur area, an official said on Sunday.

According to police, information regarding the incident was received on April 15, after which a team from the local police station rushed to the spot and initiated an inquiry.

Investigation Launched Into Temple Incident

An FIR was registered promptly in connection with the case, and one accused was apprehended during the course of the investigation, a police officer said.

The police, however, did not disclose the identity of the arrested accused.

The police said that the situation remained under control and necessary preventive measures were taken to maintain law and order in the area.

Motive Behind Temple Desecration Under Scrutiny

Further investigation into the case is underway to ascertain the motive behind the act and whether any other persons were involved, the police added.

Under Indian law, desecration of a place of worship can attract charges under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class. The investigation will likely focus on identifying the specific objectionable material and determining the intent behind its placement at the temple gate.
Pakistan has significantly increased security in and around Islamabad as anticipation builds for a new round of US-Iran peace talks aimed at de-escalating tensions.

IMAGE: A bus moves past a security checkpoint along a road, as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan April 19, 2026. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump announced that US negotiators will be in Pakistan for discussions with Iran.

Previous US-Iran talks in Pakistan concluded without an agreement, prompting renewed diplomatic efforts.

Security measures include road closures, increased police presence, and restrictions on public activities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have shifted classes online and postponed examinations due to security concerns.

Pakistan has stepped up security in and around the national capital, as US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that American negotiators will be there on Monday for peace talks with Iran.

The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad aimed at ending their conflict, but the talks concluded without any agreement.

In his Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said that American negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran.

It was not immediately clear whether the American negotiating team will be led by Vice President J D Vance, who was in Islamabad for the first round of talks.

"Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are heading to the Middle East," Trump told Fox News. Special Envoy Witkoff and Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, had accompanied Vance during the first round of talks.

Even before Trump's announcement, the administration of Islamabad and Rawalpindi indicated the arrival of foreign delegates for talks.

Heightened security measures in Islamabad

"Due to the arrival of foreign delegations in Islamabad, Red Zone and Extended Red Zone will remain completely closed for all kinds of traffic," Islamabad police said on its official X account.

"Citizens are advised to use alternate routes and cooperate with traffic police to ensure smooth flow and security," it said.

Earlier, a police spokesperson said more than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed and over 600 checkpoints have been established across Rawalpindi, the sprawling city adjacent to Islamabad, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

The security protocol is also being implemented in the capital city.

Authorities have announced that from Sunday midnight, several sensitive areas surrounding Nur Khan Airbase and Islamabad International Airport will be sealed. The Nur Khan Airbase is located in Rawalpindi while the Islamabad International Airport falls in the territorial jurisdiction of Attock district of Punjab province but the passengers have to pass through the Rawalpindi district area to reach Islamabad.

Hence, with mega security arrangements in Rawalpindi, authorities said they are not taking any chances after Trump last week said he may visit Pakistan for the signing of the agreement with Iran.

The Express Tribune newspaper reported that a complete ban has been imposed on drone flights, pigeon flying and aerial firing in Rawalpindi. Officials say these measures are aimed at ensuring the security of aircraft carrying high-level foreign delegations.

Police confirmed that a red alert has been declared in Rawalpindi, particularly in the vicinity of Nur Khan Airbase and Islamabad Airport. Officers will also be stationed on rooftops as part of heightened vigilance.

Special security measures have been enforced within the jurisdictions of New Town, Sadiqabad and Chaklala police stations.

In the first phase, authorities have ordered the closure of restaurants in these areas from midnight until further notice. In addition, parks, markets, banks and all kinds of shops and establishments will remain closed.

Islamabad district administration has announced to suspend public and heavy transport in the capital city.

"Heavy transport and public transport in the city are being suspended until further orders. Citizens are earnestly requested to cooperate with the security agencies," the office of Islamabad district commissioner said in a post on X.

A similar message was posted on X by the Office of Rawalpindi District Commissioner.

In another report, the newspaper said that several universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Sunday announced changes to academic schedules, shifting classes online and postponing examinations in the coming days.

A high-level meeting, chaired by Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani, was held at Police Lines Headquarters, where directives were issued to ensure foolproof security.

Security measures also include the closing down of all boys' and girls' hostels within Rawalpindi until further notice.

The paper reported that security has been put on high alert on sensitive routes in Islamabad as well, with the administration having begun the process of obtaining security certificates from the owners of buildings located on these routes.

The authorities said that special measures have been taken for the security of the delegations.

According to the police, there will be a complete ban on parking along these routes, while entry of unrelated persons will not be allowed.

In addition, hotels and guesthouses have been instructed to keep a complete record of guests and submit reports to the relevant police station on a daily basis.

According to sources, movement on roofs, balconies and windows has also been restricted and, in case of any violation, the building owner will be held responsible.

The administration has instructed citizens to immediately report any suspicious activity or security concerns.

After the failed first round of talks, Pakistan re-launched its diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of talks here for a possible agreement to end the war between the US and Iran.

Starting April 15, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye while Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir spent three days in Iran to create a consensus on contentious issues.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to expire on April 21.

Pakistan has often played a mediating role in international conflicts, leveraging its relationships with various nations. The outcome of these talks could significantly impact regional stability and Pakistan's geopolitical standing. Pakistan's facilitation of these talks underscores its desire for peace in the region.
Following a series of antisemitic attacks across London, the Metropolitan Police are increasing patrols and deploying counter-terrorism resources to protect Jewish communities and investigate the incidents.

Key Points London police increase patrols and resources after a series of antisemitic attacks.

Counter-terrorism officers are investigating an incident targeting a Jewish charity.

An Islamist group suspected to be linked to Iran's intelligence services claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Extra stop and search powers introduced across Barnet to deter violence.

Recent incidents are linked to the conflict in West Asia and strikes on Iran.

The Metropolitan Police said it is increasing patrols and resources after a series of antisemitic attacks across London, with counter-terrorism officers investigating the latest incident targeting a Jewish charity in the UK capital.

The police said a man was seen to approach a row of shops in Hendon on Friday with a plastic bag containing what was later found to be three bottles containing fluid. He placed the bag next to the building and lit the items in the bag before fleeing, but the bottles failed to fully ignite.

Investigation Into Antisemitic Attacks

According to 'The Sunday Times', it marks the fifth incident claimed by an Islamist group suspected to be linked to Iran's intelligence services amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. A group named Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) is said to have claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Telegram app.

"We recognise the feeling of concern among local people and do not underestimate the impact of incidents of this nature, particularly on our Jewish communities," said Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads the Met's policing in the north London area.

"We continue to work with our colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing who are leading the investigations into all of these incidents due to the similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility. We and Counter Terrorism Policing have officers working continuously to support this investigation and our communities," he said on Saturday.

Increased Security Measures

The police said uniformed and plain-clothed officers will maintain a strong presence around the targeted hotspots, including providing reassurance to Jewish places of worship and businesses. Extra stop and search powers have also been introduced across Barnet in north London to "deter acts of violence and target any potential offenders."

Additionally, armed response vehicles and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) resources have been deployed to support the increased local policing plan. Police motorbikes and interceptors will also be in and around communities to bolster efforts.

The Met and CTP London will continue to engage with community leaders and Jewish communities, with the latest incident also being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, the police said.

Recent Antisemitic Incidents

Friday's arson attack was targeted at Jewish Futures, an organisation with educational and cultural ties to Israel. A botched firebombing at a Jewish synagogue, an attempted arson attack on the studios of independent Farsi-language television channel Iran International, and an incident targeted at the Israeli embassy in Kensington with drones suspected of carrying radioactive material are among some of the other recent cases under ongoing police investigation.

Last month, four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in Golders Green, north-west London, were firebombed.

"Since the incident in Golders Green last month, we have spoken extensively to community leaders. I understand and appreciate their concerns," added Detective Luke Williams.

The incidents are seen as linked to the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran and the wider conflict in the region.

Under UK law, arson and hate crimes carry significant penalties, potentially including lengthy prison sentences. The investigation will likely involve gathering forensic evidence, analysing online communications, and working with international intelligence agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible. These incidents occur amid rising concerns about antisemitism in the UK and Europe.
The small shop contained all sorts of namkeens and mixture packets and was neatly bottled in containers along with the staple "muri" (puffed rice), and witnessed an unexpected surge of visitors amid the PM's stopover.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers Jhalmuri snack to a local, in Jhargram, West Bengal, April 19, 2026. Photograph: @narendramodi/ANI Photo

After completing a power-packed schedule of four back-to-back rallies in Purulia, Jhargram, Medinipur and Bishnupur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen unwinding in a light-hearted moment as he relished West Bengal's popular street snack "Jhalmuri" near a small local shop.

Key Points In a brief but warm interaction, the Prime Minister was also seen distributing the traditional puffed rice-based mixture to locals gathered at the spot.

Sharing glimpses of the moment on the social media platform X, Modi wrote: "In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, had some delicious Jhalmuri in Jhargram."

Modi is dressed in his signature attire: a white kurta, a dark blue pinstriped waistcoat, and a bright red scarf with a white BJP lotus symbol embroidered on it.

In a brief but warm interaction, the Prime Minister was also seen distributing the traditional puffed rice-based mixture to locals gathered at the spot, drawing considerable attention as the eatery quickly became crowded during his visit.

The small shop contained all sorts of namkeens and mixture packets and was neatly bottled in containers along with the staple "muri" (puffed rice), and witnessed an unexpected surge of visitors amid the Prime Minister's stopover.

Modi is dressed in his signature attire: a white kurta, a dark blue pinstriped waistcoat, and a bright red scarf with a white BJP lotus symbol embroidered on it.

Surrounding him is an enthusiastic crowd of people, mostly women in the foreground, who are smiling, laughing, and excitedly watching him. Several people in the background are holding up their smartphones to take photos or videos of the moment.

Sharing glimpses of the moment on the social media platform X, PM Modi wrote: "In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, had some delicious Jhalmuri in Jhargram."

Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a massive Vijay Sankalp Sabha in four regions, where he launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led government of institutionalising corruption and

"Maha Jungle Raj" and alleged party of corruption, issuing what he termed a "last chance" to "goons and syndicates" and asking them to surrender ahead of the 2026 West Bengal elections.

The PM also lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led party over the issue of women's reservation.

The Prime Minister said, "The anti-women TMC must now be ousted from power. The sisters of Bengal must get their rights, security, and opportunities for earning, and this is the BJP's priority."

He further alleged that while the BJP worked to ensure women benefit from reservation provisions from 2029, the TMC opposed the move in Parliament.

"The BJP tried to ensure that women start benefiting from reservations from 2029. But the mahila virodhi (anti-women) TMC opposed it in Parliament. The TMC resorted to every kind of deceit and trickery so that Bengal's 33 per cent women could not become MLAs and MPs. Now, Bengal's women must punish the TMC for this sin," the Prime Minister said.

"We want to caution the sisters of Bengal about the misdeeds of the TMC. The TMC came to power talking about 'Ma, Mati, Manush' but the TMC has betrayed the mothers. In the recent past, you also saw in Parliament that the BJP tried to ensure that reservation for women in elections starting from 2029 begins, but the anti-women TMC opposed it in Parliament," he said.

PM Modi said the women of Bengal have been deprived of their rights, security, and economic opportunities under the TMC regime, asserting that women's empowerment remains a key priority for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) was one of the stocks on Jim Cramers recent Mad Money game plan. Cramer noted that it could be a huge mover and said:

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Yes, I think Boeing is going to be one of the big stocks of 2026. I think it can run. I was talking about it with Jeff Marks yesterday, of course, my colleague on the Charitable Trust, that we, I just felt when it was up six, I couldnt pull the trigger. But this thing is going up much higher. Its refreshed and ready.

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A retired Reserve Bank of India employee was tragically murdered in his Delhi home, prompting a police investigation to uncover the motive and apprehend the perpetrators.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Madho Ram, a 63-year-old retired RBI employee, was found stabbed to death in his Delhi home.

Police were alerted to the incident by a PCR call reporting a stabbing near Andh Vidyalaya.

A crime team has inspected the scene, collected forensic evidence, and sent the body for post-mortem examination.

An investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend the accused, with police scanning CCTV footage and questioning locals.

The motive for the murder is currently unknown, and police are exploring all possible angles, including personal enmity and robbery.

A 63-year-old retired employee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was allegedly stabbed to death inside his residence in New Delhi's Mandir Marg area on Sunday evening, police said.

The incident came to light after a PCR call was received at around 5.30 pm reporting a stabbing near Andh Vidyalaya.

The caller informed the police that his uncle had been attacked, following which a team from the Mandir Marg police station rushed to the scene.

Police Investigation Underway

"On reaching the location, police found the victim, identified as Madho Ram, lying in a room on the first floor of his house with multiple stab injuries," said the police officer.

He was rushed to Lady Hardinge Medical College, where doctors declared him brought dead.

According to the police, the crime team was called to the scene, and a detailed inspection of the premises was carried out. Forensic evidence has been collected, and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Victim Identified As Retired RBI Staff

Madho Ram was a retired Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) employee from the RBI and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, police said.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered under relevant sections at the Mandir Marg police station, and an investigation has been launched into the matter.

Search For Suspects Intensifies

Multiple teams have been constituted to identify and apprehend the accused persons. Investigators are also scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas and questioning locals to gather leads, police stated.

The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained, and all possible angles, including personal enmity and robbery, are being probed.

Under Indian law, charges of murder and potentially robbery apply in this case. The police investigation will likely focus on identifying potential suspects through CCTV footage and witness statements. The proximity to Andh Vidyalaya may also be a factor in the investigation.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress, branding the party as 'anti-women' for allegedly obstructing the passage of the crucial Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Kiren Rijiju accuses TMC of being 'anti-women' for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill.

Rijiju defends BJP's commitment to increasing women's representation in parliament.

He criticises Mamata Banerjee's stance on women's safety and central government initiatives.

Rijiju highlights BJP's zero-tolerance policy on corruption and promises a 'bhrastachar mukt sarkar' in West Bengal.

The minister claims the BJP never imagined the women's bill would bring political dividends, but simply wanted to increase representation of women.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday termed the Trinamool Congress as "anti-women", accusing it of "foiling" the efforts to pass the women's reservation bill in Lok Sabha.

He claimed that there was no valid reason to oppose the bill.

Rijiju told a press meet that there should not have been any reason to oppose the bill by four-five parties, including TMC, Congress and now women of Bengal will "teach the TMC", as they are angry with the stand of the party regarding the bill.

Rijiju Defends BJP's Stance

Countering the claims of TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Rijiju said the BJP had never imagined the bill would bring political dividends for the party, as all "we wanted was a very simple and transparent bill" aimed at substantially raising the number of representation of women.

"How can they cite excuses and reasons not to support the women's bill?" he wondered.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday night after opposition parties voted against it.

Call For Increased Representation

Rijiju said increasing seats in the Houses "is a progressive step" and one must keep in mind the ratio behind the number of voters in a constituency and a people's representative, which is not the same in India as compared to many other democracies in the West.

"The number of seats should be increased, and it would be double the existing number of seats in every state, as spelt out by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. There was no ambiguity in it, no hidden agenda," he said.

A two-third majority was required for the passage of the crucial bill, but the BJP-led ruling alliance could not muster the numbers.

Response To Corruption Allegations

About the TMC's charge that central agencies like ED, CBI, and IT become active during the poll season in West Bengal by conducting raids at the houses of TMC candidates, close aides and police officers, Rijiju said, "Any agency, any organisation can investigate any case of corruption, they have the authority. If you have grievances, you can approach the judiciary, and if there are any lacunae, you will get protection in the court."

Criticism Of Mamata Banerjee

About the arguments cited by Bannerjee and other TMC leaders regarding crime against women in other states, Rijiju said, "West Bengal used to be one of the safest places even a few years back, but now we hear about one incident after another. Thus, you cannot cover up the failure by pointing to issues in other states."

Describing the attitude of "CM as anti-women", he said "one Rajya Sabha MP from TMC had resigned in protest against the state's failure to ensure women's security in 2024. And she (Banerjee) is shamelessly saying why women should go out at night," while talking about a rape incident at a medical college in the state.

Dispute Over Weaver Card Distribution

About TMC lodging a complaint against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for handing over weaver card during her recent visit to poll-bound Bengal, Rijiju said: "In a federal set-up, a state has to help in implementing the policies and projects of the Centre, not to oppose it for political reasons."

"Bizarre step taken by Mamata Banerjee. When the Union government takes any step, it is the duty of the state to help implement it. Nirmala Sitharaman is the first woman finance minister, and she has done exceedingly well. What they did to her is unfortunate," he said.

BJP's Anti-Corruption Promise

About the BJP's promise to project a 'bhrastachar mukt sarkar' in West Bengal, he said, "BJP has zero tolerance to corruption... Before 2014, during the Congress rule, there were tales of corruption every day as newspaper stories. Several MPs and ministers were embroiled in scams at that time."

"However, since 2014, not a single minister in the Modi cabinet is tainted by scam. In a similar way, in Bengal, when the BJP takes over, there will be zero corruption cases," he said.

Under Indian law, obstructing the passage of a bill can attract various charges depending on the specific actions taken. The upcoming stages of investigation will likely involve gathering evidence and witness statements to determine if any laws were violated. This political clash occurs amidst heightened tensions in West Bengal during the election season.
In response to last year's tragic Pahalgam attack, Kashmir is enhancing security at tourist hotspots with measures like QR code identification to ensure visitor safety and revive tourism.

IMAGE: Security personnel maintain a strict vigil at the snow-covered areas of Doodhpathri as the scenic destination reopens, nine months after the Pahalgam attack, in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, February 17, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Security is heightened at Kashmir tourist spots ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary.

New security measures include verification of service providers and vendors.

A QR code-based identification system has been introduced for tourism service providers in Pahalgam.

The QR codes provide tourists with detailed information about service providers.

Police are strengthening security around vulnerable installations and tourist destinations.

Security has been beefed up at tourist spots across Kashmir ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were shot dead by Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists on April 22 last year, officials said in Srinagar.

All security agencies have been asked to remain alert for any possible subversive activities on the eve of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary, especially around tourist spots, they said.

Preparatory meetings to devise a foolproof security plan were held at the ground level while senior officers recently reviewed these arrangements, they said.

On April 22, 2025, a dastardly terrorist attack ripped through the quaint Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 tourists and a local pony-ride operator.

The brutal attack carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists led to an exodus of tourists from Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the authorities to shut nearly 50 tourist spots before reopening some of those in a phased manner after a security audit.

Now, about a year down the line, the famed meadows of Pahalgam are once again buzzing with tourist activity, with none ruing their decision to visit the 'Mini Switzerland' in Anantnag district that is overcoming the shadow of last year's terror attack.

Several new measures have been introduced in Pahalgam resort to ensure tourist safety. These include antecedent verification of service providers and vendors, including ponywallahs, before they interact with the visitors.

A unique QR code-based identification system has been introduced for all tourism service providers for the safety of tourists in Pahalgam.

The system enables easy identification and verification of genuine and registered service providers, including pony-ride operators, hawkers, business establishments, as well as outside vendors.

"Each service provider has been properly vetted by police, registered by the authorities and has been provided a unique QR code that contains personal information and other details about that person," the officials said.

When tourists scan the code with their mobile phones, they can check complete information about the person concerned, they added.

The QR codes contain the service provider's name, parentage, detailed address, mobile number, Aadhaar number, registration number, operational route, and whether they are police-verified.

During a recent meeting, Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) V K Birdi directed that security arrangements around vulnerable installations, including prominent tourist destinations, be strengthened to ensure a safe and secure environment for visitors.

Birdi chaired a security review meeting at PCR Kashmir to evaluate and finalise security arrangements for forthcoming events in the Kashmir valley.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Traffic Police, Railways, Security, and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Under Indian law, terror attacks resulting in multiple deaths typically trigger investigations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may also become involved, and the next stage would likely involve gathering forensic evidence and questioning potential witnesses to identify the perpetrators and their network.
Balbir Punj, a prominent BJP leader, former Rajya Sabha MP, and respected journalist, has died at 76, prompting tributes from top leaders acknowledging his contributions to Indian politics and media.

IMAGE: Former Rajya Sabha MP and journalist Balbir Punj. Photograph: @balbirpunj/X

Key Points Balbir Punj, former BJP MP and journalist, passed away at the age of 76.

Prime Minister Modi and other BJP leaders have expressed their condolences, praising Punj's contributions to the party and his work as a writer and thinker.

Punj was a former journalist with The Indian Express Group and authored books such as 'Tryst with Ayodhya: Decolonisation of India'.

Amit Shah acknowledged Punj's significant role in strengthening the BJP organisation.

Author, journalist, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP, Balbir Punj, passed away on Saturday at the age of 76.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief at the death of Punj, calling him a prolific writer, thinker and public intellectual who worked tirelessly to strengthen the BJP.

Modi said Punj's writings were widely read, reflecting his strong passion towards national regeneration, and his Parliamentary interventions were rich in facts and theory.

"Shri Balbir Punj Ji was a prolific writer, thinker and public intellectual. He made a rich contribution to the world of media," he said in a post on X.

The prime minister said Punj, a senior journalist, worked tirelessly to strengthen the BJP, especially among students, professionals, scholars and intellectuals.

Modi said Punj had been the party in-charge of several states, including Gujarat, and he fondly remembers their interactions from those times.

"Pained by his passing. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," he said.

Balbir Punj's Career and Contributions

Punj was a former journalist with The Indian Express Group, he was also a social commentator and the author of Tryst with Ayodhya: Decolonisation of India and Narrative ka Mayajaal.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed condolences and aid as the convener of the BJP's intellectual cell, he had a significant role in the expansion of the organisation.

"I am deeply grieved by the passing of eminent writer, former Rajya Sabha member, and senior BJP leader Balbir Punj ji. A journalist by profession, Balbir ji played a crucial role in strengthening the organization as the national vice-president, general secretary, and in-charge of several states," Shah said in a message on X.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also offered his condolences, terming Punj's death extremely heartbreaking.

He said Punj's death was an irreplaceable loss to the world of politics and journalism.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda said that through his ideas and writings, Punj consistently championed nationalist thoughts and public interest with great vigour and eloquence.

BJP president Nitin Nabin said the news of the demise of Punj was heartbreaking.

With inputs from PTI
Memon's uncle Ayaz Kazi said the case was part of a coordinated "conspiracy" spurred by Memon's academic and professional performance.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Key Points Memon's family alleges a coordinated conspiracy due to his high performance and topping an internal exam.

The primary allegations are against another individual, Danish Shaikh, but Memon's family believes his inclusion is a frame-up.

TCS has a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and has suspended employees allegedly involved.

Internal professional rivalry and office politics are the motive for the "false" sexual harassment and conversion allegations levelled against TCS employee Raza Rafiq Memon, his family said in Nashik on Sunday, describing him as a "high performer".

Speaking to PTI, Memon's uncle Ayaz Kazi said the case was part of a coordinated "conspiracy" spurred by Memon's academic and professional performance.

Memon, currently in police custody till April 20, is among eight persons arrested after allegations of sexual harassment and pressure to convert emerged at a unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik.

He led the team that included both the complainant and prime accused Danish Shaikh.

Memon's family said the primary allegations are against Shaikh, and if he is guilty, then he must not be spared.

"However, the allegation against my nephew may be part of a coordinated conspiracy driven by academic and professional performance," Kazi said.

Memon hails from a humble background and topped an internal exam at the firm last year, which could have triggered jealousy among the other colleagues, the uncle said.

"He became a topper, and that didn't sit well with others in the company. This looks like a frame-up born out of office politics," he said.

Kazi described his nephew as "helpful," citing chats between the complainants and Memon that he said show he allowed them to leave early for their personal reasons.

Memon always obliged and would coordinate with the other team members, he said.

"As a team leader, his focus was strictly on sales targets and team productivity. There was no indication of any inappropriate interaction outside of these professional requests," he added.

Memon's family members also made claims of communal discrimination in the case against him. Kazi claimed that the people above Memon in the hierarchy were from different faiths, yet no action had been taken against them.

He said that Memon's inclusion in the matter is a "planned conspiracy" to derail the careers of high-performing employees.

A family member of another accused called him innocent. He has been "framed" because he used to hang out with Danish, the relative said. "He is a practising person and could not have done such a thing," the family member said.

A Special Investigation Team of Nashik police has arrested eight persons, including a female operations manager, by registering nine FIRs after allegations of exploitation, attempt of forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of female employees at the TCS unit came to light.

The Nashik police have formed three teams to trace another accused, Nida Khan. These teams have been dispatched to various places, and one of them landed in Mumbra near Thane, officials said.

Meanwhile, Khan has filed an anticipatory bail application before the Nashik sessions court, which will hear the plea on Monday.

Her lawyer has denied the charges against his client, saying she cannot be accused of outraging the modesty of another woman. Her plea also cited her two-month-old pregnancy as a ground for bail.

TCS has clarified that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office have been suspended.

The company said on Friday that a preliminary review of the records indicated that it had not received any complaints "of the nature that are being alleged on either our ethics or POSH (prevention of sexual harassment) channels".

The country's largest IT services firm has also announced an oversight panel and engagement of external entities in its internal probe, it added.

Under Indian law, charges of sexual harassment can lead to imprisonment and fines, while forced religious conversion is also a punishable offence. The police investigation will likely involve gathering witness statements, examining digital evidence, and potentially conducting forensic analysis to determine the veracity of the allegations.
A social activist in Thane, Maharashtra, is facing serious allegations of sexual assault and blackmail after allegedly exploiting a woman under false pretences.

Key Points A social activist in Thane is accused of sexually assaulting a woman under the false promise of marriage.

The accused allegedly filmed the assaults and used the videos to blackmail the victim.

The activist is also accused of using the victim to steal sensitive files from government offices.

Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police have registered a case against a 35-year-old social activist in Maharashtra's Thane city for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and using her objectionable videos to blackmail her, officials said on Sunday.

The accused is currently absconding and efforts are underway to trace him, the Mumbra police said.

Details Of The Alleged Assault And Blackmail

The accused allegedly lured the woman under the false pretext of marriage in July 2024, took her to different locations in Mahape and Mumbra, where he sexually assaulted her. He also filmed the acts and used the videos to blackmail the woman, the Mumbra police said.

The man also allegedly used the victim to steal sensitive files and documents from government offices, the police said.

When the victim tried to resist, the accused struck her on the head with a stick and kicked her, they said.

Legal Action And Investigation

Based on the victim's complaint, the Mumbra police on Saturday registered a case against the accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 69 (sexual intercourse by deceitful means), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 351(2) criminal intimidation.

The investigation has been transferred to the Thane Crime Branch and a probe is also underway into the possibility of involvement of an organised syndicate, a police official said.

The police were tracing the accused's digital footprint and raiding suspected hideouts.

Under Indian law, the accused could face charges related to rape, extortion, and potentially offences under the Information Technology Act if the objectionable videos were shared online. The investigation will likely involve gathering forensic evidence, questioning witnesses, and attempting to locate and apprehend the absconding suspect.
In Maharashtra, two youths have been arrested for allegedly stealing marigold seeds worth Rs 7.78 lakh from a Karnataka farmer after luring him with a fake business deal.

Key Points Two youths arrested in Jalna, Maharashtra for allegedly stealing marigold seeds.

The accused lured a farmer from Karnataka under the pretence of a business deal.

The stolen marigold seeds are valued at Rs 7.78 lakh.

Police intercepted an SUV and recovered the stolen seeds.

Two youths have been arrested for allegedly snatching marigold seeds valued at Rs 7.78 lakh from a farmer in Karnataka after luring him to Jalna in Maharashtra under the guise of a business deal, police said on Sunday.

Accused Identified and Arrested

The accused have been identified as Sunil Jagtap (19) and Vaibhav Jagtap (23), residents of Nivdunga village in Jafrabad tehsil of Jalna district.

They allegedly contacted a farmer, identified as Lokesh Devendrappa (41), a resident of Byadgi tehsil in Haveri district, and asked him to come to Jalna by posing as production managers of a seeds company, said police inspector Pankaj Jadhav.

He said the accused duo took possession of 17 kg of marigold seeds from Devendrappa, made him sit on a motorcycle, and, after travelling some distance, pushed him off and fled.

Acting on a complaint, police intercepted an SUV and arrested the accused duo in Kanhaiyanagar area near Jalna on Saturday, the police inspector said, adding that the stolen seeds have been recovered.

Under Indian law, the accused could face charges of theft and fraud, potentially leading to imprisonment and fines. The police investigation will likely focus on gathering evidence to support these charges and determining if others were involved. Such incidents highlight the risks faced by farmers in agricultural transactions.
Two men from Gujarat have been arrested in Goa for allegedly possessing charas, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two men from Gujarat were arrested in Candolim, Goa, for drug possession.

The men were found in possession of 630 grams of charas.

The estimated value of the seized charas is Rs 2 lakh.

The arrests were made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Two men, originally from Gujarat, have been arrested for allegedly possessing charas with an estimated value of Rs 2 lakh in the illicit market, in a village in Goa, police said on Sunday.

Drug Raid Details In Candolim

The crime branch conducted a raid near Bosio Hospital in Candolim village on Saturday, following specific inputs, an official said.

Arrest And Charges Under NDPS Act

Police recovered 630 grams of charas from Hiren Ramoliya (32), a resident of Navagam in Surat district, and Shabbirbhai Saiyad (40), a resident of Bhavnagar district, and arrested them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway.

Under the NDPS Act in India, possession of charas can lead to significant jail time and fines, depending on the quantity seized. The next step in the investigation will likely involve tracing the source of the drugs and any potential accomplices.
Two Indian men were fatally shot in Italy near a gurdwara after Vaisakhi celebrations, prompting a police investigation into a possible planned execution.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two Indian men, Raginder Singh and Gurmit Singh, were fatally shot in Covo, Italy.

The shooting occurred near a gurdwara following Vaisakhi festival celebrations.

Police are investigating the incident as a potential planned execution.

A witness reported the shooter was also Indian and frequented the gurdwara.

Two Indian men have been shot dead in Italy's Covo in Bergamo province just as they were leaving a warehouse used as a place of worship during a gathering for Vaisakhi festival, local media reported on Sunday.

The attack occurred on Friday, a few minutes before midnight in the square in front of the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji in the industrial area of the town, according to La Sicilia newspaper.

The deceased were identified as Raginder Singh, 48, a resident of Covo, and Gurmit Singh, 48, from Agnadello.

The assailant allegedly approached the men, opened fire and then fled in a car, the paper reported.

According to initial findings, a sudden brawl that escalated into bloodshed has been ruled out, the report said.

Approximately ten shell casings were recovered from the scene as authorities investigate the hypothesis of a "coldly planned execution".

A witness was quoted as telling reporters that the shooter was "an Indian" who also frequented the gurdwara.

According to the same witness, the bullets also grazed a third person, it said.

An official celebration for Vaisakhi was planned for Saturday nearby with the participation of local institutions.

Italian authorities will likely collaborate with Indian officials to investigate the crime and identify the suspect.

Under Indian law, murder charges carry significant penalties, and the case may raise concerns about community relations abroad.

The investigation will focus on identifying the shooter and determining the motive behind the attack.
Trump said there is an ongoing fight between 'moderates' and 'crazies' in Iran amid negotiations with the US, while confirming that Kushner and Witkoff were departing for Islamabad for talks.

IMAGE: Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Ahead of the expiry on Tuesday of the two-week ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump in the conflict with Iran, US media outlets reported on Sunday that negotiators Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions and Jared Kushner will head to Islamabad for talks with Iran.

Key Points President Trump's Middle East envoy is headed to Pakistan this week to restart negotiations to end the Iran War.

Trump said there is an ongoing fight between "moderates" and "crazies" in Iran amid negotiations with the US.

He warned of severe repercussions, including an attack on Iranian energy and civil infrastructure, if Iran "doesn't take the deal."

President Trump's Middle East envoy is headed to Pakistan this week to restart negotiations to end the Iran War, the US commander-in-chief told The New York Post.

"Steve's going to be going there tomorrow night," Trump said in a phone call on Sunday from the White House to the New York Post, confirming that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will land in Islamabad on Monday night ahead of a second round of peace talks, according to the New York Post. The president added that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, will also be involved with the talks scheduled for Tuesday.

In an interview with Fox News's Trey Yingst today, Trump said there is an ongoing fight between "moderates" and "crazies" in Iran amid negotiations with the US while confirming that Kushner and Witkoff were departing for Islamabad for talks.

"If the deal isn't done, the deal that we made, then I'm going to take out their bridges and their power plants," Trump said. "If they don't sign this thing, the whole country is going to get blown up." Fox News cited Trump as saying.

"We're preparing to hit them harder than any country has ever been hit before because you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," the US President continued as per the US broadcaster.

Trump went on to say that Iran has "agreed to much" of the deal already.

Meanwhile, in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, he warned of severe repercussions, including an attack on Iranian energy and civil infrastructure, if Iran "doesn't take the deal."

"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz -- A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn't nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan -- They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations."

On the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, he claimed that it was Iran on the losing end with the closure causing a loss of $500 million per day to the country while claiming that the "United States loses nothing".

He reiterated the assertion of a fair deal on the table for Iran and said that he would no longer remain a "nice guy" and that the US would strike Iran's power plants and bridges.

"Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be "the tough guy!" We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!", Trump said.

The two-week ceasefire is set to end on April 22.

CNN reported that Iran has not immediately confirmed the plans.The first round of ceasefire negotiations ended in a gridlock between Tehran and Washington over the energy artery- Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capacities.
With strong revenue growth projections, ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) secures a spot on our list of the best long-term ASX stocks to buy right now.

JPMorgan Initiates ResMed (RMD) With Overweight Rating and A$37.6 PT

On April 15, 2026, JPMorgan initiated coverage of ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) with an Overweight rating and an A$37.60 price target, stating that the company remains well-positioned even as investor attention increasingly shifts toward GLP-1 therapies for sleep apnea.

Additionally, the firm added that although GLP-1 treatments have demonstrated meaningful clinical benefits for sleep apnea patients, they do not diminish the long-term investment case for continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

At the same time, that call is significant because one of the key concerns weighing on ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) has been the positive impact of Eli Lillys Zepbound, which recently received U.S. approval for treating sleep apnea. This development could potentially hamper demand for ResMeds devices.

However, ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) said otherwise.

During its analyst call, alongside the fiscal Q2 2026 earnings release, management said it expects GLP-1 therapies, such as Zepbound, along with consumer sleep-tracking wearables, to expand awareness and ultimately bring more patients into the diagnosis and treatment pipeline.

Managements stance has been straightforward: GLP-1 therapies are expected to act as a tailwind rather than a headwind for sleep apnea care and for ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD)s demand pipeline.

This perspective could shift ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD)s narrative away from disruption concerns toward market expansion, with increased awareness driven by these drugs potentially supporting broader adoption of the companys core therapy platforms.

ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) develops and manufactures medical devices and digital health solutions for sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory conditions. Its products include CPAP machines, masks, and cloud-connected software platforms that enable remote patient monitoring and management.

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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.
A tragic incident in Jharkhand's Chatra district resulted in the drowning of a woman and her two daughters in a local pond while they were washing clothes.

Key Points A woman and her two daughters drowned in a pond in Chatra district, Jharkhand.

The incident occurred when the family went to wash clothes in Bojaya village.

The younger daughter slipped into deep water, leading to the tragic drowning of all three.

Authorities are providing financial assistance to the bereaved family under the District Disaster Relief Fund.

A 35-year-old woman and her two daughters drowned in a pond in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Sunday, officials said.

The incident happened around 4 pm in Bojaya village in the Sadar police station area, when Parva Devi, along with her two daughters, had gone to the pond to wash clothes, they said.

Details Of The Drowning Incident

"Her younger daughter slipped and drowned in deep water. Subsequently, the woman, along with her elder daughter, attempted to rescue her, but they also drowned," Awadhesh Kumar, the officer in charge of Sadar police station, told PTI.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination at the Sadar Hospital, he said.

Financial Assistance For The Family

Chatra Sub-Divisional Officer Md Zahur Alam said that under the District Disaster Relief Fund (DDRF), Rs 4 lakh will be given to the family for each deceased.

Accidental drowning is registered under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with causing death by negligence. The local authorities will likely conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including safety measures around the pond.
A 26-year-old woman was discovered dead in a hotel room in Uttar Pradesh, leading police to investigate a suspected suicide.

Key Points A 26-year-old woman was found dead in a hotel room in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, with police suspecting suicide.

The deceased, Bhawna Sharma, was staying at Hotel Tathagat with her friend Shakti Singh and her son.

Sharma had been living separately from her husband and had been staying with Singh prior to her death.

Singh told police that Sharma had threatened suicide and was found hanging in the hotel room upon his return from Varanasi.

Police have detained hotel staff and Singh for questioning, and a forensic investigation is underway.

A 26-year-old woman was found dead in a hotel room here, officials said on Sunday, adding that prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide.

The incident was reported from Hotel Tathagat in the Sarai Lakhansi police station area, where the body of the woman was discovered hanging inside the room, they said.

Details Emerge in Hotel Death Investigation

The deceased has been identified as Bhawna Sharma, a resident of Ghaziabad.

She had checked into the hotel along with her friend Shakti Singh, a resident of Panipat in Haryana, police said.

According to preliminary information, Sharma had been living separately from her husband for the past eight months following a dispute and was staying with Singh.

The couple had arrived in Mau from Siliguri in West Bengal and had been staying at the hotel for the last three days. Her son was also accompanying her, officials added.

Police Suspect Suicide in Uttar Pradesh Hotel Room

"Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide," Circle Officer (City) Krish Rajput said.

Police have detained hotel staff and Singh for questioning.

Singh told the police that he had gone to Varanasi on Saturday for some work. She had called him and asked him to return soon, threatening to take the extreme step.

He told the police that when he returned to the hotel late at night, he found Sharma hanging in the room. With the help of hotel staff, the body was brought down, and the police were informed.

Forensic Evidence Collected, Investigation Ongoing

Evidence has been collected by the forensic team, and the body has been sent for post-mortem, the CO said.

The family of the deceased has been informed, and further investigation into the matter is underway, the CO added.

Under Indian law, if foul play is suspected, the police will investigate potential charges of abetment to suicide or murder. The investigation will likely involve gathering statements from witnesses, analysing forensic evidence, and examining the relationship between the deceased and the individuals involved.
Mumbai police have seized MDMA pills worth 6 crore and arrested a woman, dismantling a significant drug distribution racket operating in the Thane district.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Mumbai police seized MDMA pills worth 6 crore in Thane district.

A woman member of a drug distribution racket was arrested.

The drugs were likely intended for parties and upcoming events.

Investigations suggest the drugs were sourced through an interstate syndicate.

The police are examining the accused's phone to identify other network members.

The Mumbai police on Sunday seized MDMA pills or ecstasy worth 6 crore and arrested a woman member of a drug distribution racket in neighbouring Thane district, an official said.

Massive Drug Seizure in Mumbai

Based on a tip-off, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) intercepted a consignment of 5,000 pills and nabbed the 35-year-old accused from Titwala town, he said.

According to the police, the drugs were possibly intended for parties and upcoming events targeted by drug peddlers.

Interstate Drug Syndicate Uncovered

Preliminary investigations suggest that the contraband was sourced through an interstate syndicate, he said.

The police are examining the accused woman's mobile phone data and contacts to identify other members of the network and their intended recipients, the official said.

Ongoing Crackdown on Narcotics

The seizure is part of an ongoing crackdown by the police to dismantle narcotics supply chains.

On April 14, the ANC's Ghatkopar unit seized 200 MDMA pills and arrested one Irfan Ansari from Sakinaka.

During his interrogation, the accused revealed the name of a female drug peddler as the main supplier, he said, adding that a probe is underway.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the arrested individual could face significant jail time and fines depending on the quantity of drugs involved. The Anti-Narcotics Cell will likely trace the supply chain to identify the source of the MDMA and any other individuals involved in the distribution network. Mumbai has seen an increase in drug-related arrests in recent months.
JPMorgan Chase just reported strong first-quarter results. Its CEO used the earnings call to warn investors not to get comfortable.

On JPMorgan's Q1 2026 earnings call on April 14, CEO Jamie Dimon declined to predict whether the U.S. was heading for a recession. But he did not hold back on what happens when the next credit cycle finally arrives. "When there's a credit cycle, losses will be worse than people expect," he said, according to American Banker.

What Dimon actually said about private credit

Dimon was careful to separate two things: the immediate health of JPMorgan's book and the broader systemic risk he sees building.

On the immediate picture, he said the bank is not seeing major credit issues. JPMorgan holds approximately $50 billion of exposure to the $1.7 trillion private credit industry.

Its total provision for credit losses came down in Q1, and the bank saw only one charge-off in its nonbank financial institution loan portfolio, which totaled about $160 billion last quarter, according to American Banker.

More Wall Street

On the systemic risk, he was more measured. "I don't think [private credit risk is] systemic. It almost can't be systemic at that size, relative to anything else. But, when recessions happen, and values go down, and people refi at higher rates, they'll be stressed and strain the system," he said, according to American Banker.

The distinction matters. Dimon is not calling for an imminent collapse. He is saying that when conditions turn, the pain will be worse than most people currently assume.

Why Dimon thinks losses will exceed expectations

Dimon pointed to two structural problems in his annual shareholder letter, released April 6.

First, credit standards have been weakening across the board. When standards slip during good times, the losses that emerge in a downturn tend to surprise investors who assumed underwriting remained disciplined, according to AOL citing the shareholder letter.

Second, private credit lacks transparency. Because the market does not price daily like public debt, investors will sell based on predictions rather than actual losses when stress arrives. That kind of behavior can accelerate a downturn well beyond what the underlying fundamentals would suggest, according to AOL.

The industry no one sees coming

Dimon also warned that the next credit cycle will likely hit an unexpected sector. He pointed to history. "There's always a surprise in a credit cycle. Even if a credit cycle is normal, the surprise has often been which industry. You didn't expect newspapers in 2000, Warren Buffett's businesses. You didn't expect utilities and phone companies in 2008 and 2009," he said, according to CNN.
The prospects for a new round of face-to-face peace talks between the United States and Iran remained unclear amid confusion over the US negotiators' plans and uncertainty over whether Tehran would agree to take part.

US President Donald Trump told the New York Post on April 20 that a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance was due to arrive in Pakistan "tonight," but there was no immediate confirmation that Vance had left the United States.

"We're supposed to have the talks. So I would assume at this point nobody's playing games," the Post quoted Trump as saying in a brief interview it said was held shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern time (3 p.m. CET).

"They're heading over now," Trump was quoted as saying. While he did not specify whether that meant the delegation was already in the air, he said, "They'll be there tonight, [Islamabad] time."

However, sources told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the plane Vance normally uses, Air Force Two, remained on the ground at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington a few hours later.

Reuters, citing two unnamed sources, reported that Vance had not yet departed, and several media reports cited sources as saying he would do so soon. The time in Islamabad is nine hours ahead of Washington.

Trump had said a day earlier that US negotiators would travel to Islamabad for talks and would arrive on April 20. But neither Iran nor mediator Pakistan confirmed at that time that talks were planned.

"We have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said several hours before Trump spoke to the Post.

Later, Reuters cited an unnamed senior Iranian official as saying Tehran was "positively reviewing" its participation in potential peace talks with the United States but that no final decision had been made.

Pakistan, which hosted and mediated an initial round of face-to-face talks in Islamabad on April 11-12, has been trying to organize another meeting. The first round ended with the United States and Iran blaming each other for the failure to reach an agreement.

The uncertainty over the talks comes as a two-week cease-fire between Iran and the United States is due to expire on April 22. The sides have accused each other of violating the fragile truce.

Even if the talks in Islamabad proceed, public statements indicate Tehran and Washington remain far apart on key issues, including Iran's nuclear program and its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which the Islamic republic has effectively closed since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began on February 28.

Cease-Fire 'Violations'

During his weekly press briefing, Baqaei said the United States was not serious about pursuing diplomacy, citing what it called "violations" of the truce.



He said a US attack on an Iranian cargo ship early on April 19, the ongoing US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and delays in implementing a truce in Lebanon were all "clear violations of the cease-fire."

Trump said US forces intercepted the Iranian-flagged ship as it tried to pass through a US maritime blockade and have "full custody" of it.

Iran's joint military command claimed the move violated the cease-fire and threatened to retaliate "soon" against the "armed piracy," according to state media.

Tehran has said it will not participate in talks if the US blockade of Iranian ports is in effect, while Trump has said it will not be lifted until a peace deal is signed.

Trump repeated that on April 20, writing that "we will not take [the blockade] off...until there is a 'DEAL.'" He also wrote that "things are going very well" in the war and that he is "under no pressure whatsoever" to reach a deal with Iran but that "it will all happen, relatively quickly!

Iran also reiterated its criticism of the blockade. In a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran "considered the provocative actions and continuous violations of the cease-fire by the United States, especially threats and aggression against Iranian commercial ships, and contradictory positions and threatening rhetoric against Iran, as a fundamental obstacle to the continuation of the diplomatic process," the Iranian Ministry said on X.

Araqchi said "Iran will take a decision on how to continue the path [after] considering all aspects of the matter," suggesting Tehran was mulling whether to take part in a new face-to-face talks.

Separately, Araqchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that what he called the "illegal behavior and contradictory positions" of the US were incompatible with diplomacy, Iranian state media reported.

Earlier in the week, there were hopes that the Strait of Hormuz, which usually accounts for around one-fifth of global oil trade, would open after more than a month of being closed as Tehran announced it was open to commercial shipping traffic.

However, Iranian forces fired upon at least three civilian ships, two of which reportedly were Indian and one French-flagged vessel, and announced the reclosing of the strait.

Lebanon Front

Iran also said delays in implementing a cease-fire in Lebanon, where Israel is waging war against Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran, was also a violation of the truce.

Hezbollah is a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

Israel and Lebanon agreed a separate 10-day cease-fire that went into effect on April 17. The truce included Hezbollah, which entered the war to defend Iran and has fired rockets at Israel.

The cease-fire ended weeks of heavy fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, which invaded southern Lebanon. It was agreed after the United States hosted talks between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington on April 14, the first direct talks between the neighboring countries in decades.

A senior US official told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place at the State Department on April 23.

Both sides have both accused each other of violating the truce, and Israeli forces continue to occupy much of the south with the aim of maintaining a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks. Hezbollah has said it maintains the "right to resist" Israeli occupation.

Israel's military on April 20 warned Lebanese civilians against returning to southern Lebanon. But that has not stopped thousands of people displaced in the war from making their way back to their homes.

With reporting by RFE/RL Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu, Reuters, and AFP
Iran's powerful parliament speaker said there has been "progress" in talks with Washington but that "fundamental" differences remain, while US President Donald Trump rejected what he called "blackmail" by Tehran after it again closed the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are still far from the final discussion," Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is also Iran's lead negotiator, said in a televised address early on April 19.

"We made progress in the negotiations, but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain," he added, referring to the first round of face-to-face talks in Islamabad on April 11-12.

"There are some issues on which we insist...They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two," he added, while also expressing hard-line sentiments, claiming that Iran has been "victorious in the field" during the war.

The fate of renewed face-to-face meetings between Washington, Tehran, and Pakistani mediators appeared unclear. Trump on April 17 cited progress and said negotiations would continue over the weekend.

"We'll be talking about Iran later. We have very good conversations going on," Trump said.

However, amid speculation that the sides could reassemble on April 20 in Islamabad, no new date has been announced.

Irans top national security body said on April 18 that Tehran is reviewing new proposals from the United States delivered through Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, but it has not yet responded.

The Supreme National Security Council stressed that Irans negotiating team will not make even the slightest compromise, retreat or leniency, and would defend national interests with all its strength.

The remarks come days ahead of the expiration of a two-week cease-fire between US and Israel forces and Iran nears on April 22.

Civilian Ships Attacked

Hopes that shipping would resume through the strait proved short-lived on April 18, as Iranian forces attacked at least three civilian ships after Tehran announced it was reversing its decision to reopen the route.

Speaking in Washington, Trump said: "They got a little cute...They wanted to close up the strait again, you know, as they've been doing for years. And they can't blackmail us."

A shipping security monitor detailed three attacks -- the first such incidents since the cease-fire began on April 8.

In the first incident, two Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on a tanker without warning, the monitor said.

Later, it said a container ship was "hit by a projectile," while there was a near miss with an attack on a third vessel.

Two of the ships were Indian-flagged, prompting India to summon the Iranian ambassador in protest.

After the latest incidents, IRGC naval forces late on April 18 warned that any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a target.

"We warn that no ship, of any kind, should leave its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted," it said on its official news website.

Qalibaf -- who many observers say is the power behind the Iranian regime -- had issued a blistering social media post on April 17, accusing Trump of telling "lies" and said that as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports was in place, "the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Alex Raufoglu in Washington, AFP, and Reuters
US President Donald Trump said his representatives are traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for another round of talks on April 20 with Iran as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Tehran has not yet confirmed it will take part.

Writing on his Truth Social platform on April 19, Trump said that the US was "offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!

The latest remarks by Trump come just days ahead of the expiration of a two-week cease-fire with US and Israel forces on April 22.

Earlier in the week, there were hopes that the strait, which usually accounts for around one fifth of the global oil trade, would open up after a more than a month of being closed as Tehran announced that it was open to commercial shipping traffic for the remainder of a separate 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, which came into force on April 16.

The hope remained short-lived, however, amid reports that Iranian forces had attacked at least three civilian ships, two of which reportedly were Indian and one French-flagged vessel.

Earlier on April 19, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said that Botswana- and an Angola-flagged vessels were forced to change course over what the Iranian report described as unauthorized transit of the crucial waterway.

In the same social media post on April 19, Trump also claimed that Irans threat to close the strait was redundant because a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which entered into force on April 13, had already closed it.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei criticized the US blockade of Iranian ports as a violation of the cease-fire agreement.

In a post on X on April 19, Baqaei wrote that it was both unlawful and criminal adding that by deliberately inflicting collective punishment on the Iranian population, it amounts to war crime and crime against humanity.

The first round of US-Iranian peace talks took place in Islamabad on April 11-12 but ended without an agreement, even though Trump has maintained that the two parties are very close to a deal.

A Pakistani military delegation led by army chief Asim Munir, who was one of the key mediators in the first Islamabad talks, landed in Tehran on April 15 carrying a new message from Washington, in the latest effort to revive negotiations.

Iran has not formally confirmed it will attend the new round of talks, and the country's semiofficial Tasnim news agency has cited a source familiar with the matter as saying no further negotiations will take place while the US blockade remains in force.

The Iranian side has also sounded more skeptical that any sort of agreement is close.

Irans lead negotiator, the parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said that they were "still far from the final discussion," in a televised address earlier on April 19, adding that "we made progress in the negotiations, but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain."

Previously the Supreme National Security Council, the countrys top security body, said that it was reviewing the new proposals delivered by Munir, but added that the Iranian negotiating team will not make even the slightest compromise, retreat or leniency, and would defend national interests with all its strength.

With reporting by dpa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized an easing of sanctions on Russian energy, writing on X that "every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war."

His statement on April 19 comes after the United States prolonged its Russian oil waiver earlier in the week with figures showing that Moscow nearly doubled its oil revenue in March amid soaring energy prices as Iran continues to disrupt shipping on the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Zelenskyy claimed that more than 110 tankers from Russias shadow fleet are currently at sea, carrying over 12 million tons of Russian oil worth $10 billion.

He added that "the continued easing of sanctions against Russia does not reflect the real situation in the war or in diplomacy and fuels the Russian leaderships illusion that they can continue the war."

Zelenskyy said that Russia had launched more than 2,360 attack drones, 1,320 guided bombs, and nearly 60 missiles over the past week.

The latest attacks included an overnight strike on Chernihiv that killed a 16-year-old boy and wounded four others, local officials said on April 19.

Separately, in Ukraine's major southern city of Kherson, a man was killed in a taxi that was targeted by a Russian drone. In neighboring Mykolayiv, two districts were left without power following an attack by Shahed drones.

Moscow has also continued to attack Ukraine's railway infrastructure, which has been vital for the country's volunteer and evacuation efforts. In the Poltava region, a drone struck a train locomotive.

"It is important that Russian tankers are stopped, not allowed to deliver oil to ports," Zelenskyy said in his X post. "The aggressor's oil exports must decrease, and Ukraine's long-range sanctions continue to work toward that goal."

Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, also called on Washington to renew its sanctions on Moscow, saying they are in the interest of both countries.

"Russia must not be allowed to profit from the actions of its ally Iran," she wrote on X. "It is in our common interest to limit the funding Russia uses for its attacks on Ukraine & for aiding US adversaries."

While the West has set a global cap on trade with Russian seaborne petroleum products, Russia has managed to circumvent this with its so-called shadow fleet of vessels -- often with murky ownership and insurance structures -- which continues to trade the products.

Figures show that revenues from Russian exports of both crude and refined oil products reached $19 billion in March -- up from $9.7 billion in February.

On April 17, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorized a new sanctions waiver on Russian oil running through May 16, which replaced a previous license that expired on April 11.

While the latest waiver only applies to oil already loaded onto ships, the new extension came as a surprise as the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier dismissed the idea that a prolongation was forthcoming.

The EU has also failed to impose more sanctions on Russian oil.

New measures were proposed in January which would include a maritime services ban related to Russian petroleum products. This would prohibit EU-based companies from providing services to any vessel transporting these products from Russian ports. There was also a push to completely phase out of Russian oil imports earlier than the current target of December 2027.

No unanimity among EU member states has been reached on this, however, partly due to energy price surges as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz for over a month -- sending oil prices up well past $100 per barrel.

At the same time, Kyiv appears to be trying to reduce Moscows energy revenues directly by stepping up strikes on oil infrastructure deep inside Russia.

In a series of incidents in recent weeks, the Ukrainian military has struck oil drilling platforms and refineries from the Gulf of Finland to the Caspian Sea, some 1,000 kilometers from the front lines.

In the latest development, the Ukrainian armed forces said they had targeted another important facility near the port of Taganrog in Russia's Rostov region, using domestically produced Neptune missiles.

In a statement published on April 19, the military said the facility produces drones of various types.

A successful operation by our military means reduced enemy production capacity and hundreds fewer drones used to destroy our cities and villages and kill civilians, it added.
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) is among the 10 Best Military Drone Stocks to Buy Right Now. On Monday, the company announced that it had received a seven-year contract worth around $465 million from the U.S. Army under the Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD) program.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) Wins $465 Million Army Contract For Next-Generation Night-Vision System

BPTU/Shutterstock.com

The defense contractor is one of the companies chosen to support the program. Under the agreement, the company will supply its NOVA night-vision goggle system to the Army.

The binocular device is placed on a helmet, which helps in enhancing the capabilities of troops through continuous situational awareness. NOVA is built using L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX)s image intensifier technology.

In other news, this week the company said that it had successfully demonstrated an autonomous electronic warfare capability during a U.S. Army experiment. The test featured the deployment of its Deceptor electronic warfare payload on several uncrewed aerial systems.

According to the press release, the system was able to detect and identify the location of radio frequency threats and use data from various sensors to execute jamming operations to counteract those threats in real time.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) provides advanced national security solutions in the air, land, space, sea, and cyber domains. It operates through four segments: Communication Systems, Integrated Mission Systems, Space & Airborne Systems, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

While we acknowledge the potential of LHX 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: 7 Best Mid-Cap Defense Stocks to Invest In and 12 Best Aerospace Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
A Frenchpark farmer has been named the County Roscommon winner of a Pasture Progress Award 2025.

Tommie Devine was presented with his award by the Grass10 team at the Teagasc, Ballyhaise College, County Cavan.

The Pasture Progress Awards recognise progress in grazing management by farmers across the country. These farmers are growing and utilising more pasture on their farms, contributing to sustainable livestock production systems. This progress was assessed using PastureBase Ireland. The awards are supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with an overall prize fund of 40,000.

The awards are part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign, which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, AIB, FBD, Grassland Agro and the Irish Farmers Journal.
A special homecoming event was held for Arigna man Fergal Guihen on Saturday after his incredible global charity cycle raised more than 210k for two local charities.

The people of Arigna came out in large numbers at Drumhierney Woods near Leitrim village to welcome home Fergal, who shared his extraordinary story on stage with MC, John Lynch.

His epic 30,000km cycle challenge from Arigna to Sydney took him through 28 countries and three continents over two years.

Fergal left his native Arigna on March 10th, 2024 and arrived in Sydney in early February, 2026.

A large crowd gathered on Saturday for a special homecoming event to celebrate Fergal Guihen's epic 'Rossie to Aussie' cycle.

The 27-year-old's hugely successful 'Rossie to Aussie' endeavour has now raised more than 210,000 for two local charities close to his heart, the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation and North West STOP.
April 19, 2026

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 19.04.2026, 13:55

Crisis. In Romania, the Social Democratic Party (part of the ruling coalition) will officially announce on Monday whether or not it is withdrawing its political support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, following internal consultations. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu stated that the party will not support a minority government and will not form an alliance with the AUR party (opposition) in the near future. He explained that there is a deadlock within the executive branch, which lacks consistency in its decisions. However, he was contradicted by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who emphasized that all government decisions were made by consensus, but some of them upset various interest groups. The prime minister announced that he would not resign if the PSD decides on Monday to withdraw its political support. The other coalition partnersnamely the PNL, USR, and UDMRwant the current government to continue and argue that a political split would harm the countrys economy and finances and jeopardize the attraction of European funds. To prevent the coalition from breaking up, even the head of state, Nicusor Dan, has tried to mediate the conflict, speaking with both the prime minister and the leader of the Social Democrats.

Cooperation. Political stability and a clear direction for the country are essential for Romania to be able to capitalize on the investment opportunities in energy, infrastructure, and technology that are available through its relationship with the United States, said Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare. In a social media post, he noted that he recently held meetings in Washington with officials and representatives of the American business community, and the discussions focused on strategic projects in the energy sector, as well as in industry and security. According to the minister, Romania has resumed its collaboration with the World Bank Group on investments in energy and infrastructure and has strengthened its dialogue with the U.S. administration on strategic projects in the energy sector. Alexandru Nazare is attending the spring meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington from April 14 to 20.

Visit. Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete has also been in Washington in recent days, where he announced that his delegation to the United States had led to the strengthening of Romanias strategic relations in the health sector and the opening of new avenues for international cooperation. On a social media platform, the minister wrote that during the meeting with World Bank representatives, they reviewed the status of projects in the advanced stages of implementation, including the three centers for severe burn victims in Romania. Future areas of cooperation were also discussed: the construction of a new hospital for patients with severe burns in Bucharest; equipping an additional 1,000 ICU beds with state-of-the-art equipment and increasing response capacity to approximately 4,000 beds; as well as continuing the technical assistance provided by World Bank experts for structural reforms in the healthcare system  the minister added.

Energy. Romania has the potential to become a regional nuclear energy hub, given the major investments currently underway in the sectors production and infrastructure, according to Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan. He stated on Saturday that the countrys primary energy objective should be to increase production capacity while reducing dependence on imports. According to Bogdan Ivan, the ministry has a long-term strategy to increase energy production and has drafted legislation to encourage investment in the sector. On the other hand, the minister announced that, at this time, there are no issues regarding Romanias fuel market following the conflict in the Middle East. He noted that, through the measures takendeclaring a state of emergency and limiting fuel exportsthe country is in a much better position than other European Union member states. Bogdan Ivan also said that Romania currently has approximately 5657% of its strategic fuel reserves stored within the country and is preparing to bring back a portion of the strategic reserves stored in other European Union member states. Fuel prices have continued to drop in Romania, as the price of a barrel of oil has reached around $90. Gasoline costs just over 8 lei (1.6 euros), and diesel nearly 9 lei (1.8 euros).

Industry Day. Foreign Minister Oana Toiu, alongside Economy Minister Irineu Darau, will inaugurate the Romania Industry Day eventdesigned to promote the countrys relevant industrieson Monday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Over 20 leading Romanian companies, both private and state-owned, with strong portfolios in software development, secure communications, satellite systems, anti-drone technology, aeronautics, and state-of-the-art weaponry, have announced their participation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the central objective of the event is to highlight the strategic relevance of the national defense industry to NATOs security architecture and to raise the profile of the defense and cybersecurity sector as potential suppliers to the Allies. Romania Industry Day serves as a platform for dialogue that facilitates the alignment of NATOs operational requirements with the innovative solutions developed by Romanian industry, sending a strong signal of confidence to international investors and Romanias strategic partnersthe ministry in Bucharest further notes.

Book Fair. Romania is currently participating in the most important international book fair in the French capital  the Festival du Livre de Paris. The theme of Romanias presence at the festival is Romania, Beyond Borders. There are 60 titles of Romanian literature translated into French and 21 authors present at the national booth for book signings, some of whom have been invited to participate in discussions on the festivals main stages. This years theme for the Paris Book Festival is the journey: literary, inner, and geographical. (MI)
April 19, 2026 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

April 19, 2026 UPDATE

Newsroom, 19.04.2026, 19:30

Crisis. In Romania, the Social Democratic Party (member of the ruling coalition) will officially announce on Monday whether or not it withdraws its political support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. The Social Democratic leader Sorin Grindeanu has stated that the party will not support a minority government and will not form an alliance with the AUR party (opposition) in the near future. He explained that there is a deadlock within the executive, which lacks consistency in its decisions. However, he was contradicted by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who emphasized that all government decisions were made by consensus, but some of them upset various interest groups. The prime minister announced that he would not resign if the PSD decides on Monday to withdraw its political support. The other coalition partnersnamely the PNL, USR, and UDMRwant the current government to continue and argue that a political split would harm the countrys economy and finances and jeopardize the attraction of European funds. To prevent the coalition from breaking up, even the head of state, Nicusor Dan, has tried to mediate the conflict, speaking with both the prime minister and the leader of the Social Democrats.

Cooperation. Political stability and a clear direction for the country are essential for Romania to be able to capitalize on the investment opportunities in energy, infrastructure, and technology that are available through its relationship with the United States, said Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare. In a social media post, he writes that he has recently held meetings in Washington with officials and representatives of the American business community, and the discussions focused on strategic projects in the energy sector, as well as in industry and security. According to the minister, Romania has resumed its collaboration with the World Bank Group on investments in energy and infrastructure and has strengthened its dialogue with the U.S. administration on strategic projects in the energy sector. Alexandru Nazare is attending the spring meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington from April 14 to 20.

Visit. Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete has also been in Washington in recent days, focusing on strengthening Romanias strategic relations in the health sector and the opening of new avenues for international cooperation. On a social media platform, the minister wrote that during the meeting with World Bank representatives, they reviewed the status of advanced projects, including the three centers for severe burn victims in Romania. Future areas of cooperation were also discussed: the construction of a new hospital for patients with severe burns in Bucharest; equipping an additional 1,000 ICU beds with state-of-the-art equipment and increasing response capacity to approximately 4,000 beds, as well as continuing the technical assistance provided by World Bank experts for structural reforms in the healthcare system.

Industry Day. Foreign Minister Oana Toiu, alongside Economy Minister Irineu Darau, will inaugurate the Romania Industry Day eventdesigned to promote the countrys relevant industrieson Monday at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Over 20 leading Romanian companies, both private and state-owned, with strong portfolios in software development, secure communications, satellite systems, anti-drone technology, aeronautics, and state-of-the-art weaponry, have announced their participation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the main goal of the event is to highlight the strategic relevance of the national defense industry to NATOs security architecture and to raise the profile of the defense and cybersecurity sector as potential suppliers to the Allies. Romania Industry Day serves as a platform for dialogue that facilitates the alignment of NATOs operational requirements with the innovative solutions developed by the Romanian industry, sending a strong signal of confidence to international investors and Romanias strategic partners, the ministry said.

Energy. Romania has the potential to become a regional nuclear energy hub, given the major investments currently underway in the sectors production and infrastructure, according to Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan. He stated on Saturday that the countrys primary energy objective should be to increase production capacity while reducing dependence on imports. According to Bogdan Ivan, the ministry has a long-term strategy to increase energy production and has drafted legislation to encourage investment in the sector. On the other hand, the minister announced that, at this time, there are no issues regarding Romanias fuel market following the conflict in the Middle East. He noted that, through the measures takendeclaring a state of emergency and limiting fuel exportsthe country is in a much better position than other European Union member states. Bogdan Ivan also said that Romania currently has approximately 5657% of its strategic fuel reserves stored within the country and is preparing to bring back a portion of the strategic reserves stored in other European Union member states.

Iran. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Sunday in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to block its ports, three days before the truce between the two countries was set to expire. President Donald Trump accused Iran of a total violation of the ceasefire after it allegedly fired on ships near the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, he renewed his threat to destroy Irans bridges and power plants if Iran didnt accept his terms. The U.S. leader announced that his envoys would arrive in Pakistan on Monday evening, ready for new talks. We recall that a week ago, talks were held in Islamabad (Pakistan) between Iran and the U.S. to try to end the conflict, but without result.

Heritage. The Cotofenesti helmet and the two Dacian gold bracelets, recovered following their theft in the Netherlands, will be brought back to the country next week and will be displayed at the National Museum of Romanian History on April 21, when an event dedicated to the return of these cultural heritage objects will also be held. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Culture, they will then be exhibited throughout the country. Beyond their historical and archaeological value, they carry with them essential fragments of our past and of the cultural memory that we have a duty to protect and pass on, the press release states. (MI).
New Zealand will on Monday release March figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

In February, imports were worth NZ#6.89 billion and exports were at NZ$6.63 billion for a trade deficit of NZ$257 million.

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For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Netflix (NFLX) released its Q1 2026 results on April 16, to a bearish response from Wall Street.

Though it posted a relatively decent quarter, cautious guidance took the shine off the report, leading to a dip in stock price.

Morgan Stanley analysts, however, didnt flinch and remained unwaveringly bullish on the streaming giants stock.

The banks analysts reiterated their Overweight rating on Netflix stock and maintained its $115 price target.

Compared to Netflixs $107.79 closing price on the report date, the price target implied a 6.7% upside.

For perspective, the stock has pulled back sharply from its post-earnings level and is now trading just below $100.

Netflixs near-term troubles are apparent in its lukewarm guidance, but Morgan Stanley believes the long-term bull case is intact.

Pricing power remains healthy, retention levels have improved, and advertising continues to scale, which lays the foundation for a compelling compunder.

Morgan Stanley bets that the post-earnings dip relates to the short-term a lot more than any break in Netflixs compelling broader story.

Morgan Stanley backs Netflix stock after earnings, sees upside despite cautious guidance and investor concernsKyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Netflix Q1: strong quarter, weak outlook

Netflix beat on sales, posting $12.25 billion, up 16% year over year, topping estimates of $12.17 billion.

Operating income jumped 18% to $4.08 billion, above the $3.94 billion estimate, though 31.7% margin missed the 32.5% forecast.

Free cash flow skyrocketed to $5.1 billion from $2.7 billion a year earlier, beating the $2.87 billion expectations.

The focus was on Netflixs weak guidance, where the 2026 revenue midpoint of $51.2 billion missed estimates of $51.38 billion, while the 31.5% margin trailed the 32% forecast.

Shares slipped after hours as Netflix also announced that Reed Hastings wont seek re-election as chairman.

Source: Seeking Alpha.

Morgan Stanley says Netflixs post-earnings pullback looks more like a timing issue

Morgan Stanley believes Netflixs post-earnings dip has everything to do with timing.

More Tech Stocks:

Though Netflix posted a strong Q1 top-line beat, the bigger issue was its Q2 guidance, which fell short of consensus estimates.

However, Morgan Stanley analysts argue that this is mostly about price increases flowing through the business instead of a demand issue.

Netflixs U.S. price hikes will take two to three months to start showing up meaningfully in the numbers, so that the March bump might have a bigger impact in Q3 than the second.
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is included among the 10 Fastest Growing Dividend Stocks to Buy Now.

Morgan Stanley Lowers AmEx (AXP) PT; Reuters Reports Push into AI Expense Management

On April 16, Jeffrey Adelson of Morgan Stanley lowered the firms price recommendation on American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) to $385 from $395. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The analyst said the firm is cutting price targets for about half of its consumer finance coverage ahead of Q1 earnings, pointing to higher macro uncertainty.

On April 16, Reuters reported that American Express agreed to acquire Hyper, an artificial intelligence-focused expense management startup backed by Sam Altman. The move reflects a broader push among large financial firms to bring AI into core business software, especially in expense management. Tasks like manual processing, compliance checks, and approvals can be automated. In a letter to shareholders last month, AmEx CEO Stephen Squeri said AI was creating a structural shift in how businesses operate.

The acquisition could support AmExs push to expand automation tools for commercial clients and strengthen its position in corporate spending. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2022, Hyper builds AI agents that categorize expenses, file reports, check them against budgets and company policies, and send reminders for submissions. The company counts Altman as an investor and had partnered with AmEx in 2024 to launch a credit card. AmEx said the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) operates as a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Its card-issuing, merchant-acquiring, and network businesses serve a wide range of customers, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized firms, and large corporations worldwide.

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: 10 Healthcare Stocks with Highest Dividends and Early Retirement Portfolio: Top 15 Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
If youve noticed a new deduction coming out of your paycheck in Washington State, youre not alone. The WA Cares Fund, often called the states long-term care deduction, has sparked major debate among workers. On paper, it sounds like a safety net for future care needs. But in reality, not every worker paying into the system will benefit equally or at all.

Washingtons long-term care deduction is part of the WA Cares Fund, a mandatory program funded by a payroll tax. Workers contribute 0.58% of their wages with no income cap, meaning higher earners pay significantly more over time. In return, eligible participants can access up to about $36,500 in lifetime long-term care benefits starting in 2026. The program aims to help cover costs like in-home care, assisted living, and caregiving support. While the idea is appealing, the structure creates uneven outcomes depending on your situation.

Before you assume its a guaranteed win, here are seven important reasons why this deduction may not work in your favor.

1. The Benefit Cap May Be Too Low for Real Care Costs

Long-term care is expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars per year. The WA Cares benefit is capped at roughly $36,500, which may only cover a short period of care. For someone needing years of assistance, this amount may barely scratch the surface. That means many workers will still need significant savings or private insurance. If you expect extensive care needs, the value of the deduction may feel limited.

2. High Earners May Pay Far More Than They Receive

Because the tax has no wage cap, higher-income workers contribute more over time. Someone earning six figures could pay tens of thousands into the system across their career. Yet everyone receives the same maximum benefit, regardless of how much they contributed. This creates a situation where some workers may pay far more than they ever receive back. For higher earners, the long-term care deduction may feel more like a loss than a benefit.

3. You Must Meet Strict Contribution Requirements

Not everyone who pays into the system will qualify for benefits. To be eligible, workers typically need to contribute for a certain number of years without long gaps. If you move out of state or leave the workforce early, you may not qualify. That means years of contributions could result in no payout at all. This is one of the biggest concerns critics have about the program.

4. Benefits Are Not Portable for Everyone

If you move out of Washington, your access to benefits becomes more complicated. Some workers can maintain eligibility, but only if they meet specific requirements and opt in. If you dont meet those conditions, you could lose access to benefits entirely. For younger or more mobile workers, this is a major risk. Paying into a system tied to one state may not make sense for everyones lifestyle.

5. Theres No Refund If You Never Use It

The WA Cares Fund works like insurance, not a savings account. If you never need long-term care, you wont get your contributions back. That means decades of payments could result in zero direct benefit. While thats common with insurance models, it still feels frustrating for many workers. For healthier individuals, the long-term care deduction may feel like money lost.

6. Opt-Out Opportunities Are Closed for Most Workers

When the program was first introduced, some workers could opt out by purchasing private insurance. However, that window closed in 2022 and is no longer available for new applicants. This means most workers are now required to participate with no alternative. Those who missed the deadline have little flexibility. Mandatory participation is one of the most controversial aspects of the program.

7. It Doesnt Replace the Need for Additional Planning

Even supporters of the program acknowledge its not a full solution. The benefit is designed to supplement (not replace) long-term care planning. Many families will still need private insurance, savings, or Medicaid planning strategies. Without additional preparation, the benefit may fall short of real needs. In other words, the deduction is just one piece of a much larger financial puzzle.

How to Decide If the Long-Term Care Deduction Works for You

The long-term care deduction may not work for everyone. You need to take the time to review your potential needs. Here are several things to keep in mind

Estimate your potential contributions based on your income and career length.

Compare that total to the maximum benefit you could receive.

Consider your likelihood of needing long-term care and how long it might last.

If you plan to move out of Washington, factor in portability risks.

Think about whether youll need additional coverage beyond what the program offers.

Washingtons long-term care deduction is a bold attempt to solve a real problem, but it doesnt work equally for everyone. Some workers will benefit significantly, while others may pay in far more than they ever receive. The programs structure means your income, career path, and life plans all play a role in whether its worth it. Thats why its critical to understand how it fits into your overall financial strategy. Instead of assuming its enough, treat it as one layer of protection. The more informed you are now, the better prepared youll be later.

Do you think Washingtons long-term care deduction is worth it, or are you concerned about paying more than youll receive? Share your thoughts below!

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Target Corporation (TGT) has looked cheap for a while, but investors have been waiting for real signs that the business is improving. Now, Morgan Stanley thinks that shift may finally be happening.

Morgan Stanley recently updated its outlook for the stock, noting that it now sees "a path to a credible improvement story, supported by early improvements in traffic, merchandising, and execution.

Morgan Stanley is buying into Targets turnaround story

On April 14, 2026, Morgan Stanley reiterated its Overweight rating and $145 price target, and spoke about Target in a noticeably more bullish tone. With the stock's current price of about $124, the price target implies about 17% upside.

Additionally, Morgan Stanley said Target is evolving from a pure optionality story into a more credible turnaround story. Investors have long viewed Target as cheap, but the company had not shown enough operational momentum to justify a rerating to a higher valuation.

That lines up with managements own messaging. In the Q4 earnings release in March, management said, Our team is firmly focused on writing Target's next chapter of growth, rooted in strengthening our merchandising authority, delivering an elevated and differentiated shopping experience, advancing our use of technology.

In March, Target delivered a full plan to revitalize the company, including plans to deploy over $1 billion in additional CapEx for more than 30 new stores and over 130 full-store remodels.

Morgan Stanley now appears increasingly convinced that this is beginning to change.

Key categories could reignite Target's growth

Morgan Stanley believes Food & Beverage and Beauty will lead the early stages of the recovery, with Home Furnishings & Decor potentially contributing later in 2026 and beyond.

That setup gives Target multiple ways to improve performance over time.

More Target:

Food helps drive repeat store visits and consistent traffic. Beauty supports margins because it tends to be a more profitable category. Home could provide additional upside later if consumer discretionary demand improves.

If those trends play out, Target would have a clearer path toward returning to sustainable top-line growth.

Higher-margin businesses are helping Target's profitability

Part of Targets earnings resilience is coming from newer, higher-margin business lines outside of traditional retail.
Nextech3D.ai hits cash flow positive milestone  ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Nextech3D.AI (CSE:NTAR, OTCQX:NEXCF, FRA:1SS) earlier this week reported that it has achieved a major financial milestone, confirming it has reached cash flow positive status for the first time in the companys history.

In an interview with Proactive, CEO Evan Gappelberg said the milestone marks a turning point for the company, which as recently as 2024 had been positioned as a turnaround story focused on cost reductions and operational survival. He noted that Nextech3D.ai is now generating more cash than it spends, eliminating the need for external financing and enabling the business to self-fund its operations.

Proactive: The company out with pretty significant news today that you've been able to hit another milestone with the company, announcing that you're soon to be cash flow positive. So, obviously a big moment for the company.

Evan Gappelberg: Actually, we are cash flow positive. The news is that we actually hit the milestone. Nextech has gone cash flow positive today, but we're going to have full implementation of our AI cost cutting, which is going to happen May 1st. So we're cash flow positive today, but as of May 1st, 2026, our annualized cost savings run rate is going to reach about $400,000.

It is a time to celebrate. This has been a long journey. Back in 2024, Nextech was a turnaround story where we were cutting costs and struggling for survival. Now, just two years later, weve achieved being cash flow positive as a company.

How did you get there? What strategic moves allowed you to reach this point?

Its been a lot of hard work. We invested heavily in AI, made acquisitions like EventDex and Krafty, optimized our business, and turned ourselves into an AI-first company. AI is taking over some of the workload, which is part of a broader trend across tech companies.

Being cash flow positive means we are generating more cash than were spending. This is the first time in Nextechs history that we do not need external financing. Its a shift from raising capital to being able to self-fund the business.

Now that weve reached this milestone, the next step is scaling the business. Thats when it gets really exciting for shareholders.

Weve also announced expansion of our blockchain-based ticketing platform, including support for fiat payments like Google Pay and Apple Pay, which is now production ready.

Were over the first hurdle as a public company. Now were focused on scaling revenue beyond $10 million, $20 million, $50 million, and $100 million.

And thats going to be the focus for the foreseeable future?

That is the focus. Were ramping up and seeing more business coming in. The goal is to become a leader in the $1.5 trillion event tech space using AI.
On Instagram, poet and psychotherapist Jane Seskin, author of Older, Wiser, Shorter: The Truth and Humor of Life After 65: Poems (Tallfellow Press), reflects on what it's like to have a poem published in Women's Day in her 80s after publishing five poems in the magazine in the '80s. "There's room for a second act."

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The New York Public Library recommended titles by and about "women who shaped New York City."

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"What Inspired William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?" Mental Floss has an answer.
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NationalCBD Opinion Antony Catalano parts ways with his crisis publicist

Antony Catalano, the erstwhile Domain chief executive turned regional media entrepreneur, was for years known among journalists for his willingness to pick up the phone and speak at a caffeinated rate of knots to flog his latest Great Idea. But that changed last month when, after he was charged with allegedly assaulting his wife, Catalano was uncharacteristically unavailable to comment. The always-reachable Catalano had suddenly brought in the Melbourne crisis publicist, Lahra Carey, to take calls from journalists instead. Antony Catalano was reportedly abusing substances when he allegedly threatened to kill his partner. Jesse Marlow The arrangement was not to last. Now it would appear that Catalano has nobody in his corner to pick up his calls after he and Carey parted ways late last month. Catalano didnt respond to a request for comment in time for publication. Carey, who had also been taking calls from journalists for Catalanos wife, Stefanie, has told journalists that she is no longer engaged by anybody in the family, and that since Catalano stepped back from his various executive roles, her counsel is no longer required. Carey declined to comment.

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Even by the standards of Careys colourful client list  which has included MA Services founder Micky Ahuja, the subject of an investigation by this masthead; and Lark Distillings meth-smoking former chief executive Geoff Bainbridge  Catalano would surely have ranked among her toughest clients. Lahra Carey. The Australian Community Media operator was reportedly abusing substances when he allegedly threatened to kill his partner and dragged her through their St Kilda apartment, wearing only his underwear. In opposing bail, Senior Constable Kiran Paramaguru told the court that CCTV allegedly showed Catalano brandish an iron above the complainant after approaching her while she lay in bed. In a statement released after news of the charges broke last month, Catalano said he was profoundly sorry and that he had been struggling with significant mental health and substance abuse issues. He has spent the weeks since in rehab and, according to the Herald Sun, is expected to check out soon. Catalano could be back out on the streets in coming weeks before he next fronts court on May 11. We doubt itll be long before hes working the phones, too.

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Stephen Mayne tastes Murdoch censorship in Broncos board tilt Rupert Murdoch is a free speech maximalist. It wasnt that long ago that the billionaire media mogul appeared in a clip saying the media needs to confront a wave of censorship that seeks to silence conversation and stifle debate. But debate involving the control and governance of his companies, which include News Corp and Fox Corp, are (of course!) another matter entirely. Just ask the high-profile activist shareholder and serial corporate nuisance Stephen Mayne. Last week, Mayne launched his bid to get elected to the board of the News Corp-controlled Brisbane Broncos in part to try to force the media giant to divest from the ASX-listed rugby league club. Stephen Mayne is running for a spot on the Brisbane Broncos board. Edwina Pickles

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Not that the clubs shareholders wouldve had any idea. Beyond his CV, Maynes nomination submission was whittled down from about 120 words to a single sentence. It only alluded to concern over the clubs ownership structure, with no mention of News Corps controlling stake in the club. Related Article Exclusive

NRL 2026 An activists bid for Broncos to oust News Corp as major shareholder As youve probably already guessed, the board recommended a vote against electing Mayne to the board. Maynes submission also included concerns about the Broncos physical-only annual general meetings (a bugbear of the former newspaper journalist) and a suggestion that the club would be better off if it was returned to a not for profit member-owned structure like many other AFL and NRL clubs. Independent election commissions run all union elections in Australia, yet somehow public companies are trusted to run their own elections, Mayne told CBD.

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If cowboy operations like the Murdoch-controlled Brisbane Broncos cant run a fair election, then its time to legislate for the AEC to oversee contested corporate elections in Australia as well. Mayne and Murdoch, of course, go way back. In 2002, Mayne nominated himself for the News Corp board ahead of an October annual general meeting where, among other things, his platform was censored to the point that not even his age was disclosed to shareholders. All told, Mayne still got 12.89 per cent of the vote. Who knows how hell go in Brisbane next month. Liberals social media pothole stunt hits rough patch

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A pothole palaver has erupted after a social media stunt showing Victorias Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and Liberal candidate for Nepean Anthony Marsh doing rogue road repairs led to the Department of Transport and Planning investigating their activities. Wilson has had a good run with her social media of late, gaining traction, scoring clicks, adding new followers and gaining plenty of attention with snappy videos and going in on the Victorian Labor government over the Commonwealth Games debacle and overgrown nature strips. But the pothole pit crew stunt might have been just a little too cute. That video, which remains on Wilsons social media platform, might need a bit of fixing of its own seeing as it is now, as revealed by the ABC on Sunday, the subject of a review by the department with the roadworks allegedly undertaken without appropriate permits. A spokesperson for Wilson told CBD the government should fix the roads rather than fixate on Wilson. If Jacinta Allan and her Labor dirt unit spent as much time filling potholes as she did attacking Jess Wilson, Victorians wouldnt be faced with spending hundreds of dollars on busted tyres due to the condition of our roads, the spokesperson said. Early voting for the seat of Nepean, which became vacant after former deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth quit politics in February, opens on Wednesday.
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Eating outComing soon Chris Lucas reckons west of Swanston street is on the cusp of something big. He might be right The Chin Chin and Grill Americano owner is opening Wishbone in the lower end of Bourke street later this year, with his own glitzy spin on Hong Kong dining. Emma Breheny April 20, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Prolific restaurateur Chris Lucas owns Japanese venues (Kisume), South-East Asian (Chin Chin), French (Maison Batard) and Italian (Grill Americano). But his growing stable includes nothing from Chinas wide spectrum of regional cuisines. His next venue Wishbone corrects that. Part of a gleaming new $1 billion office tower on Bourke Street, it will offer up an outsiders vision of Hong Kong dining that melds the citys dense urban lifestyle with throwbacks to its glamorous yesteryear. Wong Kor Wais 1960s-set film In the Mood for Love, buzzy Temple Street Night Market, and older neighbourhoods such as Wan Chai are all on the mood board. Restaurateur Chris Lucas (right) and chef Dan Chan outside forthcoming restaurant Wishbone. When it opens in October in the CBD, Wishbone will be the restaurateurs 13th Melbourne venue  and his first on its west side. Lucas has never crossed the dividing line of Swanston Street but says: Midtown feels like its on the cusp of something new, with people like [beauty retailer Meccas] Jo Horgan helping drive that shift alongside major projects like 435 Bourke Street. The opportunity to work on something of this scale, something that is transformational for an area, is incredibly exciting.

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Reached via a laneway entrance, the three-level restaurant will experiment with Cantonese hallmarks such as dim sum and wok cooking. Tradition is not a word thats guiding the menu. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up [Wishbone diners] will be eating Cantonese food but also well have other elements in there. Its not really traditional Cantonese food, says chef Dan Chan. Related Article Special series The Society man v the premier: When Daniel Andrews tipped Chris Lucas over the edge The Hong Kong native (currently at Tombo Den in Windsor) is leading the laboratory of menu ideas, drawing on experience working at Japanese venues Yakikami (also in Windsor) and Yardbird, a Hong Kong hotspot, as well as Melbournes own Supernormal. But there are some Cantonese non-negotiables hell honour. Dim sum will be available as a small selection at lunch and dinner, and at yum cha service on weekends. Glossy char siu pork and crackly roasted pork will be part of a contingent of roasted meats. (Duck is still a maybe due to the amount of space needed.) The fast and furious energy of Hong Kongs beloved street food stalls, known as dai pai dongs, are the third touchstone. A core dish of black pepper beef wok-tossed with potato might be reinterpreted as a honey and black pepper steak.

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Wishbone is designed by DKO Architecture, the same firm that worked on Tombo Den (pictured). More playful ideas include a nod to Sichuan provinces mapo tofu that might see a mala (spicy, numbing) dressing paired with milky stracciatella cheese. Prawn toast might be made with youtiao, the long round Chinese doughnuts, and mayo amped up by the Japanese condiment yuzu kosho. Like all of Chriss restaurants, its a take on Hong Kong, on street food, on Cantonese  and a very Melbourne take on all those things, says Celia McCarthy, general manager of brand for the group. Diners will be greeted by sweeping archways and statement windows, one of which shows off a large red Perspex staircase. Mid-century Hong Kong design references reign supreme across the 120-capacity split-level space, designed by DKO Architecture, also responsible for Tombo Den. A team was recently dispatched to Hong Kong to source light fittings, cutlery, crockery, host desks and more.

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Temple Street Night Market is an inspiration for the restaurant's design. SHUTTERSTOCK Chan says that Hong Kongs food scene is just as dynamic as Melbournes, incorporating different influences to make something new. But hes still nervous about how people will respond. A key challenge in recreating Hong Kongs street food will be cooking on woks in the all-electric kitchen, part of the buildings green energy design. But Chan says the groups Geelong outpost of Chin Chin has gone through the same learning curve. Lucas is working on another restaurant in the same tower that will open this year. The theme? Greek, honouring his heritage. Wishbone opens October 2026 at 435 Bourke Street, Melbourne
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life Kathy Lette wanted a trip to make her feel young again. Heres where she went Kathy Lette April 19, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

This story is part of the April 19 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories .

One of lifes great conundrums is why blokes prefer their women young and their wine old. This glaring double standard has driven women to wage an all-out war on ageing. So, whats the best solution? Detox? Botox? A slimy green juice fast? A fancy face cream? Nope. The best way to look young is to be photographed in front of ancient monuments, antiques and relics. Combine this kind of historical trip with some vintage wine-tasting and surely any sane bloke will deduce that women also become more precious, nuanced and delicious as the years roll by. Were not ageing, were maturing. Kathy Lettes adventure began with two nights in Portugals capital, Lisbon. To test this theory, I took my boyfriend on a 10-day wine-tasting cruise along the Douro River, through Portugals UNESCO World Heritage-listed wine region, where lush vines cascade down undulating hills to the rivers sleepy banks. The best way to see Europe is by boat. Before planes and trains, rivers and canals were the continents superhighways, with every major city accessible by boat. Adding to the attraction, aquatic sightseeing does away with so many travel hassles. There are no emphysemic hire cars, no character building accommodation, no botched hotel bookings, no endless packing and unpacking (and thats just emotional baggage from navigating convoluted suborbital ring roads in a foreign language). Thanks to Donald Trump, wine will soon be cheaper than petrol, so drink, dont drive. Vikings River of Gold adventure begins with two nights in the nations capital, Lisbon, reliving the 15th and 16th centuries, when Portuguese caravels and their intrepid crews set sail in search of new worlds, mapping vast oceans and connecting continents with nothing more than a sextant and a pickled sausage.

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Remember all those school lessons on Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan? Well, Lisbons Maritime Museum brings their adventures to salt-encrusted life. Then its on to explore the baroque mosaic masterpiece of Sao Roque Church, imposing Sao Jorge castle and the citys vibrant bohemian district before a Viking tour bus whisks us off to our next picturesque destination. The multicoloured houses of Porto, the nations second city, cluster like cheerful barnacles up the steep riverbanks, leading to a medieval summit bristling with church spires. And a night on the tiles here takes on a whole new meaning as Portos buildings are beautifully decorated in trademark, traditional blue-and-white ceramics. Portos main activity, drinking port, feels less like tourism and more like a civic duty as you roam from cellar to cellar. Learning to differentiate the marmalade, spicy, smoky varieties from the coffee, toffee, and tawny ranges is happy homework indeed. Then came the moment of truth: boarding our boat. Strolling across Douros majestic Dom Luis I bridge, which spans the rushing Douro between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, I spotted our Viking home for the next week, moored far below. Portugal is the sardine capital of the world and, to be honest, I wasnt entirely thrilled by the idea of becoming one, packed into a floating tin can with strangers. How claustrophobic would I feel? Exploring some of Europes most magnificent castles, palaces, cathedrals, monasteries and medieval fortresses definitely puts ageing into perspective. KATHY LETTE All fears evaporate the moment we step into our spacious cabin, with its wide balcony, perfect for lazy hours watching the stunning scenery of the Douro River Valley roll gently by.

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We set sail by moonlight to begin our river adventure and settled into a series of fascinating excursions, including to Iberias oldest university towns: Coimbra in Portugal and Salamanca in Spain. As Id hoped, exploring some of Europes most magnificent castles, palaces, cathedrals, monasteries and medieval fortresses definitely puts ageing into perspective. And nothing makes a man appreciate maturity as much as sipping vintage wine among ancient vines. Of course, the best thing about cruising is that you are umbilically attached to the mother ship. When your shoe leathers worn out, you simply board your boat, lie supine on deck and glide off to your next enthralling port. Related Article Opinion

Sunday Life Party like its the end of the world? No thanks, Id much rather do this instead Kathy Lette Writer Vikings boats, with their practical yet aesthetically pleasing design, are elegant and discreet. No casinos or squealing kids, just concerts, libraries, lectures and local gourmet delights. We feast on succulent grilled Portuguese prawns, fleshy mussels, cod cooked in smoked paprika, exotic Iberian pork casseroles and, best of all, the warm, creamy, lemony tang of Portuguese tarts, all washed down with the most delectable wines. I also drink in the fascinating fado singing with its poignant tales of love and loss. Its hard to be a glass half-full person right now. With the world in such turmoil, the glass seems chipped, cracked and full of shards. But learning about the great Portuguese navigators while sampling vintage vinos in one of the worlds oldest demarcated wine regions is a timely reminder that this too shall pass.

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The only wrinkles Im interested in now? The wrinkles in time Ive experienced on my historical Portuguese river trip. My timeless takeaway? To carpe diem like theres no tomorrow. Saude and tchin-tchin! Kathy Lette was a guest of Viking Cruises. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWCourts A child reported sexual assault. The alleged violence then escalated Amber Schultz April 19, 2026  1:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A former student is suing the state of NSW after she was allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted by a teacher while at a public school in Sydneys inner west. The woman claimed she was ignored and her complaint was dismissed when she reported the abuse to staff, allegedly causing the abuse to significantly escalate in its severity and violence. A civil case has been lodged following an allegation of historic sexual abuse at Fort St High School. Artwork: Monique Westermann The woman alleged the abuse occurred in plain sight on school grounds when the woman was aged 13 to 14 in the 1980s at Fort Street High School in Petersham, and lasted for around a year. Representing law firm Slater and Gordon are on the hunt for information, calling for anyone with knowledge of the school or who may have knowledge of the abuse to come forward to help understand the extent of this teachers alleged behaviour and whether other children were impacted.

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Related Article Education Prestigious private school sued over alleged camp hazing ritual Senior associate Emily Clarke said the alleged abuse derailed the womans life. The woman, now aged 57, suffers from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia as a result of the alleged abuse. The experience has not only significantly impacted her mental and physical health, but it stopped her education in its tracks; she was left unable to fully pursue her academic goals, Clarke said. She is urging any witnesses of possible historic child sexual abuse and information from members of the public who attended Fort Street School in the early 1980s to contact the law firm on 1800 565 892. It is so important to speak with those who were at the school at the time period in question  even small observations may be important, and we encourage anyone who may have seen or heard something to get in contact, Clarke said.

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Our priority is ensuring anyone with relevant information has the opportunity to provide it safely and confidentially with a trauma-informed legal professional. Fort Street High School is the oldest government high school in Australia. Fort Street High School celebrated its sesquicentenary in 1999. Steven Siewert It has signed up to the National Redress Scheme, which provides payments of up to $150,000, counselling and an apology from the responsible institution to survivors of sexual abuse where the abuse occurred before 2018. A Department of Education spokesperson said it had the highest standards for employees.

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Crime Private school teacher allegedly pressured vulnerable girl, 14, for abuse material If anyone has information about historical allegations of abuse, they should contact the Department of Education and report the allegations to the police, the spokesperson said. [We] will not hesitate to take any action required. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse found it took survivors on average 24 years to tell someone they had been sexually abused as a child. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Mens Referral Service on 1300 766 491. 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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When former Australian Defence Force chief Chris Barrie and Australian Coal Association ex-chair Ian Dunlop co-write an article decrying the glacial pace of renewables adoption in Australia, and our resulting energy insecurity, our government should take heed and act (Stop defending unsustainable past, April 18). Since the repealing of the carbon tax 12 years ago, there has been complacency and government inertia, with populist politics trumping prescient policy. Though Australia is blessed with intellectual and physical resources, we have twiddled our thumbs while the world has changed. We need to act now, and boldly, on fast-tracking electrification through renewables. Our prime minister needs to be braver  much braver. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle I have argued all my adult life that sustainable energy makes economic sense. Now former ADF chief Chris Barrie argues that it makes strategic sense, too. If the bad guys bomb Eraring, it wouldnt be such a disaster if every community was capable of generating its own power. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem to make political sense. The Coalition is too wedded to fossil fuels to even consider it, and Labor does nothing for fear of losing another election. The only policy that makes sense is for Australia to become self-sufficient in energy, including the manufacture of solar panels, turbines, transport and arms, so ending our dependence on the Persian Gulf, China and the USA. David Neilson, Uralla Former ADF chief Chris Barrie says the change to renewables has been too slow. Get trucks on gas It is relatively easy to convert a diesel engine to run on natural gas, a fuel Australia has in abundance, and would make good sense to convert our fleet of long-distance trucks to run on LPG. The main argument against it is that the lower energy density of gas means that a truck would need to carry more fuel by weight to travel the same distance, or simply refuel more often. So instead of wasting money drilling for uneconomical oil deposits, we should be converting trucks to gas. This would reduce our dependence on oil imports with have the happy side-effect of reducing pollution. Why arent our big trucking companies doing this and claiming it as an R&D tax offset? Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi Decades ago, I worked on a priority project in South Africa and received rationed vouchers to buy fuel manufactured domestically from coal by energy company Sasol. Establishing such a plant on our coal fields to produce at least diesel would give miners certainty of employment and the nation improved fuel security. John Woodward, Ashfield

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Who will pay the piper? Shane Wrights article makes sombre reading (Australias debt hits $1 trillion this year - what did we spend it on? April 18). In the post-Howard era, all governments, federal and state, have gone on debt-fuelled spending sprees for new projects and existing programmes, particularly in the run-up to elections. The reality is that all this needs to be paid for at some stage. As Wright points out, every extra dollar paid on the interest bill is a dollar less spent on essential services. Dont hold your breath for the current crop of politicians to make the hard decisions to fix the problem. When the effects hit home, theyll be cushioned by their generous taxpayer-funded pensions. Mike Kenneally, Manly Shane Wright identifies the main causes for a rise in government spending over the past 20 years. He quotes economist Chris Richardson: The financial crisis and pandemic were the key drivers of the explosion in debt. Richardson invites us to look around and see how the economy would have been without it. The key debt problem is that the overall level of taxation has not increased to match this unavoidable increase in spending. Scare campaigns have made it almost impossible to implement urgently needed taxation reform, let alone a net increase in taxation. Most other well-performing, developed economies have higher overall tax income than Australia. We have to say goodbye to the simplistic knee-jerk small government, lower taxes mantra of yesteryear. While many distrust the political class, most people value government services and infrastructure and know they have to be paid for. David Hind, North Sydney Robert Carling from the Centre for Independent Studies doesnt think there is a lot to show for a trillion-dollar debt, then in the same breath goes on to say that most of it has gone towards the NDIS, aged care, education and child care. Yep, nothing much to show for it at all, Mr Carling. Is it any wonder people dont think a lot of many economists? Gerald Smith, Adelaide (SA) Inject some sense Someone should remind Nationals MP David Littleproud that the last time Australia was injected into the Middle East (Australia should inject itself into Middle East conflict: David Littleproud, April 19) side-effects included more than a million dead Iraqis, the formation of ISIS and destruction of Syria and Afghanistan. The states many overseas military injections since World War II have never proven to be an effective remedy. Richard Phillips, Ashfield Nationals MP David Littleproud. Alex Ellinghausen

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Australian by degree A thought-provoking article by Denise Sivasubramaniam (When a politician talks about Australian values, my brown skin crawls, April 18). The meaning of Australian values depends on the person using the phrase. If Pauline Hanson or Angus Taylor could lay it out as a framework against which people can be evaluated, it might be a workable starting point for an immigration discussion. Of course, it would also have to apply to current Australians. Theres no point in bringing in immigrants who are more Australian than existing citizens. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea I like to think there are such things as Australian values like the oft-cited fair go, but they are hard to pin down and are unevenly applied. Unlike the Liberal Party, Im confident new Australians will get the vibe as long as we follow Denise Sivasubramaniams suggestion that we live our values, particularly in our dealings with people who live or look different from us. Colin Stokes, Camperdown Maureen Partridge, I also became a naturalised citizen in the 1980s (Letters, April 18). Apart from all the opinions to be found on your social media, I wonder if our letters to the Herald would also come under scrutiny as one part of an Australian values test? Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne Race to the bottom Its no surprise that this current NSW state government has failed to fulfil its electoral promises (NSWs $1 billion clean energy fund yet to invest a single dollar, April 19). If one were to compare the Minns government with that of the preceding Berejiklian/Perrottet fiasco, the sole conclusion which could be drawn is that the only difference is the colour of the ties they wear. Be it transport, energy, discrimination or welfare of the people, the current incumbents have merely won back the wooden spoon from their predecessors. Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale Hats off to the NSW government for funding a new pedestrian route across Sydney (Foreshore path links Opera House to Parramatta, April 18). Spending a few million on projects such as these, compared to billions on motorways, is a happy walk in the park. Alison Orme, Manly

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PM on the right path Salvotore Sorbello criticised the prime ministers weakness in dealing with Donald Trump (Letters, April 18). On the contrary, Anthony Albanese has handled Trump impeccably and refused to indulge his tantrums. Suggesting he step down is a bit rich. Albo has also engaged with other foreign leaders, including President Xi Jinping, and has done much to repair relations with China after the Scott Morrison debacle. Peng Ee, Castle Cove PM Anthony Albanese has handled US President Donald Trump impeccably. AP My favourite religious text is Monty Pythons The Life of Brian. In it there is a line from a woman who says of Brian: Only the true Messiah denies his divinity. To me, this is irrefutable proof that Donald Trump is not the messiah. However, under his stewardship it is getting increasingly difficult to always look on the bright side of life. Craig Jory, Albury Thank you, Herald Thank you, Sydney Morning Herald, for being a part of my life for more than 40 years (A unique Australian aperture on the world, April 18). My father, John Dot McCarty, has had the newspaper delivered to our home every single day for as long as I can remember. It was always there on the table, something constant, familiar and quietly important. Over the years much has changed. Like many, Dad has adapted with the times and now often reads his Herald online. Despite this, he still makes sure the paper is delivered each day so my mum can sit down and enjoy her crosswords. That simple ritual says a lot about what the Herald has meant to our family, not just as a source of news, but as part of our daily life over many decades. In a world that moves quickly and often feels disconnected, those small traditions matter. So I wanted to take a moment to say thank you: for the stories, the routines and the role youve played across generations in our home. Isabel McCarty, Petersham I couldnt keep my eyes from the magnificent image of Sydney Harbour on the front page of Saturdays Herald (How the Herald has told the stories you want to read, April 18). Its just one of the many over 195 years that tell a story and show us something from a different view. Thanks to Robert Pearce and all the photographers who contribute to the Herald  your photos are much appreciated. Lisa Williams, Dulwich Hill

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Thank you so much for my daily dose of news and opinions. For many years, my day has begun with the SMH and a cup of tea  a routine shared by so many Australians who have come to depend on its high standards of journalism. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick The Sydney Morning Herald is the countrys most read masthead. Wolter Peeters Bravo, Kate McClymont, prepared to investigate and chase down the crooks, no matter how long it takes. Bravo, Ross Gittins, wising us up in plain language about economics and political manoeuvring. Bravo to all the journalists, photographers and letter writers who make this paper a joy to open every morning. Bravo to the next 195 years. Andrew Raymond, Parramatta Congratulations on your 195th. As Geraldine Brooks says, the Herald is indeed Sydneys paper, but up here north of the border, its also ours. It brings us news and opinions not found in the other papers on our newsstands. How good that I can buy it every day on my shopping trek. Three cheers! Rob Wills, Brisbane (Qld) Sydneys best newspaper even made it into Nino Culottas Theyre a Weird Mob. Asked by Nino for a newspaper containing job ads, the paper-boy replied Eralds the rag. Peter Hughes, Macquarie Fields Keep 2SER alive Well said, Robbie Buck  Radio 2SER-FM is too important for Sydney to lose (Shutting this priceless asset would hurt April 18). As a former news/current affairs producer and trainer at 2SER, I helped train hundreds of developing broadcasters, including several mentioned or pictured in Robbies article. Ive always felt satisfaction and pride in seeing our trainees continue to develop, at the ABC and elsewhere, the skills and journalistic standards they first practised at 2SER. Many thousands have done this. Meanwhile, the 2SER programs theyve worked on have won international awards against quality competition from all sectors. Macquarie Uni has made a bad mistake in withdrawing funding. UTS, other unis and media training centres should grasp the opportunity to become involved in a workplace where trainee broadcasters can develop their skills to provide our city with a critical and diverse alternative to the sometimes formulaic, product-driven content of much of Sydney radio. Stafford Sanders, Balgowlah

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Exclusive NationalQueenslandMarine life Greg was the only one checking for toxic algae  hes just been told to stop Julius Dennis April 20, 2026  5:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The body charged with keeping tabs on the health of Queenslands waterways has cancelled a long-running toxic algae monitoring program in Moreton Bay, removing a key warning the state might receive about an oncoming bloom akin to that seen in South Australia. The decision comes just months after the same body warned there was a growing risk of catastrophic algae burgeoning across the bay. Lyngbya algae caused havoc in the bay in the late 90s and early 2000s, choking seagrass meadows and driving fish and other sealife away. Algae once bloomed right across Pumicestone Passage. Julius Dennis The algae spread in giant sheets that could double in size every five days, particularly at the southern mouth of Pumicestone Passage, a wide sandy stretch of water between Bribie Island and the mainland.

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At low tides, it washed up in huge festering piles of sludge on the regions beaches, where heavy machinery was used to push it away. Fisherman Greg Saviges eyes burnt when he scraped the dried algae off his nets, which were full of the stuff, and he saw the welts that turned to scars on the legs of fishermen who touched it. Greg Savige has been monitoring Lyngbya growth for more than two decades. Julius Dennis Most of all, he felt the effect it had on the once-thriving industry around him. It persisted for a lot of years. Most of the net fishermen moved or did something else, Savige said last week after a morning of fishing.

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There was over 10,000 tonnes here one year, on that little bank. Savige became the face of the bloom, appearing in news segments and providing a connection between the academics trying to understand it and the fishermen trying to deal with it. Remnants of blooms past  black clumps of Lyngbya in Moreton Bay. The Moreton Bay Foundation: Stephen Faggotter As the algae became better understood, and eventually less prominent, Savige began compiling reports on the state of Lyngbya around Deception Bay. Once a month, when the tide is at its lowest, Savige gets on his jetski with wife Julie and heads out to hotspots where the algae has been known to grow.

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Professor Michele Burford, an algae expert from Griffith University who was involved with identifying Lyngbya in the early days, said Saviges work was vital. We can see a wonderful long-term picture that links up with things like periods of drought and periods of flood that you just wouldnt get with a short-term data set, she said. The algae once spread across the bay in huge sheets. Michele Burford But on April 8, Savige received an email from Healthy Land & Water  a body funded by the state and other stakeholders to monitor environmental health  telling him to cease the work. The Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program is currently undergoing a broader review [led] by the state government, and the steering committee has decided to pause this component for the time being, the email from head of monitoring and research Wing Tsoi said.

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The email also asked him to send any remaining invoices for the work, for which he had been charging $500 a month. Burford, who is on the scientific advisory committee for the South Australian bloom, said the monitoring was essential to managing the risk of further blooms in Moreton Bay. Greg Savige monitors algae on Moreton Bay. Michele Burford It gives you early warning when there are issues, and you start to see blooms occurring before they get too serious, she said. A Healthy Land & Water spokesperson said the pause was part of a broader review initiated by the environment department aimed at ensuring monitoring methods were fit for purpose.

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Current funding constraints mean resources must be carefully balanced across sample collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting, they said. A report by consultants Broadstrokes was handed to the government in February, and the department of environment was working through its recommendations with stakeholders. Healthy Land & Water, formerly known as Healthy Waterways, was formed as a response to Lyngbya outbreaks in the early 2000s, and now compiles annual report cards for the states waterways. In its most recent report card, the body found the bay was ripe for another large bloom, with high levels of sediment and nutrients, perfect food for Lyngbya and other toxic algaes, which are native to the bay. Savige said that during the past summer  when Lyngbya is most likely to grow due to warmer water  he started noticing blooms at the mouth of the Caboolture River.

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About two or three weeks ago, I was down there fishing and thought, gee whiz, its pretty thick here, Savige said. He believes recent works on the state-backed North Harbour development on the banks of the river could be a contributing factor. The second phase of the North Harbour development is being built. Julius Dennis Burford said the great blooms of the past were likely caused by a combination of run-off from land development, forestry and agriculture, but any development creating run-off could pose a risk. North Harbour project director Bryan Finney said the development took sediment and nutrient control seriously, and monitoring showed water quality around the project had actually been improving.

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We support a transparent and open approach to these measures, and it is part of our annual reporting to the Commonwealth government under the projects EPBC [environmental] approval, he said. But a walk around the site this week showed signs that sediment had been washing into the drains of the freshly paved roads, a sight not uncommon on greenfield sites such as this. Dirt running into a drain at the North Harbour development. Julius Dennis Its insights like this that Burford fears will be missed. Savige has only been monitoring part of the bay, but Lyngbya has bloomed in other areas, such as Victoria and Wellington points, and the Broadwater on the Gold Coast. We really have no idea when the blooms are occurring until they get massive, or theyre close to where people are fishing, she said.

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The risk is, we dont even know whats there. The Healthy Land & Water spokesperson said the organisation was committed to understanding Lyngbya in the bay, but could not confirm specific plans for future testing. The government plans to make the Broadstrokes report public in the coming months. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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The search for a man missing after going overboard from a Carnival cruise ship near Moreton Island on Friday night resumed stretched into a second day at the weekend. The man, in his 70s, was a passenger on Carnival Splendor, which was sailing from the island towards Sydney. He was reported overboard north-east of Cape Moreton about 10.30pm on Friday, sparking an intensive air and sea search involving multiple assets, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The passenger was believed to have jumped from Carnival Splendor on Friday night. In an update on Saturday evening, AMSA said it had suspended the search operation.

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The missing person was not located and AMSA has now released all assets from tasking, a spokesperson said. Queensland Police Service said the search and rescue operation resumed on Sunday. The mans disappearance followed the death of a 67-year-old Tasmanian woman, also a passenger on the ship, earlier on Friday. The woman had been snorkelling off Moreton Island, and despite attempts to revive her on the beach, she could not be saved. The two incidents were not believed to be linked. A Carnival Cruise Line spokeswoman said on Saturday it was helping authorities search for the man, who had apparently climbed over a safety railing and jumped.

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The male guest was travelling with family, who alerted the ships crew of a possible missing person, the spokeswoman said. A review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guests action. All appropriate authorities have been alerted, and Carnival will assist authorities in their investigation upon the ships return to Sydney. Carnivals Care Team is supporting the guests family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one. A Carnival Splendor passenger said the alert was first raised before 2am, with the captain confirming the incident within the hour.

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The passenger said on Saturday a rescue helicopter could be seen searching the waters as the ship remained off Moreton Island. We are all safe, but I am disappointed that Carnival were not being upfront that we would be sure to be late to our 6am Sydney arrival tomorrow [Sunday], they said. Passengers reported seeing a rescue helicopter searching the waters on Saturday afternoon. The passenger said that about 3pm, the captain confirmed the ship would be leaving the area, and arrival in Sydney was expected to be 6pm on Sunday instead. AMSA said it was notified by the cruise ship early on Saturday morning, advising that a person had been lost overboard about 30 kilometres north-east of Moreton Island.

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AMSA is currently co-ordinating the search and rescue operation and has tasked its Cairns and Melbourne-based Challenger jets, five rescue helicopters from around the metropolitan Brisbane area, and six surface vessels into the area, with Queensland Police assisting AMSA with the operation, a spokeswoman said.



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The amended filing, which has not been made public, lists both Mynett businesses as having no net value once liabilities were factored in, per the Wall Street Journal. Neither the disclosure nor Omar's office has publicly itemized the offsetting liabilities at time of writing.

On the liability side, the same filing listed two items: a Nelnet student loan of between $15,001 and $50,000 dating back to October 2005, and a Citi credit card balance of between $15,001 and $50,000 incurred in December 2022. Total reported liabilities: no more than $100,000. Omar certified the filing as "true, complete, and correct."

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Amended disclosures aren't unusual  the Journal noted, for example, that numerous House and Senate members have failed to properly disclose stock trades. Omars amendment comes at a time of intense public and political scrutiny, though. The corrected filing lists two of Mynett's businesses, previously valued in the millions, as having no net value. Neither the disclosure nor Omar's office has publicly detailed the offsetting liabilities.

"The amended disclosure confirms what we've said all along: The congresswoman is not a millionaire," spokesperson Jacklyn Rogers told the Journal, adding that the filing was corrected voluntarily once the discrepancy was spotted. In a letter to the Office of Congressional Conduct, Omars attorney attributed the original numbers to an unintentional accounting error and argued that members of Congress and their spouses routinely rely on professional accountants.

Rep. Ilhan Omar's office says she is not a millionaire. An amended congressional financial disclosure, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, now values the Minnesota Democrat's household assets at between $18,004 and $95,000  a dramatic drop from an earlier filing that listed assets of up to $30 million (1).

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Distributions and valuations of Mynetts companies are key

Omar's September 2025 defense and her April 2026 amended filing don't quite line up with each other.

In a September 2025 TikTok responding to the first wave of coverage, Omar said the asset values on her filing reflected the full valuation of businesses in which her husband is one of several partners, not his individual share. A 2025 email between Mynett and his accountant, attached to his attorney's letter to the Office of Congressional Conduct, valued the venture capital firm at roughly $7.9 million and the winery at roughly $1.5 million, with Mynett owning approximately one-third of each, per the Journal. That would put Mynett's personal stake in the two businesses somewhere in the low millions  not zero.

The amended filing takes a different position. Both businesses are now reported as having no net value. Even with the businesses zeroed out, the amended disclosure still shows the couple reported between $102,503 and $1,005,200 in income tied to those holdings in 2024  including $213,200 in distributions to Mynett from the venture capital firm and $3,000 from the winery (1).

Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Start investing with just $10

The original filing under-reported that income, too. Schedule A of the May 2025 disclosure listed partnership income from eStCru at $5,001 to $15,000 and income from Rose Lake Capital as "None" (2)  a figure that, based on the amended filing's own numbers, was off by more than $213,000.

A partnership can legally show zeroor even negativevalue on paper while still paying out cash. This happens when the value of what the fund owns is canceled out by things like loans, future financial promises, or potential refunds. According to the Journal, neither Omar's attorney nor the accountant's email actually explained which of these reasons caused the value to drop to zero.

Omar under intense congressional scrutiny

The amendment follows months of Republican pressure. In January 2026, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said that committee attorneys were weighing a subpoena of Mynett, citing many questions about how Mynett had accumulated so much wealth in a short period.

On Feb. 5, 2026, Comer formalized the inquiry, writing directly to Mynett to request financial documents and communications related to eStCru and Rose Lake Capital. The letter flagged the valuation surge  from as much as $51,000 in 2023 to as much as $30 million in 2024  and said the jump "raises concerns that unknown individuals may be investing to gain influence with your wife" (3). The committee asked for records, including SEC filings, investor information, and travel records tied to Somalia, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates, with a Feb. 19 deadline for voluntary compliance.

The April amendment itself was prompted by a March 2026 letter from the Office of Congressional Conduct, the independent body that reviews allegations of misconduct against House members and staff. Jacklyn Rogers called Comer's investigation "a political stunt" and part of a campaign "meant to fundraise, not real oversight," per the Associated Press (4). No criminal charges have been filed against Omar or Mynett.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote on X that previously unreported liabilities had erased the reported wealth, questioning how debts absent from the original filing could now account for millions in value (5).

Omar has been a frequent target of President Trump since her 2018 election, and Comer is simultaneously running a broader Oversight investigation into Minnesota social services fraud. The Office of Congressional Conduct is an administrative review body, not a prosecutorial agency  its inquiries can result in referrals to the House Ethics Committee but are not themselves charges.

The broader oversight push is unfolding against the backdrop of Minnesota's sweeping public-funds fraud scandal. Federal prosecutors have charged more than 90 people across various schemes, and former U.S. Attorney's Office white-collar lead Joe Thompson estimated in December that losses across 14 state-administered Medicaid programs could reach $9 billion  a figure separate from the roughly $300 million tied to the Feeding Our Future child nutrition case. Omar has not been accused of wrongdoing in those cases.

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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.

Wall Street Journal (1); U.S. House Clerk (2); House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (3); Associated Press (4); Tom Fitton (5)

This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Not a millionaire: Ilhan Omar blames accounting error as reported net worth plunges from up to $30M to as low as $18K

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Lawrence plans to laid to rest with a native tree, planted at the Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest.

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Belinda Lawrence was just 43 years old when, back in December 2023, she was told she had a rare type of terminal cancer. Lawrence said she had been devastated and overwhelmed. Id had an operation two weeks prior for a case of glue ear that Id had since January. It took until November to get in to see the ENT and it was decided he would install a grommet, she said. It was while he was doing the procedure he noticed that I had some abnormal growth in my sinuses and took a biopsy. Two weeks later, Lawrence was urgently called in to the doctors office and was sent off for a CT and MRI scan followed up with a PET scan. The tests returned positive for nasopharyngeal cancer. I had no idea what it was or how extremely rare it is until I started to do research on it, she said.

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I was devastated. I was the same age as my older sister was when she was diagnosed with mesothelioma. I had a complete breakdown and I am thankful that one of my best friends was with me. It was a lot to process, but I started making plans to make sure my choices would be followed after I go. Choice and ownership are such a powerful thing when you get struck by something so out of your control. Despite feeling overwhelmed, Lawrence knew one thing  she didnt want to just sit in an urn. She said she had wanted to be placed in an eco-pod  egg-shaped pods containing remains which are buried to grow a tree  but they were not available in Australia. I started to look into other options, she said. It makes more sense to me to become a part of natures life cycle.

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I know my opinion on death and funerals are not the norm but I really think people need to think about these things sooner in life, Id like to think that even without my diagnosis I would have started planning in advance. It was through researching other options she discovered the Wellington Dam  one of four Living Legacy Forests across the country. Its founder Warren Roberts came up with the idea after losing a friend, who was cremated, and struggling to grieve without a place to visit. But he felt closer to his friend when walking in nature. Instead of chopping down trees to make coffins and space for cemeteries, we can now become native trees and create a beautiful new forest to be remembered in, Roberts said. Wellington Dam chief forest officer Peta Bilston said close to 1000 families had chosen to plant a tree to be buried with since the forest opened in 2019. Many brought their loved ones with them to choose the tree, and sometimes to plant them so they can watch them grow before they pass.

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It can be incredibly healing to have that security, both for those the tree is for and their families, she said. Discussing death is so important, its less scary when you do, and it makes you feel less alone when you are the one planning your own funeral. It also eases the burden on family members who otherwise might not know what their loved ones wishes truly are. Lawrence said the forest was beautiful and so peaceful, the absolute perfect place for my ashes to help a tree grow. Each tree comes with its own plaque and unique number. For Lawrence, now 45, it was important her family knew what she wanted. I know people dont like to talk about loved ones dying, but its important that you plan ahead  no one ever expects to die suddenly but it happens every day, she said.

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PoliticsFederalMiddle East at war Australias plea to Iran and US as Strait of Hormuz closes again Matthew Knott Updated April 19, 2026  10:31pm ,first published 1:41pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Australia is calling on Iran and the United States to intensify efforts to negotiate an end to their war after the Iranian regime again closed off the Strait of Hormuz and began firing at ships, just a day after reopening the critical waterway. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that it would prevent ships passing through the strait while a US blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, a move Iran says violates the terms of a ceasefire agreement. Irans navy relies on mini submarines, like the Ghadir-942 shown here, to menace ships on the Strait of Hormuz. AP As the regime claimed victory in the war, Iranian state media confirmed reports that two Indian ships came under fire and had to turn around after trying to pass through the strait over the weekend, underlining the precarious situation in an area crucial to the global oil trade. The Australian government will on Monday open an emergency loan program to help businesses hit by the fuel crisis, as Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Sunday the closure of the strait was a disappointing development that highlighted the fragile nature of the ceasefire agreement struck this month.

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I think what we need to see now is every diplomatic avenue being pursued to turn this temporary ceasefire into one that is permanent, to obviously open the Strait of Hormuz, to return the global fuel supply chain to normality and to put events on a pathway to peace, Marles told the ABCs Insiders. Thats certainly whats in Australias interest. Its obviously whats in the worlds interests, and that thats really the direction that we need to see events take. Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would definitely contribute to a coalition to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz. Alex Ellinghausen The current ceasefire is set to expire within days, heaping pressure on Iran and the US to make progress to prevent a return to full-scale combat. US President Donald Trump said that American negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran.

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Trump, in a post on social media Sunday, didnt detail which officials the US would send to a second round of in-person talks with Iran in Islamabad. The White House and office of US Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of talks, didnt immediately respond to messages Sunday morning. In his post, Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement by firing bullets on Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran if it doesnt take the deal that the US is offering. If they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, Trump wrote. Marles said he would not second guess the US decision to block ships from leaving Iranian ports, describing it as a reaction to the fundamental decision that Iran has made to block the Strait of Hormuz. I can understand the American reaction to that, he said.

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There is a lot of thought going on about what kind of operation there might be when circumstances allow, he said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said dozens of countries had agreed to contribute to a strictly peaceful and defensive multinational coalition to protect the strait when the war ends. Trump again lashed out at US allies and partners on Sunday, declaring in a social media post that while Israel knows how to WIN others had shown their true colours by not joining in the fight in the Middle East. Trump berated Australia last Friday for failing to help the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as Albanese insisted no formal request for assistance had been made. Im not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there, Trump told reporters outside the White House.

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Pressed on whether Australia had rebuffed any informal US requests for Australian assistance during the war, Marles said: Im not about to go into a whole lot of conversations that have happened. The latest flare-up between the US and Iran came as the federal government opens applications on Monday for a $1 billion emergency loan program for companies affected by the fuel crisis. The economic resilience program, announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a speech to the National Press Club earlier this month, will provide zero-interest loans to businesses impacted by disruptions to fuel supplies, fertilisers and chemicals. The government will also fast-track applications for a separate $5 billion net zero fund to encourage low-emissions manufacturing and a $150 million forestry growth fund. Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the zero-interest loans would help ease pressures on businesses in sectors such as fuels, plastics, fertiliser and other critical supply chains.

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In an increasingly volatile global environment, strong domestic supply chains matter more than ever, and this funding is about backing the industries Australia relies on, from farming and manufacturing to housing and heavy industry, he said. Related Article Middle East at war More fuel price cuts by Anzac Day if Iran keeps shipping pledge Earlier, the IRGC navy warned in a statement that no vessel is to move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman and declared approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered co-operation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted. India said it had called in the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi and flagged its deep concern over the attack on two Indian-flagged ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. A distress message from one of the tankers was released, capturing the confusion that ensued during the firing.

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A crew member on board the crude oil tanker Sanmar Herald can be heard trying to communicate with the Iranian navy in the 30-second audio clip, saying: Sepah [IRGC] Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back. Irans powerful Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, claimed in a televised address on Sunday that Iran had been victorious in the field during the war and had only agreed to a temporary ceasefire because the US submitted to its negotiating demands. Ghalibaf said Iran had resolved some points of contention with the US through talks, but that there are still major gaps on others, and we are far from a final agreement. Iran was ready to resume the war if the negotiations collapsed, he said. If they make even the slightest mistake, we will respond with force, he said.

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As he convened meetings with top officials in Washington, Trump said negotiations had been making progress, but he would not allow Iran to blackmail us over the strait. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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TechnologyAI The five buzziest AI office tools, and what they do Tim Biggs April 19, 2026  4:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

With several billion-dollar companies now having spent years training and refining their AI models, the market for specific productivity tools that anyone can use has become diverse and competitive. Here, weve picked out five tools that have influencers and office workers raving. Each provides something you wont find in the biggest suites from the likes of Google and Microsoft, but they also come with their own costs and drawbacks. Buzziest doesnt always mean best; these tools are at the frontier of consumer AI, meaning theres really no telling what potential complications theyll run into. Howie  the email EA What it does: Howie is an executive assistant that lives in your email. When its time to organise a meeting, you can CC the bot as though youre including another team member in the conversation. It will read the chain, look through your calendar and talk to the other attendees to organise a time. Howie will also email you to handle conflicts, and will remember your preferences and rules, and can contact the appropriate people if you need to cancel or clear a day. Howie has been highly praised by founders and executives, as it gives the impression of a human executive assistant but works much faster and 24 hours a day. Its also been compared favourably to services like Calendly, which require meeting attendees to do more work. The company says theres always a human in the loop, with staff able to resolve issues manually.

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Where its from: Howie was founded in late 2023 by serial entrepreneur Austin Petersmith and David Newman, in the USA. It launched publicly late last year, attracting $US6 million ($8.46 million) in seed funding from True Ventures, Perplexity chief executive Aravind Srinivas, Superhuman chief executive CEO Rahul Vohra, and others. Keep in mind: Howie might not cost as much as a human assistant, but its not free. The basic tier is around $50 per month, with a $200 per month pro version adding the ability to rename your assistant and give it an email address at your domain. Many recommendations mention that Howie is so good, people often dont realise its AI. And while that might give a good impression of you and your company, its ultimately better practice to tell people youre referring them to a bot. The company says it uses a waterfall of AI models to maximise accuracy and evaluate confidence, so it can take up to 15 minutes for Howie to send a message. Kimi comes from Chinese AI giant Moonshot. Kimi  the long-memory chatbot What it does: While ChatGPT still leads in service integration, and Claude is a go-to for nuance and coding, the fast-growing Kimi is generating buzz for its lower cost and extremely long context. Kimi can ingest truly massive documents or spreadsheets, analysing them for summaries or queries, making it possible to turn a years worth of notes, or 50 big PDF reports, into something usable. Kimi also has an agent swarm mode, where dozens of AI agents work in parallel to turn your data into book-length reports or fully functioning websites, or where you can get insights and suggestions from multiple perspectives by assigning roles to the agents. Aside from that, its a do anything chatbot with integrations from Google Docs to OpenClaw.

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Where its from: Kimi is a product of Chinas Moonshot AI, founded in 2023 by former Google and Meta researcher Yang Zhilin, considered one of the worlds top AI architects. The company has grown massively in the past few months, reportedly eyeing an $US18 billion valuation in its current funding round, up from $4.3 billion late last year. Investors include Alibaba, Tencent and 5Y Capital. Keep in mind: Simply being a China-based service raises potential data sovereignty concerns, but researchers have also highlighted specific risks when it comes to Kimi, including its models failing basic safety and security checks, a lack of guardrails and severe hallucinations. Moonshots privacy policy also explicitly states it retains user input for training, which is a concern for business use. Kimi has a free service and several paid tiers, with the cheapest to include agent swarm being around $50 per month. Gamma  the automatic PowerPoint What it does: Designed to ease the anxiety of starting from a blank deck, Gamma quickly generates entire slideshows in response to a single prompt, and then lets you edit or rearrange by conversing, asking for changes, or uploading data and documents. The service also lets you output results to PDF documents, social media slides or full websites. Gamma has a lot in common with Canvas Magic Editor, except the two firms are coming at the issue from opposite directions; Canva is a design service with a lot more flexibility that now has an AI element, whereas Gamma is AI native and aims to create designs that are visually on par, a lot quicker.

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Where its from: Founded in the USA in 2020 by a team of Stanford engineers, Gamma is led by former investment banker Grant Lee. It hit $US100 million in annual revenue late last year, with a lean team of about 50 people. It has a valuation of around $US2.1 billion, following a $US68 million Series B funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Keep in mind: Gamma uses AI credits for its payment system, and these credits are used up when your actions require advanced AI models. So for example with the 4000 credits you get on the $35-per-month Pro plan, you might be able to create a large number of decks with basic information, youll burn through credits the more you rely on AI to generate, refine or edit the content. Touching up the designs manually without using the AI can also be tricky, but you can export them to PowerPoint. Audiogest is a straightforward app that lets you turn meetings into files and deliverables. Audiogest  the meeting whisperer What it does: Businesspeople love their deliverables. And onboarding. And working at pace to align scopes with go-to-market strategies. And while there are a lot of AI transcription tools out there, Audiogest has become a cult favourite because it has this kind of business use as its sole focus. It has a no-nonsense interface, custom dictionaries for names and jargon, and is fully GDPR-compliant with European data centres, which is a plus for business use when most transcription services are American. You upload a recording of your meeting, it gets transcribed, and then you can ask questions about it or even generate files and deliverables with one click, from plans to briefs to LinkedIn posts.

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Editor's pick AI How I vibe-coded a web tool in three days with no programming experience Where its from: Audiogest is based in The Netherlands, and comes from a small group of developers focused on cleaner, safer business AI solutions. Its primarily maintained by Thomas Mol, who created the service in 2023. Its privacy policy states that all data collected is stored in European servers, though the creation of documents and summaries uses OpenAIs APIs. Keep in mind: While some users will find Audiogest to be more focused and less flashy than the likes of Otter or ChatGPT, it also has no free tier. If youre doing a small amount of work with it, you can pay as you go, which costs around $5.60 per hour of uploaded recordings. A subscription option gives you a 20-hour monthly limit at around $30, while a team plan adds collaboration features and cheaper per-hour uploads. T3 chat lets you talk to dozens of AI models from one dashboard. T3 Chat  the bot aggregator

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What it does: Instead of bouncing between three or more different chatbot providers, T3 Chat lets you access  and even pay for  dozens of AI models from different companies in the one place. Many models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Moonshot, DeepSeek, xAI and more are included; you pay T3 around $11 per month for a certain amount of credit, and every time you send a message it deducts some from your base usage (which refreshes every four hours) or your overage (which is your limit for the month). So from the same interface, you can compare the output from GPT 5.3 and Sonnet 4.6, which alongside fast performance has made T3 a go-to for power users. Where its from: T3 Chat comes from Ping Labs, a company run by AI-focused YouTube influencer Theo Browne, who is based in the USA and backed by Y Combinator. He also created the T3 Stack web app framework and most recently T3 code for AI-assisted coding. By default, T3 Chat tells models not to pass your data back to AI companies for use in training. Keep in mind: Some users will find T3 Chat cost-effective, since its buying access in bulk and passing the savings down to each individual, but there will likely be users who pay more than they would just going to OpenAI and Anthropic directly. For workflows with high privacy needs, it also adds an extra (and much smaller) company into the mix. T3 Chat doesnt have a persistent memory, and intensive tasks like image generation and crunching large amounts of data will burn through your credit. Get news and reviews on technology, gadgets and gaming in our Technology newsletter every Friday. Sign up here.
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InspirationFoodie travel The history of this tasty dish is the history of humanity Ben Groundwater April 20, 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 dish: Nyama choma, Kenya Nyama choma  a Kenyan staple. Alamy Plate up You can already speak some Swahili, even if you arent aware of it. Hakuna matata: it means no worries. In Swahili. This problem-free philosophy was popularised globally in The Lion King, which also introduced the world to several more Swahili words: Simba, for example, means lion, rafiki means friend, and pumbaa means being foolish or silly. So there you go, you speak Swahili. And now you speak a little more because today we are talking about Kenyas national dish, nyama choma, Swahili for grilled meat. Nyama choma is a dish of exactly that and little else. Its usually goat meat marinated in garlic, salt and other spices then barbecued over wood fire or charcoal, though beef is also sometimes used. That charred meat is served with kachumbari  a salad of tomato and onion  plus ugali, the East African staple, a sort of stiff, maize-meal porridge. You will find this meal served everywhere from roadside stands to fancy restaurants across Kenya.

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First serve Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Related Article Foodie travel There are just two ingredients in this dish, but theres nothing better To trace the history of nyama choma, you basically have to trace the history of humanity. Or at least, the history of our mastery of fire. Key tribal groups in Kenya such as the Maasai, the Kikuyu and Kalenjin have been cooking meat over flames for millennia  its impossible to know who first hit on the idea (or when). This is cooking so elemental as to have no history. What we do know, is that the preparation of nyama choma is and always has been as important as its eating  a social ritual thats richly cherished even among modern-day Kenyans. Order there In Nairobi, head to The Carnivore restaurant, and legend on the local scene (tamarind.co.ke).

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Order here Though its not Kenyan, the Sudanese restaurant Omdurman Centre in Blacktown, Sydney, does excellent grilled meats (no website). In Melbourne, Safari Lounge in Malvern East serves a range of choma dishes (safarilounge.com.au). One more thing In its original draft script, The Lion King was called King of the Jungle. Producers decided to change the title after the savannah setting was decided on  and, no doubt, after realising lions dont live in the jungle.

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Africa Ben Groundwater is a Sydney-based travel writer, columnist, broadcaster, author and occasional tour guide with more than 25 years experience in media, and a lifetime of experience traversing the globe. He specialises in food and wine  writing about it, as well as consuming it  and at any given moment in time Ben is probably thinking about either ramen in Tokyo, pintxos in San Sebastian, or carbonara in Rome. Follow him on Instagram @bengroundwater Connect via email
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PHILIPSBURG:--- Last Thursday and Friday, President of Parliament, MP Wescot-Williams, led the Sint Maarten parliamentary delegation at a workshop hosted by Parlamericas in Grenada, focused on one of the most fundamental yet overlooked pillars of Caribbean economies: paid and unpaid care work.

Reflecting on the engagement, MP Wescot -Williams noted that the discussions brought into sharp focus a persistent reality; economies across the region are sustained not only by what is formally measured, but also by what remains largely invisible.

Care work, in all its forms, underpins the functioning of societies. It encompasses raising children, supporting the elderly, caring for the sick, and maintaining households. Despite its essential nature, such work continues to be undervalued, underpaid, and in many instances, unrecognized across the Caribbean, the MP further stated.

The workshop highlighted that unpaid care work is disproportionately carried by women. This imbalance has direct economic implications. When women dedicate significant time to unpaid caregiving, their participation in the formal economy is constrained, affecting income, career progression, pension accumulation, and long-term financial independence.

For Sint Maarten, these challenges are particularly pronounced. Limited public services, high living costs, and fragmented social support systems often result in families absorbing the burden of care privately, frequently placing that responsibility on women.

While the concept of unpaid care work may at first seem abstract, its reality is deeply personal. Consider a family caring for an elderly parent living with dementia, in a context where institutional care is unavailable. Household help may be present, but without the specialized training required to manage such a condition. Professional care, where it exists, is often financially out of reach. In these circumstances, the responsibility falls squarely on family members, often adult children who are themselves parents, working or running small businesses. The physical, emotional, and financial strain that results is immense, and it is precisely this lived reality that underscores why recognizing and supporting care work is so critical.

MP Wescot-Williams reiterated that, in the Democratic Partys 2024 political manifesto, the care economy is outlined as a key pillar of Sint Maartens future development. The discussions in Grenada reinforced the urgency and relevance of this policy direction.

The workshop also examined the conditions of paid care workers, including those in early childhood education, elder care, care for the disabled and domestic work.

The resulting paradox is clear: the work that sustains societies remains among the least valued in economic terms.

In light of the discussions, MP Wescot-Williams underscored the need for a shift in policy approach. Recognizing care as a public good will require strategic investments in childcare, eldercare, and community-based support systems. Such investments are not merely social expenditures, but critical enablers of economic participation and productivity.

Further, the importance of making unpaid care work visible was highlighted, particularly through improved data collection and the use of time-use surveys to better inform policymaking.

Improving the conditions of paid care workers must also be prioritized through fair wages, formalization of employment, access to social protection, and recognition of care work as skilled labor.

Additionally, a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities within households, communities, and through public policy was identified as essential to advancing gender equality.

As Caribbean societies confront aging populations, evolving family structures, and increasing economic pressures, the demand for care services is expected to grow significantly. Without targeted interventions, existing inequalities are likely to deepen.

Despite these challenges, the engagement in Grenada was described as constructive and forward-looking. Parliamentarians from across the region demonstrated a shared commitment to placing care at the center of policy discussions.

The focus now, the President of Parliament noted, must be on translating dialogue into concrete action.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), the Honorable Patrice Gumbs, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) project team met with a representative of the Dutch Quarter Community Council to provide updates on the upcoming sanitation project in the area.

Underscoring the commitment to a participative approach and community ownership, the Ministry of VROMI and UNOPS organized this informative session to brief the council on project activities. This meeting serves as the first in a series of initiatives designed to foster ongoing community involvement and engagement throughout the projects life cycle.

The Sanitation Project, led by the Ministry of VROMI, will feature the construction of a sewage collection network, a stormwater drainage system, and household connections. It will also include the reinstatement of roads affected by these upgrades. Funded by a 5.6 million EUR investment from the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, the project will directly impact approximately 500 households. This initiative marks a significant milestone in improving public health, environmental protection, and living conditions for the local community.

Discussions during the meeting centered on the project's overview, scope, objectives, and timeline. Attendees also explored the most effective methods for communicating with the wider Dutch Quarter community, paying special attention to lessons learned from prior sanitation initiatives in the area. This community-focused approach reflects the projects core objective: delivering infrastructure that is fit for purpose and directly benefits local residents while taking their experiences into consideration.

In line with this participative approach, including the wider population of Sint Maarten, the community is reminded that UNOPS will host a procurement informative session on April 21, 10:00 AM. The webinar is specifically tailored for construction companies with proven sanitation experience in Sint Maarten, as well as engineering and consulting firms specializing in the supervision of island-based sanitation projects. The webinar will feature an in-depth look at the projects scope, requirements, and timelines, as well as a comprehensive walkthrough of UNOPS procurement platforms, explaining compliance standards and the specific criteria used to evaluate bids.

Interested parties should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.

Background. Dutch Quarter, situated in the Upper Princess Quarter Region of Sint Maarten and bordering the French side, is a densely populated area with a major road network that connects five larger communities, including Madam Estate, Middle Region, Belvedere, and Belle Plaine (French St. Martin). This road network facilitates movement for residents, visitors, and businesses.

In addition to its roadways, Dutch Quarter manages stormwater runoff, directing water from elevated areas to lower regions, including the Middle Region District and much of the Defiance area, both located within the Dutch Quarter Basin. Existing water and sanitation infrastructure in the area had reached the end of its lifespan, increasing the need for a durable and sustainable solution. The project, salvaged by an agreement signed by the Government in November 2025, will finally realize the long-awaited sewage connections in the Dutch Quarter. Minister Patrice Gumbs encourages all contractors to take part in this very critical project.

The new WASH project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), contributing to improved health outcomes and long-term environmental protection. The official launch reaffirms the Government of Sint Maartens commitment to delivering essential infrastructure that strengthens public services, protects communities, and promotes sustainable development across the island.




France blames Hezbollah for French peacekeeper's death in Lebanon



Paris, France, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2026



A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an ambush Saturday on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon that French President Emmanuel Macron blamed on Hezbollah, an accusation the group has denied.

The attack follows an agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday for a 10-day ceasefire to negotiate an end to six weeks of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

"Everything points to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack," Macron said on X, urging Lebanese authorities to arrest the perpetrators.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in a statement and said an initial assessment by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) found it was carried out by the Iranian-backed group.

But Hezbollah -- which is strongly opposed to the planned talks with Israel -- denied involvement in the attack that killed the French peacekeeper, identified as staff sergeant Florian Montorio.

"Hezbollah denies any connection to the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh-Bint Jbeil area," it said in a statement.

The group urged "caution in making judgements and assigning responsibilities" pending the results of the Lebanese army's investigation into the incident.

The fighting in Lebanon -- one of the fronts in the Middle East war -- has seen UNIFIL deployed there repeatedly targeted, by both Israeli and Hezbollah forces.

Montorio, was caught in an "ambush" as his unit headed to a UNIFIL outpost cut off by fighting and he died from a "direct gunshot", France's armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin said on X.

He is the second French soldier to die since the start of the war in the Middle East, after an Iranian-designed drone killed Arnaud Frion last month in Iraq's Kurdistan region.



- Possible 'war crimes' -



His commanding officer, Colonel Jeremy Akil, paid tribute to "an exceptional soldier" who had served in various conflict zones since enlisting in 2007.

The 40-year-old father of two daughters was "at the end of his military career" and was due to return to civilian life within months, Akil added.

His death came as Lebanon is eyeing the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, a move Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun insisted was not a "concession" in an apparent rebuttal of Hezbollah criticism.

But senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati on Saturday said that his group was "not concerned with the negotiations being conducted by the state", saying they were "a failure, weak, defeated... and submissive negotiations".

Aoun condemned the attack and pledged to bring those responsible to justice, while Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had ordered an investigation.

UNIFIL, in an online statement, said the peacekeepers "came under small-arms fire from non-state-actors" as they were "clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah" to get to the outpost.

"Tragically, one peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries and three others were injured, two of them seriously," it said, adding that it had launched its own investigation into what "may amount to war crimes".

The force patrols in south Lebanon near the Israeli border, where Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting since last month after the Iran-backed militant group drew Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.

Three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed last month, with a preliminary UN investigation finding one was killed by Israeli tank fire, while the two others were killed by an improvised explosive device likely planted by Hezbollah.

Other UNIFIL peacekeepers have also been wounded since the war erupted, and in April, Israeli soldiers destroyed surveillance cameras in UNIFIL's headquarters, the peacekeeping body said.

Last week, an Israeli tank twice rammed peacekeeping vehicles, causing damage but no injuries, according to UNIFIL.

UN peacekeepers have served as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel for decades, but their mandate concludes at the end of this year.

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North Korea test-fires at least one ballistic missile: Yonhap



Seoul, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2026



North Korea test-fired at least one ballistic missile on Sunday, the Yonhap news agency reported, the latest in a flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

The agency said the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff detected one ballistic missile that had been fired toward the east, and was analyzing the incident.

North Korea tested weapon systems over three days earlier this month, including the firing of ballistic missiles and cluster bombs, state media said on April 8.

Analysts said these earlier launches signalled North Korea's latest rebuff of attempts by Seoul to repair ties.

Those included an expression of regret from Seoul over civilian drone incursions into the North in January.

The comments were initially described as "very fortunate and wise behaviour" by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korea's leader.

But this month a senior North Korean official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile" to Pyongyang, reviving a label previously used by leader Kim Jong Un.
On April 13, Bill Ackman kicked off the marketing plan for his upcoming intial public offering (IPO), beginning the process to raise $5 billion to $10 billion for his Pershing Square fund as part of a combined IPO. The roadshow will pitch the IPO to investors with a dual structure. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing does not mention a specific IPO date, but the financial media consensus expects that it will happen on April 28.

The Technical Details of the Pershing Square IPO

The Pershing Square IPO is structured as a combined IPO involving two entities: Pershing Square USA (PSUS) and Pershing Square Inc (PSI). PSUS is intended to be a closed-end fund. This means that after raising funds, it will trade on the stock exchange, allowing fund managers to deploy capital for the long-term without having to worry about redemptions.

More News from Barchart

Investors who sign up for the IPO will receive PSUS shares priced at $50, with a minimum subscription of 100 shares. On top of this, they will be assigned shares of PSI for no additional cost (20 shares for every 100 shares of PSUS). This dual structure allows investors to profit from both the fees generated by the fund and the portfolio itself. Both entities will trade separately on the New York Stock Exchnage after the IPO under the symbols PSUS and PS.

Should You Buy the Pershing Square IPO?

If you like Bill Ackman, the answer as to whether you should buy this IPO is probably yes. The IPO is essentially a bet on Ackmans track record. In fact, he has already attracted $2.8 billion in private commitments, which shows institutional interest is high even before the offering.

The fact that Bill Ackman can deploy capital for the long run without having to deal with redemptions is, in part, what is attracting so much capital. This ability to deploy capital without any pressure is why the fund is also being compared to Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), which has a tremendous track record itself.

www.barchart.com

As mentioned above, the dual structure gives investors the chance to trade the fund just like they would a stock, benefit from the portfolio appreciation, and also gain from the fees generated by the fund through exposure to Pershing Square Inc. This hybrid return profile is almost a signature move from Bill Ackman, who is known for his innovation and outrageous bets. Ackman launched Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH) back in 2020 and marketed it as an improvement on special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), but failed to close any deal. Ackman has also had trouble convincing regulators at times, but that is a cost of innovation and shouldnt necessarily be held against the fund manager.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Iran's death toll -



Iran's state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying Saturday that the war with the United States and Israel had killed 3,468 people in the Islamic republic.



- UN chief condemns peacekeeper death -



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Saturday an attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon that left a French soldier dead and three wounded.

France blamed the attack on Hezbollah and Guterres said, in a statement issued by his spokesman, that an initial assessment by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was that it was carried out by the Iranian-backed group.



- Israel demolishes buildings in south Lebanon -



Israeli forces on Saturday carried out demolitions in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil -- about five kilometers from the border -- the scene of intense fighting with Hezbollah prior to the recently agreed 10-day truce, Lebanese state media reported.

"The Israeli enemy is repeating its house detonating operations in the town of Bint Jbeil," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said, also reporting demolitions in other border towns where Israeli troops are present.



- Iran navy warning -



"We warn that no ship, of any kind, should leave its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted," the navy of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a satement on its official Sepah News website.



- No one-sided truce -



Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the ongoing 10-day truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, vowing that his fighters would respond to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger, and they will respond to violations accordingly," Qassem said in a statement read out on TV.

"There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only, it must be from both sides."



- Israel hits Lebanon -



The Israeli military said its air force had eliminated a "terrorist cell" operating near its troops in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire there.

"The IDF eliminated a terrorist cell operating in proximity to IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon, in the area of the forward defence line dedicated to preventing imminent threats to Israel's northern communities," it said, without specifying how many suspected militants were killed.



- Hezbollah denies peacekeepers attack -



Hezbollah denied it was involved in an attack on United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, after France accused the group of being behind the incident that left a French soldier dead and three wounded, two seriously.

"Hezbollah denies any connection to the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh-Bint Jbeil area, and calls for caution in making judgements and assigning responsibilities regarding the incident pending the Lebanese army's investigations to determine the full circumstances of the incident," the group said.



- Iran reviewing 'new proposals' -



Iran's top national security body said that the country was reviewing "new proposals" received from the United States, even as it warned that its negotiators would cut no compromises with Washington.

"New proposals have been put forward by the Americans, which the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently reviewing and has not yet responded to," the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.



- Trump warns against 'blackmail' -



US President Donald Trump warned Iran not to "blackmail" Washington with the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran declared the strategic waterway once again closed.

"We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again -- you know, as they've been doing for years -- and they can't blackmail us," Trump said at a White House event.



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North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into sea: Seoul



Seoul, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2026



North Korea test-fired multiple ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

The Sunday firing adds to a series of weapons tests Pyongyang has carried out in recent weeks.

"Our military detected several unidentified ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of North Korea at around 06:10 (GMT 21:10)," the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to a body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

"We have strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for possible additional launches," it added.

North Korea has tested weapons systems several times this month, including ballistic missiles and cluster munitions.

Earlier in April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of strategic cruise missiles launched from a naval warship, with official photos showing him watching the firings flanked by military officials.

Analysts said those launches signalled North Korea's latest rebuff of attempts by Seoul to repair strained ties.

Among them was an expression of regret from Seoul over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, a gesture initially described as "very fortunate and wise behaviour" by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader.

But this month, a senior North Korean official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile" to Pyongyang, reviving a label previously used by leader Kim.
Iran 'victorious' in war with US, speaker says



Tehran, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Iran had been "victorious in the field" during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with the United States because its demands had been met, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said on Saturday.

The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday unless it is renewed, with a permanent deal that mediators including Pakistan are pushing to get over the line still not finalised and progress on key sticking points uncertain.

"We were victorious in the field," Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a national televised address, adding the United States had not achieved its goals and Iran controlled the strategic Strait of Hormuz maritime transit route.

"If we accepted the ceasefire, it was because they accepted our demands," he said, referring to the United States.

"The enemy's every effort was to impose its demands on us and it is important that we register our rights, so this is where negotiation is a method of struggle."

Ghalibaf and his delegation held closed door talks in Islamabad with US Vice President JD Vance on April 11, in the highest level Iran-US contacts since before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The talks did not result in a final deal and officials have signalled mediations are continuing, though Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday no date had been set for a new round of talks.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Iran says negotiations far from final -



Progress had been made in negotiations with the United States to end the war, Iran's parliamentary speaker said on Saturday night, but added the sides were still far from an agreement.

"We are still far from the final discussion," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also one of Iran's negotiators, said in a national televised address, adding "we made progress in the negotiations, but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain".



- Iran's death toll -



Iran's state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying Saturday that the war with the United States and Israel had killed 3,468 people in the Islamic republic.



- Israeli military says soldier killed in Lebanon -



The Israeli military said on Saturday that a soldier was killed the day before in southern Lebanon, where a ceasefire came into effect earlier this week.

Command Sergeant Barak Kalfon, 48, died after being wounded on Friday in an incident that also injured three other soldiers, the military said.



- UN chief condemns peacekeeper death -



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Saturday an attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon that left a French soldier dead and three wounded.

France blamed the attack on Hezbollah and Guterres said, in a statement issued by his spokesman, that an initial assessment by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was that it was carried out by the Iranian-backed group.

Hezbollah had denied France's accusations that it was involved in the attack.

"Hezbollah denies any connection to the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh-Bint Jbeil area, and calls for caution in making judgements and assigning responsibilities regarding the incident pending the Lebanese army's investigations to determine the full circumstances of the incident," the group said.



- Israel demolishes buildings in south Lebanon -



Israeli forces on Saturday carried out demolitions in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil -- about five kilometers from the border -- the scene of intense fighting with Hezbollah prior to the recently agreed 10-day truce, Lebanese state media reported.

"The Israeli enemy is repeating its house detonating operations in the town of Bint Jbeil," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said, also reporting demolitions in other border towns where Israeli troops are present.



- Iran navy warning -



"We warn that no ship, of any kind, should leave its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted," the navy of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement on its official Sepah News website.



- No one-sided truce -



Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the ongoing 10-day truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, vowing that his fighters would respond to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger, and they will respond to violations accordingly," Qassem said in a statement read out on TV.

"There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only, it must be from both sides."



- Israel hits Lebanon -



The Israeli military said its air force had eliminated a "terrorist cell" operating near its troops in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire there.

"The IDF eliminated a terrorist cell operating in proximity to IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon, in the area of the forward defence line dedicated to preventing imminent threats to Israel's northern communities," it said, without specifying how many suspected militants were killed.



- Trump warns against 'blackmail' -



US President Donald Trump warned Iran not to "blackmail" Washington with the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran declared the strategic waterway once again closed.

"We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again -- you know, as they've been doing for years -- and they can't blackmail us," Trump said at a White House event.



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North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into sea: Seoul



Seoul, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

The Sunday launches add to a series of weapons tests Pyongyang has carried out in recent weeks, including ballistic missiles, anti-warship cruise missiles and cluster munitions.

"Our military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of North Korea at around 6:10 am (GMT 21:10)," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to a body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

"The missiles flew approximately 140 kilometres (86.9 miles), and South Korean and US intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of their exact specifications," it added.

Seoul is maintaining a "firm combined defence posture" with the United States -- a security ally that stations about 28,000 troops in the South to help it defend against military threats from the North -- and will "respond overwhelmingly to any provocation", it said.

South Korea's presidential office said it held an emergency security meeting over the launches.

Analysts said the tests signalled Pyongyang's latest rejection of attempts by Seoul to repair strained ties.

Among them was an expression of regret from Seoul over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, a gesture initially described as "very fortunate and wise behaviour" by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader.

But this month, a senior North Korean official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile" to Pyongyang, reviving a label previously used by leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea is subject to multiple United Nations sanctions banning its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology, restrictions it has repeatedly flouted.



- Two more destroyers -



Earlier in April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of strategic cruise missiles launched from a naval warship, with official photos showing him watching the firings flanked by military officials.

Those tests were carried out from the Choe Hyon, one of two 5,000-ton destroyers in the North's arsenal, both launched last year as Kim Jong Un seeks to ramp up the country's naval capabilities.

The North is also building two more 5,000-ton class destroyers to add to its fleet.

A South Korean lawmaker said this month that North Korea appeared to be speeding up construction of a destroyer at the western port city of Nampo.

Citing satellite imagery from a US-based intelligence firm, Yoo Yong-won of the opposition People Power Party said North Korea was "accelerating the naval forces' modernisation on the back of military assistance from Russia".

North Korea has sent ground troops and artillery shells to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military technology assistance from Moscow in return.
Israeli army says soldier killed in southern Lebanon



Jerusalem, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Israel's military said on Sunday that a soldier died during combat in southern Lebanon, where a temporary ceasefire had come into effect this week.

"Lidor Porat, aged 31, from Ashdod, a soldier in the 7106th Battalion, 769th Regional Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon," the Israeli military said in a statement, without providing further details.

The total Israeli army death toll in the six-week war between Israel and Hezbollah was now 15, according to an AFP tally based on military figures.

It was the second death announced by Israel of a soldier in southern Lebanon since the start of a ten-day truce announced by the United States began on Friday -- part of wider efforts to bring a permanent end to the Middle East war.

The latest round of fighting in Lebanon -- one of the fronts in the regional war -- had began on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel to avenge the death of its supreme leader in the opening wave of Israeli-US strikes on Iran.

Israel then responded with a strikes it said targeted Hezbollah in Beirut and the southern parts of the country where it had also launched a ground operation.
As Iran war strains ties with Trump's US, UK looks to Europe



London, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Britain's government is set to announce legislation next month to move the country closer to the European Union, as the Iran war sours the UK's so-called special relationship with the United States.

President Donald Trump's unpredictability and stream of insults towards America's historic ally is adding impetus to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's bid to deepen ties with the 27-nation bloc, a decade after Britons narrowly voted to leave the EU.

"We have a government that is already eager to move closer towards the EU, and the events in Iran provide an opportunity to speed up that process," Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think-tank, told AFP.

Starmer's administration is preparing an EU "reset" bill that will give ministers powers to align UK standards with EU single market rules as they evolve -- something called "dynamic alignment".

King Charles III will announce the legislation on May 13 when he reads out Starmer's legislative plans for the coming months, a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Starmer has repeatedly called for a deeper economic and security relationship with Europe since his Labour party won the 2024 general election, ousting the Conservatives, who had implemented the 2016 Brexit referendum.

He has upped those calls in recent days, telling Dutch leader Rob Jetten on Tuesday that "he believed the partnership between the UK and the bloc needed to be fit for the challenges we were facing today".

The EU is Britain's biggest trading partner, while the International Monetary Fund warned this week that the UK will be the advanced economy hardest hit by the Iran conflict.

"Certainly Iran has made it (the reset) more prescient," said the UK official.

"We need to build economic resilience across the continent," they added.

Starmer refused to involve Britain in the US and Israel's initial strikes on February 28, angering Trump, although he has since allowed American forces to use UK bases for a "limited defensive purpose".

Under pressure at home for his disastrous decision to appoint former Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, Starmer has received plaudits for standing up to Trump in the face of repeated taunts from the US president.

Days ago, Trump threatened in a phone interview with Sky News to scrap a US-UK trade deal that limited the impact on Britain of his tariffs blitz.

"There's no doubt that there is now momentum in the UK-EU relationship partly as a result of Trump's unreliable behaviour," David Henig, an expert on UK's post-Brexit trade policy, told AFP.

"Independent UK trade policy looks much harder, the prospects of working with the EU much brighter."



- Brexit regret -



Starmer's administration hopes to table the EU legislation in the next few months, meaning it could come around the time of the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, held in June 2016.

MPs will get to approve whether to provide the government with a mechanism to adopt EU rules -- sometimes without a full parliamentary vote -- in areas where it has already signed deals with the bloc.

They include a trade agreement designed to ease red tape on food and plant exports and plans for an electricity deal that would integrate the UK into the EU's internal electricity market.

Britain and the EU are also aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for a joint summit in Brussels expected in late June or early July.

Starmer has ruled out rejoining the single market or returning to free movement.

The Liberal Democrats, Britain's traditional third party, wants him to cross one of his other red lines by negotiating a customs union with the EU.

"We need to be doubling down on relations with reliable partners who share our interests and values," the Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller told AFP.

But Brexit remains a toxic issue and the hard-right Reform UK party, leading opinion polls and headed by Eurosceptic firebrand Nigel Farage, have branded the legislation "a betrayal" of the referendum's narrow result.

Surveys regularly now show, however, that most Britons regret the vote to leave the EU, something Starmer hopes to capitalise on.

Rising cost-of-living pressures on family households, which UK finance minister Rachel Reeves has blamed on Trump for starting the war "without a clear exit plan", could also influence minds.

"When the relationship with the United States is fracturing, it means there's reduced opposition to a closer relationship with the EU among the public," said Aspinall.
Lebanese army restores road, bridge damaged by Israeli strikes



Beirut, Lebanon, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Lebanon's military said Sunday it had reopened a road and bridge damaged by Israeli strikes in the country's south, as a 10-day truce holds between Hezbollah and Israel.

In a statement, the military said it "fully reopened" a road linking the city of Nabatieh with the Khardali area, and had "partially reopened the Burj Rahal-Tyre bridge".

"Work is also underway to rehabilitate the Tayr Falsay-Tyre bridge... following damage caused by the Israeli aggression," the army added.

Israeli strikes on bridges that cross Lebanon's Litani river, which flows around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Israel, have largely cut off the area south of the waterway from the rest of Lebanon, according to the army.

On Friday a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect after the first direct talks between the two sides in decades, bringing a pause to weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed nearly 2,300 people and displaced more than a million.

Since the truce began, Lebanon's military and local authorities have been working to reopen roads that were blocked due to Israeli strikes.

The vital Qasmiyeh bridge was also reopened on Friday morning, allowing countless people displaced from southern Lebanon by the fighting to return to the area and check on their property.

However, many residents have remained hesitant to venture back with the longevity of the truce uncertain.

On Saturday, an AFP correspondent in the southern city of Sidon saw heavy traffic heading to Beirut as displaced southerners returned to temporary homes and shelters in the capital after briefly visiting southern areas.

Earlier that day, Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati warned that "Israeli treachery is expected at any time, and this is a temporary truce".

"Take a breath, relax a little, but do not abandon the places you have taken refuge in until we are completely reassured about your return," he said.

The Israeli military has carried out strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon despite the truce.

It also said Saturday that it had established a "yellow line", similar to one in the Palestinian territory of Gaza that separates Israeli forces from areas held by militant group Hamas.
Syria foils Hezbollah missile-launching operation: state media



Beirut, Lebanon, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Syrian state media said Sunday that security forces thwarted a missile-launching operation by Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah from its territory.

From March 2 until a 10-day ceasefire went into force on April 17, Hezbollah was battling Israel after drawing Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire aimed at Israel in support of Tehran.

Syria's official SANA news agency, quoting an interior ministry source, said security forces "thwarted a sabotage plot orchestrated by a cell linked to the Hezbollah terrorist militia".

It alleged the group "intended to launch missiles across the border with the aim of destabilising the country".

Syrian authorities are hostile to Hezbollah as the group played a key role in Syria's civil war that ended in 2024, fighting alongside the forces of now ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.

Last week, Damascus accused the group of being linked to a cell that attempted to plant an explosive device in front of a house belonging to an unidentified religious figure in the Bab Touma area of the Syrian capital.

But the Iran-backed movement denied the ministry's claims on Sunday, saying they were "false and fabricated".

Hezbollah said it has "no activity, no ties and no relationship with any party in Syria, and has no presence on Syrian soil".

The group called on Syrian authorities "to conduct a thorough investigation before making accusations without evidence".

It blamed "the presence of intelligence services" on Syrian soil that it said were "seeking to inflame tensions between Lebanon and Syria".

Under Assad, Syria was part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and enabled the transfer of weapons and money from Iran to Hezbollah.

But since taking over, Syria's Islamist authorities have rejected Iranian influence.
Iran to resume international flights from Mashhad airport on Monday



Tehran, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Iran will resume international flights on Monday from Mashhad airport in the country's northeast, its civil aviation authority said.

"Permission to operate international passenger flights at Mashhad Airport has been issued, starting tomorrow," state TV said, quoting the Civil Aviation Organisation.

The organisation later said travellers can now "purchase tickets for international routes to and from Mashhad Airport," according to the official IRNA news agency.

Iranian airports have been closed since the outbreak of war with Israel and the United States on February 28.

The Civil Aviation Organisation had said earlier that it would start a phased reopening of Iran's airspace, beginning with transit flights, followed by operations from eastern airports.

Airports in Tehran -- Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports -- are expected to reopen in the third phase, with western airports resuming operations in the final phase.
Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) is among the 10 Best Military Drone Stocks to Buy Right Now. As of the close of business on April 16, consensus holds a cautious view on the stock with an average share price upside potential of 8%.

Q1 Earnings Preview: Jefferies Trims Price Target on Textron Inc. (TXT) to $110, Maintains Buy Rating

Recent updates include Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu trimming the stocks price target to $110 from $115 on April 7, while maintaining a Buy rating.

According to a report from TipRanks, the adjustment was part of a first-quarter earnings preview. Jefferies anticipates the companys EPS for the quarter to come in at $1.24 and miss estimates by six cents due to a weaker performance by Textrons Bell and Industrials segments.

On April 2, Citigroup lifted its price target on Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) to $99 from $97 and reiterated a Neutral rating as part of the firms Q1 preview for aerospace and defense stocks. A day earlier, Wells Fargo initiated coverage on the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and announced a share price target of $92.

In other news, the company said on Monday that its Textron Aviation Defense business had received a five-year contract from the U.S. government valued at over $150 million to support the sustainment of more than 700 T-6 Texan II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Army.

Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) manufactures products for consumers across several industries, through its six business segments: Bell, Textron Aviation, Textron eAviation, Textron Systems, Industrial, and Finance.

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READ NEXT: 7 Best Mid-Cap Defense Stocks to Invest In and 12 Best Aerospace Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Iran arrests two foreigners over Starlink device imports



Tehran, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Iranian authorities have arrested two foreign nationals in the country's northwest on charges related to the importation of Starlink devices, a local prosecutor said Sunday, according to Iranian media.

The suspects, arrested in the city of Jolfa in East Azerbaijan province, were involved in "importing satellite internet equipment" and were arrested by security forces, Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted the city's public prosecutor as saying.

It said the two were part of "a network accused of intelligence cooperation with groups linked to the United States and Israel".

Two Iranian nationals were also arrested in connection with the case, including one who "attempted to send information to hostile satellite networks" and another allegedly involved in intelligence activities, it added.

Iran has been largely cut off from the global internet since the start of the war with Israel and the United States on February 28.

Satellite internet services such as Starlink are officially banned in the country.
Syria says foiled cross-border attack by Assad remnants, Hezbollah



Damascus, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Syria's interior ministry said Sunday that security forces thwarted an alleged cross-border attack from the country's territory planned by remnants of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and cells linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah.

From March 2 until a 10-day ceasefire went into force on April 17, Hezbollah was battling Israel after drawing Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire aimed at Israel in support of Tehran.

In a statement, the interior ministry said security forces "arrested members of a sabotage cell" linked to Hezbollah and Assad remnants.

The ministry said the cell "was working to carry out an attack from inside Syrian territory on targets outside the borders" from Quneitra province, which borders Israel.

Syria's official SANA news agency, quoting an interior ministry source, said Hezbollah "intended to launch missiles across the border with the aim of destabilising the country".

Syrian authorities are hostile to Hezbollah as the group played a key role in Syria's civil war that ended in 2024, fighting alongside the forces of now ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.

The ministry said the Quneitra incident was the latest among "several attempts to destabilise the country and undermine public security" involving remnants of the former regime and unscrupulous individuals linked to Hezbollah".

Last week, Damascus accused Hezbollah of being linked to a cell that attempted to plant an explosive device in front of a house belonging to an unidentified religious figure in the Bab Tuma area of the Syrian capital.

But the group denied the ministry's claims last week, saying they were "false and fabricated".

Hezbollah said it has "no activity, no ties and no relationship with any party in Syria, and has no presence on Syrian soil".

The group called on Syrian authorities "to conduct a thorough investigation before making accusations without evidence".

It blamed "the presence of intelligence services" on Syrian soil that it said were "seeking to inflame tensions between Lebanon and Syria".

In February, Syria said it had dismantled a cell responsible for recent attacks targeting Damascus's Mazzeh district, claiming the weapons came from Hezbollah, which denied any involvement.

Under Assad, Syria was part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and enabled the transfer of weapons and money from Iran to Hezbollah.

But since taking over, Syria's Islamist authorities have rejected Iranian influence.
Trump says US delegation going to Pakistan Monday for Iran negotiations



Washington, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



President Donald Trump said US negotiators will be in Pakistan Monday to resume talks on ending the war with Iran, as he again threatened to destroy its power plants and bridges if no deal is reached.

In a social media post Sunday, Trump also accused Iran of violating the countries' two-week ceasefire with attacks Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he was offering Iran "a reasonable deal" and if Tehran says no "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

In his fresh threat, made on his Truth Social platform, Trump said of Iran's bridges and power plants: "They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they dont take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years."

The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States. Tehran on Saturday declared it shut again to maritime traffic after it on Friday had announced it was reopening, spurring elation on global markets.

As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 that failed to reach a deal, Iran said it would not reopen the crucial maritime trade route until the United States ended its blockade of Iranian ports.
Pakistan tightens security in Islamabad ahead of US-Iran talks



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Security in Pakistan's capital Islamabad was stepped up visibly on Sunday ahead of peace talks between the United States and Iran in the coming days.

President Donald Trump said US negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday to resume talks on ending the war with Iran, little more than a week after face-to-face talks in Islamabad on April 11 ended without agreement.

"My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan - They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations," he wrote on Truth Social.

Authorities earlier announced road closures and traffic restrictions across the city, as well as in neighbouring Rawalpindi.

AFP journalists saw armed guards and checkpoints near Islamabad's most secure hotels, including the Marriott and the Serena, where the last round of talks between US and Iranian delegations took place.

Most streets leading to the Serena Hotel were closed on Sunday, with barbed wire, barricades, heavy security and traffic diversions.

"Citizens are earnestly requested to cooperate with the security agencies," a city official posted on X.
France's Macron to meet with Lebanon's PM in Paris on Tuesday: Elysee



Paris, France, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris, his office announced, amidst a fragile 10-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The visit highlights Macron's commitment to seeing "full and complete respect for the ceasefire in Lebanon" as well as France's support for Lebanon's "territorial integrity", the president's office said on Sunday.

Israel and Lebanon on Thursday agreed to a 10-day ceasefire to give time to negotiate an end to six weeks of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

The visit was announced a day after France blamed Hezbollah for an ambush on UN peacekeepers which left one French soldier dead and three others wounded.

Macron is to urge Lebanese authorities to "shed full light on the incident" and "identify and prosecute those responsible without delay," his office added.

An initial assessment by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) found the attack was carried out by Hezbollah, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"UNIFIL soldiers, who are carrying out their missions in difficult conditions and supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid to southern Lebanon, must under no circumstances be targeted," the Elysee said.

Hezbollah -- which strongly opposes to the planned Lebanon-Israel talks -- denied involvement in the attack that killed the French peacekeeper.

The fighting in Lebanon has seen UNIFIL positions repeatedly targeted by Israeli and Hezbollah forces.
Trump says US delegation heading to Pakistan for Iran talks -- but not Vance



Washington, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



US President Donald Trump said Sunday he was sending negotiators to Pakistan for new talks with Iran on ending the war -- but that Vice President JD Vance would not lead the delegation.

The news that Vance -- who led the last round of talks with Tehran in Islamabad, but came away with no deal -- would not travel this time emerged in a confusing manner, as members of Trump's cabinet had said he would in fact go.

"It's only because of security," Trump told ABC News, dismissing any notion that Vance was removed from the trip due to concerns about his ability to secure an agreement with the Islamic republic.

"JD's great," Trump added.

Washington's envoy to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, had told ABC News's "This Week" program: "As the president announced, the vice president with our key negotiators looks like they are going to head out for another round."

Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN's "State of the Union" that Vance had been "leading the negotiations from the start" though he did not explicitly say he would travel this time.

It was thus not clear who would lead the US team for talks expected to begin on Monday. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were on hand last time around on April 11-12.

Earlier in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Iran of a "Total Violation" of the countries' two-week ceasefire with attacks Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz -- and threatened to destroy its power plants and bridges if no deal is reached.

Trump said he was offering Iran "a reasonable deal" and if Tehran refuses, "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

"They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they dont take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years," he wrote.

Waltz said he believed the new round of talks would lead to an "incredibly consequential" outcome.

The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday amidst the stand-off. Iran on Saturday declared it shut again to shipping -- one day after saying it would reopen the strategic waterway.

A UK maritime security agency said Iran's Revolutionary Guards had fired at one tanker on Saturday, while security intelligence firm Vanguard Tech reported the force had threatened to "destroy" an empty cruise ship that was fleeing the Gulf.

In the third incident, the UK agency said it received a report of a vessel "being hit by an unknown projectile, which caused damage" to shipping containers but no fire.

The US-Iran ceasefire is scheduled to end on Wednesday.
Israel vows to level homes in Lebanon, counter threats with 'full force'



Beirut, Lebanon, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Israel said its military had been instructed to use "full force" against imminent threats in Lebanon despite a truce there and vowed to level homes allegedly used by Hezbollah, with state media reporting demolitions were underway on Sunday.

While some displaced south Lebanon residents have rushed back to their homes, many are hesitant to return, uncertain about the durability of the 10-day truce, which came into effect on Friday and halted weeks of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

In the village of Dibbine, an AFP correspondent saw a man inspecting damage to his home and people walking near the rubble of destroyed buildings.

In Srifa, another correspondent saw people unloading belongings including mattresses and a washing machine as they returned to the southern village.

Elsewhere, an AFP correspondent saw people travelling away from the south after retrieving belongings from their homes.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the army "to act with full force, both on the ground and from the air, including during the ceasefire, in order to protect our soldiers in Lebanon from any threat".

He said the military had also been ordered to demolish any structure or road that was "booby-trapped", and "to remove the houses in the contact villages near the border that served in every respect as Hezbollah terror outposts".



- 'Fait accompli' -



Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said that "the Israeli enemy is still destroying what remains of houses" in Bint Jbeil on Sunday after reporting demolitions in the town a day earlier.

Located around five kilometres (three miles) from the Israeli border, Bint Jbeil saw heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah before the ceasefire.

The NNA also said the Israeli army was "blowing up houses in Mais al-Jabal" and "carrying out a sweep operation and detonations" in Deir Seryan, both also near the border, while the town of Kunin "was subjected to enemy artillery shelling".

On Saturday, Israel's military said it had established a "Yellow Line" in south Lebanon, similar to the one in Gaza that separates areas held by Israeli forces from those controlled by militant group Hamas.

On Sunday, the military published a map showing its "forward defence line" and an area in red stretching along the length of the Lebanese border where it said forces were operating "to dismantle Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites and to prevent direct threats to communities in northern Israel".

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday denounced what he called "Israeli expansionism" in Lebanon, accusing it of seeking to create a "fait accompli" despite the ceasefire.

The truce took effect days after the first high-level meeting between Lebanon and Israel in decades, pausing a war that has killed nearly 2,300 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million since it broke out on March 2.



- France visit -



On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris in a visit aiming to demonstrate Macron's commitment to the ceasefire and France's support for Lebanon's "territorial integrity", the president's office said.

Macron is also to urge Lebanese authorities to prosecute those responsible for an attack on UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon on Saturday that killed one French soldier and wounded three others.

France and the force have blamed Hezbollah, which denied involvement.

Salam's office said the premier would first travel to Luxembourg on Tuesday "to meet EU foreign ministers" ahead of the Paris visit.

Earlier Sunday, Lebanon's military said it had reopened a road linking the city of Nabatiyeh with the Khardali area, and had "partially reopened the Burj Rahal-Tyre bridge" in the country's south.

Israeli strikes on bridges across Lebanon's Litani River, which flows around 30 kilometres north of the Israeli border, have largely cut off the area from the rest of Lebanon, according to the army.
Trump orders negotiators to Pakistan, but Iran on the fence over talks



Washington, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



US President Donald Trump said he was sending negotiators to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires, though Tehran has reportedly yet to decide whether it will participate.

Announcing the fresh diplomatic push, Trump also renewed his threats against Iran's infrastructure, saying in a post on his Truth Social account Sunday that without a deal, the US was "going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

Iran, however, appeared cool to the prospect of talks, particularly in light of the ongoing US blockade of its ports, according to Iranian media reports.

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies cited anonymous sources as saying Tehran had yet to decide whether it would take part and that "the overall atmosphere cannot be assessed as very positive", adding that lifting the US blockade was a precondition for negotiations.

State-run IRNA, meanwhile, pointed to the blockade and Washington's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands", saying that "in these circumstances, there is no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations".

Iran and the United States, along with Israel, are just three days away from the end of the two-week ceasefire that halted the Middle East war, ignited by surprise US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

There has so far been only a single, 21-hour negotiating session held in Islamabad on April 11 that ended inconclusively, though groundwork for fresh talks continued afterwards.

"We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it," Trump said in his post.

Iran's speaker of parliament and senior negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had insisted as recently as Saturday night that the two sides were "still far from the final discussion".



- Heightened security -



In spite of the uncertainty, security was visibly stepped up in Islamabad on Sunday in anticipation of new talks.

Authorities announced road closures and traffic restrictions across the city, as well as in neighbouring Rawalpindi.

AFP journalists saw armed guards and checkpoints near Islamabad's most secure hotels -- the Marriott and the Serena.

"Citizens are earnestly requested to cooperate with the security agencies," a city official posted on X.

The US president said his negotiators, whom he did not name, would arrive in the Pakistani capital on Monday evening.

As with the last round, the delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance and include Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, a White House official said.

A major sticking point of negotiations has been Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.

Trump said on Friday that Iran had agreed to hand over its roughly 440 kilogrammes of enriched uranium. "We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," he said.

But Iran's foreign ministry has said the stockpile, thought to be buried deep under rubble from US bombing in last June's 12-day war, was "not going to be transferred anywhere", and surrendering it "to the US has never been raised in negotiations".

On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian questioned why Iran should give up its "legal right" to a nuclear programme.



- Hormuz closed again -



Trump has been under pressure to find an off-ramp to the war since Tehran moved early in the war to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.

The vital waterway is a conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas in peacetime, and its closure has hammered the global economy and roiling markets.

Having failed to force it open again, Trump countered with a US naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to cut off Tehran's oil revenues.

Iran briefly reopened the strait on Friday in recognition of an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, but closed it again the following day in response to the US maintaining its blockade.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that any attempt to pass through the strait without permission "will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted".

"If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited," Ghalibaf said.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Sunday said the blockade was "a violation" of the ceasefire and illegal collective punishment of the Iranian people.

A handful of oil and gas tankers had crossed the strait early on Saturday during the brief reopening, but by early Sunday morning tracking data showed the waterway empty of shipping.

The afternoon before, a trio of incidents involving Iranian fire and threats towards commercial vessels demonstrated the danger of any attempted crossing.

In his post Sunday, Trump said of the incidents: "That wasn't nice, was it?"

burs-smw/amj
Syria says foiled cross-border attack by cell linked to Hezbollah



Damascus, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Syria said on Sunday that security forces had thwarted a cross-border attack from the country's territory planned by a cell linked to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which denied the accusation.

From March 2 until a 10-day ceasefire went into force on Friday, Hezbollah was battling Israel after drawing Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire at its foe.

In a statement, Syria's interior ministry said security forces in Quneitra province in the south "thwarted a sabotage plot orchestrated by a cell" linked to Hezbollah and that "aimed to destabilise the region".

The area borders the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The statement said the cell had used a civilian vehicle to hide equipment for launching rockets, and said "a number of those involved" were arrested.

Earlier, the ministry said the cell "was working to carry out an attack from inside Syrian territory on targets" outside its borders.

It said the Quneitra incident was the latest of "several attempts to destabilise the country and undermine public security involving remnants of the former regime and unscrupulous individuals linked to Hezbollah".

Hezbollah in a statement said it categorically denied the "false and fabricated" allegations, and reiterated that "it has no presence in Syrian territory" or activities there.

Syrian authorities are hostile to Hezbollah, which fought alongside the forces of now ousted leader Bashar al-Assad during the country's civil war which ended in 2024.

Under Assad, Syria was part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and enabled the transfer of weapons and money from Iran to Hezbollah, but Syria's new Islamist authorities have rejected Iranian influence.

Last week, Syria accused Hezbollah of being linked to a cell that attempted to plant an explosive device near a house belonging to a religious figure in Damascus.

Hezbollah denied that accusation and said that "intelligence services" on Syrian soil were "seeking to inflame tensions between Lebanon and Syria".

In February, Syria said it had dismantled a cell responsible for attacks targeting Damascus's Mazzeh district, claiming the weapons came from Hezbollah, which also denied involvement.
Pakistan, Iran leaders speak ahead of talks with US



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of anticipated US-Iran talks in Islamabad, and reaffirmed his government's readiness to mediate the conflict.

"I had a warm and constructive conversation with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian this evening on the evolving regional situation," Sharif said in a post on X.

"Pakistan remains fully committed to its role as an honest and sincere facilitator of lasting peace and regional stability."

US President Donald Trump is sending negotiators to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires, though Tehran has reportedly yet to decide whether it will participate.
The QVC Group, which operates the popular QVC and HSN shopping channels, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company has entered into a restructuring support agreement to reduce its debt from $6.6 billion to $1.3 billion, the QVC Group said in an April 16 news release. Both linear TV shopping channels, broadcast on TV and streamed, and other social media presences will continue operating as normal, the company said.

The QVC Group, which laid off about 900 employees, or 5% of its staff in March 2025, does not plan additional layoffs or furloughs. Employees will continue to be paid without interruption and suppliers and vendors will be paid in full, the company said in the news release.

"We remain focused on serving our customers with joyful and engaging shopping experiences that inspire, entertain and delight," said David Rawlinson, QVC Group, Inc. president and CEO, in the news release. "We appreciate the ongoing support of our valued vendors and business partners, and we are grateful to our team members for their unwavering dedication to QVC Group and our customers. This process will allow for QVC Group to have the financial structure it needs to accelerate our return to growth."

The economy: How is the US economy treating you? USA TODAY wants to know

In the Chapter 11 filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, QVC Group and subsidiaries list liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion, and assets of between $1 billion and $10 billion. The number of creditors is listed as between 50,001 and 100,000.

Host Sharon Faetsch and designer Isaac Mizrahi sell products live on the air at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on June 4, 2018.

Why is QVC Group declaring bankruptcy?

According to the bankruptcy filing, QVCs fiscal year 2025 revenue was more than $9.2 billion, that's down 9% from $10 billion the previous year, the company reported. QVC also posted an operating loss of $809 million in fiscal year 2024, which ended Dec. 31, 2024.

In addition to debt concerns, other business effects have included tariffs and the divergence of online shopping increasingly to streaming services and social networks including TikTok. During 2025, the QVC Group acquired nearly 1 million new U.S. TikTok Shop customers  growing the company's total customer file for the first time in more than four years. The QVC+ and HSN+ streaming service has grown to 1.5 million monthly active users, the company said, with sales attributed to streaming up 19% in 2025.

The QVC Group launched 24/7 live TikTok shops for QVC and HSN in April 2025.

"Over the past year, we have become a top seller on TikTok Shop U.S. while expanding our business on streaming and other platforms," Rawlinson said. "We have consolidated our HSN and QVC operations, struck new deals with critical social and media partners, and rebalanced sourcing to account for the changing tariff environment."
Trump says US destroyer hit Iran cargo ship trying to evade blockade



Washington, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



US President Donald Trump said Sunday that a US destroyer ship fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade a US naval blockade.

Trump posted on Truth Social that after the Iranian vessel, Touska, ignored warnings to stop, the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom."

"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel," the US president added, "and are seeing what's on board!"

The incident comes with tensions high in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, which has been virtually closed since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran seven weeks ago.

Iran briefly reopened the strait on Friday in recognition of an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, but closed it again the following day in response to the US maintaining its blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports.

Trump said the Touska is under US Treasury sanctions "because of prior history of illegal activity."

The Touska is listed on the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control website as an Iranian-flagged container under US sanctions.

According to the latest data available from the Marine Traffic website, about six hours before Trump's announcement the Touska was about 45 kilometers (28 miles) off the southern coast of Iran, near the city of Chabahar.

Another ship monitoring site, Tanker Tracker, said the Touska had sailed from Malaysia.
Iran not planning to attend talks with US in Pakistan



Washington, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Iran is not currently planning to attend talks with the United States on Monday, state media said, after President Donald Trump ordered US negotiators to Pakistan just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires.

The ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports has been a significant sticking point, and that issue is likely to be further complicated by Trump's Sunday announcement that an American destroyer had fired on and hit an Iranian ship that tried to evade it.

State broadcaster IRIB on Sunday cited Iranian sources as saying "there are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks".

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies had earlier cited anonymous sources as saying "the overall atmosphere cannot be assessed as very positive", adding that lifting the US blockade was a precondition for negotiations.

State-run IRNA meanwhile pointed to the blockade and Washington's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands", saying that "in these circumstances, there is no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations".

Iran and the United States, along with Israel, are just three days away from the end of the two-week ceasefire that halted the Middle East war, ignited by surprise US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

There has so far been only a single, 21-hour negotiating session held in Islamabad on April 11 that ended inconclusively, though groundwork for fresh talks continued afterwards.

"We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it," Trump said in a post on Sunday, while also renewing his threats against Iran's infrastructure if a deal is not made.



- US fires on Iranian ship -



Trump has been under pressure to find an off-ramp since Tehran moved early in the war to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.

The vital waterway is a conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas in peacetime, and its closure has hammered the global economy and roiled markets.

Having failed to force it open again, Trump countered with a US naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to cut off Tehran's oil revenues.

On Sunday, he announced that a massive Iranian-flagged cargo ship "tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them."

A US destroyer warned the ship to stop and then forced it to by "by blowing a hole in the engineroom", Trump said, adding: "Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel."

Trump said the Iranian-flagged ship, Touska, is under US Treasury sanctions "because of prior history of illegal activity."

Iran had briefly reopened the strait on Friday in recognition of an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, but closed it again the following day in response to the United States maintaining its blockade.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that any attempt to pass through the strait without permission "will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted".

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Sunday said the blockade was "a violation" of the ceasefire and illegal collective punishment of the Iranian people.

A handful of oil and gas tankers had crossed the strait early on Saturday during the brief reopening, but by early Sunday morning tracking data showed the waterway empty of shipping.

The afternoon before, a trio of incidents involving Iranian fire and threats towards commercial vessels demonstrated the danger of any attempted crossing.



- Heightened security -



In spite of the uncertainty surrounding the talks in Pakistan, security was visibly stepped up in Islamabad on Sunday in anticipation of the negotiations.

Authorities announced road closures and traffic restrictions across the city, as well as in neighbouring Rawalpindi.

"Citizens are earnestly requested to cooperate with the security agencies," a city official posted on X.

The US president said his negotiators, whom he did not name, would arrive in the Pakistani capital on Monday evening.

A White House official said the delegation would be led by Vice President JD Vance and include Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

A major issue in the negotiations has been Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.

Trump said on Friday that Iran had agreed to hand over its roughly 440 kilogrammes of enriched uranium. "We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," he said.

But Iran's foreign ministry has said the stockpile, thought to be buried deep under rubble from US bombing in last June's 12-day war, was "not going to be transferred anywhere", and surrendering it "to the US has never been raised in negotiations".

On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian questioned why Iran should give up its "legal right" to a nuclear programme.

bur-wd/msp
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- US seizes Iranian ship -



President Donald Trump said Sunday that USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, fired on and seized Touska, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, in the Gulf of Oman and US Marines were "seeing what's on board!"

The incident comes as the US and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, which was virtually closed for weeks under pressure from the Islamic republic.

Tehran briefly reopened the strait Friday in recognition of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, but closed it again Saturday in response to the ongoing US blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports.



- Peace talks in limbo -



Iranian state media reported Sunday that Tehran was not planning to take part in talks with the United States, hours after Trump said he was dispatching negotiators to Islamabad.

"There are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks," state broadcaster IRIB said, citing Iranian sources.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian -- which he described as "a warm and constructive conversation" -- and reaffirmed his government's readiness to mediate the conflict.



- Syria foiled Hezbollah attack -



Syria's interior ministry said Sunday that security forces had thwarted a cross-border attack in the southern Quneitra province by a cell linked to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which denied the accusation.

In a statement, Syrian officials said they foiled a "sabotage plot" with hidden rocket launching equipment in a civilian vehicle, which was linked to Hezbollah and "aimed to destabilise the region".

The area borders the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.



- US negotiators going to Pakistan -



Trump said US negotiators will be in Pakistan Monday to resume talks on ending the war with Iran, as he again threatened to destroy its power plants and bridges if no deal is reached.

Trump did not say who would lead the delegation, but a White House official said it was Vice President JD Vance, who led the last set of talks that failed to reach an accord.

Trump said in a social media post he was offering Iran "a reasonable deal" but if Tehran refuses, "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"



- Lebanon PM to Paris -



French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris, his office announced, a day after a French peacekeeper was killed in Lebanon and amid a fragile 10-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.



- Israel warns 'full force' -



Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said his military will use "full force" in Lebanon -- even during the ongoing ceasefire -- should Israeli troops face any threat from Hezbollah.

Lebanon's military said meanwhile it has reopened a road and bridge between the city of Nabatieh and Khardali that was damaged by Israeli strikes in the south.



- Iranian airport reopens -



Iran will resume international flights on Monday from Mashhad airport in the country's northeast, its civil aviation authority said.



- Turkey hopes for extension -



Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday he was "optimistic" that a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States that expires on Wednesday, would be extended, allowing more time for talks between the sides.

burs-gv/rh/sla/msp
Adrian Shergill (right) talks with customers during high tea at The Last Queen in Enon.
Commander Helen Flanagan, of CTP London, said earlier on Saturday: At this stage last nights arson is not being linked to other incidents in the north-west London area over the last week or last months arson in Golders Green, but counter-terrorism officers are leading due to the similarities of each attack.
She went on: I want to be clear, irrespective of the motivation of this group, to those who are facilitating this activity on their behalf and those who are committing the acts, we will not tolerate activity that seeks to intimidate and harm our communities, you will not succeed in creating division and hate.
The Cabinet Office denied that this meant the senior civil servant had sat on the details, while a Government source said: Cat has been the one doggedly fighting Olly Robbins to get the documents out of his clutches and into the public domain.
Brands

Heather Archibald will officially join Vuori as its Chief Product Officer on April 20.

Southern California activewear brand Vuori has named Heather Archibald as chief product officer. In this newly-created role, Archibald will lead end-to-end product organization and oversee the product portfolios entire lifecyclefrom design and development to merchandising, raw material planning, production and sourcing strategy, the company saidto bolster and shape the brands global roadmap. She most recently served as Rothys chief product and merchandising officer, with previous experience as Title Nines chief product officer. She also held merchandising leadership roles at both Restoration Hardware and Gap Inc.

Tomboyx

Seattle-born, queer-owned gender-neutral innerwear brand Tomboyx announced that co-founder Fran Dunaway has led an ownership restructuring to regain control. She resumes the helm as president, partnering with CEO Seujan Bertram and chief creative officer James Ford to guide the brands next phase. Dunaway and a small group of mission-aligned investors supported the restructuring. Financial terms were not disclosed.

More from WWD

Kendra Scott

Adrienne Gernand

Fashion and lifestyle brand Kendra Scott announced the appointment of Adrienne Gernand as chief business officer. In this newly-created role, Gernand will bolster the organizations strategic category expansion, enable scalability and advance its vision to build the House of Kendra Scott. Gernands expertise includes launching new market entry models, structuring strategic partnerships and optimizing real estate portfolios. At Gap, Inc., she oversaw international expansion and drove growth through wholesale and licensing. Alongside its recently-appointed CFO, Mike McMullen, Gernand will onboard the brand effective April 27.

Amanda Calder-McLaren

California-based outdoor apparel brand Patagonia has named Amanda Calder-McLaren as senior director of marketing and impact for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In this newly created role, Calder-Mclaren will unite Patagonias marketing and impact work, leading communication of the companys values and their delivery through environmental and social impact work. She brings experience from a breadth of outdoor brands, including Adidas Terrex and The North Face.

Factories

Argyle Haus of Apparel

Argyle Haus of Apparel, a full-service apparel manufacturer and fashion design house based in Los Angeles, has appointed the appointment of Sheila Martinez as vice president of operations. In this role, Martinez will oversee all operational functions, ensuring efficiency and scalability to support Argyles growth alongside CEO Houman Salem. Martinez brings over 20 years of industry experience, with a background spanning technical design, apparel development and retail marketing.
According to a recent MyPerfectResume survey, 72% of American workers rely on another source of income outside of their main job to get by. The survey found that the two most popular sources of supplemental income were freelance/gig work and investments (crypto, stocks, etc.).

Find Out: What Is a Good Side Gig Income for 2026?

Learn More: 10 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

GOBankingRates consulted with experts and ran the calculations to determine whether working a side gig or investing will make Americans more money over 12 months.

Also see four grandma-approved side gigs saving boomer budgets in 2026.

Side Gig vs. Investing

Income from a side gig depends on the venture you choose and the amount of time that you have. GOBankingRates used an hourly wage range of $15 to $30 based on average figures. Jobs included food delivery driver, freelance writer and dog walker. The assumption is that you can start at $15 but increase to at least $30 an hour as you gain experience and clients.

If you work 10 hours per week on your side gig, you can bring in a monthly income of $600 to $1,200, which adds up to $7,200 to $14,400 after 12 months (not factoring in taxes). If you work more hours, then youll bring in even more.

Investing in the stock market, however, will yield a profit of about 10% per year (average returns from the S&P 500 Index), said Cody Schuiteboer, a financial expert and the president of Best Interest Financial. He pointed out that $50,000 invested will generate about $5,000 profit in 12 months.

Read More: 5 Side Hustles That Pay Hundreds Even If You Have Zero Free Time

Which One Wins?

During the period of 12 months, side jobs will beat investments for most people due to less starting capital needed, said Sain Rhodes, an experienced real estate consultant from Clever Offers.

Rhodes noted that a typical stock portfolio with 10% yearly returns requires an investment of at least $10,000 to produce $1,000 in a year.

An average person employed as a side gig rideshare driver can earn this $1,000 in 6-8 weeks only. Within a year, an excellent rideshare driver can easily earn $15,000-$25,000 gross ($8,000-$15,000 net after various expenses), Rhodes said.

If youre starting off without much capital, youll have to rely on a side gig to build up your savings.

Key Considerations

While a side gig seems like the better option, there are a few factors that you cant ignore when examining both options.

Schuiteboer emphasized that your side gig salary can be lower than your regular hourly wage, and you cant forget the stress of additional work and the lack of free time. On the other hand, stock market investing takes no more effort once you have the necessary capital to begin.
Somnigroup International Inc. (NYSE:SGI) is one of billionaire David Abrams best stock picks. The stock has a consensus Strong Buy rating and its average price target of $103.14 suggests an upside potential of more than 30%.

Somnigroup International Inc (SGI) Stock: Should You Buy the Dip?

On April 8, Raymond James added Somnigroup International Inc (NYSE:SGI) to its analyst favorites list. According to Raymond James, the recent pullback in Somnigroup stock presents a compelling risk/reward opportunity.

The equity research firm also noted that Somnigroup stands to benefit from adding synergies from the Mattress Firm integration. Somnigroup acquired the Mattress Firm Group for around $5 billion in a transaction completed in February 2025.

Raymond James sees revenue and cost synergies from the integration surpassing initial expectations. It says this should lead to solid free cash flow generation over the medium-term. The firm also expects Somnigroup to continue gaining market share across all segments.

Previously on March 26, Jefferies upgraded Somnigroup to Buy from Hold, though it did lower the price target to $88 from $90. Jefferies noted that Somnigroup has strengthened its competitive position, saying that the recent pullback in the stock offers an attractive entry point.

However, the firm pointed out that rising input costs could pressure margin. In this light, Jefferies trimmed its 2026 EPS estimates for Somnigroup, though it said price hikes could help the company offset input costs headwinds.

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Somnigroup International Inc (NYSE:SGI) makes and sells mattresses and sleep products. Its the largest bedding company in the world with operations in more than 100 countries. Somnigroup sells its products under a variety of brands, including Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Mattress Firm, and Stearns & Foster.

While we acknowledge the potential of SGI 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 Energy Storage Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 10 Must-Buy US Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Vanuatu pursues climate justice at UN despite backlash



United Nations, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2026



Vanuatu will renew its climate justice fight at the United Nations General Assembly with a draft resolution that was watered down after pushback from countries including oil-producing nations, according to documents seen by AFP.

The Pacific island nation at the forefront of the quest to get financial support for countries suffering climate loss "revised" its text and set aside a proposal for a global "register" recording climate change damage after facing backlash.

In 2024, Vanuatu spearheaded the General Assembly's request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the responsibility of states to fulfill their climate commitments.

The world's top court last year ruled that states were obliged to tackle climate change under international law, and failing to do so would pave the way to reparations for vulnerable countries.

The island nation proposed a new draft resolution at the start of this year to implement the ICJ ruling, which is non-binding but can be drawn on by courts around the world.

With a vote expected around May, Vanuatu Special Envoy for Climate Justice Lee-Anne Sackett told AFP that adopting the text was important for "protecting the authority of the court's findings" and "operationalizing" the advisory opinion.

"Even if it has been revised to try to build broad support," the resolution can "strengthen climate action," said the envoy.

An initial draft seen by AFP proposed the creation of an "International Register of Damage" to compile evidence of "damage, loss or injury attributable to climate change."

But this section was removed after facing backlash from the United States, China, the European Union, Japan and multiple oil-producing nations that argued it went beyond the opinion handed down by the ICJ, diplomatic sources told AFP.

"Perhaps it was too soon in the current geopolitical context where climate ambition is being deprioritized," said Sackett.



- 'On our way' to catastrophe -



"It will take a lot longer, which is difficult to accept, because we are already on our way to climate catastrophe, and every year does matter for us," said the envoy from Vanuatu, which like other islands is threatened by rising sea levels accelerated by global warming.

"But we are still moving in the right direction," Sackett insisted.

According to documents seen by AFP, one group of majorly oil-rich or fossil fuel reliant countries including Saudi Arabia, China, India, Venezuela, Iran, Kuwait and Qatar slammed initial draft as crossing "multiple red lines."

Rejecting scientific evidence that links certain extreme weather events to climate change, the countries said the "shift" in approach could "destroy the good faith and the cooperation" put in place by the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5C.

The Paris accord signatories managed, with great difficulty, to establish a "loss and damage" compensation fund in 2023, but the mechanism is still in its infancy. Some countries including the United States have rolled on key climate obligations in recent years.

"We know that there has been particular concern about compensation or liability in relation to loss and damage," Bryce Rudyk, legal advisor to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), told AFP.

Countries opposed to the register see it as a "step along the road to reparation," said Rudyk.

Myrto Tilianaki, from Human Rights Watch, regretted the "concessions" but praised "Vanuatu's courage."

"Despite this diplomatic pressure," the country "is demonstrating the political leadership that we really need on the issue of climate justice," Tilianaki told AFP.

Some countries are also pushing to remove a commitment -- already made by the signatories to the Paris Agreement -- to "transition away" from the use of fossil fuels, according to documents reviewed by AFP.

"The reference to fossil fuels is critical" for the bloc of small island nations, said Rudyk, as discussions on the draft continue.

Whether at the COP climate summits or elsewhere, "every single one of these negotiations on fossil fuels has been difficult," said Rudyk.

"This one is no different," he said, adding that the island nations leading the charge would continue to "push for it."
Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

During the winter months, when days are short and cold and nights are long and dark, creating a warm and cosy indoor atmosphere can feel especially important.

Where I live in Denmark, around 75 per cent of the population burns candles two or more times a week, and 34 per cent use them daily during the winter months.

In fact, Denmark is often said to be the country with the highest per-capita candle consumption in Europe. Danes burn around 5.8kg of candle wax per person per year  the equivalent of about six bags of sugar.

Yet, nice as they can look, studies show burning candles is one of the biggest sources of indoor air pollution. This is because when burning, candles emit a large number of ultrafine particles.

These particles are so small that they are invisible to the human eye, and more than a thousand times thinner than a human hair.

They can remain airborne for long periods, and when candles are blown out, the concentration of these particles (including soot) increases even further.

open image in gallery Burning candles is one of the biggest sources of indoor air pollution ( Getty/iStock )

Candles vs cooking

In our experiments conducted in exposure chambers (where the climate is controlled) at Aarhus University, we examined how indoor air is affected both by burning candles and cooking pork in an oven.

Cooking  and especially frying  is known to emit high concentrations of particles due to combustion (the process of burning something). Particles from combustion processes are among the most harmful to human health  but less is known about the role that particles emitted from candles plays when it comes to indoor air pollution.

Our research found that while both candles and cooking emit high levels of particles, the number of particles from candles was much higher. Even more significant was the difference in particle size: cooking produced particles about 80 nanometers wide, whereas candles generated particles around seven-to=eight nanometers in size  much smaller and much easier for our lungs to inhale.

We also measured chemical compounds in the air, and found that burning candles produced not only soot particles but gases such as nitrogen dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)  a group of chemicals associated with inflammation and even cancer.

The particles we breathe

Ultrafine particles are of particular concern from a health perspective. They are easily inhaled into our lungs, but research has found they are excreted from the body very slowly.

About the author Karin Rosenkilde Laursen is a postdoctoral fellow in Public Health at Aarhus University. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Due to their extremely small size, particles from candles can penetrate deep into our smallest airways, known as the alveoli, and may even enter the bloodstream. From there, they can reach organs such as the heart and brain.

Indeed, the particles formed when candles are burning are remarkably similar to those found in diesel exhausts in size and composition. These particles have been linked to increased mortality rates from lung and cardiovascular diseases.

In our study, we also investigated how candle burning affects young adults with mild asthma. We found subtle but measurable biological changes following exposure to candle emissions.

Some markers of airway and blood inflammation were altered, and participants reported irritation and discomfort. Other studies among healthy adults have observed small decreases in lung function, changes in arterial stiffness and heart rate, and reduced cognitive function after exposure to burning candles.

Light and dark

You might be thinking: all this from just a candle? But its worth remembering that people with chronic conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are far more sensitive to particulate air pollution.

Because people with these conditions already have chronically inflamed airways, even relatively low levels of pollution  including particles released by burning candles  can be enough to trigger symptoms.

open image in gallery People with conditions like asthma are sensitive to air pollution ( Getty/iStock )

Children, older adults and people with chronic illnesses are also particularly vulnerable to air pollution, due to immaturity of their lungs or weakened immune systems.

Indeed, for anyone with asthma or other respiratory conditions, the quality of indoor air is not a minor detail, but a key factor in day-to-day symptom control and long-term respiratory health.

Blow out all the candles?

But thats not to say those without lung disease or asthma arent affected. As research shows, burning candles affects not only the indoor environment but potentially everyones health. Fortunately, a few simple steps can help maintain a healthier indoor climate.

Try using LED candles, for example, or light only a few candles at once. You should also place candles away from drafts to avoid a flickering flame, which can produce more soot and smoke. Trim your candles wicks to reduce soot formation, too. And candles should never be burned near (or by) people with respiratory disease.

Most importantly, air out the room afterwards by opening your windows. Such measures can help reduce the number of particles significantly, and make all the difference when it comes to keeping your cosy or hygge-time healthy.
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The former Virginia lieutenant governor, who fatally shot his wife before killing himself in a murder-suicide, was obsessed with clearing his name following allegations of sexual assault that surfaced seven years ago, friends said.

Once considered a rising star of the Democratic Party, Justin Fairfaxs political career was derailed in 2019 by two separate allegations as he was on the cusp of becoming governor.

Friends and former colleagues told The Washington Post that the father and husbands obsession with restoring his reputation had worsened in recent months, and he was particularly triggered by media coverage of former California congressman Eric Swalwell's alleged sexual misconduct.

Last week, Swalwell announced he would resign from the House of Representatives after a slew of allegations were leveled against him by several women, including an accusation of rape. Swalwell has vehemently denied all of the allegations.

He never got away from that place, thats what was disturbing, author and journalist Sophia Nelson said of Fairfax, who described herself as a close friend.

open image in gallery Justin Fairfax, the former Virginia Lt. Gov who fatally shot his wife Cerina Fairfax before killing himself, was obsessed with clearing his name following allegations of sexual assault that first surfaced seven years ago, friends said ( FairfaxJustin/ X )

Nelson is one of half a dozen friends of Fairfaxs who spoke with the newspaper in the wake of Thursday mornings tragedy. Fairfax shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, 49, in the family home before taking his own life upstairs. The couples two teenage children were at the home in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Annandale during the killings, police said. The couple were undergoing a messy divorce and just two weeks before, a judge had told Fairfax he would have to move out of the home he shared with his estranged wife.

Seven years ago, Fairfax looked poised to become Virginias second Black governor after the sitting governor at the time, Ralph Northam, was engulfed in a racism scandal. Northam refused to quit and served the rest of his term.

In 2019, two women came forward and accused Fairfax of sexual assault, which he denied. But his reputation never recovered.

One woman accused Fairfax of assaulting her in a hotel room during the Democratic National Convention in 2004. The other accused him of raping her in 2000 when they were students at Duke University. Fairfax was never charged in either case and repeatedly called for the FBI to investigate.

Fairfax served out the full term as lieutenant governor but was unsuccessful in a 2021 bid for governor after the scandal.

He was still emailing journalists to highlight what he claimed was inaccurate reporting in stories from long-ago, according to The Post, and pestered old acquaintances to speak out in support.

He never recovered, Nelson told the outlet. He was still looking for justice, for vindication, and for somebody to hear him. He was suffering depression and isolation and hurt. There was a darkness that had descended on Justin, a depression.

open image in gallery Once considered a rising star of the Democratic Party, Fairfaxs political career was derailed in 2019 by two separate allegations as he was on the cusp of becoming governor. He never recovered from the hit to his reputation, his friend said ( Reuters )

The apparent obsession to clear his name, coupled with the ongoing divorce proceedings and withdrawing from his family, left friends fearing he was approaching breaking point.

Nelson said that she and others wrestled with him to try and seek support, but he refused.

In the weeks before Fairfax killed his wife, he was almost completely broke and relying on the free wifi at Panera Bread to file his court documents, according to close friend of the family, Father Michael J. Kelley of St. Martins Catholic Church.

Many of Fairfaxs loved ones are grappling with how he could commit such violence against the woman who stood by him throughout the scandal, they told The Post.

Court filings also show that Fairfax had financial challenges following the sexual assault allegations, which prompted his resignation as a partner at a prestigious law firm. According to court documents, his mental and emotional health suffered, he drank heavily and withdrew from his family.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. McEvoy described Cerina Fairfax as the familys primary breadwinner in a written opinion related to the divorce proceedings. McEvoy wrote that Cerina Fairfax, who ran her own dental practice, was a port in a storm for her children.

The couple had separated nearly two years ago, according to court filings, but they were still living in the same house with their children.

Fairfax was ordered to move out by the end of April, with the judge writing it is clear tensions in the Fairfax home have been extremely high for an extended period of time.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
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A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children, seven of them his own, and critically wounded two women on Sunday, police said.

The suspected gunman, identified as Shamar Elkins, 31, shot a woman in one home before killing eight children at a second location, police confirmed.

The children were aged between 1 and 12 years old. One of the women shot was the mother of the suspects children, according to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon. She and a second woman remain in critical condition, while Elkins was killed after a police pursuit.

Seven children were found shot inside a home and an eighth child was found dead on the roof after they apparently tried to escape the attack, Bordelon added.

Authorities did not say what may have set off the violence, but Bordelon said detectives were confident the shooting was entirely a domestic incident. It marks the nations deadliest mass shooting since January 2024, CNN reports.

open image in gallery The scene was unlike anything most of us have ever seen, law enforcement officials said ( AP )

Earlier Sunday, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said he was taken aback by the horrifying shooting.

My heart goes out to this entire community for the tragic event that has taken place this morning, Smith said. I just dont know what to say. My heart is just taken aback. I just cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur.

He said the crime scene was unlike anything most of us have ever seen.

This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux added. Its a terrible morning in Shreveport.

open image in gallery A local faith leader holds a prayer circle after eight children, aged between 1 and 12, were killed in Louisiana Sunday ( Reuters )

State Representative Tammy Phelps said at a news conference that she had chills after arriving at the scene.

This is actually the district where I grew up, so its actually still close to home, she told USA TODAY. Once getting here, and hearing the story ofwhat actually happened in the home. I still have chills right now.

Local leaders with connections to the area were equally shocked by the violence.

Satonia Small, who runs a local grassroots organization, told the outlet that she was just overwhelmed today for this to happen in my community.

open image in gallery Police tape blocks off a house in Shreveport, La., one of the locations tied to a mass shooting Sunday, April 19, 2026. One neighbor, Mack London, 71, said that the shooting was bad...I hate that it happened to those kids. ( AP )

Shreveport city councilman Grayson Boucher said the shooting doubled the citys homicide rate in a single day.

Ive struggled all morning since I woke up, Boucher said. Over 30 percent of our crimes and 30 percent of our murders in the city of Shreveport are domestic in relation. Now, that number has gone up. We more than doubled our homicides in the city of Shreveport because of one act of domestic violence.

Mack London, 71, told NBC News that he has lived in the neighborhood since 1991 and had never seen anything approaching the level of violence on display Sunday.

Nothing like this has ever happened on this street, he said. It was bad...I hate that it happened to those kids.

Another neighbor, Marie Montgomery, told the broadcaster that the removal of the children from the house was the worst thing she had ever witnessed.

When they brought all those kids out of that house, thats just the worst thing I ever seen, she said.

open image in gallery A neighbor who witnessed the bodies of the children being removed from the house called it the worst thing I ever seen ( Getty )

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is from Shreveport, issued a statement on Sunday saying his team was in communication with local investigators.

Were holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time, Johnson wrote on X.

He said he had spoken with Arceneaux and described the shooting as a domestic issue that spiraled into violence.

I just spoke with @ShreveportMayor Tom Arceneaux about the situation and the multiple law enforcement agencies currently engaged in the investigation to pledge any assistance we can possibly provide, he wrote. What apparently began as a domestic dispute this morning ended in a mass shooting with ten people shotincluding eight children, ages 1 to 14, who all lost their lives. Police said earlier the ages ranged from 1 to 14, before adjusting the number Sunday evening.

Members of Shreveports City Council visited the scene on Sunday afternoon where they held a public prayer for the victims and their families, NBC News reports.

Shreveport City Council chair Tabatha Taylor said the children killed had their whole life ahead of them.

open image in gallery Residents gathered around the scene to grieve Sunday, with one saying: Nothing like this has ever happened on this street ( AP )

This is the result when someone snaps, Taylor said. So, Im going to ask the community, along with prayer, with every mental health consultant that is out there  this family and this community needs you.

Elkins had been arrested in 2019 in a firearms case, officials say. He previously served in the Louisiana National Guard, according to Fox News Digital.

Shamar D. Elkins served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020 as a Signal Support System Specialist (25U) and a Fire Support Specialist (13F), an Army official told the outlet. He has no deployment. He left the Army as a private.

The city of Shreveport is in northwestern Louisiana, with a population of around 180,000.
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About 1,000 activists who tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin Saurday have been turned back by police, who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group's leader.

It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles southwest of the capital city of Madison.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, in a video statement, said that between 300 and 400 protesters were violently trying to break into the property" and assault officers.

He said that protesters had ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.

This is not a peaceful protest, he added.

The sheriff's department said a significant number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site, but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed Saturday afternoon.

open image in gallery A Wisconsin State Patrol officer points a can of mace at activists as officers make way for a van to leave the grounds of Ridglan Farms beagle breeding and research facility ( AP )

Protesters tried to overcome barricades, including a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence, but they were unable to get into the facility where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

I just feel defeated, activist Julie Vrzeski told the newspaper about three hours into the operation after no dogs had been successfully seized.

Activists moved from the Ridglan facility to protest outside of the jail in downtown Madison later Saturday.

The group Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had publicized their plans to seize the dogs on Sunday, but launched their operation a day earlier. The X account of the group's leader, Wayne Hsiung, posted a picture of him being arrested on the scene.

open image in gallery Law enforcement deploy tear gas as activists attempt to gain entry into Ridglan Farms ( Wisconsin State Journal )

The sheriff's department said that a person who recklessly drove a pickup truck through the front gate of the property was arrested, preventing a potentially deadly outcome.

In March, protesters broke into the facility and took 30 dogs. Twenty-seven people were arrested on trespassing and other charges.

Ridglan has denied that it mistreats the animals, but in October agreed to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

On its website, Ridglan says no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.
When Sam Altman co-founded OpenAI as a non-profit in 2015, with the altruistic ambition of ensuring AI benefits all of humanity, he might not have imagined that just over a decade later, his work would provoke someone to throw a Molotov cocktail at his home.

It was the first of two separate incidents at the tech entrepreneurs San Francisco residence in recent days, with gunshots reported in the early hours of Sunday morning. While the motives are still being investigated, one of the suspects appears to have made his position clear in posts to Discord and Substack, as well as in a lengthy manifesto.

On the PauseAI Discord server, which advocates for non-violent reform to AI development, he referred to himself as Butlerian Jihadist, named after a crusade in Frank Herberts Dune series to destroy thinking machines. He wrote about the existential risk AI poses  using the exact same language Altman has frequently used to describe the technology his company is developing.

Whenever a more advanced human civilisation has made contact with a less advanced one, the less advanced group is often met by conquest and genocide, the suspect wrote on Substack. So why the hell would we knowingly do this?

He described it as a war for humanity, referencing the forces of good and evil. For him, the likes of Altman are traitors to their species.

It offers one persons perspective on the current state of AI development, but more telling has been the online reaction to the incidents.

The rapidly growing AntiAI community on Reddit, which now counts more than half a million members, was filled with posts expressing understanding for the attacks. The top post stated: [Altman] should probably stop threatening to cause the apocalypse.

On Instagram, some users went even further by lamenting the attacks lack of success  Altman and his family were unharmed  and encouraging others to carry out more. It has inevitably drawn comparisons to the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO in 2024, which saw widespread support for the alleged perpetrator, Luigi Mangione, due to deep-rooted anger against American health insurance companies.

Similar frustrations against AI firms are now building. After various petitions from researchers to stem the development of powerful AI systems, there have now been several recent studies revealing a notable shift in public perception towards the technology and those in control of it.

open image in gallery OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose San Francisco home was targeted last week ( Getty )

In Stanford Universitys 2026 AI Index Report, published on Monday, more than half of the people surveyed said that products using AI made them feel nervous. A Gallup poll of Gen Z attitudes towards AI adoption, published earlier this month, found that excitement has dropped by roughly the same margin that anger has risen. There were similar findings in a report from Pew Research Center last month, which also confirmed that AI insiders are far more enthusiastic about AI than the general public.

The AI backlash appears to stem not only from fears about a theoretical superintelligence, but also from the everyday impact the technology is having on society. The Stanford report noted that public opinion on AI is increasingly disconnected from the views of experts, with people worried that it will hurt everything from the economy and elections to mental health and relationships.

I think a lot of AI leaders are just out of touch with normal people and dont realise that fears of Skynet [some kind of evil superintelligence] are not what is primarily driving anti-AI sentiment, said US-based behavioural scientist Caroline Orr Bueno. That exists, obviously, but most people are way more concerned with their paycheck and the cost of utilities.

These frustrations have led to an escalating trend of direct action against the companies developing AI. Following the early petitions and open letters  whose signatories often included Altman and fellow OpenAI co-founders like Elon Musk  there came a growing number of protests.

People have taken to the streets in cities around the world, including London, Paris and New York, calling for stricter safety guardrails for AI and more protections for jobs and the climate. In San Francisco, mobs have smashed self-driving robotaxis and set them on fire, while others have carried out hunger strikes outside the offices of big AI firms.

These AIs are being used to inflict serious harm on our society today and threaten to inflict greater damage tomorrow, anti-AI campaigner Guido Reichstadter, who went on a month-long hunger strike outside Anthropics headquarters last September, wrote in a blog post. We are in an emergency. Let us act as if this emergency is real.

open image in gallery A Waymo driverless robotaxi was torched in San Francisco on 10 February, 2024 ( YouTube/Frisco Live 415 )

Aggressive acts of defiance remain rare, but appear to be increasing in frequency since late last year. AI labs have been vandalised, factories have been targeted by arsonists, and politicians have received death threats for supporting the construction of AI data centres.

But beyond the extreme incidents is a growing and legitimate movement. The PauseAI group has said it unequivocally condemns all forms of violence, intimidation and harassment, but said that it should not be used to paint the broader movement for AI safety as dangerous or extremist.

Following the violent attacks on his home, Altman shared an uncommonly personal blog post. He blamed an incendiary article, referencing a 16,000-word piece in the New Yorker last week, which questioned whether he could be trusted at the helm of such a powerful company at such a pivotal moment. I am awake in the middle of the night and p*ssed, and thinking that I have underestimated the power of words and narratives, he wrote.

He also addressed the disillusionment that appears increasingly apparent among those outside the tech elite  yet he offered no real solutions to how such problems can be solved. One solution, which appears impossible now that Altman is reportedly preparing his company for a $1 trillion public offering, would be to return to OpenAIs founding principles.

Buried within OpenAIs website can be found its original mission statement. Since our research is free from financial obligations, we can better focus on a positive human impact, it stated. In his latest blog post, a decade on, Altman wrote: The world deserves huge amounts of AI and we must figure out how to make it happen.

With backlash now escalating from petitions to petrol bombs, his words are unlikely to ease anxieties about the future of AI.
AI coding startup Cursor is nearing new funding in which the four-year-old company would raise at least $2 billion in fresh capital, according to four sources familiar with the matter. Returning investors Thrive and Andreessen Horowitz are expected to lead the financing at a $50 billion valuation, prior to the new capital injection, the people said.

More from Yahoo Scout What competitive challenges does Cursor face currently? How is Cursor achieving profitability in AI coding? What is Cursor's projected revenue growth trajectory? Who are the major investors in Cursor's funding?

Battery Ventures, a new investor, may also participate in the financing, according to two sources. Strategic investor Nvidia is also expected to write a check, one person said.

Although the round is already oversubscribed, the deal terms are not final and may still change.

The financing, if completed, would nearly double Cursors previous $29.3 billion post-money valuation, assigned to the company during its last fundraise six months ago.

Despite fierce competition from other AI-coding offerings, such as Anthropics Claude Code and OpenAIs revamped Codex, Cursors revenue continues to climb rapidly.

Cursor forecasts ending 2026 with an annualized revenue run rate of more than $6 billion, two people said. This trajectory implies the company expects to at least triple its annualized revenue over the next 10 months. In February, Cursor reached $2 billion in annualized revenue, calculated by projecting its most recent monthly sales over a year, Bloomberg reported.

Like many AI-coding startups reliant on third-party models, Cursor operated at negative gross margins until recently, meaning it cost more to run the product than the startup could charge for it. The introduction of a proprietary Composer model last November, along with the ability to call on less expensive models like Chinas Kimi, has helped the company achieve slight gross margin profitability, the people said.

On a more granular level, the company has reached positive gross margins on its sales to large enterprises, but continues to lose money on individual developer accounts, according to one person.

By relying less on outside providers, Cursor is trying to avoid being replaced by its own suppliers, most notably Anthropic, whose Claude Code has emerged as the startups main rival.

Cursor and Battery Ventures declined comment. Thrive, a16z, and Nvidia didnt respond to request for comment.

Cursor, previously known as Anysphere, was co-founded in 2022 by Michael Truell, Sualeh Asif, Arvid Lunnemark, and Aman Sanger while they were students at MIT.
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CultureMusicalsAndrew Lloyd Webber Family were in a desperate state: Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals he is a recovering alcoholic Mark Ludlow April 19, 2026  9:36am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

London: Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed he is a recovering alcoholic. The composer says he has stopped drinking completely following a decision 16 months ago to get help for his addiction after going into a downhill spiral. Andrew Lloyd Webber during a 2022 visit to Sydney. Steven Siewert He described sobriety as the best thing that ever happened to me. Lloyd Webber, 78, whose hit musicals include Phantom of the Opera and Cats, was introduced to burgundy by his Aunt Vi, and started collecting wine from the age of 15.

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Andrew Lloyd Webber with wife Madeleine. AP He originally stopped drinking during 2015 and 2016, staying away from his favourite tipple for 18 months while producing School of Rock on Broadway. But it did not last. I was doing what they call white-knuckling, without any back-up, and I started to worry that I wasnt being creative, he said in an interview with The Sunday Times. As his family, including Madeleine, his 63-year-old wife, became increasingly concerned about his drinking habits, Lloyd Webber finally decided to take quitting seriously. You think its secret [your drinking], but its not. Everybody knows, he said. I started getting into a downhill spiral, and about 18 months ago, the family were in a desperate state. My wife was feeling [like] she couldnt go on.

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He checked himself into a clinic and now attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every day as he and his wife divide their time between homes in London, Hampshire and New York. Related Article Performing arts Its actually crazy: How this 22-year-old landed one of musical theatres biggest roles Lloyd Webber, who is selling the remainder of his once extensive wine collection via Christies, the auction house, is happy to describe himself as a recovering alcoholic. Sixteen months ago, I decided that I needed help and its the best thing that ever happened to me, he said. The composer, who has won seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and 14 Ivor Novellos, said he now adores attending AA meetings, even when he was with a whole load of rednecks in St Louis.

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It was great fun  its rather different to a meeting in Chelsea, said Lloyd Webber, who was knighted in 1992 before being elevated to the House of Lords in 1997. What I love about it is, you go into a room and everybodys equal. Ive made friends that I wouldnt have thought possible. Lloyd Webber with King Charles and Queen Camilla at an event in London last year. Getty Images Lloyd Webber said the turning point for addressing his drinking problem was hearing someone else describe the stupidity of addiction. It was about the ludicrous lengths you go to, the hiding and the pretending, he said. He explained he had turned to alcohol to help liberate himself when he had writers block.

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I got that thing of seriously worrying that I wasnt writing, and panicked. Maybe Ill have a drink. OK, Ive written something. Because it does slightly liberate you  but then its more and more and more, he said. Related Article Stage shows Im very restless at the moment: whats next for theatres $1 billion man? Lloyd Webber admitted he had probably written some of his best-known songs while under the influence of drink, but he cannot remember which, apart from No Matter What, which was a big hit for Boyzone. The peers wine cellar had achieved worldwide renown. At a 2011 Sothebys auction in Hong Kong, a 12-bottle case of Chateau Petrus 1982 fetched 48,000 ($90,000). The overall auction brought in 3.5 million. But after the final Christies auction between April 22 and May 6, there will be nothing left. The composer says his newfound sobriety has not affected his productivity.

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Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a tribute to the 1980s drag scene, opened to positive reviews on Broadway, while he is writing two new musicals, one based on the 2006 film The Illusionist and another about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. The Telegraph, London Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter.

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Exclusive NationalNSWCourts Escapees terrifying three-hour crime spree in Sydneys eastern suburbs Clare Sibthorpe April 19, 2026  9:45am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A Sydney inmate was carrying out ground maintenance within prison walls when he asked a corrective services officer about the potential for off-site work. He was told he would have to prove himself first. Less than two hours later, Jason Neil Melbom had used a chair to scale a three-metre fence and flee the Long Bay Correctional Complex. Within three more hours, he had embarked on a terrifying crime spree through Sydneys eastern suburbs. It involved invading or attempting to invade nine homes and attacking unsuspecting locals, including binding one woman with a laptop cord and kidnapping another. Jason Melboms police shot after a previous arrest when he was significantly younger. The now 46-year-old was sentenced in a district court on Friday to eight years prison with a non-parole period of five years and six months for the rampage on August 14, 2023.

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At the time, he was serving a 22-year sentence at the Malabar facility for prior serious offences and was to be eligible for parole in 16 months. The escape occurred sometime between two musters with inmates at 11am and 12:30pm. Melbom was present at the first one, but mysteriously absent at the second. As a frightened woman tried to flee, he grabbed her arm and hair and pulled her back into the loungeroom. Unbeknown to them, he had jumped a fence and run, in what a judge described as an unsophisticated and opportunistic act. The fugitive wasted no time in aiding his escape.

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He rushed to a nearby house, stole a knife from an outdoor Tupperware box and unsuccessfully demanded a resident surrender his car keys. He then broke into another home and confronted a man and his daughter with the knife. He stole the keys to the familys Mazda 2 and drove it to Little Bay, stopping by another house to abandon the Mazda and steal cigarettes. Melbom disappeared between musters at Long Bay Correctional Complex on August 14, 2023. Edwina Pickles The escapee stole car keys from inside another home and ran outside. He was confronted by the resident while sitting in the drivers seat. As she yelled for help, he fled on foot, leaving behind the knife, cigarettes and sunglasses. From here, the violence escalated when Melbom invaded another house in Little Bay. As a frightened woman tried to flee, he grabbed her arm and hair and pulled her back into the loungeroom.

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Amid a scuffle, the womans head struck an oil heater. Melbom told her to stay quiet as he pulled her hair, punched her and grabbed her car keys. The woman ran into her study, where Melbom tied her hands with a laptop cord and fled in her Hyundai Santa Fe. He drove to a house three doors down. Dripping in blood and with clenched fists, he threatened a woman who was unpacking shopping in her driveway, saying he had just got out of jail and had shot people before but would not hurt her if she drove him away. Fearing for her safety, she obliged. A woman at home alone with her baby pushed him away and shut the door on his arm.

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The woman drove for about 40 minutes before Melbom told her to pull into a side street in Beverley Park. He said they would do a home invasion, Judge Tom Jones outlined as he read the agreed facts. This was the womans chance to escape; she parked the car and ran. Melbom stopped chasing when she screamed. By now, police were on the hunt. Melbom broke into another house, stealing keys and Ugg boots and threatening to stab a man before police found him in a backyard. A pursuit followed, with Melbom attempting to break into yet another home. A woman at home alone with her baby pushed him away and shut the door on his arm. He was arrested shortly after. Melbom pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody, kidnapping, assault while armed, five break-and-enter offences and several similar offences which were taken into account.

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For his sentencing, he dialled into court from Goulburns High Risk Management Correctional Centre (HRMCC), known as Supermax. It is Australias highest-security prison. His mother attended court in person. Jones said his escape was essentially unsophisticated and opportunistic but involved an abuse of trust by prison authorities who allowed him to do relatively unsupervised and unstructured work. His motivation was obtaining resources to help his escape, he added.

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The judge noted Melboms remorse shown in a letter to the court. He accepted his judgment was impaired by various mental health disorders, longstanding substance abuse and a troubling upbringing that left its mark. However, he said the attacks would have been shocking and terrifying for his victims and that community protection was paramount. Jones found special circumstances due to Melboms risk of becoming institutionalised and the extended supervision he will need upon release. With his sentence backdated for time already spent in custody, he will be eligible for parole in October 2029. 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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NationalNSWHSC The HSC subject 8000 students dumped last year Christopher Harris April 19, 2026  7:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

More than 8000 students abandoned advanced mathematics in last years Higher School Certificate, with a third of students across the state dropping the course between year 11 and 12. More than a quarter of year 11 students enrolled in physics, chemistry and engineering dumped each of those subjects before starting year 12, NSW Education Standards Authority enrolment figures show. The decline is despite a push for Australia to build its graduate workforce across the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, in order to strengthen the nations innovation, competitiveness and sovereignty. Mathematics Association of NSW Education Consultant Miriam Lees said the calculus skills covered in advanced mathematics equipped students with the critical thinking skills to succeed at university.

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Basically, if your undergraduate degree requires mathematics, advanced is the minimum you need to ensure you can meet those requirements, she said. Students are required to complete 10 units for their final HSC year, as opposed to 12 units in Year 11. University of Sydney maths professor Eddie Woo is not concerned about the decline in the number of students taking maths. Kate Geraghty Lees said the dropoff of thousands of students from advanced mathematics between years 11 and 12 could be tracked back to overly ambitious parents who pushed children towards courses they were ill-suited to in the first place. One of the reasons that this happens is that students and parents are not following the advice of teachers, she said.

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Year 12 student Jasmine Edwards, 16, was good at maths throughout high school so opted to study the advanced course. Its not a walk in the park, she said. Related Article Education Parents are being asked to score schools. But are they the best judges? She dropped down to standard as she realised the work required for the harder course was not necessarily worth the reward. I didnt want to put in the work hours because I dont want to do anything mathsy after school. It was a similar story for Stevie Crosby, 17, who excelled in advanced and extension but when she hit year 12, the content became a lot more difficult.

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I just wasnt spending enough time on advanced to do well, because I was just so discouraged. Related Article Education Every school will offer gifted education. But who decides who is gifted? Professor of practice in mathematics education at the University of Sydney, Eddie Woo, was not concerned about the decline between years 11 and 12, describing it as a feature, not a bug of the HSC system. A stunningly small number of students have a clear idea of what they want to do after school when theyre in year 10, he said. They want to be as aspirational as they can be, then the decision gets refined later.

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Former NSW Department of Education head Mark Scott previously linked a decline in higher level maths enrolments back to primary school teachers, whose avoidance of mathematics can imbue students with negative attitudes towards the subject. A NSW Education Standards spokeswoman said students adjust HSC subjects for various reasons including a change in their post-school plans, passion for the course, engagement with the content, or ability. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) is one of the best defense stocks that will skyrocket. On April 14, TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) reiterated it expects net sales of between $2.54 billion and $2.545 billion for the thirteen-week period ended March 28, 2026. The company also expects EBITDA of between $1.33 billion and $1.335 billion.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) Solid Sales Growth Supports Acquisition Push and Buyback Push

Giannis Papanikos/Shutterstock.com

The preliminary financial results also coincide with plans for an incremental $1.25 billion debt offering. The companys wholly owned subsidiary plans to issue $1.25 billion in new debt, consisting of $250 million in new 6.125% senior notes due 2034 and $1 billion in new term loans. The company plans to use net proceeds from the debt offering to fund the purchase of Stellant Systems. Part of the proceeds will also go towards covering $800 million in common share repurchases completed in March.

On the other hand, the company has completed the acquisition of Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings for $2.2 billion. The companies TransDigm Group has generated $280 million in revenue in 2025.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) designs and supplies proprietary aerospace components used on nearly all commercial and military aircraft.

While we acknowledge the potential of TDG 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: 12 Best Data Center Stocks to Buy Right Now and Top 10 Growth Stocks in Billionaire Philippe Laffonts Portfolio.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
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NationalVictoriaDevelopment Empty heritage house stalls redevelopment of eyesore shopping centre Gemma Grant April 19, 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

A long-awaited shopping centre redevelopment in Melbournes south-east has been further delayed after the council rejected the demolition of an unoccupied heritage house nearby. Sections of Pakenham Place Shopping Centre, near the suburbs main train station, have sat boarded up and abandoned for years. Graffiti covers many of the external surfaces, and barbed wire fencing is in place to prevent trespassing. The centres flagship Target store closed in 2021; a Coles supermarket and Liquorland store are all that remain open in the building. Resident Nicole Taylor said that the state of Pakenham Place makes her community seem neglected. She tends to avoid the centre, which she said attracted crime and squatters. To be honest, its embarrassing  to have a facility like that, so run down and not looked after. It doesnt seem appealing, Taylor said. It puts a dampener on everyone that lives in the community from an outsiders perspective.

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Were already a populated suburb with so many people; we dont really have any decent shops  Weve got the bare minimum, with an eyesore right in the middle. The precinct was bought in 2020 by Banco Group and Leaf Corporation with the promise of a major redevelopment. But the state governments forced acquisition of some of the land to build a community hospital (due to be completed later this year) and ensuing legal battles with the developers severely delayed plans. Now, Cardinia Shire Councils decision not to demolish a heritage-listed building adjacent to the precinct at 39 Main Street has caused another roadblock. The house  the land of which is already owned by the developers  sits empty and boarded up. The council rejected the planning permit for the 1929 interwar bungalow in late January. Because no councillors raised concerns or queries about the item after an internal briefing, the matter was not discussed at an open meeting and decided by council officers under delegation.

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The developers challenged the decision, escalating it to a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing on June 4. Related Article Exclusive

Courts The government seized these shops for a hospital that was never built. Now the case is back in court The house is subject to a heritage overlay and falls within Pakenhams activity centre zone, which is in place to encourage new mixed-use development. The demolition or removal of most buildings in this area doesnt require a permit, unless one is specifically called for. In documents provided to VCAT and seen by The Age, a town planner working on behalf of the Banco Group and Leaf Corporation said that retaining the heritage building would significantly impede the ability to develop in the area. The site essentially acts as a gateway to the shopping centre precinct, the planner wrote. The report also noted that the heritage house was frequently broken, damaged and occupied by squatters, despite repeated attempts to bolster security.

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Meanwhile, the permit refusal document lodged by Cardinia Council to VCAT said that the developers had not properly addressed conservation guidelines, and that a replacement development was yet to be proposed. Andrew Cook, who grew up in Pakenham and now lives nearby in Drouin, was the sole objector to the developers permit application with Cardinia Council. He doesnt agree that demolishing the heritage house is integral to the wider development of the area. The unoccupied residence at 39 Main Street, which is protected by a heritage overlay. Joe Armao This is a small block on a corner. And youre telling me [they] cant start a major development without knocking down a  house? Cook said. If we start knocking down heritage places, theres no point having heritage  it gives the developers a free pass to knock down what they want without checks and balances.

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John Briggs, an architect and conservation consultant who assessed the property on behalf of the developers, said that while the demolition of the house would be a loss of heritage, these priorities must be balanced with the public amenity that the Pakenham activity centre will provide. The heritage significance of the house, its aesthetic appeal, is a limited benefit to the community, Briggs wrote in his report provided to VCAT. There is no confirmed timeline for the redevelopment project. Joe Armao It is my view that the removal of the existing heritage house from the subject land can be demonstrated to be an acceptable application of the planning scheme, and can be accepted as the likely and appropriate outcome for this property going forward. Cardinia Council has repeatedly said that the Pakenham Place redevelopment is not a council responsibility because the land is privately owned. A spokesperson didnt respond to questions asking why the issue wasnt discussed at a public meeting, and whether the context of the activity centre zone was considered during the rejection process.

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Related Article City life This suburb was promised a town centre 17 years ago. Residents are still waiting Council refused the proposed demolition of the building at 39 Main Street, Pakenham, as the property is an individually significant heritage place, said Wayne Mack, acting general manager of community and planning. The owner is able to move forward with the demolition of surrounding properties. Council continues to advocate for the redevelopment of Pakenham Place and looks forward to seeing future proposals  the matter is now before VCAT, and council is unable to comment further while the process is under way. Co-developers Banco Group and Leaf Corporation were both contacted for comment. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
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Exclusive NationalSpace Want to visit space after Artemis II? For $20m, Anousheh flew herself there Angus Dalton April 19, 2026  7:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Anousheh Ansari had the best excuse for ditching an astronomy lesson. Im sorry, I cant finish this class, she told her teacher. Im going to space. It was 2006, and a spot had opened up on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft bound for the International Space Station. A bout of chronic kidney stones had ruled out a Japanese candidate for the mission. Ansari was next in line. Space explorer Anousheh Ansari was the fourth spaceflight participant  rather than government-funded astronaut  to visit the International Space Station. Courtesy Anousheh Ansari She leapt at the chance and became the first self-funded woman to go to space. But its what she did next that greased the wheels for commercial space travel and laid the groundwork for future space tourism.

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Ansari was awarded an honorary doctorate in science this week in recognition for her impact on space exploration and research by Melbournes Swinburne University of Technology, where she studied astronomy online. Ansari witnessed the Islamic revolution growing up in Tehran. In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini took over and the regime closed her school, derailing her ambitions of becoming an astrophysicist or astronaut. The new Iran did not tolerate such dreams from a woman, she has said. Anousheh Ansari accepted an honorary doctorate from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Wayne Taylor Her family moved to Washington DC in 1984, when Ansari studied electrical engineering and computer science. She went on to launch a telecommunications company with her husband. Their work earned them millions. As her 40th birthday approached, Ansari booked her US$20 million ticket to space.

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Working with Space Adventures, a company which offered private space trips via the Russian space program, Ansari underwent six months of cosmonaut training before blasting off in September 2006. Her 11-day expedition to the ISS transformed her. Space explorer Anousheh Ansari floats through the International Space Station. Documentary Channel Ansari became the first female private space traveller, and travelled alonside Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov (right) and US astronaut Geoffrey Williams. AFP Youre outside where all your world is  family, your friends, your school, your home, your memories. And youre looking at it from up there  its like an out-of-body experience, Ansari said after receiving her doctorate on Thursday. All the little things disappear and you only see big things. You see landscapes, you dont see borders, you dont see dividers. That is the message I took back with me.

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After battling a bout of the vomit-inducing sickness inflicted by microgravity, Ansari participated in experiments on back pain and anaemia, and took swabs from her body to test how bacteria would grow in space. Anousheh Ansari was also the first Iranian in space. Courtesy Anousheh Ansari A Soyuz capsule lands in Kazakhstan in 2023. AP Re-entry was the scariest moment. The Soyuz capsule was tiny and hot. Hitting the atmosphere and feeling the parachutes deploy was like going over the Niagara Falls in a wheelbarrow, Ansari recalled, borrowing another astronauts phrase. The capsule crashed back hard on land because Russia didnt have access to an open-water landing like Artemis II. But Ansari had made it home. Her trip had a profound impact on what she did next.

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I realised we spend normally 80 per cent of our times on little minute things  what I call noise of life  and only maybe 20 per cent on big-picture important things, she said. I decided to flip that ratio, and focus 80 per cent of my time and attention on big important things in my life, and only 20 per cent on the noise. The new Earthrise, taken by the Artemis II crew. Seeing Earth from space changes astronauts worldview forever. AP Ansari left her business and became chief executive of the XPRIZE Foundation, a non-profit which runs lucrative competitions aimed at driving technological innovation. The first competition, the Ansari XPRIZE, offered $US10 million to the first non-government organisation to build a reusable crewed spacecraft. Burt Rutan won with SpaceShipOne, his experimental spaceplane. The flurry of activity sparked by the prize is credited with kick-starting the US$469 billion commercial space sector, which leads to regular launches from companies including SpaceX and Blue Origin.

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About 700 people have gone to space; that number is likely to skyrocket given renewed interest driven by Artemis II and a commercial industry Ansari partly helped launch. Related Article Explainer

Space The International Space Station was a model for peace. But Russia wants to leave. Whats going on off Earth? Visiting space soon may become akin to the Mount Everest climb, Ansari says  a testing ground for adventurers who can afford it, with the added gift of proving Earths preciousness to all who travel beyond our atmosphere. Im not saying everyone should go to space, Ansari said. But those who have the desire to, they should have the opportunity to experience it. Because as I explained, it has transformed me. I spend all of my time now with XPRIZE figuring out the problems that are preventing us from having an equitable and abundant world. Im a Star Trek fan, so I want to build the Star Trek world for us  without the Klingons, of course.

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In a recent chapter of the XPRIZE, teams from four countries competed for $3.5 million over the past week at the NSW Rural Fire Service headquarters, testing new ways of rapidly detecting bushfires from space. Related Article Space The psychological phenomenon in space that hit one astronaut hard Asked about the conflict ravaging her home country, Ansari says: We have a big hump right now that we need to overcome to get to that beautiful future Im hoping for. But her memories of space  and the new Earth-rise image captured by the Artemis II crew  gives her hope peace is possible. 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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PoliticsFederalAustralian economy Opinion Our political foes have chosen the same outfit. Sadly, it doesnt look good on either of them Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser April 19, 2026  5:00am

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There have been a couple of corker lines delivered over the last couple of weeks to underscore the fact that no politician with a yen to continue his or her career wants to be seen dead wearing last seasons economic consensus. I especially liked the line from Nationals leader Matt Canavan at the National Press Club last week, criticising the economic sentiment of the past 15 years as microwaved Milton Friedman (the economist who promoted deregulation, small government, and free-market capitalism). Matt Canavan told the National Press Club that the country needed an economic revolution. Alex Ellinghausen Liberal MP Andrew Hastie also got in a good one on the ABCs Insiders when he declared that voters wouldnt reward the Liberal Party for a final stand for neoliberal politics. How fashions change. It feels like just yesterday that I was mocking the earnest libertarianism espoused on the Australian right, especially by young men. In the noughties, the unrealistically individualist philosophy had really caught on. I blame the lack of social media. Back then, boys were still reading the politically libertine Playboy for the articles. They even read books.

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Like Ayn Rands novels. After being told dozens of times that it was necessary to read the Russian emigre to understand the world, I did. Hoooh boy. From then on, I understood what had captured those young mens imaginations. Lets just say that sections of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, which didnt start off sealed, would have become fused by the sticky panting fingers of their impressionable pubescent readers. I could well imagine how young men could become captivated by the heroic self-sufficiency of The Fountainheads Howard Roark and his transcendent and detailed physical unions with the uncompromising Dominique Francon. How they could be drawn through the erotically charged adventures of Atlas Shruggeds Dagney Taggart into wishing she would ask if they were, in fact, John Galt. Related Article Political leadership Australia needs more than a reset, it needs an economic revolution: Canavan What was a young woman of good education to do, but poke merciless fun at this cartoonish dream of hyper-individualism? A universe in which the gossamer threads of familial love and obligation were considered stifling enslavement? I was amused enough to spend countless hours debating the ideas of the extreme libertarians. One memorable night, as we sat at the pub contemplating the newish idea of seasteading  a utopian idea of a no-tax society built aboard a floating platform in lawless international waters  I pointed out the glaring obstacle in the way of these fancies. There were eight men around the table, and me. A philosophy of radical individualism cant reproduce itself. It is predestined to die out for want of wombs. Two decades later, the pendulum has swung to the other extreme. The young men of laissez-faire have been mugged by the reality of a complex world. But rather than replace it with a more sophisticated approach to policy, they have chosen another solution that is as appealingly clear and simple as it is wrong: neoprotectionism. Obviously, no one objects to the notion of sovereign capability. But the interventionist instinct tends to become as extreme and, ultimately, ridiculous as the minarchism of yesteryear.

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What it boils down to is the idea that governments, which are mostly made up of people who have never worked in business  let alone run one  are somehow going to do a good job at investing taxpayer money and rendering industries viable which private companies have abandoned. Along the way, trade-offs are going to magically disappear. In this government-directed economy, we will have high wages, secure jobs, as well as enough output to shore up our nations every need. Forgive me if I hum The Internationale to myself. Unfortunately, government-laid five-year plans turned out to be pure fiction. History tells us that governments are 90 per cent powered by wishful thinking, which doesnt transubstantiate into lifes necessities. Related Article Opinion

Liberal Party Why Liberal heavyweights are gearing up for new stand-off over tax James Massola Chief political commentator The left has been arguing its way into a post-productivity nirvana for a while now. Playwright and progressive fulminator Van Badham has been declaring neoliberalism dead and the Labor Party damned for failing to bury it for over a decade. The Australia Institutes Richard Denniss discovered that neoliberalism was responsible for spreading COVID. Columnist at this masthead Sean Kelly recently authored a Quarterly Essay which argued that even the Albanese government, with its bent towards the institutionalisation of all things, is essentially a conservative government. To prove his point, the right has now come around. While its a heart-warming moment of bipartisanship, both sides are wrong. These neat frameworks struggle to accommodate messy reality. Yes, in a shifting global environment, Australia must consider how it can best ensure that we will continue to have access to the resources, foodstuffs and technology that modern life requires. But signing up to neoprotectionism is following the left down a path to poverty.

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Instead, we now need to acknowledge global dynamics and model scenarios in which the world becomes less integrated, without holding them up as a sure thing or an ideal. Rather than fixating on national sovereignty, Australia needs strategic sovereignty  the ability to act independently in key sectors, while continuing to benefit from the considerable dividends of cooperation and global trade. If that seems a rhetorical nicety, its not; the first proposes that we shield our industries from competition, the second that we create the conditions for them to become more competitive with those elsewhere in the world. As always, Australias advantage always comes down to energy abundance  if we choose to exploit it, rather than throttling some sources in the hope of bolstering others. The neoprotectionists of the left and right will like that Australia has a good chance of becoming a manufacturing hub again if we take that path. Its possible to stay a high-wage country and continuing to furnish plenty of jobs if Australia is an attractive place to make things  not just in the short term, dependent on industry subsidy, but structurally, because of the materials available here, and its profitable for business to use them. And there we go  ping! Your Milton Friedman is ready. At the perfect temperature to serve up anew. Delicious neoliberalism for the modern palate. 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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Exclusive PoliticsNSWDevelopment The $4.2b infrastructure war chest local councils say they cant spend Michael McGowan April 20, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Local councils across NSW are sitting on a $4.2 billion infrastructure war chest that could help unlock thousands of new homes, but the money is not being spent because of rigid spending rules and funding shortfalls on individual projects. An analysis by the Urban Development Institute of Australia, which represents property developers, shows the value of infrastructure contributions in a series of individual council funds across greater Sydney, the Illawarra and Newcastle has doubled over the past decade. Leppington has struggled to take off in the same way as neighbouring suburbs on the south-west fringe. Rhett Wyman At the same time, government studies show only a few councils, most in fast-growing areas, hold the bulk of the funds but often feel hamstrung from spending the money because they lack the capital to finish projects. The funds, which are paid to councils by developers when projects are approved, would help unlock thousands of new homes by providing infrastructure such as roads, parks and drainage.

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Related Article Planning They built a Sydney suburb at a train station but nobody came The size of the funding envelope and its continued growth during a period in which the state Labor governments push for greater housing supply has been met by concern in some communities about the adequacy of existing infrastructure raises significant questions about whether the contribution plans are fit for purpose. But rather than criticise councils, which are constrained by policies requiring the contributions to be tied to specific projects, restrictive borrowing practices and rising infrastructure costs, the UDIA says the state government should step in by establishing a $950 million fund councils could use to top up projects. A system that accumulates infrastructure funds rather than building infrastructure is a broken one and must change, UDIA NSW chief executive Stuart Ayres said. In the middle of a housing crisis, having four billion lazy dollars doing nothing is unacceptable.

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Despite the growth in local developer contributions, the analysis found that because funding is held across a series of funds, individual councils often lack sufficient capital for specific projects. In Camden in Sydneys south-west, the council estimates up to 4000 new homes could be unlocked for future development with upgrades to the Byron Road corridor near Leppington railway station. UDIA NSW CEO Stuart Ayres, a former NSW minister for sport and trade and investment. Janie Barrett Despite considerable state government investment  including construction of the railway station by the Coalition more than a decade ago  Leppington has struggled to take off in the same way as other neighbouring greenfield developments precincts such as Edmondson Park or Oran Park. The council holds about $38 million in a contribution fund for the Byron Road corridor, which the UDIA estimates would cost about $47 million to finish.

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Related Article Development Greenfield homes, empty streets: The ridiculous reality of Sydneys new sprawl Camden Council general manager Andrew Carfield said fragmented ownership meant developer contributions were often piecemeal, which made delivering enabling works in a timely way challenging. Councils had limited capacity to pool money from contribution plans, he said, because that would affect other parts of the local government area. We cant simply drop the commitment in one plan to solve a problem in another precinct, he said. In January, a report from the NSW Auditor-General said councils often lacked funds for specific projects. It said just 14 councils in NSW accounted for almost half of the unspent funds.

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While UDIAs analysis measured only funds held by 43 councils in the greater Sydney mega-region  which includes the Central Coast, the lower Hunter and the Illawarra  the NSW Auditor-General found councils across the state held $5.4 billion in infrastructure funds. The auditors report found that of the 14 councils which held substantial funds, 10 spent less than 20 per cent of their overall contributions balance in the 2024-25 financial year. Councils with high balances but low spending included Bayside, Central Coast, Parramatta, Ryde, Cumberland, Georges River, Lake Macquarie, Liverpool, Maitland and Hills. The underspending, it said, was partly a result of funding being particularly complex for councils experiencing significant population growth. It said councils often reported a lack of funds for maintaining existing assets, slow receipt of funding and reliance on grant funding to top up funds. UDIA believes the state government should step in by establishing a fund for councils to dip into for important projects, such as in Leppington, which had a funding shortfall.

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The fund would be self-replenishing, UDIA says, due to developer contributions from new housing unlocked by the works. The Minns government has at times been critical of some local councils for slow housing delivery. While Planning Minister Paul Scully said all levels of government needed to help pay for new infrastructure to support housing growth, councils needed to spend funding in a timely manner. The $4.2 billion sitting in reserve was collected for specific projects and needs to be spent in a timely manner to support communities and provide the infrastructure homeowners have contributed to, he said. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
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Despite battling mobility issues and narrowly avoiding having a leg amputated last year, Human Headline Derryn Hinch is still a voice in the political fray. The outspoken former senator and media firebrand has thrown his support behind his former Justice Party protege, Stuart Grimley, who is aiming to run for his own organisation  the Frontline Workers Party  at Novembers state election. I have endorsed him personally because I think he is a very worthwhile candidate, but I cant endorse his party because I founded my own, Hinch told CBD. Derryn Hinch with former Hinch Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley who is now heading his own party, the Frontline Workers Party. Facebook/Derryn Hinch I believe in what he stands for and I hope he gets elected. He is a very decent man and he cares about people. I am supporting him, but I have not become a member of his party.

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While Hinch, 82, still keeps a close eye on political battlegrounds, his biggest fight recently has been with his health. After suffering deep cuts to both his lower legs in a fall at his Melbourne apartment in September, Hinch has been to hell and back trying to get the wounds to heal. Over the past six months he has fought serious infection, been hospitalised several times, taken a number of nasty tumbles and has come to terms with his declining mobility. Hinch, pictured in February 2024, is battling medical issues related to his legs. Justin McManus In October, he suffered a heavy fall and spent 12 hours lying on his lounge room floor with two broken ribs and agonising infected legs until he was able to call an ambulance. It was during this time that doctors told him amputation of one of his legs was a very real possibility.

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I said, Thats life, Hinch told CBD with his usual pluck. I accepted that might have to happen, but luckily it hasnt and I have both my legs still, and I have Johnnie Walker (the name he gives his walking aid) helping me to get around. Im doing between 6000 and 7000 steps a week now. Hinch will soon undergo surgery, which he hopes will finally lead to his legs healing. I have home nurses coming three times a week and regular doctors appointments, he said. The good news is even though my legs have been buggered for months now the doctors have said there will be an operation on my right leg next month to try and improve the circulation.

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Back to Grimley, the police officer and Hinchs Justice Party MP between 2018 and 2022, who last week reached 500 members for his party, the number required by the Victorian Electoral Commission for registration of a political party. He is now going through the VECs next compliance stage. Liberals social media pothole stunt hits a rough patch A pothole palaver has erupted after a social media stunt showing Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and Liberal candidate for Nepean, Anthony Marsh, doing rogue road repairs has led to the Department of Transport and Planning investigating their activities. Wilson has had a good run with her social media of late, gaining traction, scoring clicks, adding new followers and getting plenty of attention with snappy videos sticking the boot into the government over the Commonwealth Games debacle and overgrown nature strips. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and Nepean candidate Anthony Marsh fill a pothole in Dromana, in an Instagram reel posted to Wilsons social media on March 8. Instagram/@jesswilsonmp

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But the pothole pit crew stunt might have been too clever for its own good. Marsh, who has taken leave as Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire while contesting the Nepean byelection, joined Wilson in the March 8 Instagram reel calling out Labor on the shoddy state of roads on the peninsula. They were shown in high-vis filing in potholes in Dromana like a pair of moonlighting political Bob The Builders. Remember cartoon Bob and his catchphrase Can we fix it? and his teams response, Yes, we can? That video, which remains on Wilsons social media platform, might need a bit of fixing of its own seeing as it is now, as revealed by the ABC on Sunday, the subject of a review by the department with the roadworks allegedly undertaken without appropriate permits.

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The pothole issue was also addressed by Mornington Peninsula Shire chief executive Mark Stoermer at the councils March meeting where he urged people not to take road repairs into their own hands. Council does not support members of the public undertaking repair works on live public roads, Stoermer said at the meeting. I am going to stress that that is a very dangerous thing to do. Marsh and Wilson with a bag of bitumen ready to fix a pothole. Instagram/@jesswilsonmp A spokesperson for Wilson told CBD the government should fix the roads rather than fixate on Wilson.

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If Jacinta Allan and her Labor dirt unit spent as much time filling potholes as she did attacking Jess Wilson, Victorians wouldnt be faced with spending hundreds of dollars on busted tyres due to the condition of our roads, the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said: Any works undertaken on our roads and road sides need to be done safely. Early voting for the seat of Nepean, which became vacant after former deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth quit politics in February, opens on Wednesday. Catalano parts ways with his crisis publicist Antony Catalano, the erstwhile Domain chief executive turned regional media entrepreneur, was for years known among journalists for his willingness to pick up the phone.

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But that changed last month when, after he was charged with allegedly assaulting his wife, Catalano was uncharacteristically unavailable to comment. The always-reachable Catalano had instead brought in the Melbourne crisis publicist, Lahra Carey, to take calls from journalists. Antony Catalano has parted ways with his crisis publicist. Jason South The arrangement, however, was not to last. Now it would appear that Catalano has nobody in his corner to pick up his calls, after he and Carey parted ways late last month. Catalano didnt respond to a request for comment in time for publication. Carey, who had also been taking calls from media for Catalanos wife, Stefanie, has told journalists that she is no longer engaged by anybody in the family, and that since Catalano stepped back from his various executive roles, her counsel was no longer required. 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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Reviews & adviceTravel tips Opinion No plan, no bookings: How my spontaneous travel backfired spectacularly Craig Tansley Travel writer April 20, 2026  5:00am

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A good traveller has no fixed plans Lao Tzu, 6th century BC, philosopher, founder of Taoism. Ive taken your advice, Mr Tzu, and look where its got me; trapped in the back seat of an airless, three-door rental Citroen at 3am in the south of France. I believe travellers belong in three categories: over-planners, under-planners and everyone in between. Illustration: Jamie Brown Im the one who turns up at the airport four hours early, just in case (who knows what can happen). Im the one who gets to the gate an hour early, just in case (who knows what can happen). So unfortunately, considering I fancy myself as the reckless type, this makes me an over-planner.

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But for a wild month some time ago, I became an under-planner. I flew to Vietnam with a friend who insisted we wing our way around the country. No booked hotels, no booked flights, no booked anything. Wed go where fortune favoured us; choosing destinations last-minute after conversations with fellow travellers we met at bars and restaurants. And it worked  spectacularly. On a post-trip high, I figure Ill do the same in France a few weeks later. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. There are no rooms in Biarritz. iStock We book to fly to Biarritz on the border with Spain. This is all we plan or book. Under-planning is to be our mantra. Its late August when we land (beyond the peak of mid-summer crowds, we figure). But Biarritz is crammed like Disneyland at Christmas. One hundred million international travellers visit France annually  yep, 100 million. And most of them, at least on that first day, seem to be in Biarritz. No matter. Well leave Biarritz behind, the crowds will disperse the further we travel from it, right? But well need wheels to do this. Every major car rental company operates in Biarritz. We try them all, and all the minor ones too. Eventually, we secure a 12-year-old Citroen C1 from a questionable back-street operation: a three-door hatchback in a fruity tint of purple. Our first refuge was to be the under-the-radar surf town of Hossegor, 45 minutes up the coast. At its visitor centre I inquire about accommodation. Please do not stay in Hossegor, a nice woman with a friendly smile says. Hossegor is full. There are no beds for you in Hossegor.

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So further up the coast we drive: three men, two surfboards and three bags in a car made for your grandma (provided your grandpa has his own ride). The towns of Mimizan and Arcachon are full. So we buy cheap tents, and sleeping bags in Ile de Re. But the campgrounds there  and all around  have no vacancies. By Vendee, we decide on le camping sauvage, as the French call it. Camping on public land is legal. Not if its on or near the coast, a friend discovers on Google. Further inland we go. To marshlands famous for birds. In the dusk now, we hear every one of them. And then it rains. Not drizzle either: this is cats-and-dogs rain. The type of downpour which makes you wonder how, or if, these marshes drain. Related Article Opinion

Friendship Its time to rebrand the boys trip: Why we should travel with mates more Paul Marshall Travel writer We leave our tents in the squelch, and pack ourselves like human sardines into our purple Citroen. I win the back seat in a high-stakes game of paper-scissors-rock, but its not nearly long enough to stretch out. I wake, with a crick in my neck and an overwhelming desire to plan the rest of my life, not just the rest of this holiday. When I can get mobile reception, I book a week of sensible, comfortable hotels in far less fashionable parts of northern Spain, away from the coast. I book restaurants. I book us a scenic boat ride. And an e-bike tour. I even order ahead for a coffee down the road, just in case (who knows what can happen?).
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Updated WorldNorth AmericaMass shooting Eight children aged 1 to 12 killed in worst US mass shooting in two years Michael Koziol Updated April 20, 2026  7:46am ,first published 5:26am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: A 31-year-old army veteran killed eight children, seven of whom were his own, in the worst US mass shooting in more than two years. The horrific crime spree took place across three separate homes in Shreveport, a city in Louisianas north-west near the Texas border. The perpetrator then stole a car and was killed following a police pursuit. Police tape surrounds house in Shreveport, Louisiana, that is one of the locations tied to a mass shooting that left eight children dead. AP A vehicle is parked outside one of the locations of the shooting. AP Shreveport police corporal Chris Bordelon identified the killer as Shamar Elkins and described the incident as domestic in nature. Two women, including the childrens mother, were also shot and seriously injured.

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Earlier, at a news conference outside one of the crime scenes, people audibly gasped and wailed as Bordelon revealed 10 people were shot in total, and that the eight dead were aged between 1 and 14. Police later clarified the eldest was 12. All of the deceased in this case are juveniles, Bordelon said. We do know that some of the children inside were his descendants. Loading Later, Bordelon told television network KSLA that seven of the eight murdered children were believed to belong to Elkins and the mother who was shot.

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One of the women shot in the attack fled to a neighbouring house and called police. A 13-year-old boy  not believed to be Elkins child  also fled the property by jumping off the roof, sustaining some broken bones, Bordelon told KSLA. A door that appears to be stained with blood at one of the scenes. AP People leave flowers at one of the scenes. AP He said police were still working to piece together details of the heinous incident, including the connections between the two women and their children. The crime spree unfolded early on Sunday morning (US time), with police called to one of the residences at 6am. It was established that the crime spree encompassed two residences on that street, and another residence nearby.

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Bordelon said gunshots were fired at all three locations, and there was no doubt the scenes were connected. After leaving the third home, Elkins carjacked a vehicle and was pursued by police into a neighbouring parish. Officers fired their weapons and the suspect was killed, though the exact circumstances of his death were still unclear. Bordelon said he had never seen a crime like it in his police career. The Associated Press reported it was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in Chicago in early 2024, according to a database it maintains in partnership with USA Today and Northeastern University.

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Mayor Tom Arceneaux said it was a tragic situation  maybe the worst tragic situation we have ever had in Shreveport. It is a terrible morning  we all mourn with the victims, he said. West 79th Street in Shreveport was the location of two residences tied to the mass shooting, police said. AP Liza Demming, who lives two doors down from one of the shooting scenes, said her security camera captured video of the gunman running away toward a tire shop. She said she could hear two shots on the audio. Thats pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house, she said.

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Demming said she later saw one of the child victims, who had already been covered, laying on the roof of the house. But she said she never heard anything like a fight or argument. It was nothing loud, no altercations. It was quiet. Nothing. It was the worst mass shooting in the US since January 2024, according to the Associated Press. AP With about 180,000 people, the city on the Red River is the third largest in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Councillor Grayson Boucher called the heinous act nothing but pure evil. We as a community  black, white, Republican, Democrat  need to stand together and fight for what is right, he said.

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House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents the Louisiana district where the shootings occurred, called it a senseless tragedy and called on followers to pray for the families and first responders. Local officials are saying it is one of the worst tragedies they have ever seen. God be with the community through this terrible time, he said. With AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldNorth AmericaDonald Trump Opinion Watching Pope Leo school Trump is a blessed sight Maureen Dowd New York Times columnist April 19, 2026  11:00am

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I might have to go back to church. My mother always told me that the Catholic Church was greater than the men running it. But I grew so disillusioned with the men running it while I was covering the sex abuse scandals that I could no longer stomach going to Mass. The church that had helped form my sense of right and wrong as a child suddenly seemed blind about right and wrong. But Pope Leo XIV, or Pope Bob, as the first American pope is sometimes affectionately called, may win me over. President Donald Trump has been rampaging around the globe like Grendel at dinner time, a rapacious, feral creature. Who could stand up to him? The soft-spoken, humble Leo, who strives to unify, squared off against the bombastic, solipsistic Trump, who strives to divide. And watching the saintly pope school the amoral president is a blessed sight. US President Donald Trump has criticised the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo. AP, Getty Images Im sure His Holiness watched askance as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth cast the conflict with Iran as a holy war, trying to put God on the American side as our troops are asked to rain death and destruction from above on apocalyptic Iranian foes.

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In March, Hegseth called for overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy, asking God to break the teeth of the ungodly. This past week, he recited a passage that was an adaptation of a Quentin Tarantino Pulp Fiction adaptation of a biblical passage: And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother. He also denounced the press as the Pharisees, plotting to harm the Trump administration the same way the Pharisees plotted to harm Jesus. George W. Bush had to walk back his use of the word crusade in reference to the war on terror, given the offensive echo of the papacys crusaders wiping out Muslims in the holy land. But Hegseth is no historian. His book is called American Crusade. He carries a Crusader Bible, known for violent pictures of early Christian wars. He is tattooed with a Crusader cross and the words Deus vult  Latin for God wills it.

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Hegseth could learn a lesson from George H.W. Bush. As a young pilot in World War II, Bush was shot down near a Japanese island. When he campaigned for president, Bush was asked what he was thinking as he floated in the Pacific, fearing he would be picked up by the enemy. He replied that he was thinking about fundamental values, such as the separation of church and state. Related Article Explainer

Trump's America If Trump really was deranged, could he be stripped of his powers? During Easter week, the pope seemed to chide Hegseth, saying that the Christian mission has often been distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, Trump blasted out one of his assorted threats to destroy Iranian civilisation, crudely appending the phrase Praise be to Allah. Leo called the existential extortion truly unacceptable, a transgression against moral law. Trump escalated. He posted a meme of himself as a Jesus-like figure healing a sick man and he attacked the Holy Father on social media with sinful aspersions, saying the pope is WEAK on crime and I dont want a Pope who thinks its OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.

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Leo, whos Chicago-tough, hasnt backed down. On the social platform X, he said: God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Related Article Opinion

Trump diplomacy Trumps taken aim at the Pope. Its another holy war he cant win Julia Baird Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author He reminded the authoritarian, Strangelovian president that he should be promoting peace through dialogue and multilateralism. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed, Leo told reporters, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way. JD Vance, a fairly recent convert to Catholicism, dutifully jumped into the fray to try to brush back the pope and butter up Trump, lecturing Leo to be careful when he talks about matters of theology and yapping about the tradition of just war theory.

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When youre down in the weeds about whether its a just war or not, the answer is: probably not. In a puerile fit of apparent retribution on Thursday, Trump cancelled an $US11 million federal contract with Catholic Charities in Miami to house and feed migrant children coming to America alone. (Even my Trump-indulging sister found that disgusting.) Its hard for the president to give the pope the respect that he deserves because Trump clearly thinks that hes the Messiah. Right before Leo was elected, Trump put out a meme of himself as the pope. He struts and peacocks, playacting as everything  a king, a pope, Jesus. But the president should read the Grimms fairy tale about the poor man in a hovel who caught a magic fish. His wife pestered the man to ask for a bigger house, then a mansion, then to be king, then emperor, then pope. The fish granted all these wishes. But when the wife coveted even more and told the man to wish her to be equal to God, the fish cast them back into their hovel.

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It is dangerous to play God  unless youre God. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
United Airlines (UAL) stock closed significantly in the green on April 17 after Irans foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to commercial vessel traffic for the duration of the Lebanon ceasefire.

The announcement triggered an immediate collapse in crude oil (CBM26) prices into the 80s.

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This helped the airline stock push past its major moving averages (50-day and 200-day), indicating a bullish reversal. Still, United Airlines shares remain down over 13% versus their year-to-date high.

www.barchart.com

Why Lower Oil Prices Are Bullish for United Airlines Stock

For United Airlines, which operates one of the largest domestic and international networks with heavy long-haul flying and significant daily aircraft utilization, fuel represents one of the single largest operating expenses.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent crash in oil prices, therefore, represent a major tailwind for its bottom line.

In the near term, the firms earnings on April 21 may also prove a catalyst for UAL stock. Consensus is for the airline to earn $1.08 per share, up nearly 19% on a year-over-year basis.

Unlike its peers, Delta (DAL) and Southwest (LUV), however, United does not currently pay a dividend yield.

UAL Shares Are Relatively Inexpensive to Own

Despite todays rally, United Airlines stock is going for nearly 12x forward earnings, which makes it relatively cheaper to own than its industry peers (DAL and LUV).

Additionally, UALs aggressive capacity expansion and premium cabin focus drive higher margins. The United Next plan modernizes the fleet, increasing seats per departure and fuel efficiency.

The companys leading international gateway structure also captures high-yield corporate travel demand more effectively than its domestic-centric competitors.

Speculation around a potential merger with American Airlines, reportedly discussed with senior government officials, adds another dimension to the investment case.

How Wall Street Recommends Playing United Airlines

Investors could also take heart in the fact that Wall Street remains bullish as ever on United Airlines for the remainder of 2026.
How a major RCMP national security prosecution, launched amid a public outcry over Chinas interference in Canada, was hobbled even before the trial opens.

By Fabian Dawson

Mata Press Service

A major national security prosecution tied to allegations of Chinas interference in Canada is set to open in Vancouver this week, with the RCMPs case already badly weakened by pre-trial rulings that have cut into the core of the investigation.

With the pre-trial rulings now reportable, the case against former RCMP inspector William Majcher opens with a judge having already found his arrest unlawful and a warrant to search the home of an alleged unindicted co-conspirator invalid.

The judge has also prevented the crown from using similar fact evidence to advance their prosecution of Majcher while finding that key parts of the police theory were based on speculation, source material and media reports that were not properly verified.

The allegations are rooted in Chinas so-called Fox Hunt campaign, a global effort by Beijing to locate and return individuals accused of economic crimes. Canadian authorities have said those operations can involve pressure tactics that fall outside normal legal channels.

Majcher is charged with one count under the Security of Information Act. The Crown alleges that in May and June 2017, he acted at the direction of, for the benefit of, or in association with authorities in the Peoples Republic of China in an effort to induce Vancouver-area businessman Hongwei Kevin Sun to repatriate himself and his assets to China.

Sun, however, has publicly said he was never approached or pressured by Majcher and had no connection to him in that context.

Majcher, a decorated undercover officer specializing in money laundering and financial crimes, served 23 years in the RCMP and retired as an Inspector, before moving to Hong Kong.

His contention is that the entire case against him is "nothing more than suspicion, speculation, hypotheses and guesswork" by the RCMP.

The RCMP investigation also swept up Kenneth Kim Marsh, a retired Mountie who was publicly identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the matter, never charged, had his Vancouver home searched in June 2023, and has now been subpoenaed to testify. The case has already transformed him from investigator to target to witness.

Marsh is a veteran Mountie who retired after a 25-year career, having served as a commander of an undercover unit and recognized for his work in private investigations, anti-money laundering compliance, and for speaking out regarding foreign interference in Canada.

Charges against Majcher were first laid in Longueuil, Quebec in July 2023, as part of an RCMP national security investigation dubbed Project Severo, before the case later moved to British Columbia, where the alleged conduct and key investigative steps were centred.

Quebec Case Stalls

The first major setback for the Crown came in Quebec, where the prosecution was initially launched.

In June 2024, Quebec Superior Court Justice Francois Dadour found there was a serious issue as to whether Quebec was the proper jurisdiction to lay the charges, noting that Majcher was neither present in nor connected to the Longueuil district and that no clear territorial nexus had been established. The court did not decide the issue on the merits of the case but ordered a stay of proceedings, effectively halting the prosecution in Quebec in August 2024.

The original information in the charges against Majcher included multiple counts, including a broad conspiracy allegation spanning several years and jurisdictions that named Marsh as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The Crown subsequently abandoned that proceeding and refiled a single, narrower count in British Columbia, focused on a five-week period in May and June 2017. The allegations naming Marsh were no longer pursued.

The case reshaped

The next major judicial setback came months later in British Columbia.

In October 2025, Justice Martha Devlin rejected the Crowns attempt to introduce similar fact evidence, including a large body of emails tied to Majchers alleged work involving Chinese authorities in Canada and abroad and activity linked to a U.S.-based target.

This ruling prevented the Crown from relying on a broader narrative of international conduct, including material drawn in part from unverified media sources, and confined the case to what could be directly proven on the allegations centred around Kevin Sun.

The ruling narrowed the RCMP case significantly. It prevented the Crown from relying on narrative-driven or pattern-based evidence, including material tied to alleged conduct outside Canada and sources drawn in part from international reporting, and confined the prosecution to what could be directly proven on the facts of the case.

Search and Arrest

On Dec. 31, 2025, Justice Devlin ruled that the warrant used to search the Vancouver home of Marsh could not properly have been issued. The judge found the information presented to obtain the warrant disclosed nothing more than mere speculation, suspicion and guesswork and was incapable of providing the evidentiary foundation required by law.

She ruled the search breached section 8 of the Charter, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure. The ruling may also have implications for other warrants used in the investigation, if they relied on the same underlying theory and evidentiary foundation.

The second major Charter ruling came on March 26, 2026.

In this ruling Justice Devlin found that Majchers arrest at Vancouver International Airport in July 2023 was carried out without reasonable and probable grounds. The arrest breached section 9 of the Charter, which protects against arbitrary detention.

The judge accepted that the lead investigator, Staff Sgt. Nicolas Ferland, believed there were grounds to arrest, but found that belief was not objectively reasonable.

The ruling also recorded that the RCMP file was described internally as a bit premature and still ongoing at the time the decision to arrest was made.

A Consistent Pattern

Read together, the pre-trial rulings undercut both ends of the same investigation, the search that gathered evidence and the arrest that pushed the case forward.

They also expose a deeper problem. The court record shows that key parts of Project Severos theory were built on media reporting, documentaries, open-source narratives and speculative associations that police either did not verify or could not properly connect to criminal conduct.

One of the clearest examples involves former RCMP officer Calvin Chrustie. According to court records, investigators recorded that Chrustie had contacted them and was later interviewed. He told police he had known Majcher since they were troop mates in training but had distanced himself from him. He described Majchers ties to Marshs private sector work after a visit to the latters office.

The RCMP then used Chrusties account to support the inference that Marsh may have been Majchers go to guy in Canada for locating someone or something.

Justice Devlin rejected that reasoning, finding that the inferences were based on bare assertions and speculation and did not advance the grounds necessary to issue the warrant.

The same pattern appears elsewhere in the case. One of the three main pillars of the arrest theory came from an Australian Broadcasting Corporations Four Corners program. Justice Devlin records that the lead investigator relied on that broadcast and that his understanding of the alleged connections was derived from it. The court noted that investigators failed to verify any of the information relied upon and did not obtain underlying records to support it.

The same pattern also appears in the Yan Shibiao strand of the case. That strand centres on a civil case in B.C. involving asset recovery. Investigators connected Marshs earlier work to the matter through media reporting, but the court record shows the inquiry effectively ended after limited steps, and that nothing available to investigators tied Majcher to any coercive conduct.

That matters because the Yan matter was framed by police as something more serious than what the evidence supported. The search warrant materials show RCMP using public-record investigation and a civil process to draw a criminal inference, which the court later rejected.

The Kevin Sun strand followed a similar path. Public reporting around Sun predates Project Severo by years, including a Vancouver Sun expose describing his business dealings.

In the police records, Sun is presented as a central figure in the alleged foreign interference scheme. But the court found there were too many gaps in the police narrative to support a reasonable inference that Majcher was involved, or that the cancellation of Suns Interpol Red Notice was connected to either him or Marsh.

The problem was not limited to what investigators relied on. It also extended to how the case was presented publicly, where media amplification at times moved ahead of verification.

One of the clearest examples came in 2024, when journalist Sam Cooper published a story on The Bureau claiming Majcher had been photographed in Macau shaking hands with alleged Chinese triad figures, including Tse Chi Lop. The story was later retracted after it emerged that the image was not casino security footage at all, but a still from the 2015 film From Vegas to Macau II. The man in the frame was not a gangster but actor Chow Yun-Fat.

That episode is not part of the court rulings themselves, but it underscores a broader reality around this case. The public narrative surrounding Majcher and Marsh has repeatedly been shaped by allegations, inferences and media material that either collapsed under scrutiny or were never independently verified in the first place. The courts have now raised similar concerns about the evidentiary foundation of the police case.

In the search-warrant ruling, Devlin found the police theory did not provide a basis to conclude that either Majcher or Marsh had committed an offence. In the arrest ruling, she found the same core theory did not rise to the level required to justify arrest.

Trial Set to Open

That is what makes the opening of this trial so unusual.

The Crown still has an indictment and still intends to proceed. But this is no longer a case opening on the strength of a national-security theory alone. It opens with a judge having already found that the warrant used to search Marshs home was invalid, that Majchers arrest was unlawful, and that major parts of the evidentiary narrative were built on material the police did not properly verify.

The result is a multi-million-dollar foreign interference investigation and prosecution that arrives in court with its foundation already shaken, said retired Vancouver police officer Paul McNamara, who has been following the case.

He pointed out that Majchers arrest came during a period of intense political pressure on the Trudeau government to respond to allegations of Chinese interference in Canada.

My concern is that the RCMP got caught up in the anti-China climate of the time, failed to investigate with the rigour this case required, and the prosecution allowed that theory to keep moving forward. That should concern every Canadian, said McNamara

Fabian Dawson is a veteran Vancouver-based journalist who has been following this case for the last four years. During his tenure as the deputy editor of the Vancouver Sun and The Province, he has worked with both William Majcher and Kenneth Marsh, on several media investigations.
Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) is one of the Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest In According to Reddit.

On April 13, Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) announced the acquisition of BMarko Structures, which is a US-based company that builds custom steel and wood frames for heavy-duty structures. Management noted that this deal targets the booming AI data center market. The company further elaborated that hyperscalers such as Nvidia require massive, custom data center infrastructure, including racks, frames, and enclosures that handle extreme power and heat. Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT), with this acquisition, adds a manufacturing arm with in-house expertise for these specialized structural parts. As a result, the company will now be able to ensure faster deliveries, offer improved customization, and also scale its manufacturing further.

Following the release on April 14, Exane BNP Paribas initiated a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $345. On the same day, Oppenheimer also assigned a Buy rating to Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) and raised the price target from $270 to $320.

Vertiv Holdings (NYSE:VRT) is an American multinational provider of infrastructure solutions. Its solutions are used in data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities. Its portfolio includes power, cooling, and IT infrastructure and services. Vertiv Holdings operates under various brands and has footprints in more than 130 countries.

While we acknowledge the potential of VRT 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: 7 Hot Growth Stocks to Invest in Right Now and 7 Ridiculously Cheap Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts.

Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds investor letters by entering your email address below.
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over US blockade accuses US of violating deal to reopen it





By Sam Metz and Samy Magdy :

CAIRO

THE stand-off over the Strait of Hormuz quickly escalated again on Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the United States pressed ahead with its blockade choking off Iranian ports. Confusion over the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil passes, threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict. The ceasefire between them is due to run out by mid-next week, and Pakistani mediators were working to put together a new round of direct negotiations to keep the truce going. Irans joint military command said Saturday that control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state ... Under strict management and control of the armed forces. It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect. Revolutionary Guard gunboats on Saturday opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait and an unknown projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some of the containers, the British militarys UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said without identifying the vessels.

TankerTrackers.Com reported that two Indian-flagged vessels were forced to turn around after being fired on by Iran, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi oil. The renewed escalation resulted from attempts by both sides to maintain leverage amid negotiations over an ultimate deal to end the war and address Irans nuclear programme. US says 23 ships turned back since Iran blockade started The US military said that it has forced 23 ships to turn around near the Strait of Hormuz since it imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports. In a post on X, the Central Command said US forces are still enforcing the blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas. For the United States, the blockade is a key tool to keep up pressure on Iran, short of resuming bombardment. By cutting off much of Irans exports and imports, it could strangle an already crippled economy. For Iran, closure of the strait - imposed after the US and Israel launched their surprise war on the country on February 28 - has proven to be perhaps its most powerful weapon in the confrontation, causing oil prices to spike, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Trump. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued defiant remarks on Saturday, saying Irans Navy stands ready to inflict bitter defeats on its enemies.

In a message celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of Irans Army, he hailed Irans drone strikes that targeted Israel and the US interests across the region during the past seven weeks of war. Khamenei has bot been seen in public since he was elevated to supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in Israels opening barrage of the war on Feb. 28. French President Emmanuel Macron said a French soldier was killed and three others injured on Saturday morning during an attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, Macron wrote on social media. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Oppn crushed womens dreams by blocking bill: PM Modi





NEW DELHI :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Opposition parties had mercilessly crushed the dreams of women by not allowing the womens reservation bill to pass in Parliament despite the Governments best efforts. In an address to the nation, a day after a bill to implement womens reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha, Modi said the self-serving politics of parties like the Congress, the DMK, the TMC, and the Samajwadi Party has come at the expense of the nations women, and that they had foiled efforts to grant 33 per cent reservation to women in legislatures. I seek forgiveness from all women of the country, he said. The Prime Minister said Opposition parties that opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament were taking womens power for granted. Today, every citizen of India is witnessing how the march of Indias women has been halted.

The dreams of the countrys women have been mercilessly crushed, and despite our utmost efforts, we could not succeed, he said. Modi said women had seen how parties like the Congress, the TMC and the DMK celebrated their selfish politics against womens empowerment. The Opposition has committed a sin by opposing womens reservation, and they will surely be punished for this. Opposition parties have insulted our Constitution by defeating the bill, he said. The Prime Minister said the bill was aimed at giving wings to womens empowerment without taking anything away from anyone. I expected the Congress to correct its past mistakes, but it missed an opportunity to script new history. The family-run parties do not want women to move forward as that could end their selfish politics, he said. He also accused the Congress of pursuing divisive politics, alleging it spread falsehoods about a North-South divide A woman forgets everything, but not her insult; this insult by the Congress and its allies will always remain in every womans heart, he said. Modi said the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was the need of the hour and an honest effort to ensure balanced empowerment across north, south, east and west.

Congress has always opposed all attempts for nation-building, betterment of our country, he said. Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress said he delivered a distress address rather than a national address, and challenged him to bring a bill in Parliament to implement womens reservation within the existing set up of the Lok Sabha. Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said a sitting PMs address to the nation has a sanctity to it and is meant to be a non-partisan address intended to build national resolve and confidence. Reacting to the PMs broadcast, Ramesh told reporters that it was a Congress-abuse address.
Paratwada case: Nagpur girl, among 8 identified victims, steps forward to record statement





Amravati Bureau

Amravati,

The investigation in the sensational case of Paratwada, involving circulation of obscene videos and photographs of young grils, moved forwad with one of the eight identified victims coming forward to record her statement. The victim recorded hr statement before a women police inspector from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the District Womens Committee, informed Superintendent of Police Vishal Anand, while brifeing mediapersons. The SP said that further legal action such as registering additional offences or invoking more stringent sections will be decided after the victims complete statement is documented. Meanwhile, Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule indicated that the victim is 15-year-old and hails from Nagpur, however, Vishal Anand declined to confirm or comment on this citing sensitiveness of the investigation.

A 15-year-old girl from Nagpur has appeared before the police and her statement is being recorded, Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters after reviewing the case with Rural SP Vishal Anand, City CP Rakesh Ola, and Achalpur MLA Pravin Tayde. According to police, the main accused, Ayan Ahmad, along with his associate Ujer, informed investigators that the explicit videos and photos were leaked by Ujer following a dispute between them over a financial matter . SP Anand clarified that so far, the investigation has not found evidence of any organised gang, however, it cannot be ruled out. He described the accused as active on social media, noting that Ayan Ahmad frequently created online content. He runs a second-hand mobile phone business as well.Police have seized five mobile phones, a laptop and a tablet which have been sent for forensic examination. Reports from three mobile devices have already been received, though officials did not disclosed details about the recovered data.Addressing reports of a possible social boycott against the accused and his family, SP Anand urged people to refrain from taking hasty or illegal actions. He emphasised that police were committed to ensuring a fair and lawful investigation.Police sources indicated that Ayan Ahmad and Ujer were close associates who allegedly shared information about girls.
Indeed's new offices at 695 E. Main St.-200 Elm St., in Stamford, Conn., include this reception area, and in the background, a barista bar. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Indeed's slogan is displayed on one of the walls in its new offices at 200 Elm St.-695 E. Main St., in Stamford, Conn. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Jack Mahoney, Indeed's head of revenue and growth finance, smiles during a tour of Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut M International maritime signal flags spell out, 'We help people get jobs,' the slogan of Indeed, in the company's new offices in Stamford, Conn. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Indeed employees work on the sales floor of the company's new offices in Stamford, Conn., on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media One of the gongs on the sales floor of Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., is displayed on March 18, 2026. A gong is rung when a sale is closed. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut M Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., include this executive conference space. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Indeed's slogan is displayed on the sales floor of its new offices in Stamford, Conn. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A view of one of the work spaces in Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Indeed's logo is displayed on a wall of its new offices in Stamford, Conn., on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media This outdoor putting green is one of the amenities at Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media The amenities of Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., include this games room. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media The amenities of Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., include this video-games room, with PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., include this meeting room. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., include this meeting room. Photographed on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A view of Indeed's new offices in Stamford, Conn., on March 18, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  In the offices of the new tenant of one of Stamfords most-prominent office buildings, the following declaration is spelled out on several walls: We help people get jobs.

This is the slogan of Indeed, which is one of the worlds largest providers of career services. It is also a message of continuity for a fast-evolving company.

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Not long ago, Indeed's future in Stamford was clouded by two large rounds of layoffs made in a two-year span. But Indeed officials said that the opening at the beginning of this year of the companys new offices in The Link complex, at 200 Elm St., and 695 E. Main St., in downtown Stamford, attests to the firm's enduring confidence in the city that has hosted one of its headquarters for more than 20 years.

We think its a much better space  not just for the employees, but for Indeed overall, Jack Mahoney, Indeeds head of revenue and growth finance, said in a recent interview at the new offices. We have a lot of commitment to stay in the area.

Indeed has signed a 10-year lease for about 124,000 square feet across parts of 695 E. Main St., and 200 Elm St. It has fully renovated those sections that have become its offices.

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The new offices host a Stamford-based workforce that last year totaled about 745 people, seventh-highest among employers in the city, according to the City of Stamfords most-recent annual report. The vast majority of them are on the companys sales and client success teams, while others work in areas such as software engineering, finance, human resources, legal and marketing.

Like the old Stamford offices, the new base hums with activity throughout the day. On the fifth level of 200 Elm, the main floor of the sales group, team members bang gongs when they close sales.

I think thats the best part about Indeed  the camaraderie and excitement that you get being on a sales floor, Mahoney said.

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Within the offices, there is an array of individual and group work areas, including an expansive executive conference space to meet with current and prospective clients. The offices also feature numerous amenities, which include a barista bar; a cafeteria; an outdoor putting green; and game rooms with foosball, pool and ping pong tables, as well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

Before the move to 695 E. Main-200 Elm, Indeeds Stamford offices had been housed for about 15 years in the 16-story building at 177 Broad St., which stands a few blocks from its new home. Stamfords Zoning Board approved a proposal to convert 177 Broad into an approximately 230-unit apartment complex.

Indeeds sign still hangs on the top of 177 Broad. Indeed officials expect the marker to be removed as part of the buildings redevelopment, while they are evaluating the companys options for putting up exterior signage at 695 E. Main-200 Elm.

Since its founding in 2004, Indeed has maintained a co-headquarters in Stamford, alongside its other headquarters, which is in Austin, Texas. The company moved into a new co-HQ in Austin in 2023.

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Indeeds role as a global online hiring platform is significant for Stamford and Connecticut, Leah Kagan, Stamfords director of economic development, said in a written statement. They play a tremendous role in providing guidance on the future of work, as they are able to capture insights from companies that are hiring and the in-demand skills required for talent. Indeeds continued presence as a globally recognized leader helps us recruit other companies that are also interested in Class A real estate, easy access to New York City and Boston via train, and a highly educated workforce.

Many changes in recent years

Indeed has a huge reach. Its services are used for hiring by more than 3.3 million employers, while it has accumulated about 645 million job-seeker profiles. Paid job ads, also known as sponsored jobs, comprise nearly 25% of the total number of U.S. job postings on Indeed.

But like many other large companies, Indeed has faced significant challenges in the past few years. The company announced in March 2023 that it would lay off about 2,200 employees, and it disclosed plans to lay off about 1,000 employees in May 2024. Those job cuts, respectively, reduced the companys head count by 15% and 8%. Today, the company has about 10,400 employees worldwide.

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With future job openings at or below pre-pandemic levels, our organization is simply too big for what lies ahead, Indeed's then-CEO, Chris Hyams, said in a message to employees in March 2023. We need clarity, focus and urgency to ensure that all of our energy is directed towards investing in our future. We have held out longer than many other companies, but the revenue trends are undeniable.

In a May 2024 message to employees, Hyams said, Unlike last year, where our reduction was driven by cost savings, we are taking this action because we need to simplify our organization to make it easier and faster for us to make decisions, and help us to more effectively grow revenue and hires.

Indeed officials have declined to comment on how many Stamford-based employees were impacted by the layoffs, but it is clear that the companys contingent in Stamford has decreased in recent years. The local head count last year of about 745 compared with approximately 1,100 in 2022.

Nearly a decade ago, Indeed officials had envisioned years of jobs growth in Stamford. In 2017, when the company had about 750 employees based in the city, it announced plans to create about 500 more local jobs in the coming years. To support that undertaking, the company qualified for a $7 million loan and up to $15 million in tax credits. The company has had about $2.95 million of the loan forgiven, or essentially written off, and it could earn forgiveness of another $4 million. It has earned $3 million of the tax credits. The funding is based on targets for creating and retaining jobs, as well as capital expenditures. Only improvements made at the companys previous Stamford offices were counted as capital spending.

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Despite the companys downsizing of the past few years and a cooling jobs market  in January, the number of U.S. job openings was down about 3% year over year, according to the most-recent finalized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics  Indeed officials said that they remain bullish about the companys prospects in Stamford.
Tankers and bulk carriers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, Saturday, April 18, 2026. AP Displaced people cross a destroyed bridge as they return to their villages, following a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, in Tayr Felsay village, southern Lebanon, Sunday, April 19, 2026. Bilal Hussein/AP Residents of northern Israel living near the Lebanese border protest the security situation, outside the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Sunday, April 19, 2026. Hebrew on a sign bearing an image of President Trump reads "Hezbollah thanks Trump." Mahmoud Illean/AP Excavators remove rubble from buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday as rescuers search for victims in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Bilal Hussein/AP President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

President Donald Trump said the U.S. forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first such interception since the blockade of Iranian ports began last week.

He said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom and that U.S. Marines had custody of the vessel, named Touska, and were seeing whats on board!

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Irans joint military command said Tehran will respond soon and called the U.S. seizure an act of piracy.

The news threw into question Trumps earlier announcement that U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran. That had raised hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday, but Iran has not confirmed it would attend.

The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed fighting that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 civilians and 15 soldiers in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.

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Here is the latest:

Iran says it hangs 2 convicts claimed by opposition group

Iran said Monday it hanged two men it accused of setting fire to buildings on behalf of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

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An Iranian exiled opposition group earlier claimed the men as members and alleged their charges stemmed from events that happened after they already had been detained.

The Mizan news agency of Irans judiciary identified the men hanged as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi.

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq opposition group identified Shahi as Nima Shahi.

The MEK said the men had been subjected to interrogation and torture and convicted over an incident that happened before their detention.

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This brings to eight the total number of MEK members executed since the start of the war.

Activists and rights groups say Iran routinely holds closed-door trials in which defendants are unable to challenge the accusations they face.

Hezbollah claims attack destroyed Israeli tanks

Hezbollah said it detonated explosives Sunday afternoon in an attack against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

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The group said in a statement Monday that bombs planted by Hezbollah fighters exploded and destroyed four tanks in a convoy of eight tanks that was passing the village of Deir Siryan.

It was the first claim of an attack by Hezbollah since a 10-day ceasefire went into effect at midnight Thursday.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

Tehran says restrictions on Iranian oil come with a price

Irans first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, says global fuel prices could stabilize only if economic and military pressures on Iranian oil exports end.

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One cannot restrict Irans oil exports while expecting free security for others, Aref wrote on X. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.

Irans foreign minister says US is showing bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy

Irans top diplomat has told his Pakistani counterpart that Washingtons demands in negotiations and its threats to Iranian ships and ports mark clear signs of Americas disingenuousness.

Abbas Aragchi made the remarks in a phone call to Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, according to Iranian state media.

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Its another indication of how the Washington-Tehran standoff is sharpening as the ceasefire is to expire on Wednesday. It could also shake up plans for a new U.S.-Iran round of talks in Islamabad this week.

Irans military vows swift response to US seizure of Iranian-flagged tanker

The Iranian military headquarters said the attack and subsequent boarding of the Iranian vessel by U.S. forces was a violation of the ceasefire and an act of maritime piracy, according to Irans state-run broadcaster.

The United States says it fired on the ship and seized it because it had crossed the blockade line after ignoring multiple warnings.

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Iranian state media suggest new talks wont take place

There has been no comment from Iranian officials on Trumps announcement of new talks in Pakistan this week.

But Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports on Sunday suggesting the talks would not happen. The reports came before the U.S. announcement of its seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM releases video of US firing on Iranian-flagged vessel Touska

U.S. Central Command released a message sent by a U.S. Mariner to the Iranian-flagged tanker in a video posted on X, saying it shows the moments before the U.S. seized Touska for crossing the U.S.-imposed blockade line in the Gulf of Oman.

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Motor vessel Touska, Motor vessel Touska. Vacate your engine room. Vacate your engine room. We are about to subject you to disabling fire, can be heard in the video. Later, three rounds are fired, leaving smoke in their wake.

CENTCOM said its fire targeted the vessels engine room before forces seized the ship. It said Touska was headed to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and ignored multiple U.S. warnings over six hours to evacuate the engine room. The USS Spruance then fired, after which Marines boarded and took hold of the ship.

American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance, it wrote on X.

Irans president calls US blockade actions provocative and illegal

The Iranian judiciarys Mizan news agency has reported on President Masoud Pezeshkians phone conversation with Pakistans prime minister earlier today. The report says Pezeshkian alleged bullying and unreasonable behavior by the United States during negotiations and the ceasefire.

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The report says Pezeshkian warned that the U.S. actions and threatening rhetoric have led to increased suspicion among Iranian officials about the seriousness of the United States and the possibility that it will repeat previous patterns and betray diplomacy.

The report did not say whether Irans president commented on a second round of talks in Pakistan, or on Trumps announcement that U.S. forces had seized an Iranian-flagged ship.

French shipping company says one of its ships was targeted

CMA CGM said Sunday that one of its vessels was the target of warning shots. Trump said Iran had fired on French and British ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

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The International Maritime Organization confirmed that a French-flagged vessel was involved. The IMO, which regulates international shipping, said there have been 24 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and across the Middle East since March 1. The latest, on April 18, involved the CMA CGM Everglade, a container ship sailing under French flag. The IMO said it was damaged north of Kumzar, Oman, though no pollution or injuries were reported.

Trump said Sunday on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Iran had fired bullets in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that many of them were aimed at a French ship and a freighter from the United Kingdom.

Trump said the US forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship Sunday that tried to get around its naval blockade

Trump, in a post on social media, said the ship was warned by a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman to stop but it did not.

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Our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room, Trump wrote.

He said U.S. Marines had custody of the cargo ship, named Touska, and were seeing whats on board!

The seizure escalates a back-and-forth with Iran over traffic in the strait and comes as the U.S. was preparing for a second round of in-person talks with Iran as a fragile ceasefire runs out in days.

US energy secretary describes extending waiver on Russian oil sanctions as pragmatic

The decision announced Friday at the Treasury Department came days after Secretary Scott Bessent had ruled out such a move, and Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called it shameful.

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Putin has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of President Trumps war against Iran, as Russia saw oil revenues nearly double in March, the Democrats statement said. Enough is enough.

But Chris Wright said the Trump administrations reasoning was to ensure that India and other Asian countries receive oil that would have otherwise gone to China. He noted that India exports gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to Europe, where people are also concerned about fuel prices.

These are short term, pragmatic decisions to allow oil that was already flowing to flow a different direction, and theyre temporary, Wright said on Fox News Sunday.

Pakistan and Iran arent confirming Round 2 of US-Iran talks

Six hours have passed since U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for more talks with Iran, but neither Iran nor host Pakistan have confirmed it.

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Pakistan has kept up the diplomacy today, with its prime minister holding a 45-minute call with Irans president and Pakistans foreign minister speaking with his Iranian counterpart.

But while authorities have begun tightening security in Islamabad, the only player that has openly committed to another round of talks is the Trump administration.

British military says situation in Hormuz critical

The British military has declared the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to be critical, its highest risk level.

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The militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, UKMTO, cited a high level of activity by naval forces in the region.

It said there is a risk of attack or miscalculation in the waterway.

The Iranian navy reimposed tight restrictions on transit through the strait as the U.S. military implements a blockade on Iranian ports and waters. The UKMTO also cited multiple attacks on Saturday by Iranian forces on vessels passing through the strait.

Israel reveals new forward defense line in southern Lebanon after ceasefire

The Israeli military says it has established the line and released a map showing troops operating south of it.

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The deployment has been described elsewhere as a Yellow Line. It says five divisions are working to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. The line was not mentioned in ceasefire terms published by the United States.

The map shows dozens of villages inside the zone, stretching several kilometers into Lebanon, whose residents would likely be prevented from returning.

There was no immediate comment from Lebanese officials, but the move is likely to raise concerns in Lebanon about the scope and duration of Israels presence.

Pope Leo XIV sees a sign of hope for peace in the Middle East

Celebrating Mass before an estimated 100,000 people outside the capital of Angola on Sunday, Leo praised the cease-fire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah as a sign of hope that he prayed would bring peace permanently to the Middle East.

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Leo mentioned the conflict as he called on Angolans to denounce the exploitation of their mineral-rich land and people, who still bear the scars of a brutal, post-independence civil war. We wish to build a country where old divisions are overcome once and for all, where hatred and violence disappear, and where the scourge of corruption is healed by a new culture of justice and sharing, Leo said.

The American pope is on an African odyssey that will take him to an epicenter of the African slave trade with a history emblematic of the Catholic Churchs role in forcing human bondage, and what some scholars say is the Holy Sees continued refusal to fully acknowledge it and atone for it.

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Israeli fire kills 1 Palestinian in central Gaza, health official says

The strike on a group of people in central Gaza also wounded three others, according to a health official at Awda hospital, where the casualties arrived.

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The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

Palestinians in Gaza have reported that Israeli strikes have intensified over the past few days across the enclave. Since a fragile ceasefire deal was reached in October, deadly Israeli strikes have been a near-daily threat in Gaza, and more than 775 Palestinians have been killed since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

UK police investigating if Iranian proxies are responsible for arson attacks on Jewish sites

The Metropolitan Police force says counterterror officers are probing fires at synagogues and other Jewish targets, as well as an attack on a Persian-language media organization critical of Irans government. No one has been injured in the blazes, the latest of which caused minor damage to a north London synagogue on Saturday night.

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Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said Sunday that the attacks had been claimed online by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.

Israels government has described the group, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as recently founded with suspected links to an Iranian proxy that has also claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

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Whats happening with ships in the Persian Gulf

Vessels trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz have reversed course, according to the MarineTraffic shipping tracker.

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The Iranian navy has reimposed tight restrictions on transit through the strait while the U.S. blockades Irans ports and waters. The standoff has left hundreds of vessels waiting in both directions for clearance through the waterway where a fifth of the worlds oil supplies normally passes.

Kpler, a maritime data firm, said 19 vessels had passed through the strait on Friday after Iran and the U.S. announced the reopening of the strait late last week as part of understanding between the two governments.

But on Saturday, U.S. Central Command said it had sent 23 ships back to Iran since its blockade began, and at least three vessels were attacked by Iran Saturday while attempting to cross the strait, bringing shipping to a standstill again and further straining the global energy market.

US energy secretary says talks with Iranians over Strait of Hormuz are going well

Chris Wright said the United States is not too far away from a deal.

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There are negotiations with the Iranians going on, despite what you hear in the chatter in public, I think those are actually going well, Wright said on Fox News Sunday.

Wright said Trump is a creative negotiator who uses pressure in different ways, uses uncertainty in different ways.

I think well have a nice end of this conflict, Wright predicted, adding that restarting shipping will take time but probably not too much time once the strait is reopened.

Waltz calls potential strikes on power plants and bridges an escalatory ladder

Trump is renewing his threat to knock out every Iranian power plant and bridge if Tehran doesnt agree to U.S. terms for ending the war.

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Some experts in military law have said targeting civilian infrastructure can be a war crime, an issue that could turn on whether the power plants are legitimate military targets, whether the attacks are proportional compared with what Iran has done and whether civilian casualties are minimized.

When the war crimes question was posed to Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz said that would be an escalatory ladder.

Iran and its proxies have a long history of actually deliberately hiding military infrastructure in hospitals, schools, neighborhoods and  and other civilian assets.  They have no ground to stand on, Waltz told ABCs This Week.

Its perfectly acceptable in the rules of land warfare, Waltz added, noting that Iran has used drones and missiles to strike hotels, resorts and homes across the Gulf.

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So this is just a ridiculous argument, he said.

Iranian official says US blockade amounts to war crime

Irans foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Sunday that the U.S. blockade of Irans ports and coastline is an act of aggression that violates the shaky Pakistani-mediated ceasefire between the two countries.

By deliberately inflicting collective punishment on the Iranian population, it amounts to war crime and crimes against humanity, Baghaei said on social media.

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Baghaeis comments came after Irans renewed threats on shipping, in response to the U.S. blockade, fully reclosed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Bahrain to review citizenship for those deemed threat to its security

Bahrains king has ordered a review of citizenship of those deemed a threat to the island kingdom.

The decision has come amid an intensified crackdown on dissent during the war in the Middle East.

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According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ordered the government to immediately take measures against those who have betrayed the nation or undermined its security and stability, including stripping Bahraini citizenship from those who dont deserve it.

The situation is still delicate, the king was quoted as saying.

Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, has been one of the hardest hit by Iranian missile and drone attacks during the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Authorities in the small Shiite-majority island, which is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, have detained many people over the course of the war.

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Spains leader wants the EU to end agreement with Israel

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants the 27-nation European Union to tear up its long-standing Association Agreement with Israel.

The agreement, in force since 2000, sets out the legal and institutional framework within which the bloc and Israel conduct trade and cooperation.

We have nothing against the people of Israel; quite the contrary, Sanchez said in a post on X on Sunday. But a Government that violates international law and, therefore, the principles and values of the EU cannot be our partner.

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Spain will present a formal proposal at an EU foreign ministers meeting on Tuesday to end the agreement with Israel, he said.

Sanchez has been a vocal critic of the decision by the U.S. and Israel to attack Iran, drawing sharp public criticism from Trump.

Residents of hard-hit Israeli border town protest ceasefire outside US Embassy

About 150 residents from Kiryat Shmona, located near Israels northern border with Lebanon, traveled to Jerusalem on Sunday to demonstrate against the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

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The 10-day ceasefire announced by Trump began Friday. It is meant to shore up a broader ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

Residents of northern Israel, whose communities were subject to round-the-clock barrages of Hezbollah rockets, have reacted angrily to the truce. They say Hezbollah remains a threat and has not been disarmed.

Its time to remove this threat from over the heads of the northern residents, said Kiryat Shmonas mayor, Avichai Stern.

One of the protesters, Einat Dardari, said shes very disappointed that the Israeli military was forced to halt its offensive against Hezbollah. We want security, I want security at home, I want security for my children, she said.

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Iran rebuilds its stockpile of missiles and drones, commander says

A senior Iranian military official said Sunday that Iran has begun rebuilding its stockpile of weapons and munitions as the two-week ceasefire nears to expire, state media reported.

Brig. Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, said they have repaired missiles and drone launchers during the ceasefire which started on April 8, according to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

Our speed in updating and refilling missile and drone launch platforms is even greater than before the war, he said.

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The broadcaster aired a two-minute video paired with uplifting music, showing missiles and drones in warehouses as well as mobile launches of missiles.

The United States and Israel say they have degraded Irans military capabilities over the course of the nearly six-week war.

Turkish foreign minister says Israels fundamentalist government is a global problem

Hakan Fidan was asked whether Turkey could replace Iran as Israels main adversary, a question raised in both Turkish and Israeli media in recent weeks.

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This is a fundamentalist government. They are a problem for the whole world. This is not just a problem for Turkey, Fidan told a news conference at the close of a three-day diplomacy forum in southern Turkey.

Turkish officials have described Israels military operations in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Syria as an expansionist threat to global stability. Fidan said stopping this threat is clearly on the international communitys agenda. He also described the defense agreements signed between Israel, Greece and Cyprus in December last year as a military alliance against the Muslim countries in the region.

Trump said US negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran

Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be traveling to Islamabad for the second round of in-person talks, according to the White House.

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Trump in his social media post Sunday accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement by firing bullets Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz, and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran if it does not take the deal the U.S. is offering.

If they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, Trump wrote.

Argentinas President Javier Milei is in Israel

The far-right South American leader landed on Sunday for a three-day visit, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting the Western Wall of Jerusalems Temple Mount.

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Milei is scheduled to sign new binational accords with Israel and receive a Presidential Medal from Israeli President Isaac Herzog celebrating his commitment to fighting anti-semitism, Herzogs office said. It is at least Mileis third visit to the Western Wall.

He has backed the United States and Israels decision to launch a war on Iran. Earlier this month Argentina expelled Irans ambassador from Buenos Aires.

Milei is among a small cohort of right-leaning leaders who have deepened ties with Netanyahus government even as Israel faces diplomatic isolation over wartime conduct, including in Gaza and Lebanon. Some of Argentinas South American neighbors have cut diplomatic ties or withdrawn their ambassadors,

Preparations pick up in Islamabad ahead of possible ceasefire talks

Pakistani authorities have begun tightening security in the capital, Islamabad, ahead of a possible second round of ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran.

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Authorities on Sunday deployed troops at roadside checkpoints, closed tourist sites and ordered major hotels to cancel bookings and keep facilities available.

Islamabads streets are largely deserted, as residents stayed home to avoid road closures seen earlier this month during the first round of talks.

While there were no formal announcements, Pakistani officials said arrangements are in place for talks in the coming days.

A regional official involved in the mediation efforts said mediators were finalizing the preparations. He said U.S. advance security teams are already on the ground. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the preparations.

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Pakistan has led mediation efforts to end the war. Its military chief visited Tehran last week, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with regional leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander just before ceasefire

The Israeli army says it carried out a series of strikes that killed more than 150 Hezbollah fighters.

Among those killed was Ali Rida Abbas, which it said was Hezbollahs commander in Bint Jbeil. The southern Lebanese town and its surroundings were the site of intense clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants in the days leading up to the ceasefire.

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Israel gave no evidence to support its claims, and Hezbollah didn't immediately confirm the death of its commander.

The ceasefire took effect early Friday.

Iran wants lasting peace, chief negotiator says

Irans chief negotiator says his country wants a lasting peace so that war is not repeated again.

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Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the comments in a televised interview late Saturday, a few days before a ceasefire deadline is set to expire, according to Iranian state media.

What is fundamental for us is distrust of the United States, he said. At the same time, we have good intentions and seek a lasting peace  one that prevents the recurrence of war.

He said that the Islamabad negotiations didnt address the mistrust, but that the U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a more realistic understanding of one another.

He said that the two sides achieved progress in the Islamabad talks, but disagreement remained on some key issues, including the nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

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The gaps remain wide and some fundamental issues are still unresolved, he said.

He didnt elaborate with further details.

Lebanon's army reopens some roads in the south

The Lebanese army said in a statement Sunday that it reopened the Khardali road that links the southern city of Nabatiyeh with the town of Marjayoun.

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The army said that it also reopened the road that links the port city of Tyre with the village of Bourj Rahhal. The army is also working on reopening other roads, including a bridge on the Litani River in the village of Tayr Filsay.

During Israels invasion of southern Lebanon over the past several weeks, Israels air force has destroyed several bridges on the river.

After a 10-day ceasefire was declared as of midnight Thursday, the Lebanese army and the Litani Authority have been working on putting up temporary bridges to replace the destroyed ones.

Iran negotiator says strait will remain closed

Irans parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as the U.S. imposes a naval blockade on Iran.

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It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, he said in televised comments aired by Iranian semiofficial media late Saturday.

Qalibaf, who is Irans chief negotiator with the United States, said that the strait is now under Irans control, linking the choke points reopening to the U.S. lifting of its blockade.

If the U.S. does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be restricted, he said.

He said that the ceasefire was on verge of collapse when the U.S. attempted to mine-clear the strait.

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He said Iran viewed the U.S. attempt as a violation of the ceasefire.

The situation escalated to the point of conflict but the enemy retreated, he said.

Another Israeli soldier dies in combat

Israels military says another soldier died in combat in southern Lebanon, the second death announced in under 12 hours.

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It brought the total number of soldiers killed in Lebanon to 15, and was the second soldier killed in combat since the ceasefire.
Gennaro Mazzanti making his favorite meal at home, spaghetti with lobster and cherry tomatoes. Courtesy Natalie Mazzanti Rendering of Radici at The Stand. Courtesy Natalie Mazzanti The Mezzanti family, from left to right, Addolorata, father Gennaro, mother Natalie, Aurora and Luca. Natalie Mezzanti File photo: The original owners of The Stand, Greg Nobile, left, and Eamon Roche, in Branford when they opened in 2016. File photo Luca Mazzanti with his grandfather Anthony Delmonaco talking out their ideas for the eatery outside the new Radici at the The Stand. Courtesy Natalie Mazzanti

BRANFORD  The shuttered eatery, The Stand, known for its quirky location in an old Texaco gas station and car repair shop, is getting a complete rebrand, with new owners, new name and a complete makeover.

A restauranteur from Anthonys Ocean View, a New Haven venue that hosts weddings, galas and corporate events, is opening the new Radici at The Stand with her husband and son at 196 South Montowese St. sometime in May.

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Natalie Mazzanti is a co-owner of Anthonys Ocean View along with her siblings and parents, Anthony and Anna Delmonaco. Mazzanti will partner with her husband Gennaro and son Luca  who were both employees at Anthony's but not stakeholders  as co-owners of the new Branford eatery.

Anthony's, run by the Delmonaco family for 40 years, will remain open and Mazzanti will continue to work there while her husband and son run Radici.

Opening his own restaurant has long been a dream of Mazzantis husband, who came to America from Italy and started working at Anthonys right away. Thats where the couple met, and he ended up staying 30 years at the New Haven catering venue.

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But Gennaro Mazzanti had always wanted to own his own place where diners could order off a menu, unlike a catered event with a pre-set menu.

When he visited The Stand, he fell in love with the Indian Neck neighborhood.

He loved the area and he just felt that it was the perfect fit because The Stand is like everyone's stomping ground from Branford, his wife said. The homey feel of the place reminded her husband of family dinners.

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And our roots are good Italian food, home cooked meals. We sit around the table on a Sunday for six hours just chatting. It's kind of what we grew up doing, Natalie Mazzanti said. And he just figured, OK, tight-knit community in Branford. We're all about family and friends. I love this area.

The couple will be putting their own stamp on the place. We are transforming the entire inside and outside 100% from what it was, she said.

The Radici will have a summery Italian look with an outdoor piazza, commonplace in Italy, with a stone patio and wall filled with flowers and greenery. Couches and outdoor seating will be added, and guests may come in off the street to enjoy a gelato served from a cart or an espresso from a coffee bar, Mazzanti said.

Inside will have a refined European look with rich wood ceiling beams, globe pendant lighting, plush banquette seating and individual tables. Natural stone surfaces, bronze accents and soft under-bar lighting will add a luxurious finish" in the space, she said.

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The menu will offer authentic Italian dishes as well as American fare and all the fun stuff  the sliders, the pulled pork, the wings, so we will have what Branford is used to, as well, she added.

Radici, which means roots in Italian, will feature foods that Gennaro grew up with in Italy and also reflects the family's origins.

He will have a few dishes on the menu that are from his hometown Napoli which is southern Italy, she said, noting that in Naples, most food there isnt over complicated  its about using fresh local ingredients. Most dishes are cooked stovetop using olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes and fresh herbs.

Radici will also offer Neapolitan-style pizza and paninis, as well.

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But their signature dish will be Pasta Radici, a dish that includes eggplant, homemade sauce and meatballs with pasta and fresh mozzarella. This dish in particular is something his family ate every Sunday growing up, so it brings him back to his roots. Hence our name: Radici at The Stand, Mazzanti said.

Luca will run the front and back of the house. He is now working to create signature craft cocktails and mocktails. His father will be a congenial host, said Natalie Mazzanti. They are hiring a chef.

He has a passion for the restaurant industry, and he loves what he does, she said about her husband. He loves to greet his customers, she added.

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Gennaro Mazzanti, who speaks English as a second language, had his wife translate as he described in Italian his vision for Radici.
Tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Asghar Besharati/AP Women share a moment as they look at a smartphone at the main gate of the Tehran University as a banner shows portraits of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, and the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 19, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP A police officer stands guard at a checkpoint on a barricaded road to ensure security ahead of the second round of the U.S. Iran officials talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, April 19, 2026. M.A. Sheikh/AP A tanker sits anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Asghar Besharati/AP Police officers stand guard at a checkpoint on a barricaded road to ensure security ahead of the second round of the U.S. Iran officials talks, in Islamabad, Sunday, April 19, 2026. M.A. Sheikh/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran's joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile ceasefire into question days before it expires.

It was the first interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran's joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation, the state broadcaster said.

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With the U.S.-Iran standoff over the strait sharpening and the ceasefire expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.

The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian-flagged ship, the Touska, to stop and then stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom." U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were seeing whats on board!

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It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn't answer questions, said the destroyer had issued repeated warnings over a six-hour period.

Iranian state media suggest new talks won't take place

There was no comment from Iranian officials directly addressing Trump's announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

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Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkians phone conversation with Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and betray diplomacy," the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks  last June and earlier this year  were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy," Irans state broadcaster said.

Pakistan did not confirm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional official involved in the efforts said mediators were finalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

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The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Irans chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy, he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.

It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Irans nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn't agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, he wrote.

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Iran wants to control strait until war fully ends

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone, Mohammad Reza Aref, first vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world's farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

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Iran had announced the straits reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran fired at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the straits closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, inflicting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, Irans Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

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The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

___ Magy reported from Cairo and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

___

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The Edwardsville Rotary Club honored Jazmin Hayes, centered, as its student of the month for March. Also pictured are club President Kai Redmon, Joshua Hayes, Jaimee Hayes, Visual Arts Teacher Cassie Flynn, grandmother Debbie, and Rotarian Monica Snook. Courtesy Monica Snook

The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Jazmin Hayes with the Student of the Month Award for April. Jazmin was nominated by Edwardsville High School art teacher Cassie Flynn.

Jazmin is the daughter of Jaimee and Joshua Hayes, and she is 18 years old. Jazmin is the president of National Art Honor Society and Diversity Club, vice president of HOSA and Medical Occupations Club, and an officer in Art Club. She is also a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Medical Explorers program at Anderson Hospital, Castle Peer Mediated Instruction and Intervention (peer buddy), American Heritage Girls, and is the girls wrestling team manager. Jazmin also is completing an externship with school psychologists, and she has shadowed professionals in different health care fields at Anderson Hospital and Alton Memorial Hospital.

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Jazmin is a HOSA state finalist, is in the top 10% of the ASL foreign language department, has had her art displayed in the SIUE High School Art Exhibit, where she placed fourth, and in the Edwardsville Public Library gallery, was the district holiday card contest winner, and was the Peoples Choice runner-up in the Chalk This Way high school contest. Outside of school, Jazmin enjoys reading true crime books, watching horror, mystery and comedy movies, spending time with her three siblings (whom she states are her best friends), and being outdoors hiking and camping. Jazmin is planning on attending DePaul University, majoring in psychology with double minors in art and American Sign Language. Her overall goal is to become a juvenile forensic psychologist.
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is one of the best defense stocks that will skyrocket. On April 14, The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) confirmed it delivered 143 commercial aircraft in the first quarter of the year. The deliveries included 114 Boeing 737 aircraft, 15 Boeing 787 aircraft, 8 Boeing 777 aircraft, and 6 Boeing 767 aircraft.

This is why The Boeing Company (BA) is one of the Best Defense Stocks

Jirat Teparaksa/Shutterstock.com

The companys Defense Space and Security division also reported deliveries. The orders included 17 AH-64 Apache helicopters, made up of two new aircraft, and 15 remanufactured units. Boeing also delivered two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, one new and one renewed.

On the other hand, the US Army has awarded the company a $324 million contract to deliver 6 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters. The new contract brings the total number of CH-47F Block II aircraft under contract to 24. It builds on the company securing a $1.19 billion, three-year contract to maintain and support the Armys Apache attack helicopters and Chinook heavy-lift helicopters operated by Britains Royal Air Force.

In February, the company received initial qualification for 777-9 training devices. Consequently, the company is one step closer to conducting regulator-approved training on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issuing simulator qualification certificates.

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) manufactures combat and surveillance aircraft, cargo planes, satellites, weapons, and is advancing autonomous systems.

While we acknowledge the potential of BA 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: 12 Best Data Center Stocks to Buy Right Now and Top 10 Growth Stocks in Billionaire Philippe Laffonts Portfolio.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
By Amanda Cooper and Samuel Indyk

LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - The U.S.-Iran ceasefire in early April appears to have revived so-called TINA ("There Is No Alternative") trades, driven by peace hopes, soaring U.S. earnings growth and the relative insulation of the world's biggest economy to an energy shock.

More from Yahoo Scout Why are investors shifting back to U.S. stocks? How did the U.S.-Iran ceasefire impact global markets? What is driving the TINA trade revival? How do U.S. earnings compare to global markets?

Over the last year, investors, particularly in the United States, had sought out cheaper markets abroad where returns were juiced up by a weaker dollar. Enthusiasm over the AI boom and expansive government spending has also boosted equities, from Seoul and Tokyo to Frankfurt and London.

The war and ensuing surge in energy prices hurt confidence and risk markets. But U.S. President Donald Trump's April 7 ceasefire announcement has sent Wall Street shares to record highs again.

Global investors have poured a net $28 billion into U.S. equities since the eve of the ceasefire announcement, with U.S. investors alone accounting for nearly $23 billion of that total, according to LSEG/Lipper data.

Until that point in the year, they had pulled a net $56 billion out of U.S. stocks, including a net outflow of almost $90 billion by U.S.-based investors.

The ceasefire has sharpened focus on which markets have the strongest outlook, and early signals from earnings season suggest the U.S. remains robust.

While most major equity markets have erased their war-driven losses, the S&P 500 is 2% above pre-war levels.

"We've had our fourth exogenous shock in six years and given the nature of the shock, it's not surprising that we go back to the economy that has performed the best over the very long-term, is investing the most in the short-term and is producing the best set of results," said Michael Browne, global investment strategist at the Franklin Templeton Institute in London.

"TINA" prevailed for years as U.S. shares climbed to record highs but suffered a setback around the January 2025 start of Trump's second term, with investors pivoting to a "TIARA" trade - "There Is A Real Alternative" - that favoured Europe and emerging markets in particular.

"I like to say there's something called 'TINA'," said Gabriel Shahin, founder of Falcon Wealth Planning, which manages roughly $1.4 billion. "Investors are looking at the resilience of the S&P and realising the engine is still humming."

The U.S.'s status as a net energy exporter, compared with European countries and others like Japan, has helped Wall Street recover more quickly from the post-war market turbulence.
Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) is included among the 12 Most Undervalued Natural Gas Stocks to Buy Now.

Analysts Express Mixed Sentiment on Devon Energy (DVN)

Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) is a leading independent energy company engaged in finding and producing oil and natural gas, with operations focused onshore in the United States.

On April 14, UBS slightly reduced its price target on Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) from $61 to $60, but maintained its Buy rating on the shares. The trimmed target still represents an upside of over 32% from the current price levels.

That said, earlier on April 7, BMO Capital instead raised its price target on Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) by $5 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares (read more details here).

It was announced earlier in February that Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) would merge with Coterra Energy to become a large-cap producer with a top position in the Permian Basin. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, with the companies aiming to deliver $1 billion in annual pretax run rate synergies by the end of 2027. The combined entity also plans to lift shareholder returns through higher dividends and a share buyback program of more than $5 billion.

While we acknowledge the potential of DVN 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: 14 Best Energy Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now and 15 Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Accelerated refinery closures in the past decade and increased dependence on kerosene from the Middle East have exposed Europes energy supply vulnerability once again.

For years, European consumers have had to contend with last-minute strikes of ground personnel and cabin crew during peak summer travel. This year, strikes may be viewed as a minor nuisance compared to whats coming within weeksa jet fuel supply crisis that could ground flights and hike fares.

The war in Iran has cut most of Europes imports of jet fuel, while local output has been falling for nearly two decades due to dozens of refineries closing permanently or being converted to biofuel production.

The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely constrained Europes jet fuel supply, while jet fuel prices have spiked to over $200 per barrel. The last imports from the Middle East on tankers that had passed Hormuz before the war began have arrived, and there is only one alternative to source jet fuelfrom the United States. These supplies are not only insufficient to replace the loss of Middle Eastern jet fuel. Europe faces increasingly fierce competition from Asia for these cargoes as the crisis first hit Asia with crude supply from the Middle East collapsing, Asian refiners cutting refinery runs, and countries imposing fuel export restrictions to preserve domestic supply.

Related: Oil Slides but the Real Test Comes This Weekend

Back in 2009, nearly 100 refineries were operating in Europe. Of these, 28 refineries  more than 25% of the number of refineries and 16% of refining capacity  have been either shut or transformed since 2009, according to data from the European Fuel Manufacturers Association.

As refineries were closing, due to declining fuel demand in Europe and emission-reduction policies, the European dependence on imported supply has grown. The hit to supply from the Middle East caught Europe off guard regarding the security of energy supply for the second time in just four years, after natural gas deliveries from Russia crashed in 2022.

This time, the jet fuel crisis could be imminent, analysts and forecasters warn.

Last year, Europe imported about a third of the jet fuel it consumed, with 75% of imports coming from the Middle East, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

Its executive director, Fatih Birol, this week warned that Europe has maybe six weeks or so of remaining jet fuel supply.

If we are not able to open the Strait of Hormuz ... I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel, Birol told Associated Press in an interview.
First Phosphate secures 170M mine funding boost  ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

First Phosphate Corp. (CSE:PHOS, OTCQX:FRSPF, FRA:KD0, OTC:FPHOY) earlier this week outlined new financial backing for its Begin-Lamarche project, highlighting a letter of support from Denmarks export credit agency EIFO for up to 170 million.

The company reported that the funding would contribute toward the estimated 450 million capital expenditure required to develop the igneous phosphate project.

CEO John Passalacqua said the support comes at a key stage, with the company approaching its feasibility study before moving into permitting and full project financing.

Passalacqua indicated that the EIFO backing significantly strengthens the companys position as it builds out its capital stack. He stated that the company can now enter the next phase extremely strong, supported by the 170 million commitment.

A further letter of interest from the US Export-Import Bank provides additional flexibility, particularly in sourcing equipment from both Europe and the United States.

The CEO suggested that the combined support from EIFO and Exim Bank could account for a substantial portion of total project financing. He noted that EIFO alone could represent around 3040% of the required funding, and when combined with other sources, the company could already be more than halfway toward its financing target.

Passalacqua also pointed to broader momentum behind the project, including a binding offtake agreement that has already delivered a prepayment earlier this year.
Window air conditioning unit. Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Getty Images

EDWARDSVILLE  As temperatures begin to rise, Madison County Community Development is aiding vulnerable residents in staying safe and cool.

Through its Community Services Block Grant program, the department will provide free window air conditioning units to qualifying low-income households that include elderly residents, individuals with certain medical conditions, or families with young children.

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The program is designed to help residents who may be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.

High temperatures can be dangerous for seniors, young children, and individuals with certain medical conditions, Madison County Community Development Administrator Stacey Pace said. This program helps ensure that residents who need relief the most have access to a safe and comfortable home environment.

Households that have received a window air conditioner from Madison County Community Development within the past three years are not eligible for the program.

To qualify, applicants must meet several requirements: household must reside in Madison County; household must have income; Household must have income and be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; applicants must complete an intake form; a valid photo ID is required; Social Security cards for every household member must be provided; gross income documentation for the past 30 days must be provided for all household members age 18 or older; and a current utility bill must be provided showing the household has active utilities and is not facing disconnection, with a balance less than $600.

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Households must also meet at least one of the following criteria: at least one household member age 60 or older; a household member with a medical condition that can be relieved by air conditioning, such as asthma, COPD, emphysema, coronary disease or terminal illness (a physicians letter is required for applicants under age 60); or children age 5 or younger living in the household.

There are also 30-day income guidelines, from $2,660 for one person to $9,287 for eight people, and for each additional family member add $946.

Only one window air conditioning unit will be provided per qualifying household.

Residents who receive a unit will be required to sign a release, waiver and indemnifying agreement, and the individual who completed the application must be the one to pick up the unit with a photo ID.

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Appointments are required to apply and can be made by calling 618-296-6177, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
He walked in like someone who had forgotten how to trust the ground beneath him. Not dramatically. Not with a limp or a cane or a brace. Just uncertain. As if every step required a small negotiation with gravity. Im not dizzy, he clarified, before I could ask. I just feel off. Like Ive had two drinks. All the time. He hadnt.

He was a 42-year-old investment bankersharp suit, sharper mind. The kind of man who probably balanced portfolios better than most of us balance our debts. But for the last three months, he couldnt balance himself. His wife had noticed it first. Youre swaying, she had said one evening. Im standing still, he had replied. They were both right.

The cerebellum is a strange little structure. It sits quietly at the back of the brain, beneath the flamboyant lobes that get all the creditfrontal for thinking, temporal for memory, parietal for sensation. The cerebellum doesnt demand attention. It doesnt write poetry or solve equations. It just makes sure you dont fall flat on your face while doing either.

It is the maverick editor of movement. The proofreader of posture. The conductor of coordination. When it works, you never notice it. When it doesnt, everyone else does.

His examination was subtle but telling. Touch your finger to your nose. He did. Perfectly.

Now do it faster. A slight tremor crept in, like a hesitant violinist joining an orchestra half a beat late. Now close your eyes and walk. He took three steps. On the fourth, his body drifted slightly to the right, like a car with misaligned wheels. Have you been dropping things? I asked. A pause. Coffee cups, he admitted. Twice this week. That was new. For a man who prided himself on control, this was betrayalby his own nervous system.

The MRI told the story his body had been writing. A small tumour. Nestled in the right side of the cerebellum. Not large enough to scream but perfectly placed to disrupt. Like a single wrong note in an otherwise flawless symphony. Benign looking, but not harmless. The cerebellum, despite its modest size, is densely packed with neuronsmore than the rest of the brain combined. It doesnt take much to throw it off rhythm. And when rhythm goes, so does grace.

We spoke about surgery. Will I be normal again? he asked. Theres a weight to that wordnormal. It carries expectation, fear, and a quiet desperation. You will be better, I said. And over time, very likely normal. He nodded. Not reassured, but willing. Thats often the best we can hope forwillingness.

The surgery was delicate, as cerebellar surgeries tend to be. The brain here is less forgiving of clumsinessironically so. Positioning matters. Precision matters. The tumour came out cleanly. It was a leach of entangled blood vessels that formed a fiery ball of fire. It always feels a little like defusing a bomb you didnt know was tickingquiet, methodical, and with a steady undercurrent of adrenaline. No drama and no theatricsas long as nothing ruptures. Just the quiet satisfaction of anatomy restored. Just how we like it.

The first day after surgery, he reached for a glass of water. His hand moved straight, steady. He paused midway, almost suspicious of his own accuracy. Try walking, I suggested. He stood up. Took a step. Then another. This time, the ground didnt feel like a negotiation. It felt like an agreement. Rehabilitation followedbecause the cerebellum, like a good musician, needs practice to regain rhythm. Weeks later, he returned to the clinic. No sway. No hesitation. No spilled coffee, presumably.

I didnt realise how much I relied on something I didnt even know existed, he said.

Thats the cerebellum for you. It doesnt ask for recognition. It doesnt seek applause.

It just quietly ensures you can stand, walk, reach, and live without thinking about it.

Until one day, you have to. As he was leaving, he turned back. Doctor, he said, smiling, Ive gone back to trading. I raised an eyebrow. And hows it going? He grinned. Lets just say my cerebellum is doing better than my stock portfolio.

Because in life, as in the brain, balance is everything. And sometimes, it takes losing it to truly appreciate it.

The author is consultant neurosurgeon at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai.
TAMIL NADU has always thrown up some of the more colourful praise names in Indian polity. North of the Vindhyas, the names are often softer, more familial. Like Chachaji for Jawaharlal Nehru, Tau for Chaudhary Devi Lal, Mamaji for Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Didi for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Some praise names are quietly respectful, like Saheb for Sharad Pawar. Some say a little more about the person, like Manyavar Kanshi Ram. Some party workers switch between monikers depending on the context, like the softer Balasaheb or more political Hindu Hriday Samrat for Bal Thackeray.

In Tamil Nadu, party followers blend the arts, romance, and respect into praise names. So, M. Kanuranidhi became Kalaignar (The Artist), with the name paying homage more to his skills as an orator, lyricist, playwright and poet. C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa both had two names in circulation. The populist Amma and the combative Puratchi Thalaivi (Revolutionary Leader) for Jayalalithaa, and intimate Anna and literary Perarignar (Great Scholar) for Annadurai.

M.G. Ramachandran had four namesMGR, Vathiyar (Teacher), Makkal Thilakam (Pride of the People) and Puratchi Thalaivar (Revolutionary Leader). K. Kamaraj, too, had fourKarmaveerar (Man of Action) and Perunthalaivar (Great Leader), and the last two that celebrated his practical wisdom and his contribution to education, Kalaikann Thirantha Kamarajar (Kamaraj, who opened our eyes to education) and Padikkatha Methai (Uneducated Genius). The naming tradition has extended to recent entrant Vijay, too. He carried Thalapathy (Commander) from cinema to politics.

Following the death of his father, Kamaraj dropped out of school but was later dubbed Kingmaker by the English press for his role in putting two prime ministers in powerLal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi. That should serve as an indication of how Tamil Nadu has punched above its weight in politics for a long, long time. Hence, this cover on this colourful and politically aware state that is going to the polls.

Chief of Bureau (Chennai) Lakshmi Subramanian interviewed Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for you. Among achievements close to his heart, the chief minister has listed financial support for homemakers and a breakfast scheme for schoolchildren. He also quotes Anna to take a humorous swipe at the Union government: Why does a goat need a beard, and a state a governor?

Lakshmi rounds off the coverage with articles on the AIADMK and Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and an interview with the Naam Tamilar Katchis Seeman.

Senior Special Correspondent Kanu Sarda continues our coverage of the West Bengal assembly polls and has interviewed Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya for you. Former Rajya Sabha member Jawahar Sircar has contributed a guest column on what happens when politics is a choice between fears.

In @leisure Special Correspondent Anjuly Mathai reviews Portrait of an Artist, a book of photographs on artists in their studios. The images are by Rohit Chawla, and the text by Kishore Singh. The creative process is in itself a rabbit warren of stories. Writer Alexandre Dumas, for example, wrote on colour-coded paper.

Blue for fiction, pink or light red for articles and non-fiction, and yellow for poetry.
Read my lips, said George Bush Sr at the 1988 Republican Convention in New Orleans. Voters read them and voted him.

Reading presidential lips is big risk these days, with a coprolalic president in the White House. He breathes bawdry. A coprolalic, for your info, is a person who uses obscene words uncontrollably.

Nice people in Americathere are nice people in America, too, who work hard, give to charity, love their families, dont cheat on wives, dont jump red lights, respect other faiths, and read to childrenwould cringe if they read the presidential lips these days. More so if kids are around.

Know what happened this Easter Sunday? When those nice people were going to church for the morning mass, their president was letting the devil ride the fiddlestick. He cursed. This time at religious men. You crazy b*******, he called the ayatollahs of Iran. Open the f****** [Hormuz] Strait or else. And added, Praise be to Allah.

The Pope, aghast, cursed him with bell, book and candle, reading an Old Testament passage from Isaiah: Even though you make many prayers, I will not listenyour hands are full of blood.

Donald Trump | AFP

News anchors and headline editors were gobsmacked. A few ran the words in full, others said the prez had used strong words, a few others warned about expletive-laden statements. A TV host said, If children are watching, be warned. The president did not use polite language.

Samuel Huntington called the wests war on the Islamic world a clash of civilisations. Banana oil! This is the war of a pyromaniacal pindari who is seeking to end a civilisation. He swore so.

Don Trump has come to be the epitome of all thats boorish with the western world. He swears like a sailor, tells lies, breaks laws, sleeps with hookers, mouths obscenities at fellow-rulers, and does all things that genteel people abhor. In a single speech in Florida this month, he tossed out 10 hells, three damns and a crap.

Not that his predecessors were boy scouts; many were mean and foul in their private lives, but rarely exhibited crudity in public discourse. Talking of exhibition, L.B. Johnson was an exception. When reporters asked in a private chat why the US was in Vietnam, the six-foot-four-incher unzipped his fly, drew out his jumbo and declared, This is why!

Dick Nixon was profane up to the hilt of his nickname; we know that because he recorded much of what he said in the Oval Office. In chats with his aides, Nixon called Indira Gandhi a bitch or a witch, Mexicans dishonest, and the blacks a bunch of dogs. In 2004, vice-president Dick Cheney told Sen. Patrick Leahy on the Senate floor to f*** himself. Compared with Trumps foul words, these sound as pure and pious as pulpit speeches.

Trumps abuses are different on many counts. Others had uttered abuses in private chats with aides, mentioned in third person, spoken at the spur of the moment, or expressed in home context. Never had rulers of a foreign regime, even if they were Idi Amins, Adolf Hitlers or Attila the Huns, been addressed by any president directly with such gutter words as Trump has.

But why swear at Trump? Profanity is spreading to political discourse in India too. Hate speeches, especially against minorities, are the order of the day in Indias national political discourse, and coarse language is becoming too common. Last week, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy told his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan, in a rowdy way, to get lost (nee po mone); Vijayan returned the compliment calling Revanth the son of a dash.

Triumph of Trumpism? Our own barbarism.

prasannan@theweek.in
At THE WEEKs AYUSH Conclave, Ayush for the World, experts from across the industry underscored the importance of quality, standardisation, and regulatory clarity in strengthening Indias traditional medicine systems.

Speaking at a panel discussion on ensuring product quality moderated by Majio Abraham, Senior Assistant News Editor at THE WEEK, Dr Anoop, Managing Director of AVA Healthcare, highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency across the production chain. He noted that his company, with a legacy of over 56 years, places strong emphasis on the standardisation of raw materials and finished products. From the selection of herbs to packaging and product formulation, every stage is carefully monitored, especially for products that make medicinal claims. He added that the company follows established manufacturing practices and invests in research and development through laboratories.

For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH

Dr Babu U.V., Director of Research and Development at Himalaya Wellness, said that quality begins at the source rather than in laboratories. He stressed that the cultivation and collection of herbs, soil conditions, and the minimum presence of contaminants such as heavy metals play a critical role in determining product quality. Traceability, he said, is essential, from origin to processing.

He added that for Indian systems of medicine to gain global acceptance, authenticity must remain the foundation. Highlighting consumer safety, he pointed to the importance of customer feedback and said the company actively monitors adverse reactions through a dedicated pharmaco-vigilance system.

"Customer feedback is of utmost importance to us. We have established a pharmacovigilance system to stay in touch with customers via email and other channels and monitor for adverse reactions. These are addressed promptly across the country. We take every piece of feedback seriously whenever we receive it," Babu says.

Dr Baidyanath Mishra, Head of Research and Development at Dabur, drew attention to the challenges posed by climatic variations, pollution, and natural toxicity in herbal products. He said companies must adhere to structured guidelines. He emphasised the importance of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices to minimise contamination, noting that while risks cannot be eliminated entirely, they can be significantly reduced through scientific processes and expert oversight.

On regulation, Mishra advocated for a unified national framework, pointing out that varying state-level requirements create hurdles in product formulation and licensing. A single regulatory system, he suggested, would streamline processes and support industry growth.

Dr Anita Balachander from Jammi Clinic cautioned against overly rigid standardisation. She argued that since medicinal plants grow in diverse soil and climatic conditions, expecting complete uniformity is impractical. While supporting regulation, she emphasised the need for flexibility within the framework.

The discussion highlighted that balancing quality, authenticity, and regulatory coherence will be key to positioning Ayush products on the global stage.
Two US nationals were detained at the Srinagar Airport in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday after a Garmin satellite phone was found in their luggage during a routine security check.

The individuals, identified as Montana-based Jeoffrey Scott and Haldar Kaushik, were questioned by the airport security, and then handed over to the authorities for further questioning.

This is because the use of satellite phones is banned in India without prior approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

2 US nationals detained at Srinagar Airport over keeping Sat Phones:



Jeoffery Scott

Haldar kaushik https://t.co/pIHcDhtjZw  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) April 19, 2026

The authorities are yet to determine why the US nationals had the satellite phone in their luggage, whether they had prior government approval to carry it, and how they obtained it, as per an Asianet News report.

Not only is the use of satellite phones strictly regulated across India, but the sensitive region in which their Garmin phone was confiscatedthe Kashmir Valleyhas raised concerns.

If found guilty of having the satellite phone without prior permission, the US nationals could face legal action under under the Indian Telegraph Act and/or related security laws.

Has this happened before?

Notably, this is not the first time that such security actions have been taken against travellers carrying satellite phones. In fact, two of the most recent confiscation cases involved US nationals as well.

The most recent case was that of Bright Andrew Clinton, a US-origin doctor who was detained at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport on February 19 for possessing an illegal satellite phone.

The 45-year-old Alabama native was scheduled to fly to Delhi via Air India, but was detained during baggage screening. When questioned, he had replied that he had not known about satellite phones being illegal in India, and claimed that he had only kept it for emergency use and GPS location tracking, and had not used it till then.

After drafting a written apology, Clinton was reportedly let off with a warning at the time.

Back in May 2025, Missouri-based Rachel Anne Scottalso a doctorwas arrested by the Lawspet police at the Puducherry Airport for the same reason.

Scott, who had visited her friend in Puducherry and was on her way to Hyderabad, had been taken into custody for questioning.
After a five-day search by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Amravati sexual assaults and video leaks case, one of the survivors has come forward and provided a statement against the primary accused, Ayan Ahmed.

It was a 15-year-old girl who finally came forward and had her official statement recorded on Saturday, 18 April. She was accompanied by female members of the SIT, reports said. After counselling, her statement was recorded in the presence of female officers and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Based on the details of her testimony, the police will decide whether to add more charges to the original case or register a fresh, independent First Information Report (FIR). Ayan Ahmed is now certain to face charges under the POCSO Act.

The Maharashtra Police knew that eight girls, some of whom are minors, were sexually assaulted by Ayan. However, the fear of losing face before society has kept them from coming forward against the accused. Thus, the minor coming forward is a significant relief for the probe team, as her statement could significantly strengthen the case against the 19-year-old accused.

According to media reports, the Amravati Rural Police had already reached out to two survivors whom they were able to track down. Under the guidance of Rural Police Superintendent Vishal Anand, the SIT worked tirelessly to eventually locate this 15-year-old girl in Nagpur, Loksatta said in a report.

While it remains unclear if the girl is originally from Nagpur, both the Superintendent of Police and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed that she arrived from Nagpur to record her statement.

The police have received data from three out of the five mobile phones sent to the forensic lab, Loksatta said. A detailed analysis of this data is expected to reveal more details. Police have arrested eight accused persons and seized multiple electronic devices, including seven mobile phones, a laptop, a hard disk, and a tablet.
Alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on Saturday as a 'poll code violation', Congress leader and former MLA Anil Akkara has approached the Election Commission of India. Akkara alleged that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was violated by the PM by using a government-controlled broadcaster to target the Opposition after women's reservation Bill was defeated in the Parliament.

In his complaint, Akkara pointed out that MCC is in force till May 6, with Assembly elections currently underway in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.

Despite the assembly elections in progress, the PM delivered a televised address through Doordarshan, a government-controlled platform, and it is a clear violation of election norms, Akkara said.

By naming political parties contesting in poll-bound states during his address, Akkara alleged that PM Modi misused official machinery and his position. The speech is a "grave breach of election protocols," he said.

He urged the ECI to conduct a detailed investigation and initiate legal proceedings.

CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar also raised similar allegations and wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to take "prompt" and "sincere" actions.

"The use of publicly funded platforms for what is essentially a political speech constitutes a grave breach of electoral norms," said Kumar.

PM Modi addressed the nation on Saturday at 8:30 pm following the defeat of the women's reservation Bill in the Parliament. Modi criticised Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, TMC and the Samajwadi Party. He warned the Congress and its allies of severe punishment from the women for the "sin of foeticide."

Modi apologised to the women and said the government may have lost the vote, but it will never give up its efforts to empower women.

"The Congress and its allies have committed foeticide of the honest effort in front of the entire country in the House. Parties like the Congress, DMK, TMC and the SP are guilty of this foeticide," he said.
Irans foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz completely open for commercial shipping on Friday, sending Brent crude down roughly $10 to around $89 a barrel within minutes and U.S. stocks to a fresh record high.

President Donald Trump quickly claimed credit on Truth Social, writing that the Strait is COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESSbut he made clear the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports isnt going anywhere until a deal with Iran is 100% COMPLETE. He added that the negotiation process SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY because most of the points have already been worked out.

Despite the strait opening, its unclear when commercial shippers will gain the confidence to resume normal operations. Some told the Wall Street Journal they were waiting for clearer security guarantees before resuming normal traffic, which before the war ran at around 135 vessels a day.

On the face of it, the reopening is the clearest sign yet that the two-month U.S.-Iran war is winding down. But the bigger story, according to veteran energy analysts, is the fresh leverage Iran discovered it holds in the Gulf.

It turns out the Strait of Hormuz functions almost like a nuclear deterrent, said Jim Krane, a Gulf energy expert at Rice Universitys Baker Institute and the author of books on Saudi and UAE energy policy. Its a pretty strong card that they play, basically holding the global economy hostage to halt attacks on it.

Roughly 20% of the worlds oil and a large share of liquefied natural gas transit the narrow strait. When Iran effectively closed it in February, the impact on the global economy was immediate; Asia and Europe faced blackouts and rationing, and fertilizer supplies tightened, threatening crop yields. Even Iraqan Iranian allyhad to shutter oil production because it couldnt move its gas, forcing its power grid into rolling outages, Krane said.

That pressure is ultimately what forced Irans hand, Krane explained. Iran can probably hang on for a while, he noted, pointing out that Iranian oil exports have actually risen during the war thanks to cargoes already on the water. But the pressure on the global economy was really just unsustainable.

Fridays euphoric price drop may be premature. Ed Morse, former longtime head of commodities research at Citigroup, told Fortune that the market is getting ahead of the physical reality. The forward curves are pointing to, from a consumer perspective, optimism thats not warranted by where the actual flows are, Morse said.

The reality is that the markets cannot catch up fast enough to meet the dearth of oil. Morse claims roughly 10 million barrels a day of supply have been disrupted for 45 days. That missing supply from the global system is partly absorbed by demand destruction and by drawing down inventories that are now extremely low, Morse said. Other estimates have gone even higher, like the International Energy Agency putting the true daily toll at 20 million barrels per day.
The high-profile defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill for women's reservation and delimitation in the Lok Sabha has further intensified election battles in West Bengal, ahead of the Thursday polling date.

Thursday will see the first phase of the elections, in which 152 constituenciesincluding Cooch Behar, Jhargram, Purulia, Darjeeling, Malda, and Murshidabadwill head to the polls. The remaining 129 constituencies will go to the polls on April 29.

Mamata Banerjee attacks PM Modi's 'crocodile tears'

Ahead of the first phase of the polls, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee intensified her attacks against the women's quota bill being linked with the delimitation bill during her campaigns on Sunday.

Narendra Modi has tasted defeat. His carefully crafted Delimitation conspiracy has been democratically crushed. Now, unable to digest the humiliation, he is shedding crocodile tears to save face.



Mr. Modi has shamelessly misused the office of the Prime Minister and taxpayers pic.twitter.com/PAIhU1cZhC  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 19, 2026

"They tried to weaponise the genuine cause of womens political representation to push their narrow, divisive political agenda. They have failed miserably. The people of Bengal have seen through the entire game," she said in a speech at a rally, alleging that the PM had misused his "national message" for political gains.

In an earlier post on X, she also declared that the TMC had the highest proportion of female elected representatives in both Parliament and state legislature, pointing out that her party was opposed to delimitation, not women's reservation.

It is deeply unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation rather than address it honestly.



Let me put this on record. Trinamool Congress has always championed higher political representation for women. We have the highest proportion of female elected  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 19, 2026

CM Banerjee, who has also weaponised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue to fend off the BJP and hold on to the reigns for a fourth term, lashed out at the viral video of PM Modi eating jhalmuri (a snack) after a rally at Jhargram.

Jhalmuri break in Jhargram! pic.twitter.com/LJNjEojAW4  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2026

Calling it his "Adivasi-Birodhi (Anti-Adivasi) mindset", she alleged that the PM's "extended snack break and photo-ops" had led to Jharkhand CM Hemant Sorenand his wife, MLA Kalpana Sorenbeing denied permission to fly their chopper into Jhargram as per their schedule.

Narendra Modi's Adivasi-Birodhi mindset has been exposed for all to see.



Because the "Pradhan Sevak" decided to extend his stay in Jhargram to eat Jhalmuri, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren and his wife and MLA Smt. Kalpana Soren were denied permission to fly their pic.twitter.com/xK3WAUPjqO  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 19, 2026

"Two democratically elected leaders. Grounded. Kept waiting for hours. And ultimately forced to return to Ranchi without completing their scheduled programme," she wrote in an X post.

PM Modi accuses TMC of 'betraying' women

PM Modi weaponised the failure of the women's reservation bill in a series of back-to-back rallies across Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Medinipur.

These seats, which are part of the politically crucial Junglemahal belt and the surrounding areas saw the "anti-women" claim become part of the BJP's overall anti-incumbency rhetoric against the TMC.

Notably, women voters, who constitute nearly half the electorate in West Bengal, have been the biggest targets of welfare doles in the state.

"We want more and more daughters to enter politics. The sisters of West Bengal wanted 33 per cent reservation, and Modi ensured it. They wanted it implemented from 2029 itself, but TMC did not want it," he said at the Bankura rally.

#WATCH | Bankura, West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The women of Bengal wanted 33% reservation. Modi ensured this. The women of Bengal wanted it to be implemented from 2029. Modi also made efforts for this. But TMC did not want more of Bengal's daughters to become pic.twitter.com/Cdfjgy7ZjA  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2026

He sharpened the 'anti-women' attack against the TMC in the Purulia rally, in which he also called out the ruling party's corruption and "maha jungle raj (grand jungle rule)".

The Purulia, Jhargram, and Medinipur rallies also saw PM Modi intensify his attacks against the ruling party's attempts to change Bengal's language and culture through infiltration.

"TMC only thinks about its vote bank. It thinks about infiltrators. It has no concern for anyone else," he said in one of the rallies.

#WATCH | Medinipur, West Bengal: Addressing a public rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "TMC is only loyal to its vote bank, loyal to infiltrators, and doesn't care about anyone else... To please its vote bank, it can do anything. In recent days, the anti-women face of TMC pic.twitter.com/DZ8l2pIMsz  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2026

The allegations of the ruling party's corruption were again connected to the women's quota bill failure, as he claimed that the TMC had conspired with Congress to block the bill as it feared that women from villages and small towns would enter politics and ask questions about corruption.

What actually happened to the women's quota bill?

In a special sitting of the Parliament on April 20, the bill managed to pass the simple majority condition by garnering 298 votes in its favour, against the Opposition's 230, which passed the simple majority step, but failed the special 2/3 majority step, as it fell short of 352 votes.

In his brief, but loaded, Saturday night address to the nation, PM Modi hit out at the Opposition for blocking the women's quota bill, calling it a 'sin'.



(modi speech women reservation bill women's quota, modi lok sabha delimitation dmk congress)https://t.co/9vfdi15d8t  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 18, 2026

While the NDA allianceand PM Modi as well, in a potent address to the nation a day laterlabelled the Opposition as "anti-women" for blocking the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha, the INDIA bloc retaliated by attacking the delimitation bill attached to the women's quota bill.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified his criticism of the Opposition over the Womens Reservation Bill on Sunday, particularly targeting the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal.

Addressing an election rally at Bishnupur in Bankura district, Modi accused the TMC of "betraying" women in the state by blocking the bills passage in Parliament.

"We have witnessed how the TMC betrayed women in Parliament. They conspired with Congress to prevent the bill's passage because they are against womens empowerment," Modi said.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposes 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures by 2029 and aims to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, failed to pass in Parliament on Friday, with 230 members voting against it. Of the 528 members who voted, the bill needed 352 votes to secure a two-thirds majority.

Modi emphasised that the identity of the Bharatiya Janata Party is tied to womens empowerment, their safety and security. This is why women across the country shower the BJP with their blessings, he added.

The prime minister also asserted that women voters in West Bengal would punish the TMC for opposing the bill.

"You saw what happened in Parliament. The TMC once again betrayed the sisters of Bengal. Women wanted 33 per cent reservation, and Modi ensured it. Bengal wanted it implemented by 2029, but the TMC didn't want women to hold a large number of MLA and MP positions because they challenge their 'Maha Jungle Raj,'" he said.

On Saturday, Modi made a rare address to the nation, apologising to the "mothers and daughters of the nation" for the failure to pass the bill. He criticised the selfish politics of Congress and its allies, adding that every citizen of India is watching how the dreams of Indian women have been crushed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate rainfall in parts of Maharashtra from Monday, April 20 , to Wednesday, April 22. According to the weather forecast, lightning, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms may also occur in some places.

Western Maharashtra, particularly the ghat areas, along with Khandesh, Marathwada, and parts of the Vidarbha region, are likely to witness cloudy conditions and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours from Monday to Wednesday, the weather office said on Saturday. Gusty winds at speeds between 30 and 40 km/h should be expected in the coastal belts of the state until Tuesday, April 21. In the Marathwada region, there is a possibility that this will persist until Thursday, April 23, the IMD website warned.

On April 19 , similar weather conditions are expected over the ghat areas of Western Maharashtra, as well as parts of north Khandesh and south Marathwada, it said. Isolated hailstorm activity was also predicted over central Maharashtra and the Marathwada region on Sunday.

"The spatial extent and intensity of rainfall are likely to increase onApril 20 and 21 , covering parts of the Pune division, southern Marathwadaincluding the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisionand areas of Vidarbha, especially the Amravati division," the release, quoting the IMD, said.

The thunderstorm activity is expected to gradually reduce in intensity and coverage by April 22 , it added.

The state agriculture department has advised farmers to take precautionary measures in view of the forecast to safeguard their crops. Farmers have been urged to plan agricultural operations in line with weather conditions and ensure harvested crops are stored in safe, covered places. They have also been advised to protect produce from damage due to strong winds, rain, and possible hail, and to avoid leaving harvested crops and vegetables in the open, officials said.
The ongoing multi-domain confrontation in the Middle Eastern region since February 2026 has led to a new phase of strategic uncertainty in the Gulf region that can fundamentally reshape the dynamics between the United States and its traditional regional partners. While Washington remains deeply engaged militarily, however, this conflict has exposed increasing divergences in threat perception, strategic priorities, and expectations between the United States and Gulf states. As a result, a gradual recalibration is visible in a relationship long anchored in security guarantees and mutual dependencies.

At the core of this transformation lies an enhanced trust deficit. Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have expressed dissatisfaction with the reactive American policies. This is despite the fact that the United States has increased troop deployments and military assets to the region in response to escalating tensions. Still, these actions are perceived more as crisis management than as part of a coherent long-term strategy by major Gulf actors. The issue is not merely the presence of American forces but the clarity and credibility of the American commitments towards its Gulf partners. This conflict has reinforced concerns amongst Gulf nations that Washingtons engagement is sporadic and partly shaped by domestic political constraints, competing global commitments, and recalibration of US grand strategy away from prolonged regional entanglements, which has increased apprehensions amongst Gulf partners. This scepticism is further intensified by differing views on how to deal with Iran.

Gulf states have consistently emphasised that any resolution to the conflict should be more than a temporary ceasefire or interim de-escalation. Ending active hostilities without addressing these structural elements would leave the region vulnerable to renewed instability. This perception reflects a broader strategic outlook in which Iran is regarded not only as a strategic competitor but also as a key regional actor whose actions and policies have broader transnational security implications.

Furthermore, the conflict has also led to an escalation in the activities of violent extremist groups operating in the region, with apprehensions of potential activation of multiple proxy fronts which are likely to persist as enduring challenges to regional security. This has also led Gulf states to promote a more comprehensive approach regarding the Gulf regions security architecture rather than focusing narrowly on conventional military engagements.

At the same time, the conflict has also highlighted the limits of American influence over regional consequences. Despite its military superiority, Washington is struggling to shape the trajectory of this conflict in a way that aligns fully with the hopes of the Gulf states, further reinforcing a perception that reliance on a single external security provider may no longer be sufficient to guarantee their security. So, there is a growing emphasis on strategic diversification or what is commonly referred to as strategic hedging.

Gulf states are increasingly exploring defence partnerships with other global actors like China and Russia as well as engagement with emerging middle powers and minilateral frameworks to diversify diplomatic and security options, not as replacements but as complementary actors that can provide additional leverage and options.

Energy politics has further complicated this evolving relationship. The Gulf states are of cardinal significance to global oil markets, and this conflict has intensified volatility that affects both producers and consumers. In all of this, Americas position as a major energy producer has changed the nature of its dependence on the Gulf region. For Gulf states, this change raises questions about the extent to which energy considerations will continue to anchor American engagement, and the perception that Washingtons strategic interest in the region may be declining adds another layer of uncertainty.

The Gulf states are adopting a more assertive and autonomous posture, which includes enhancing their military capabilities, investments in defence sectors, promoting indigenous production and pursuing diplomatic initiatives to reduce regional tensions. However, such efforts are inherently fragile and contingent on the broader strategic environment in the region. The Gulf states are looking forward to any reduction in immediate hostilities; however, there is a strong concern that a premature settlement might not address the underlying issues.

Irans decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping during the ceasefire has provided temporary relief to global energy markets, signalling a tactical de-escalation amid ongoing negotiations. However, the conditional nature of this reopening amidst the continued American naval blockade pressures highlights the fragility of maritime security and underscores how quickly strategic chokepoints can be re-politicised.

Rather than restoring stability, this scenario reinforces the role of maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of coercive diplomacy within an increasingly volatile Gulf security environment.

Ultimately, this confrontation had accelerated the pace of strategic realignment of the Gulf states, eventually questioning the US-led security architecture in the evolving realities of the region. The relationship between the US and the Gulf nations is becoming more transactional and less anchored in implicit guarantees. The interplay between regional rivalries and shifting energy dynamics is creating a complex and unstable environment in the Middle East, and maintaining its influence will require not only military presence but also a clearer articulation of Americas long-term vision for the region.

At the same time, for the Gulf states, navigating these circumstances will involve balancing external partnerships with internal resilience and regional diplomacy. The ongoing tensions amongst Iran, Israel, and the United States, therefore, extend beyond immediate military considerations, potentially catalysing the reconfiguration of regional alignments and strategic frameworks that may shape the future Gulf order.

Dr Anu Sharma, Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (AIDSS), Amity University, Noida.
It seems we are back to the threat of war in the Middle East once again. The geopolitical standoff in the Strait of Hormuz experienced a stunning reversal over a frantic 24-hour period, from what appeared to be a genuine diplomatic breakthrough to what looks very much like a likely resumption of hostilities. The deterioration was fuelled by mismanaged public communications, fierce domestic political manoeuvring within Iran and a stubborn refusal by both sides to step back from their maximalist positions.

The sequence of events began with an unexpected announcement that briefly sent waves of relief through global markets. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the critical shipping lane was "completely open for all commercial vessels," a move made in alignment with a broader ten-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The reaction was instantaneous: oil prices plunged by twelve dollars a barrel as markets dared to hope the disruption to this vital choke point might finally be over. During this short-lived window of de-escalation, tracking data confirmed that more than a dozen commercial ships successfully navigated the waterway without incident.

The diplomatic momentum was, however, almost immediately derailed as President Donald Trump, eager to claim a sweeping victory, made several premature and deeply inflammatory statements. While he publicly thanked Iran for opening the strait, he also asserted that Tehran had agreed to surrender its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States. He then insisted that the US naval blockade targeting Iran would "remain in full force" until a final peace deal was signed.

Trump's pronouncements seem to have led to a fierce backlash within Iran, exposing deep rifts between the country's diplomats and the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. IRGC media outlets blamed Araghchi for his initial statement on Hormuz, saying the announcement lacked necessary explanations and created dangerous ambiguities. They asked for the withdrawal of the statement altogether. Hardline lawmaker Morteza Mahmoudi publicly threatened Araghchi with impeachment over his "ill-timed" remarks. Even moderate voices in Tehran felt that such a critical policy shift should have been communicated through official state channels rather than a social media post.

To quell the internal uproar and project strength, senior Iranian officials moved swiftly. Parliament speaker and lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump's assertions as lies, and declared the US blockade a "clumsy and ignorant decision." He stated emphatically that the Strait of Hormuz remains under the strict control of the military  not social media declarations. The Iranian foreign ministry formally clarified that there had been absolutely no discussions regarding the export of uranium. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh reinforced this, stating that shipping enriched material to the United States was a "non-starter," and accusing Washington of maintaining demands so extreme they were preventing any prospect of face-to-face talks.

The rhetorical pushback then culminated in a dramatic physical reversal. Less than 24 hours after Araghchi's original post, the IRGC Navy released a statement announcing that the Strait of Hormuz was once again completely closed to commercial traffic. The IRGC declared that the ongoing US naval blockade constituted a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement. They issued a stark warning to international shipping: any vessel approaching the strait would be viewed as cooperating with the enemy, and targeted accordingly.

Those threats quickly materialised into violent action on the water. Iranian gunboats opened fire on at least two Indian commercial vessels attempting to transit the strait. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations documented attacks on a tanker, while a container ship was struck by an unknown projectile off the northeastern coast of Oman. India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that two Indian-flagged vessels had been caught in a shooting incident in the waterway, and merchant ships throughout the region began receiving ominous radio messages from the IRGC Navy denying them access.

This rapid unravelling has thoroughly erased the brief glimmer of hope for an immediate diplomatic resolution. Observers note that the situation has reverted entirely to square onetwo competing blockades, two sides dug into entrenched positions. Trump has warned he will not allow the US to be blackmailed, and has threatened to resume military strikes if a comprehensive deal is not reached before the current ceasefire expires on April 22. As both sides dig deeper into their respective positions, the waterway remains a highly volatile flashpoint, and the brief window that opened so unexpectedly has, for now, firmly shut.
Iran has gone back to shutting down and heightening the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz by going after civilian mechant vessels. The country has pledged to restrict ships in the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place. Meanwhile, mediators are scrambling to extend the 10-day ceasefire between the countries, which will expire on Wednesday.

1. Blockades

Maritime firm Lloyd's List reported that traffic at the Hormuz came to a stop after Iran fired on several ships, including two Indian tankers, on Saturday evening. Radio transmission warned ships that the Strait had gone back to strict management and control by the Iranian armed forces.

A number of vessels that passed the Larak Island, where the IRGC is monitoring passage, turned back around and moved west early on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Indian vessels have been issued a warning to stay away from the Strait of Hormuz without a clearance after the Sanmar Herald, a crude oil tanker, was reportedly attacked as it made its way through the Strait. They have also been asked to stay away from Larak Island.

The turnaround came after US President Donald Trump made claims that Tehran had agreed to surrender its stockpile of uranium.

2. Mid-transit stop

Two OFAC-sanctioned false-flagged LPG carriers attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday but turned around mid-transit.

Tracking data showed that the Botswana false-flagged Meda and Angola false-flagged G Summer owned by the Chinese, both, turned around from their paths at around 7:30 hours UTC.

3. Mediation attempts halted

The new blockade has complicated Pakistani led mediations attempts.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a televised interview that it is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot. Ghalibaf says the US and Iran are still far from a final agreement.

Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press that his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, rejecting claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump. "I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States, Khatibzadeh said. This is a non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, were not going to accept things that are nonstarters.

4. Minesweeping

The US military, meanwhile, has deployed sea drones and other means to scan the Strait for mines.

Irans naval forces had mined the Strait amid the war in March. The US military is reportedly using a combination of manned and unmanned capabilities in the countermine operation, a US defence official told the Wall Street Journal.
Tensions are starting to mount ahead of a possible second round of peace talks between the US and Iran since the first round failed amid a ceasefire in the 50-day war.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that his Middle East envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be attending the second round of peace talks in Islamabad, in addition to Vice President J.D. Vance.

However, he has again turned stern on Iran, accusing it of violating the terms of the ceasefire by firing bullets at vessels, and also recently re-closing the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with the US.

"That wasnt nice, was it? ... Were offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! Theyll come down fast, theyll come down easy ..." he wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

Iran, on the other hand, has reportedly "rejected" the second round of the peace talks, because of what it termed Washington's excessive demands and the Hormuz blockade, which it has repeatedly denounced as a ceasefire violation.

Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire.  IRNA News Agency  (@IrnaEnglish) April 19, 2026

The announcement of the talks comes a day after the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired bullets at vessels trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz, despite the US Navy-imposed blockade in the region.

Sepah Navy! Motor Tanker Sanmar Herald! Sanmar Herald! Sepah Navy! You gave me clearance! You gave me clearance to go! Sepah Navy! Sepah Navy! This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go! My name second on your list! You gave me clearance to go! You are  TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) April 18, 2026

Two Indian-flagged vesselsthe Jag Arnav and the Sanmar Heraldalso took fire from IRGC boats, despite being one of the five friendly nations granted safe passage in the strait by Tehran, which prompted a strong reaction from India.

Iran also alleges ceasefire violations, restocks munitions

Iran, which has already criticised the US Navy-imposed Hormuz blockade before, on Sunday called it a violation of the ceasefire and a "war crime".

"The United States so-called 'blockade' of Irans ports or coastline is not only a violation of Pakistani-mediated ceasefire but also both unlawful and criminal," wrote Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, in an X post.

The United States so-called blockade of Irans ports or coastline is not only a violation of Pakistani-mediated ceasefire but also both unlawful and criminal. It violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter; it constitutes an act of aggression under Article 3(c) of the UN General  Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 19, 2026

"It violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter; it constitutes an act of aggression under Article 3(c) of the UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), which explicitly includes the blockade of a states ports or coasts among such acts," he added.

The IRGC's Aerospace Force has also claimed that it had replenished a great deal of its "missile and drone launch platforms", as per a report from semi-official news agency Tasnim.

During the ceasefire period, our speed in updating and refilling missile and drone launch platforms is even greater than before the war. We have information that the enemy is incapable of creating such conditions for itself and is forced to bring in ammunition from the other side of the world in a drip-feed manner, the report added, quoting Majid Mousavi, the commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force.
An audio recording reportedly from the Sanmar Herald, one of the two Indian flagged tankers that turned back in the Strait of Hormuz after being fired at, has emerged.

In the 30-second audio, A crew member is reportedly heard trying to communicate with the Iranian navy and questioning why they were fired at despite being given clearance.

The clip was shared by Tanker Trackers, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks shipments.

"Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is a motor tanker, Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back," a crew members is heard saying in the audio.

Audio reportedly from the Indian oil tanker fired on by Iranian Navy



You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back! pic.twitter.com/iMeY7fzwkq  Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) April 18, 2026

The authenticity of the video has not been verified.

Iranian state media had confirmed that the shots were fired near the Sanmar Herald to force them to turn back.

The tanker was carrying crude oil from Iraq to India. The second tanker, which also turned around, was identified as the Jag Arnav, which was travelling from Saudi Arabia's al Jubail, according to maritime tracker.

As per the latest information, the Sanmar Herald is located in the Persian Gulf, close to the UAE. As per a report by NBC News, the ship had travelled through the Strait of Green. At one point, it turned off its Automatic Identification system transmission while heading east toward the green area. It then quickly turned around to the west after turning the AIS back on.

Dr Mohammad Fathali, Tehran envoy, was summoned for a meeting at 6:30 pm after the Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest with Iran over the matter. An MEA statement conveyed India's deep concern over the incident.

"Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, the Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait," the MEA said.

On Saturday, an Iranian official said that the Strait of Hormuz would ot be reopened until the US lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Two Indian men were killed in an ambush attack in the Bergamo area in Italy outside a makeshift warehouse used as a gurdwara.

The men were approached by four suspects in two cars.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:50 on April 17 in Covo, a small town thirty kilometres from Bergamo.

The victims have now been identified as Rajinder Singh, 48, a resident of the same municipality in the lower Bergamo area, and Gurmit Singh, 48, from Agnadello (Cremona). Both were fathers of three children.

Eyewitnesses said that the victims stepped out from the building that housed a Sikh temple. Initial reports said that the man fired the shots from the car.

There were about 10 bullet casings recovered from the scene. Witnesses saw the man raise the weapon and fire. The first five or six times were at Rajinder Singh and then at least twice more at Gurmit Singh. Both were hit in the head, "Rajinder was also hit in the chest and neck, and Gurmit in the leg," said Gurdeep Singh, a 52-year-old driver who was close to being hit by the bullets.

After the shooting, the killer got back into the car, which was driven by an accomplice, and fled with two other people,who were in a second car.

By the time the ambulance arrived, the victims were dead. The bodies have now been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Pavia for autopsies.

The investigations into the shooting and the attackers who fled the scene are being conducted by the Carabinieri Investigative Unit and the Treviglio company and are coordinated by prosecutor Fabio Magnolo, who is on their trail. The names and license plates have been collected.

Preliminary findings indicate the shooter, also an Indian and the accomplices were regular visitors at the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji temple and that the shooting was planned.

The incident took place as the victims were participating in preparations for the Vaisakhi festival, which is scheduled to take place over the weekend.

One eyewitness who spoke to Italy's Corriere Della Sera said, "He fired about ten shots at random, a third person was also grazed in the ear, and the two victims were hit in the head." "The shooter has been a regular at our facility for a long time," he said, "and when he arrived, he stopped in front of here and knelt down, as if to pray, then he stood up, went back, and pulled out his gun to fire a few shots at random."

The festival celebrations were subsequently cancelled.

CCTV footage from the area is being reviewd. All of the suspects are believed to have been staying at the Antegnate comune. Police noted that one of the accomplices was the former president of the Sikh Center. Investigation revealed that Rajinder Singh had arguments with the man over the management of the temple, Corriere Della Sera reported.
The heat is unforgiving, but in Pudukottai, the mood is festive. Drumbeats rise above the hum of a restless afternoon in this southern Tamil Nadu town as men and women sway, chant and clap in rhythm. Ammanvin anbodu, Vijayabhaskar yendrum nammoduwith the love of our Amma, Vijayabhaskar is always with us. At the centre of it all, AIADMKs Viralimalai MLA and former health minister C. Vijayabhaskar leans into the moment. Do you want scorching heat, or warmth under green trees? he asks. The crowd roars back. Shawls in red, white and black whirl through the air.

The DMK carries the weight of incumbencyallegations of corruption, complaints over law and order and the familiar fatigue that comes with power. The BJP knows that outright victory is unlikely, but a higher vote share, deeper booth presence and a stronger ideological footprint would itself count as strategic success.

A hundred kilometres to the south, in Kaarai village in Karaikudi constituency, the soundtrack shifts but the energy does not. Here, the sharp blast of whistles cuts through the steady thud of war drums. Dr T.K. Prabhus campaign is thick with young faces. The DMK has deceived us. It is an evil force. Vote for the whistle to throw them out, he says, hands folded. A dentist who runs a hospital in Karaikudi, he is contesting on behalf of actor Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. He is up against the incumbent S. Mangudi of the Congress, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagams Therpogi Pandi and Seeman, chief coordinator of the Naam Tamilar Katchi. This is a fight for change. People are looking for change, says Prabhu, reminding voters of his partys whistle symbol.

In Bodinayakkanur in Theni district, the script turns again. Three-time chief minister O. Panneerselvam now stands with the DMK, bringing with him a slice of the southern belt that once formed the AIADMKs core. His presence lends the ruling party an unexpected advantage in a region where it has often struggled. We all came from the DMK. It is our parent organisation, and we share the same ideologies and core principles, says Panneerselvam.

Taken together, these scattered scenes capture the mood of an election that refuses to follow a familiar script. Tamil Nadu is heading into one of its most unusual assembly contestsa four-cornered fight in which the old certainties of dravidian politics are being tested from multiple directions at once. The DMK seeks to retain power. The AIADMK is attempting a return. Seemans NTK and Vijays TVK are trying to convert popularity into votes.

A total of 5.57 crore voters will cast their ballots on April 23 to elect representatives to the 234-member assembly, with 4,621 candidates in the fray. But the arithmetic this time is less about simple swings and more about fragmentation. With votes split across four poles, margins may shrink and outcomes could hinge on small, local shifts.

For the DMK, this election is about more than a second term. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is attempting what eluded his father, M. Karunanidhi: consecutive terms. He has framed the contest as one between Tamil Nadu and Delhi, between social justice and Central overreach, between state rights and administrative pressure. His campaign carries a confidence that borders on swagger, even as the party works to hold together a broad and sometimes unwieldy alliance. That confidence rests on welfare delivery, the branding of the dravidian model and the belief that anti-BJP sentiment still provides a protective umbrella across much of the state.

The BJP, which betrayed Tamil Nadu by not fulfilling even one hallmark project, is trying to enter the state using the slave AIADMK and the NDA banner, says Stalin in an exclusive interview. Because the BJP continuously attacks Tamil Nadus financial, linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights, we call this election Tamil Nadu vs Delhi. In this battle between Tamil culture and BJPs fascism, Tamil Nadu will fight. Tamil Nadu will win.

Yet the DMK carries the weight of incumbencyallegations of corruption, complaints over law and order and the familiar fatigue that comes with power. Across constituencies, the opposition is attempting to turn local grievances into a referendum on what it calls arrogance.

Still, the ruling party appears confident that opposition anger is louder on stage than at the ballot box. In Tiruchirappalli West, for instance, minister K.N. Nehru remains confident despite Enforcement Directorate scrutiny over cash-for-jobs and tender scandals. The DMK expects Nehrus development record and long career to blunt the sting of the allegations. In Athoor in Dindigul district, minister I. Periyasamy is seen so entrenched that rivals are struggling even to make the election appear competitive. Meanwhile, the party has shifted its strongman and former minister V. Senthil Balaji, who is battling multiple ED cases, from Karur to Coimbatore South. He has been tasked with winning at least 35 constituencies in west Tamil Nadu or the Kongu region for the DMK, where it performed poorly in the 2021 elections.

Stronger together: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami at a campaign event in Madurai | PTI

For the AIADMK, it is a fight to prove that Edappadi K. Palaniswami can lead the party back to power. After years of internal squabbles, defections, rival claimants to Jayalalithaas memory and the long shadow of Delhi over regional calculations, the party is asking voters to see it once again as the natural vessel of anti-DMK sentiment. The strategy is straightforward: turn this election into a verdict on the DMK government, tap local dissatisfaction and stitch together caste arithmetic, booth structure and alliance transfer. The party has backed Election Commission moves such as the transfer of top state officials, and it continues to insist that the DMK is using both power and narrative to tilt the field. There is anti-incumbency and people want to vote out Stalin and the DMK. They want our leader Palaniswami to bring back Ammas rule, says Vijayabhaskar.

But the AIADMKs comeback script has too many editors. The BJP wants growth, not merely partnership. AMMK cadres in some pockets complain of neglect. AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who chose to return to the NDA fold on Union Home Minister Amit Shahs instructions, has his own apprehensions. He is not canvassing for any of the AIADMK candidates. His campaign speeches attack Stalin, but do not praise Palaniswami. In Karaikudi, where one of Dhinakarans loyalists, Therpogi Pandi, is contesting, the AIADMK is not even working on the ground.

Meanwhile, the AIADMKs former ally, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, founded by the late Vijayakanth, has moved to the DMK alliance. Palaniswami did not keep his promise. We were a loyal ally and we never spoke anything ill of him, says DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth. The DMDK today may be a diminished force, but in north Tamil Nadu, Vijayakanth loyalists and Naidu community votes are an added strength for the DMK alliance. The party is contesting 10 seats, and Premalatha hopes that the memory of her husband will still translate into votes.

For the BJP, Tamil Nadu remains both a challenge and an obsession. It knows that outright victory is unlikely, but a higher vote share, deeper booth presence and a stronger ideological footprint would itself count as strategic success. The partys calculation is incremental: weaken the DMKs monopoly over anti-Centre criticism, use alliance arithmetic to remain electorally relevant and position itself as the indispensable national link in a state that still resists it culturally.

BJP leaders have sharpened their attack on the DMK, branding it a family-run outfit and accusing it of manufacturing linguistic and federal confrontations for electoral gain. Stalin says Tamil Nadu is out of control for Delhi. He should go to Delhi and see how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is governing the country when the entire world is going through a war-like situation, says Tamilisai Soundararajan, former Telangana governor and BJP candidate from Mylapore. Mocking the DMKs campaign pitch, she adds: Stalin says their manifesto is the superstar in this election. His schemes were not superstars, his government was not a superstar, his governance was not a superstar. And yet he calls his manifesto a superstar, despite not fulfilling most of the previous promises.

The BJP has also trained its guns on Vijay, signalling that it views him as a passing celebrity presence. Union Minister Piyush Goyal dismissed him as lacking grounding in Tamil Nadus political culture. But that is where another key player, Seeman, begins to matter. Seeman remains, as ever, part ideologue, part protester and part electoral irritant. Positioning the Naam Tamilar Katchi as a Tamil nationalist alternative, he has attacked freebie politics and argued that both dravidian majors have exhausted themselves. Whether that converts into seats remains uncertain, but in a tight contest, committed vote pockets could make a difference.

Campaigning in Karaikudi, from where he is contesting, Seeman frames his bid in existential terms. You are looking at a petty electoral victory. I am running towards political liberation. Every party began with the politics of rights, but has ended at the counter of political business, he says.

Yet Karaikudi may not be easy terrain for Seeman. It is the home turf of former Union minister P. Chidambaram. In fact, it was Chidambaram and his son Karti who ensured that the Congress stayed in the DMK alliance. Of course, I ironed out certain issues, says Karti. I do have good personal equations with people across many parties, particularly the DMK. I have worked with them for the past 30 years, he says, as he steps out to campaign for the Congress candidate Mangudi.

Then there is V.K. Sasikala, refusing to fade into irrelevance. Her re-entry with a new party flag and an alignment with a faction linked to Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss has added a layer of symbolic disruption. Campaigning in Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, she frames her effort less as a bid for victory and more as a political intervention. I am seeking justice for the betrayal done to me. I am not trying to help or hurt anyone. People in the south know me as Ammas aide, she says, signalling her intent to cut into vote banks in the southern and delta regions.

The Ramadoss family feud has further complicated matters. The tussle between the patriarch and his son Anbumani over the PMKs mango symbol has turned a once-disciplined outfit into a divided house. In northern districts such as Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, this split could prove decisive. Anbumanis wife, Sowmiya, contesting from Dharmapuri, has made womens safety and alleged governance failures of the DMK her central plank.

Still, the principal challenge to the DMK remains anchored around Palaniswami. His campaign, initially subdued, has gained traction with sharper attacks on Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. His slogan, save the people, reclaim Tamil Nadu, has resonated particularly in the Kongu belt, the AIADMKs traditional stronghold. Yet, as political analyst S. Ramu Manivannan notes, the AIADMKs alliance with the BJP has diluted its cohesion. Internal divisions, the influence of Sasikala and Dhinakaran and mutual distrust within the coalition have weakened its electoral machinery.

Hovering over all this is Vijay and his TVK, the most persistent subplot of the election. His presence is not confined to constituencies where his party is strong; it travels through screens, conversations and crowd energy across rival camps. That is the thing about celebrities in Tamil Nadu politics. It may not begin as structure, but it begins as atmosphere, says Karti. Interestingly, the DMK leadership has largely avoided direct engagement with Vijay. Yet in Chennai, especially in Perambur and its neighbouring constituencies, the contest has taken on the contours of DMK versus TVK. Vijays supporters insist that youth and women are gravitating towards him, pointing to the scale of crowds at his rallies.

In the end, this is not just a four-cornered contest but a cluster of simultaneous battles. For Stalin, it is a test of permanence and legacy; for the AIADMK, a fight for recovery and relevance; for the BJP, an incremental push into a resistant political culture; and for Seeman, Sasikala and Ramadoss, proof that even smaller players can alter margins, disrupt equations and unsettle narratives.
Japan's largest power generation company has made a proposal to invest $2 billion for construction of a 500-MW combined-cycle and simple-cycle natural gas-fired power plant on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Tokyo-based JERA said the project comes after the company made an agreement with Hawaiian officials last fall as part of a commitment with the Trump administration to build new U.S.-based power generation facilities. JERA, which has at least part ownership of 10 U.S. power plants, recently said the Hawaii station would replace older oil-fired generation. The company said it would cut energy costs on Oahu by 20%. Officials said the new plant would be supported by an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. JERA last year agreed to increase its purchases of U.S. LNG at least for the next 20 years. (Read JERA's detailed proposal for the Hawaiian power plant here.) The announcement of the Oahu plant comes after the state Public Utilities Commission in March approved a $2-billion plan by state utility Hawaiian Electric Co. to replace six older oil-fired steam generating units at Oahus Waiau power plant with new fuel-flexible, simple-cycle combustion turbines that would have total generation capacity of 243 MW. The Waiau plant has operated since 1938. [caption id="attachment_256372" align="alignnone" width="640"]

This is a rendering of JERA's proposed natural gas-fired power plant on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Source: JERA[/caption] Hawaii Democratic Gov. Josh Green in a statement said JERA's proposal represents a transformative overhaul of our electrical grid and a tangible step to move Hawaii from its historic dependence on oil, while bringing billions of dollars in new energy investments to the state. Green recently contributed a commentary to POWER about his state's agreement with JERA. John OBrien, CEO of JERA Americas, said the new power plant "presents a path to reduce costs for residents and businesses, strengthen reliability and support Hawaiis clean energy goals.

LNG and Other Gas Projects

O'Brien in JERA's proposal said, "JERA brings decades of experience delivering world-class liquefied natural gas and combined-cycle power projects, including in island and import-dependent systems such as Japan. We are committed to working closely with the State of Hawaii, its regulators, utilities, and communities to advance this project responsibly and transparently." Alicia Moy, CEO of Hawaii Gas, said, Hawaii Gas supports efforts to fortify and develop a pipeline infrastructure network that will be able to deliver the decarbonized fuels of the future, including renewable natural gas and hydrogen that we currently blend into our fuel mix on Oahu today. JERA said that about 75% of its investment is tied to the power plant, which is sited in Kapolei, about 20 miles west of Honolulu. The company said the rest of its funding would go toward the LNG-related infrastructure, which would include a floating storage and regasification unit. The energy group said it expects the new power station would come online in 2030. JERA said it plans to start the permitting process in the next few months. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
UNTIL A FEW weeks ago, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu appeared relatively stable, with little indication of major shifts. But the entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay, contesting from two constituencies has injected an X factor into the contest. Vijays party, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) is not organisationally strong, but his stardom, charisma and popularity among women and the youth can work to his advantage.

At the outset, there is little doubt that the TVK is cutting into the vote banks of all major parties. But the extent of this erosion varies across regions. In the southern, central and northern districts, including Chennai, the TVK is likely to eat into DMK votes. In the western and northwestern districts, its impact may be felt more strongly by the AIADMK. A major casualty will be Thol. Thirumavalavans Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, whose vote share will be greatly disrupted across the state.

Vijays political debut, though untested, needs to be seen seriously. Not only does he pose a challenge to the DMK and the AIADMK, but he also threatens the support base of smaller regional and national parties, especially the Congress. The dalit and Muslim youth, for instance, may gravitate towards Vijay.

Demographically, voters above 30 make up 90 per cent of the electorate. This provides some stability to established parties. Even if a significant portion of voters under 30, along with 2-3 per cent of older voters, shift towards the TVK, its overall vote share would still be in the range of 8 to 12 percent. Predictions about Vijay getting a 20 per cent vote share seem improbable, since he is the partys sole star campaigner, with limited capacity for an extensive statewide campaign.

What is most notable is that the prospects of the DMK, which previously appeared to hold a position of advantage, is see-sawing. In the coming days, the shifts in voter sentiment will be crucial in determining the outcome. By and large, the impact of the TVK is likely to be moderated, but it can still emerge as a decisive spoiler in the 2026 elections.

The author is a veteran media professor and communication expert.
On March 23, Edappadi K. Palaniswami walked into his party headquarters in Chennai for a show of strength. His NDA partners, including Pattali Makkal Katchi leader Anbumani Ramadoss, state BJP president Nainar Nagendran and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, were by his side for a joint press conference, where they announced the seat allocation for the assembly elections.

The 2024 mistake of contesting alone fuelled speculation that the AIADMKs decline was no longer transitional, but structural.

But it was only a show of strength. The projection was that Palaniswami, head of the AIADMK, had been generoushe had given 27 seats to the BJP, 18 to the PMK and 11 to the AMMKand was confident of taking on Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin. However, those who watched him closely saw that Palaniswami was fighting his friends within the alliance and trying to stamp his authority. Within the AIADMK, he wants to convey the message that he is the only leader of the party.

The AIADMK has always been unipolar. It revolved around M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in its early days and then J. Jayalalithaa after his death in 1987. She led the party to victory in the 2001, 2011 and 2016 state elections. However, since her death in 2016, no one leader has been able to carry that torch.

The party has been steadily losing vote share, which is attributed mostly to factional feuds and defections. I call him pathu tholvi (10-time loser) Palaniswami. The AIADMK has lost every election under his leadership, former chief minister O. Panneerselvam, who recently moved to the DMK, told THE WEEK. He himself was once the face of the AIADMK after Jayalalithaa.

The dravidian party, which won 52 of 78 assembly seats in north Tamil Nadu in the 2011 assembly elections, won only 35 in 2016 and just 10 in 2021. In central Tamil Nadu, better known as the delta region, of 41 seats, the AIADMK won 26 in 2011, 25 in 2016 and four in 2021. In the western belt, its bastion, of 57 seats, it won 39 in 2011, 42 in 2016 and 35 in 2021. In south Tamil Nadu, of 58 seats, it won 33 in 2011, 32 in 2016 in only 17 in 2021.

This time, the partys prospects in the south and north are suffering because Jayalalithaas aide V.K. Sasikala, who floated her own party, is campaigning against Palaniswami. As is Panneerselvam. The DMK leadership has told him to campaign against the AIADMK leadership among the Thevar community, from Theni near Madurai to Tenkasi down south. The Thevars, who are the majority voters in the south, were once loyal AIADMK voters.

Interestingly, even before Panneerselvam quit the AIADMK, K.A. Sengottaiyan, a Jayalalithaa loyalist who wanted to bring together all splinter groups, was expelled and soon joined actor Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). On his way out, he took several AIADMK office-bearers from the south and the north. On March 29, when Vijay released the TVKs candidate list, at least 19 were from the AIADMK.

With the TVKs emergence, the AIADMKs claim to being the only anti-DMK dravidian party is gone. But even before Vijay launched his party in 2024, the BJP-led NDA, headed by former IPS officer K. Annamalai, ensured that the anti-DMK vote did not benefit the AIADMK in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He campaigned against the DMK and Palaniswami, helping the NDA get 18 per cent vote share against the AIADMKs reduced 20.46 per cent. The AIADMK and the BJP were allies from 2019-23, took a break, and have been together since 2025. It is important to note here that the BJP had enabled the splitting of the AIADMK to begin with.

Women voters had supported the AIADMK because of MGRs screen presence and Jayalalithaas charisma. With the latter gone, there was a dip of at least 10 per cent in women voters for the party, thanks in part to Stalins welfare plank.

Vijays entry took away the young voters, too.

With all this, the AIADMK finds itself in a tough spot. In the modern political context, its biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. In an era where next-generation voters often want bold narratives, or to feel like they are part of a revolution, the AIADMKbuilt on governance, welfare delivery and political pragmatismfinds it difficult to reposition itself.

In earlier elections, the AIADMK had set itself up as a bulwark against both the DMK and the BJP by stressing misgovernance and corruption. In 2024, this framing was muted. Instead, the party seemed caught between a nostalgia for the MGRJayalalithaa era and an uncertain realignment with a Hindu nationalist idiom that sat uneasily with the dravidian core of Tamil politics.

The 2024 mistake of contesting alone fuelled speculation that the AIADMKs decline was no longer transitional, but structural. The partys vote share, now around 20 per cent, is not insignificant, but it lacks coherence, said Vignesh Karthik K.R., a postdoctoral research affiliate in Indian and Indonesian politics at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies. This electoral thinning coincides with an ideological drift. The post-2024 public speeches by EPS in the lead-up to the 2026 assembly elections reveal a new willingness to echo hindutva themes, including questioning the states decision to allocate temple funds for educational institutions. This line of attack neither resonates with the partys core base nor offers a clear break from the BJPs rhetorical framework.

At the centre of this is Palaniswami. In the 10 years after the demise of Amma, I have struggled hard to keep the party together, he said. Several B teams tried breaking the party, but I have ensured that MGRs and Ammas followers stay together.

True, Palaniswami has been fighting detractors within and outside the party, but it has cost the AIADMK heavily. While comparisons have been drawn with other regional parties facing decline, the AIADMK retains a more substantial support base. However, without ideological clarity, in a state deeply rooted in dravidian ideology, its ability to convert this base into a meaningful electoral outcome remains doubtful.
Interview/ M.K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu chief minister

Clad in a red T-shirt and black trousers, M.K. Stalin has just returned from a long morning walkmeeting people, posing for selfies, and checking whether they had benefited from government welfare schemes. Inside a temporary residence tucked away in a remote village near Paramakudia small town sandwiched between Madurai and Ramanathapuramamid a brief pause in his poll campaign, the chief minister exudes confidence ahead of what he describes as a contest between Tamil Nadu and Delhi in the upcoming elections.

Because the BJP continuously attacks Tamil Nadus financial, linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights, we call this election Tamil Nadu vs Delhi.

Stalin, 73, is acutely aware that this election represents a crucial battle for the DMKnot only to retain power and counter the BJP, but also to navigate the challenges posed by investigations targeting the party. For him, 2026 represents a historically significant opportunity to entrench a governance model that he believes has fundamentally reshaped the socioeconomic fabric of households across the state. In this interview with THE WEEK, Stalin frames the Dravidian Model 2.0 not merely as an electoral platform, but as an ideological evolution.

Excerpts:

Q/ The opposition alliance appears strong. Do you consider this election to be challenging?

The opposition coalition you mention is one that has already been defeated by the Secular Progressive Alliance led by the DMK; it is a coalition that has been rejected by the people of Tamil Nadu. Every family in Tamil Nadu has benefited from the remarkable welfare schemes of the Dravidian Model government. The people of Tamil Nadu stand with the DMK alliance. Therefore, this assembly polls will certainly be a historically significant victory for the DMK.

Q/ What would you call as your most significant contribution to the state in the past five years?

In the past five years of our Dravidian Model rule, we have implemented many schemes, including the Vidiyal Payanam (free bus travel) scheme, Magalir Urimai Thogai (direct benefit transfer for women), Pudhumai Penn (scholarships for female students), Tamil Pudhalvan (scholarships for male students), Naan Mudhalvan (skill development scheme), the morning breakfast scheme, Thayumanavar scheme (ration delivery), Anbu Karangal (financial assistance for vulnerable children), Anbusolai (elderly care), Kalaignar Kanavu Illam (housing for the poor), assured pensions for government employees, and free electricity connections for two lakh farmers.

While all are important for social progress, I consider two to be most essential. First, the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme. We brought this to give government recognition to housewives who work tirelessly for their families. Even political rivals who asked How is this possible? are now amazed and trying to implement it in their own states. We named it Womens entitlement because it protects womens rights and self-respect. Today, 1.31 crore heads of households are beneficiaries. In the next Dravidian Model 2.0 government, we will increase this to Rs2,000. Second is the morning breakfast scheme for schoolchildren. It is close to my heart. Though the budget is lower than that of other schemes, the benefit is immeasurable. Lakhs of children used to come to school on empty stomach. Now, their stomachs are full and they study well.

Moving forward: Stalin interacts with Chennai Metro Rail passengers on April 10 | PTI

Q/ Even before the date was announced, you had termed the elections as a Tamil Nadu vs Delhi fight. Will your stance find resonance?

Delhi is trying to destroy Indias diversity with slogans like One Nation, One Religion, One Nation, One Language and One Nation, One Election. [It is] aiming to snatch away state rights and establish dictatorial rule. The BJP, which has betrayed Tamil Nadu by not fulfilling even one hallmark project, is trying to enter the state using a slave like the AIADMK. Because the BJP continuously attacks Tamil Nadus financial, linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights, we call this election Tamil Nadu vs Delhi. In this battle between Tamil culture and the BJPs fascism, Tamil Nadu will fight! Tamil Nadu will win!

Q/ The DMK alliance is facing the polls by listing the achievements of these five years. But, after five years in power, all governments face anti-incumbency. How is the DMK going to face this?

In five years of the Dravidian Model rule, we have provided direct monetary benefits to every family under various schemes, enabling them to achieve socioeconomic empowerment. For the first time, we have governed with a plan to create factories in all districts, moving beyond just Chennai. Because of this, we have repaired Tamil Nadus limping economy, and raised it as the number one state with a thumping 11.19 per cent economic growth rate. Therefore, I see a wave of support for our rule everywhere I go. Unable to criticise our good governance and transparent administration, the opposition has stooped to personal attacks and slanders. This time, too, people will ensure that they are defeated.

Q/ When Governor R.N. Ravi was transferred to West Bengal, you met him and saw him off, even though he had opposed you ideologically. You welcomed O. Panneerselvam, who was politically against you, into your side. You visited H. Raja, your constant critic, in the hospital to inquire about his health. These gestures are unusual in Tamil Nadu politics, and it might not help you politically.

I do not see anyone as an enemy. We may support or oppose a persons political stance, but as a human being, I want to embrace everyone. The people of Tamil Nadu also prefer this political culture. Politics of embrace, harmony and brotherhood is the unique character of the Tamil people. That is what I express. There is no place for the politics of hate in Tamil Nadu.

Q/ Doesnt the appointment of an acting governor after Ravis transfer diminish Tamil Nadus dignity?

Our policy is what our leader C.N. Annadurai said, Why a beard for a goat, and why a governor for a nation? However, as long as that position exists, we provide the appropriate respect. The BJP government has politicised and saffronised all constitutional positions, making the governors office more saffron than ever to run a parallel government in opposition-ruled states. For the BJP, there is no difference between a full-time governor and an acting governor.

Q/ It is believed that people tend to lean towards strong leaders when political parties are deprived of ideologies. What do you have to say?

As you say, movements without ideology are only in the opposition coalition. History shows us what happens to parties created for opportunism and selfishness over time. But as a symbol of how strong ideologies endure, the people are looking at the DMK, the son of the century-old dravidian movement, which is celebrating its diamond jubilee. That is why the entire country watches closely to see what the DMK says on any issue.

Q/ You say the AIADMK front is not a strong alliance. But it has its own strengths and acceptance among the people. Dont you think the AIADMK alliance will be a challenge for you?

Half of the poll campaign is already over. Even now, it hasnt been decided what that alliance actually is. The BJP says it is the National Democratic Alliance. Leaders like T.T.V. Dhinakaran, Anbumani [Ramadoss] and G.K. Vasan say the same. Only [Edappadi] Palaniswami says it is the AIADMK alliance. Therefore, an alliance challenge does existbut that challenge is internal to the opposition.

Q/ You are calling your election manifesto a superstar. Why? And can the Rs8,000 purchase coupon scheme for housewives be implemented?

We do what we say. That is why the people have great faith in us and our election manifesto. The opposition parties also released manifestos, but the people didnt take notice. The reason is that they only talk and do not act. As soon as the DMK released its manifesto, the housewife coupon scheme became the talk of the town. You ask how we will achieve this. People asked the same when we announced the womens direct cash benefit transfer scheme. But we implemented it successfully. Today, that scheme has spread across India. Similarly, this housewife coupon scheme will also definitely be fulfilled.
Progressive leaders from around the globe gathered in Barcelona on Saturday to try and galvanize their forces and defend a rules-based world order.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, an outspoken critic of U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, hosted two overlapping events about democracy and progressive politics in Spains second-largest city.

Democrats U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz were present alongside the leaders of Brazil, South Africa and high-ranking officials from other left-leaning governments.

While no foreign leader criticized Trump by name in public, the staunchly unilateral position of the American president that breaks with decades of U.S. foreign policy, including his derision of NATO and the United Nations, hung over the meetings.

We all see the attacks against the multilateral system, the repeated attempts to undermine international law and the dangerous normalization of the use of force, Sanchez said.

Trump again lashed out on Saturday on social media at Sanchez, who has faced Trumps scorn for not allowing the U.S. to use jointly operated military bases in Spain for operations related to the Iran war and for refusing to raise military spending from 2% to 5% of GDP.

Has anybody looked at how badly the country of Spain is doing. Their financial numbers, despite contributing almost nothing to NATO and their military defense, are absolutely horrendous. Sad to watch!!! Trump posted on Truth Social.

Sanchez says the rights time is running out

Spain, like the U.S. and other developed countries, is in debt, but it has one of the worlds leading economies under Sanchez.

Sanchez told the rally of progressive politicians and party members held later on Saturday that the populist right screams and shouts not because they are winning but because they know their time is running out.

They know their vision of how the world should be ordered is falling apart due to the tariffs and wars, he said. Their embrace of climate change denial, of xenophobia, or sexism is their greatest error.

They have tried again and again to make us embarrassed of our beliefs. That ends now. From now on they can be the ones who feel ashamed.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and other leaders and officials, including Cabinet members from the United Kingdom and Germany, were in attendance at the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy that kicked off Saturdays double-header of political events at the Barcelona convention center.

Later in the day, Sanchez, Lula and Ramaphosa stayed put to attend the inaugural Global Progressive Mobilization, where some 6,000 left-leaning elected officials, policy analysts and activists exchanged ideas.

The far right is international, so we must be too, German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told a crowd of activists.

Democrats join rally

Sen. Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, spoke at the progressive rally and he didnt shy away from blasting Trump while celebrating the loss of power of Trumps ally Viktor Orban in elections in Hungary last week.

Donald Trump is out to end our democracy, Murphy said. We are not on the verge of a totalitarian takeover, we are in the middle of it.

But, he said, Americans are watching what is happening across the world, and the victory in Hungary just one week ago lifted our sails.

Walz, Kamala Harris vice presidential candidate who has faced a violent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement migration crackdown in Minnesota, threw barbs at U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who campaigned for Orban and has backed far-right parties in Europe.

Unlike our current vice president, Im not here to arrogantly lecture or scold you, I am not here to pick a fight with the Pope or host a rally for any local wannabe authoritarians, Walz said.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders all sent video messages played at the rally.

Progressives exchange ideas

Among concrete proposals to come from the events, Ramaphosa said South Africa will present a draft resolution to establish an International Panel on Inequality, aiming to tackle the growing wealth gap both within and between nations, to the U.N. General Assembly in September.

Sheinbaum plugged her idea that governments commit to spending the equivalent of 10% of their military budgets on reforestation projects.

Each year, instead of planting the seeds of war, we will plant the seeds of life, she said.

Sanchez argued for the importance of regulating social media to stop the spread of hate speech and disinformation. His government also said that it is working with Lulas Brazil on a tax for the ultrarich.

Lula, who met with Sanchez in a bilateral summit on Friday in Barcelona, kept the focus on how to invigorate the progressive moment. He avoided naming Trump except when he called for U.N. Security Council members to fulfill their obligation and guarantee peace.

Stop this madness of war because the world cannot bear any more wars, Lula said.

(AP)
FBI Director Kash Patel threatened to sue The Atlantic on Friday after the magazine published a lengthy investigative piece alleging erratic behavior, excessive drinking and unexplained absences during his tenure leading the bureau.

Patel, through his attorney, called the claims defamatory and said legal action was imminent. Print it, all false, Ill see you in court  bring your checkbook, Patel said in a statement included in the report itself.

The piece, headlined The FBI Director is MIA, was written by Atlantic staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick and draws on interviews with more than two dozen current and former officials, Capitol Hill staff, lobbyists, and hospitality-industry workers  all speaking anonymously.

Among the allegations: that Patel had a freak-out earlier this month after being locked out of a computer system, believing he was about to be fired in the wake of Attorney General Pam Bondis departure; that early morning meetings were repeatedly rescheduled due to late-night drinking; that members of his security detail had difficulty waking him on multiple occasions; and that a request was submitted for breaching equipment  typically used by SWAT teams  because he had been unreachable behind locked doors.

The report also raised questions about whether alcohol played a role in social media posts Patel made containing inaccurate information about active law enforcement investigations.

Some of Patels colleagues at the FBI worry that his personal behavior has become a threat to public safety, Fitzpatrick wrote, quoting one unnamed official: Thats what keeps me up at night.

The White House and Justice Department quickly rallied around Patel. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said he remains a critical player on the Administrations law and order team. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called the piece an anonymously sourced hit piece that does not constitute journalism, adding that Patel has accomplished more in 14 months than the previous administration did in four years.

FBI Assistant Director of Public Affairs Ben Williamson, who denied the allegations directly to Fitzpatrick before publication, was more caustic. This article is a compilation of pretty much every obviously fake rumor Ive heard the last 14 months, he said, except The Atlantic is the only one dumb enough to actually print it.

Patels attorney, Jesse Binnall, had sent the magazine a letter before publication warning that the claims were false and noting that Patels team had been given fewer than two hours to respond. Binnall singled out one allegation  involving the breaching equipment  as having no corroborating public record whatsoever and possibly being fabricated or drawn from a single hostile and unreliable source.

Both Patel and his team said a lawsuit would be filed. They were on notice that the claims were categorically false and defamatory. They published anyway. See you in court, Binnall wrote on X.

Patel told Fitzpatrick directly: See you and your entire entourage of false reporting in court  But do keep at it with the fake news, actual malice standard is now what some would call a legal lay up.

Fitzpatrick, appearing on MSNBC Friday night, said she stood by the reporting. I am a very careful, very diligent, award-winning investigative reporter, she said. We have excellent attorneys.

The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, echoed her: We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Buckley Carlson, a deputy press secretary for Vice President JD Vance and son of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, is leaving the administration to launch his own political consulting firm, Politico reported Friday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

Carlson informed Vance of his intention to depart in December, according to one source, but the transition was delayed by several months to ensure continuity in the office.

The departure comes amid a public falling-out between Tucker Carlson and President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Trump has attacked the elder Carlson repeatedly on Truth Social, calling him a Hand Flailing Fool, questioning his intelligence, and describing him as a broken person who should see a good psychiatrist.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer welcomed Buckley Carlsons exit, calling it a big positive for JD Vance and his 2028 Presidential campaign. Loomer also claimed that White House sources told her Trump had privately called Tucker Carlson an antisemite, adding that Hes not wrong.

Buckley Carlson has been publicly critical of U.S. policy toward Israel, arguing that Trump has prioritized Israeli interests over American ones. The President works for US. For you, for me, for our neighbors, friends, children, and parents, he wrote on X. He doesnt work for his donors, for Israel, or for any other foreign power, or lobby group.

He also posted a list of what he described as government deceptions  including 9/11, the 2020 election, January 6, the Epstein case, and what he labeled Iran-for-Israel  a reference to the theory that Israel pressured Trump into launching the February 28 strikes on Iran.

The White House did not immediately comment on Carlsons departure.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In the final days of the war, Doha reached a secret agreement with Tehran that led to a significant reduction in Iranian attacks on Qatar, Kan News reported on Motzei Shabbos.

A senior government official from a Gulf state confirmed rumors of a deal between the two countries to Kan News correspondent, Roi Kais, saying that understandings were reached after Irans strike on a major gas facility in northern Qatar.

According to the source, Iran agreed to scale back its attacks in exchange for a change in tone by Qatars popular Al-Jazeera media network, moving to a less aggressive tone towards Iran and allowing more airtime to Iranian spokespeople.

This did indeed happen, the source said, explaining that Tehran views Al Jazeera as a major and influential messaging platform to the Arab world. One of the prominent figures given airtime was Hassan Ahmadian from the University of Tehran, who appeared on both Al Jazeeras Arabic and English channels.

These appearances came as the networks tone toward Iran reportedly indeed softened, compared to earlier in the war when it broadcast strong condemnation of Irans attacks in the Gulf.

At one stage, Irans state broadcasting authority even threatened to strike Al Jazeeras offices in Doha, but later withdrew the threat and removed the evacuation warning. Qatar, for its part, rejected any link between the threat and a change in editorial policy.

Qatar has firmly denied these claims.

Kan News noted that it is important to remember that Qatar is considered one of the closest Gulf states to Iran under normal circumstances and has maintained diplomatic relations with Tehran even during periods of regional tension.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Russian strikes killed at least two people in Ukraine, officials said Sunday, as the Ukrainian military struck a drone factory in southwestern Russia.

A massive nighttime drone strike on Chernihiv in northern Ukraine killed a 16-year-old boy and wounded four others, according to the head of the citys military administration.

Rescuers found the teenagers body as they cleared away rubble, Dmytro Bryzhynskyi reported on Telegram on Sunday morning. He said the drone strike also wounded three women and one man. Several houses were set on fire, he added.

Russian drones also attacked the southern city of Kherson on Sunday, local officials reported.

A man died of his wounds after a drone hit a van driving through the city center, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional administration. A second man was hospitalized with blast injuries, regional authorities said.

Russia launched 236 drones into Ukrainian territory overnight into Sunday, Ukraines air force reported. Of those, 203 drones were shot down while 32 hit targets in 18 separate locations, it said.

Kyiv says it struck a Russian drone factory

Meanwhile, Ukraine hit a drone factory in the city of Taganrog, Ukraines General Staff reported. The site lies some 55 kilometers (35 miles) east of Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine in southwestern Russia.

According to the military, Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at the Atlant Aero factory, which designs and produces strike and reconnaissance drones, as well as components for more powerful UAVs that can carry guided bombs weighing up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds).

Ukraines navy said it carried out the attack on the drone factory in southern Russia, using domestically manufactured Neptune cruise missiles.

This defense enterprise is an important part of the Russian military-industrial complex, where drones were developed and manufactured, the navy said in an online post.

It also posted images showing a huge cloud of smoke over the city, which it said was the impact of the strikes.

Three people were injured in a nighttime air attack on commercial infrastructure in Taganrog, according to the Russian regional governor, Yuri Slyusar. He did not specify what facility was hit, but said warehouses were set on fire following the strike.

Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova said the strike damaged commercial enterprises in the city, as well as a vocational school and multiple cars.

Russias Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 274 Ukrainian drones during the night, as well as guided aerial bombs and a Neptune cruise missile. The ministry did not say how many struck targets.

Ukraine launches inquiry into mass shooting in the capital

Ukraines Interior Ministry on Sunday launched an official inquiry into a mass shooting in Kyiv the previous day that killed six people and wounded at least 14 others.

A gunman wielding an automatic weapon killed six people and barricaded himself inside a supermarket with hostages in the Ukrainian capital before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the attackers mental state as clearly unstable.

The 58-year-old gunman has not been named, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said he was born in Russia. Authorities worked to piece together a motive for the violence.

Several police officers were suspended for allegedly failing to respond appropriately in the initial stages of the shooting. Klymenko, the interior minister, described their behavior as shameful and unworthy of their role as police officers.

He said there was no plan to toughen gun ownership laws, arguing that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens had helped the countrys defense against Russia.

The mass shooting  unheard of in wartime Kyiv following Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022  took place in a busy central district of the city, outside an apartment block and a nearby shopping center, leaving bodies on a crowded street as bystanders fled for safety.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw victims bodies covered with emergency blankets before they were taken away.

Zelenskyy hits out at U.S. sanctions waiver for Russian oil

Elsewhere, Zelenskyy responded with dismay to the Trump administrations decision on Friday to extend its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments.

Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war, Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X, arguing that any additional revenue the Kremlin gets from oil sales is directly converted into new strikes against Ukraine.

That is why it is important that Russian tankers are stopped, not allowed to deliver oil to ports. The aggressors oil exports must decrease, and Ukraines long-range sanctions continue to work toward that goal, he added.

The so-called general license, intended to ease supply constraints resulting from the Iran war, means U.S. sanctions will not apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil that has been loaded on tankers as of Friday. It extended a similar 30-day license issued in March for Russian oil that had been loaded by March 11.

(AP)
A Dutch court sentenced a 58-year-old man to four years in prison, with one year suspended, for transferring approximately 8 million to Hamas-affiliated organizations over more than a decade, the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service announced Tuesday.

The Leidschendam resident made the transfers between 2010 and 2023 in cooperation with the Rotterdam-based Israa Charitable Foundation Netherlands. Prosecutors said he played a leading and decisive role in the collection and the ultimate destination of the funds and knowingly evaded sanctions by using intermediary structures to move the money to Hamas. He also misled financial institutions by concealing his ties to the foundation.

The U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Israa in June for its Hamas ties. According to OFAC, Israa is a member of the sanctioned Union of Good, an organization that allegedly reports directly to Hamass Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and raises funds for the terror group under the cover of charitable work. Israas representatives, Amin Ghazi Abu Rashed and Israa Abouo Rashed, are alleged Hamas operatives.

Prosecutors said the convicted man effectively continued the terrorism financing operation of Al Aqsa Foundation, a previously sanctioned Hamas front based in Germany, through Israa  picking up where Al Aqsa left off after OFAC sanctioned that group in 2003.

Al Aqsas director, Mahmoud Amr, was allegedly a Hamas activist. Israa employees in Denmark, Germany, and Norway have also been charged with Hamas financing.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Kosovo, a nation that relied on NATO peacekeepers for its own security in the aftermath of its war with Serbia, is preparing to send dozens of its soldiers abroad for the first time as part of the international force tasked with stabilizing Gaza.

Our country has been a security consumer, meaning NATO countries have contributed to the security of the Republic of Kosovo, Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci told The Associated Press. Today we are entering a phase where we are becoming a provider, or exporter, of security.

Kosovos parliament is set to formally approve the deployment on Friday, ratifying an earlier government decision to commit troops to the International Stabilization Force, a U.S.-backed mission established following last years ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The contingent will include several dozen officers, among them personnel from demining units, Maqedonci said. Their tasks will include humanitarian support, security assistance and other duties set by the mandate of the Gaza force. Final preparations are underway, with a U.S. representative assisting on vaccinations, visas and other technical arrangements.

The symbolism of the deployment runs deep in Pristina. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a split recognized by the United States and most of the European Union but still rejected by Belgrade. The path to statehood was opened by NATOs 1999 intervention, which forced Serb troops out of the territory after Belgrades crackdown on Kosovos separatist rebels and cleared the way for the international peacekeeping deployment that has underwritten the countrys security ever since.

For Kosovo, contributing troops to the Gaza mission is treated as a demonstration of how far the country has come in the intervening quarter-century.

The ISF has not yet deployed. It operates under President Donald Trumps Board of Peace, which Kosovo has joined alongside Indonesia, Albania and Kazakhstan, among other countries that have committed to participate.

Kosovo fields a security force of roughly 4,000 personnel that is being trained into a small, professional military aligned with NATO standards.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
We recently published Jim Cramer Discussed AI "Mojo" & Commented On These 13 Stocks. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer.

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is an American oil and gas refining and marketing company. Its shares are up by 119% over the past year and by 46% year-to-date. Piper Sandler discussed Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)s shares on April 8th as it raised the share price target to $263 from $236 and kept an Overweight rating on the stock. The financial firm commented that Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) could face headwinds in 2026 but perform well in the subsequent years. Consequently, Piper Sandler cut the oil companys first-quarter earnings and operating income estimates. Banking giant Goldman Sachs discussed Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)s shares on March 12th as it raised the share price target to $237 from $203 and kept a Buy rating. Goldman remarked that the coverage reflected an upgrade for the sector in the aftermath of hostilities in Iran. Cramer discussed Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) in the context of hostilities in Iran and the Permian Basin:

I will say that, the Permian theres been no pickup because these oil companies they say, weve seen it all before. I think thats precisely wrong. They havent seen it all before. This is different. No one thinks that this is going to be short term. But thats why you can still buy the refiners, David. . .you can still buy Valero. Okay. . .

Jim Cramer Shares Why He'd Buy Valero (VLO)

While we acknowledge the potential of VLO 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.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz escalated again on Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the United States pressed ahead with its blockade of Iranian ports.

Irans joint military command said, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state  under strict management and control of the armed forces. It warned it would continue to block transits while the U.S. blockade remained in effect.

Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker, and an unknown projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. Indias foreign ministry said it summoned Irans ambassador over the serious incident of firing on two India-flagged merchant ships, especially after Iran earlier let several India-bound ships through.

Israels Channel 12 reported on Motzei Shabbos that President Trump held an urgent security consultation with his top aides over the Straits closure and the stalemate in negotiations with Iran.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told Reuters on Saturday that there is currently no date for another round of talks with the United States, and that a framework of understandings must be reached before any new meeting, linking the maritime crisis to the diplomatic stalemate.

Meanwhile, Axios reported that the White House sees the Iranian move as a clear attempt to pressure Trump, three days before the end of the ceasefire. According to the report, Trump said that Iran is trying to be clever, but added that contacts are still ongoing. However, as of now, there is no date for another round of US-Iran negotiations.

On Friday, Iran announced the straits reopening to commercial vessels after a 10-day truce was announced between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. The reopening caused oil prices to fall.

Trump, however, said the U.S. blockade of Irans ports will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Trump had imposed the blockade after a round of historic face-to-face talks in Pakistan between the countries ended without an agreement.

U.S. forces have sent 23 ships back to Iran since the blockade began on Monday, U.S. Central Command said Saturday.

Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait. The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, the council said. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The renewed standoff over the strait came hours after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country was working to bridge differences between the U.S. and Iran. Pakistan is expected to host a second round of negotiations early next week.

Irans Supreme National Security Council said new proposals from the U.S. had been put forward during a visit to Iran by Pakistans army chief and were being reviewed.

But Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press that the Iranians were not ready for a new round of face-to-face talks because the Americans have not abandoned their maximalist position.

He also said Iran will not hand over its stock of 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium to the United States, calling the idea a nonstarter. Khatibzadeh did not address other proposals for the enriched uranium, saying only that we are ready to address any concerns.

Trump said Saturday that Iran got a little cute but that very good conversations were happening, and more information would come by days end. They cant blackmail us, he added.

On Friday, Trump said the U.S. will go into Iran and get all the nuclear dust, referring to the enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by U.S. military strikes last year.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem & AP)

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
An IDF reservist was killed on Friday night when an explosive device planted by Hezbollah detonated during an operation in a southern Lebanese village, the IDF announced on Motzei Shabbos.

Three additional soldiers were injured, two moderately and one lightly, in the incident.

The slain soldier was named as Warrant Officer (res.) Barak Kalfon, Hyd, 48, a husband and father of two from the yishuv of Adi in northern Israel. He served in the 226th Reserve Paratroopers Brigades 7056th Battalion.

The incident occurred during an operational activity to clear buildings in a southern Lebanese village. Kalfon, who was the first to enter the building alongside the company commander, was critically wounded by the force of the explosion.

He was treated at the scene and airlifted by helicopter to Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The medical team fought for hours to save his life, but were eventually forced to pronounce his death.

According to a preliminary IDF probe, the bomb was not remotely detonated, and it is believed that Hezbollah terrorists had booby-trapped the building the soldiers entered before the ceasefire went into effect.

Earlier on Motzei Shabbos, the IDF announced that IDF soldiers carried out several strikes on Hezbollah terrorists over the past day after they violated the ceasefire that went into effect at midnight on Thursday.

IDF troops struck and killed Hezbollah terrorists who approached IDF soldiers operating south of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon, and also eliminated Hezbollah terrorists entering a tunnel south of the Yellow Line and struck the tunnel itself.

The ceasefire does not restrict actions taken in self-defense and to remove immediate threats, the IDF spokesperson stated. The IDF will not allow harm to Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers and will take all necessary measures to ensure their safety. The IDF will continue to act to remove any threat to Israeli civilians and its troops.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Former Vice President Kamala Harris accused President Donald Trump of being drawn into war with Iran at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the conflict something the American people do not want.

Speaking at a Michigan Democratic Womens Caucus event in Detroit, Harris charged that Trump used Operation Epic Fury as a feeble attempt to distract from the Epstein files  invoking a line of criticism that has gained traction on both flanks of the political spectrum.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Harris used the speech to mount a sweeping attack on the administration, calling it the most corrupt, callous, and incompetent in American history.

On foreign policy, she argued that Trump has broken with decades of bipartisan tradition by abandoning the alliances that have anchored U.S. influence abroad. This president is the first president of the United States of either party since World War II to abandon Americas responsibility to nurture and protect our alliances, our friendships, she said.

Trump is also, she claimed, the first president to openly dismiss international norms around sovereignty and territorial integrity, leaving the U.S. unreliable to its partners and stripped of its credibility on the world stage.

Harris also addressed healthcare, reproductive rights, and the economy, though she offered few specifics. She closed on a bullish note for her party, predicting Democrats would retake the House and Senate in Novembers midterm elections.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a forceful statement praising Israel, calling it a GREAT ally of the United States in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America, Trump wrote.

He continued, They are Courageous, Bold, Loyal, and Smart and, unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress, Israel fights hard, and knows how to WIN!

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
When the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was announced, the IDF clarified that forces will remain in a security buffer zone at the border to protect northern communities, and Israel would maintain freedom of action to respond to potential violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah.

However, according to Army Radio journalist Doron Kadosh, the IDFs freedom of action in Lebanon during the current ceasefire has been significantly limited compared to the previous ceasefire, exposing IDF troops to danger not only from hidden explosives but also from the presence of terror cells operating in areas in or near IDF control, who may attempt sudden attacks on IDF forces.

To illustrate the danger to IDF forces, Kadosh explained that the incident in which a French UNIFIL soldier was killed by gunfire from Hezbollah terrorists on Shabbos occurred in a village located south of the Litani, very close to the Yellow Line, and only 2.5 kilometers from where IDF forces are stationed.

This is an incident that illustrates and confirms that Hezbollah is definitely still operating and present south of the Litani River, very close to our forces, Kadosh stated.

Regarding the restrictions on the IDFs freedom of action during the current ceasefire, Kadosh wrote: The IDFs announcement regarding the ceasefire terms in Lebanon makes clear that enforcement around the Yellow Line will look very similar to that in the Gaza Strip: terrorists who approach the forces or cross the Yellow Line will be killed, and inside the Yellow Line area, the IDF will be permitted to continue destroying buildings and terror infrastructure, Kadosh wrote.

Butand this is a very important butbeyond the Yellow Line, meaning most of southern Lebanon and most of the area south of the Litani, and certainly the Beirut and Bekaa regions, the IDF will not be permitted to operate or strike under the ceasefire.

The impression from this situation is that the IDFs freedom of action in Lebanon is more limited than it was under the previous ceasefire agreement in November 2024.

After the previous ceasefire, the IDF continued striking in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region daily, and even carried out several strikes in Beirut during the ceasefire. Over the course of the ceasefire, which lasted about a year and three months, the IDF killed approximately 450 Hezbollah terrorists, an average of one a day.

Before the current ceasefire was announced by President Trump, the IDF told the political leadership that there were two essential conditions for a ceasefire: remaining in the captured buffer zone (a defensible border), and freedom of action. The first condition was met; the second, it appears, is not being fully met.

If there are indeed stricter restrictions on freedom of action in Lebanon than under the November 2024 agreement, there is a real concern that Israel is now in a far worse situation in comparison to the period before the war, allowing Hezbollah to continue building up and entrenching itself in areas only a few kilometers from the border, north of the Yellow Line. That is a troubling issue that requires continued monitoring as the ceasefire takes shape.

In an Army Radio report on Sunday morning, Kadosh noted that the IDF spokesperson has been evasive about questions about the details of the ceasefire.

When its convenient for the IDF, it ignores media inquiries and doesnt volunteer information, he said.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
The IDF announced on Sunday that over 150 Hezbollah terrorists were killed in strikes in Lebanon in the 24 hours before the ceasefire went into effect, including a senior commander.

In the day prior to the ceasefire taking effect, the IDF struck hundreds of terrorists and terror infrastructure used by the Hezbollah terror organization to advance terror plots against Israel and IDF forces, the IDF spokesperson said.

As part of the strikes, over 150 Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated, and approximately 300 military infrastructure sites were struck, including launchers, headquarters, and weapons storage facilities in several areas of Lebanon.

The terrorist Ali Reza Abbas, the commander of the Bint Jbeil sector, was among those eliminated, along with additional Hezbollah commanders. He advanced numerous terror plots against IDF forces and Israel over the years, particularly during Operation Roaring Lion, and operated to rehabilitate the Bint Jbeil sector.

Abbas is the fourth commander of the Bint Jbeil sector to be eliminated by the IDF since the start of Operation Northern Arrows.

Prior to the IDFs announcement, Lebanese Hezbollah supporters reported Abbas death on social media, with some describing him as a senior Radwan Force figure, Ynet reported.

One post said that Abbas led the Radwan Forces during major confrontations with Israel over the past two years, and he played a major operational role in rehabilitating the unit.

According to reports, he received advanced military training in Iran and was considered one of Hezbollahs top operational officers.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
U.S. President Donald Trump responded with fury and frustration after a US jet was shot down over Iran, shouting at advisers for hours as the fate of the two crew members remained unknown, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

According to sources, images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis loomed in his mind. The Europeans arent helping, he repeated during those hours.

Trump demanded that the US Army immediately carry out an operation to rescue the crew. However, with no US forces on the ground in Iran, the military first had to formulate a complex plan to operate in enemy territory.

A senior administration official said that advisers kept Trump out of the room while the plan was being discussed, providing updates only at critical points to ensure his impatience didnt cloud the decision-making process.

According to the report, Trump had been wary of putting US boots on Iranian grounds, including a proposal to seize Kharg Island, saying that the soldiers would be sitting ducks.

His decision to enter the war in the first place surprised many due to his previous statements about wanting to avoid entanglement in Middle East conflicts.

However, after a February briefing from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, persistent pressure from the Saudi Crown Prince, and repeated discussions with supporters, including Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, Trump told advisers he trusted the military to carry out the operation.

According to the report, Trump did not make much effort to build public support for the war and grew frustrated by what he deemed as a lack of recognition for U.S. actions. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trumps frustration stemmed from unfair media coverage.

However, Trump was convinced of the value of a U.S. battle against Iran. Two senior officials told WSJ that Trump believes that a victory over Iran could allow him to reshape the global order.

At the start of the war, Trump told advisers: If we do this right, were saving the world.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
U.S. forces completed their withdrawal from Qasrak air base on Thursday when a final convoy of soldiers and equipment departed the site in Syrias Hasakah province, officials for both sides said.

The Syrian army has now taken full control of most military sites in the country where the U.S. military was once deployed.

Syrias foreign ministry said in a statement that the Syrian states restoration of sovereignty over areas that were outside its control, including the northeast and border regions, is the result of the Syrian governments continuous efforts to unify the country within the framework of a single state.

It said that the U.S. withdrawal came as a result of the successful implementation of a deal between Syrias central government in Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces  which had previously controlled much of northeast Syria  and of success in fighting the remnants of the Islamic State group.

U.S. Central Command chief spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the withdrawal.

U.S. forces have completed turning over all of our major bases in Syria, as part of a deliberate and conditions-based transition, Hawkins said, adding that the U.S. military will continue to support partner-led counterterrorism efforts, which are essential to ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS and strengthening regional security.

Convoys of trucks could be seen leaving the base Thursday, hauling military vehicles and equipment.

U.S. forces began withdrawing from Qasrak in late February, in what appeared to be part of a larger drawdown of U.S. forces in Syria. Earlier that month, the U.S. militarys Central Command and Syrias defense ministry announced that U.S. troops had left the al-Tanf base in eastern Syria near the border with Jordan.

The departure of U.S. forces from the bases came after the U.S. military completed the transfer of some 5,700 accused Islamic State terrorists from detention centers in northeast Syria to prisons in Iraq, where they will be put on trial.

The main mission of the U.S. troops in Syria was to prevent a resurgence of IS. The extremist group lost control of the last territory it held in Syria in 2019 but its sleeper cells have continued to stage periodic attacks in Syria, Iraq and abroad.

(AP)
Argentine President Javier Milei opened his official visit to Israel on Sunday with a prayer at the Kosel, marking the third time since taking office that he has begun a state visit at the Kosel.

My vision for the state is based on values of morality and faith, on justice and on the Jewish heritage. The adoption of Gods laws and the sanctification of liberty, life, and private property are the key to our prosperity. Only respecting these laws will bring us true freedom  physical and spiritual  and will build a heaven on earth, Milei said.

Shortly after landing in Israel, the president made his way directly to the Kosel, which he has repeatedly chosen as the opening point of his visits.

The delegation was welcomed by the Rav of the Kosel, Shmuel Rabinovitch, along with Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, Director General of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. They commended Milei for his strong and consistent support for Israel and the Jewish people, especially in recent years.

During the visit, Milei appeared emotional, describing the Kosel as the most important place for him. Together with Rabbi Rabinovitch, he recited Tehillim and offered a special prayer for peace and the continued strengthening of ties between Argentina and Israel.

As in previous visits, Milei is expected to return to the Kosel at the conclusion of his trip, once again ending his official visit with prayer at the holy site.

At the end of the visit, the president offered a personal prayer, received a gift of the book Milestones on the Jewish festivals in English from the Rav of the Kosel, and signed the official guestbook.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
While the IDF is trying to promote the Chashmonaim Brigade as the ultimate solution for integrating bnei yeshivos into the army, voices from within the defense establishment itself are raising doubts about the units ability to absorb mainstream Chareidi recruits, Kikar HShabbat reported.

Former senior defence official and financial consultant to the IDF chief of staff, Brig. Gen. (res.) Reem Aminach, who learned at a Chareidi yeshiva in the past, said on the Black Kippot program that the brigades current structure is far from meeting the needs of a typical yeshiva bochur.

There needs to be truly Chareidi brigadesones where a Chareidi mother who sends her son can be certain he will return Chareidi exactly as she sent him, he said.

He clarified that the problem begins at the command level: The staff in the Chashmonaim Brigade is Chardal (an acronym for  , referring to the Dati Leumi sector). Some of them may be more learned or makpid than her sonbut thats irrelevant. She wants a Chareidi son, and this staff does not represent the Chareidi value system she wants for him.

The current Chashmonaim Brigade is not suitable for the average Chareidi bochurits suitable for those on the margins, he asserted. If you were in a dropout yeshivaits fine. But if you came from Ponevezh or Ohr Elchanan? Its not suitable. The unit simply isnt designed for that.

Aminachs remarks carry particular weight due to his personal background. As someone who studied in a Chareidi yeshiva, he understands the nuances between the Chardal sector and the mainstream Chareidi worlda distinction he argues the military is failing to grasp.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
We recently published Jim Cramer Discussed AI "Mojo" & Commented On These 13 Stocks. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer.

Cramer has frequently discussed oil major Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)s shares since the onset of hostilities in Iran. The CNBC TV host has linked the shares to the duration of the conflict and outlined that the longer the conflict lasts, the better it will be for the shares. Since his remarks on the 13th, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)s shares are down by 1.9%. RBC Capital also discussed the firm on that day. It raised the share price target to $220 from $200 and kept an Outperform rating on the stock. Among the factors that RBC included in its latest coverage of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)s stock were an updated commodity price outlook and early guidance that could affect the firms volumes. Cramer discussed the impact of the disruption in the global energy market on the firms operations and commented on operations in the Permian Basin:

I will say that, the Permian theres been no pickup because these oil companies they say, weve seen it all before. I think thats precisely wrong. They havent seen it all before. This is different. No one thinks that this is going to be short term. But thats why you can still buy the refiners, David. . .I think Chevron goes right back to [inaudible]. I would buy Chevron.

Jim Cramer Shares Why He'd Buy Chevron (CVX)

Tupungato / Shutterstock.com

While we acknowledge the potential of CVX 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.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
On an almost daily basis, left-wing outlets publish articles with various claims about settlers attacking Palestinians. Most of the reports leave out vital information, omitting the fact that the settlers were only responding to an Arab-initiated attack. Some of the reports are completely false.

One of those incidents occurred about a month ago, when IDF and police forces were deployed to the Shomron to assist Jewish shepherds who were attacked by Arabs. While the Israeli forces were restoring order, one of the Arabs, a resident of the Palestinian Authority, was killed.

The Shin Bet and police later arrested an IDF reservist from the Shomron who was suspected of being involved in the Palestinians death. Media outlets reported that the reservist was suspected of killing the Palestinian without even mentioning that he was engaged in protecting the lives of Jews who were attacked!

The soldier, who served hundreds of days of reserve duty as an officer during the war in Gaza, was imprisoned for several days on an exceptional order preventing him from meeting a lawyer.

Attorney Nati Rom from the Honenu legal aid organization, who is now representing the soldier, slammed the Shin Bet and police, saying that none of the Arabs who attacked the shepherds were arrested or investigated, while the soldier who came to defend them is now imprisoned under draconian orders.

This is an absurd situation, Rom said. A soldier who dedicates his life to defending the state is being interrogated by the Shin Bet while Hamas issues a statement supporting the rioters. I call on the authorities to immediately reverse this harm to our heroic soldiers.

The CEO of the Yesha Council, Omer Rachamim, condemned the reservists arrest, writing on X: A reserve soldier is being held in a Shin Bet facility and denied access to a lawyer. I call on the Shin Bet to come to its senses and stop the questionable practice of denying access to legal counsel, especially regarding a heroic soldier who risked his life in the war.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
A high-risk confrontation in the Gulf of Oman has pushed tensions between Washington and Tehran to the brink, as the United States seized a massive Iranian-flagged cargo ship while diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict appeared to unravel in real time.

According to President Donald Trump, the nearly 900-foot vessel  identified as the TOUSKA  attempted to breach a U.S.-enforced maritime blockade before being intercepted by the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111).

U.S. Central Command said the ship ignored repeated warnings over a six-hour standoff as it sailed toward Bandar Abbas. In a calculated escalation, the destroyer ordered the evacuation of the vessels engine room before firing multiple rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 naval gun, disabling the ships propulsion and leaving it dead in the water.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit then boarded the crippled vessel and took it into custody. Officials described the operation as deliberate, professional, and proportional, stressing that force was used only after sustained noncompliance.

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Trump said the ship had been under U.S. Treasury sanctions tied to prior illicit activity and confirmed its cargo is now under inspection.

The dramatic seizure marks the most aggressive enforcement yet of the blockade imposed on April 13, which spans Iranian ports and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz  a critical artery for global oil shipments.

American forces in the region, backed by assets including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), remain actively engaged in enforcement operations. Another carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), is now moving into the region.

At the same time, warnings of a broader conflict are intensifying.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has raised the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz to critical, citing risks of mines, navigation interference, and sudden hostile encounters. The agency described the wider Arabian Gulf as a high-risk operating environment, warning that even minor incidents could spiral rapidly.

Iran has already signaled that it views Sundays events as an act of aggression.

The countrys joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by attacking what it says was a commercial vessel traveling from China, and vowed retaliation against what it called armed piracy.

But even as military tensions surged at sea, diplomacy on land appeared to collapse.

Iran formally rejected participation in a second round of U.S.-led talks, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, which cited excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade as reasons for its refusal.

IRNA also accused Washington of playing a blame game, alleging the U.S. falsely claimed Iran would attend talks to increase pressure.

Earlier Sunday, Trump said Iran had committed a serious violation of the ceasefire but insisted a deal remains within reach. In comments reported by journalist Jonathan Karl, Trump maintained optimism, later telling Axios: I feel fine about it. The concept of the deal is done. I think we have a very good chance to get it completed.

The White House had been preparing for negotiations in Islamabad, with a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner expected to attend.

Two sources told The Jerusalem Post the U.S. hoped to secure a framework agreement before negotiating details. But Iranian officials have repeatedly denied any such talks will take place while the blockade remains in effect.

The result is a rapidly widening gap: escalating military confrontation in one of the worlds most critical waterways, paired with a diplomatic track that is faltering  if not already broken.

With Iran vowing retaliation, U.S. forces surging into the region, and talks hanging by a thread, Sundays events may mark not just a dramatic maritime seizure  but a turning point toward a far more dangerous phase of the conflict.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Have IT image it with your companys operating system, software, and security policies.

Walk them through setup over the phone.

Pray nothing goes wrong.

When an employee leaves, reverse the process  and hope the laptop makes it back in one piece, with all company data still on it and nothing copied off.

Multiply that by dozens, hundreds, or thousands of employees and you have a full-time IT operation dedicated just to moving hardware around. Its slow. Its expensive. And every laptop in the wild is a security risk waiting to happen.

What a Cloud Desktop Actually Is

A cloud desktop is a full Windows computer  real Windows, the same operating system your team already knows  running in a secure data center. Your employees log in from any device with a browser, and they see a complete Windows desktop with their files, their applications, and their settings, exactly as they left them.

They can connect from a MacBook, a Windows laptop, an iPad, a Chromebook, or a basic PC. It doesnt matter. The actual computing happens in the cloud. The local device is just a window into it.

The result: your team gets a powerful, consistent Windows environment. Your companys data never lives on anyones personal device. And you never ship another laptop again.

From Signup to a Running Desktop in Under Five Minutes

The headline feature of OWD Cloud Desktops is speed. You pick the specs  CPU count, RAM, storage, region  you assign who has access, and the machine is live. Usually in under five minutes.

That means:

 A new hire can start working on day one, not day fifteen.

 A contractor in another country can be productive by the time you hang up the phone.

 A seasonal employee can be set up on Monday and decommissioned on Friday, with zero hardware waste.

 A replacement computer for a crashed device is ready before lunch.

No imaging. No shipping. No IT ticket. No waiting.

Picture a Small Office With Five Secretaries

Imagine a small office with five secretaries. Four work on-site. One works from home.

In the traditional setup, youd buy five laptops or desktops, have IT configure each one individually, and then try to figure out how to give the remote secretary the same access to shared files, software, and printers as everyone else.

With cloud desktops, every one of those five secretaries logs into the same kind of virtual desktop. Same machine. Same apps. Same experience. Whether shes sitting at the office desk or logging in from her kitchen table, the environment is identical.

The whole office runs on virtual computers. Local or remote, it doesnt matter  because theres nothing special about the hardware in front of anyone. All the real work happens in the cloud.

And when someone leaves? You shut their desktop down in seconds. No laptop to retrieve. No data to wipe. No loose ends.

Security Built Into Every Layer

Most security breaches start with hardware. A stolen laptop at an airport. A misplaced USB drive. A personal device that was just borrowed to check work email.

Cloud desktops remove that entire attack surface. Your companys files, applications, and sensitive data stay on OWDs infrastructure  encrypted with AES-256, isolated in dedicated environments, and protected by zero-trust access policies.

Whats included out of the box:

 End-to-end AES-256 encryption, in transit and at rest

 Zero-trust architecture  every session verified, multi-factor authentication required

 Role-based access control  grant specific people specific permissions

 Isolated compute environments  every desktop runs in its own secure container

 Instant offboarding  shut down an employees access in seconds when they leave the company

 Complete audit logs  every action tracked with a timestamp and user identity

 Multi-region deployment  meet GDPR, HIPAA, and other data residency requirements

For regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and legal services, this isnt just convenient  its often a compliance requirement.

Heavy Workloads, Serious Horsepower

Cloud desktops arent just for administrative staff and knowledge workers. If you need raw computing power  for video editing, 3D rendering, engineering software, live streaming, or high-end gaming  OWD Cloud has instances built for that too.

Were talking configurations with up to 128 gigabytes of RAM, high vCPU counts, GPU acceleration, and network speeds over 10 gigabits per second. The kind of machine that would cost $8,000 to buy outright, available on demand, running in a data center with enterprise-grade networking.

Content creators get render speeds they couldnt afford locally. Engineers get dedicated compute without the hardware procurement cycle. Streamers get bandwidth and uptime that no home internet connection can match.

More Than Just Desktops: A Complete Secure Workspace

Cloud desktops are the centerpiece, but OWD Cloud is actually a full platform of tightly integrated products  all working together from a single login.

OWD Cloud Drive  Encrypted Storage Your Whole Team Can Actually Use

OWD Cloud Drive is encrypted cloud storage built specifically for organizations. Unlimited users. Unlimited file sizes. Unlimited folders. And you choose the exact region where your data is stored, from 16 global locations.

Because it integrates directly with your cloud desktop, your files appear as a native drive the moment your team logs in. No sync client. No downloads. No version conflicts. Open a document, edit it, save it  everything happens inside your encrypted workspace, with zero local data footprint.

Shared drives, granular permissions, full file version history, and zero-knowledge encryption are included in every plan. Pricing is straightforward  $26.99 per terabyte per month on annual billing  with no per-user fees, ever.

OWD Authenticator  2FA Management for Teams

Two-factor authentication is essential. Its also a nightmare to manage across a team. What happens when the employee who had the companys AWS 2FA code on his personal phone leaves? What happens when three people need to log into the same vendor account?

OWD Authenticator solves this. Its an encrypted vault for your organizations 2FA codes, built directly into your OWD workspace. Store unlimited TOTP tokens. Organize them into folders by team or project. Share live authentication codes with the employees who need them  without ever handing over the underlying secret.

When an employee leaves, their access to shared codes is revoked instantly. No scrambling to reset 2FA on every shared account. No account lockouts because the only person with the code is on vacation. Just centralized, encrypted, auditable 2FA for your whole team.

OWD Uptime Monitor  Free Forever

If you run a website, an API, or any kind of online service, you need to know the moment it goes down. OWD Uptime Monitor checks your endpoints every 30 seconds from data centers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia  and alerts you via email, SMS, Slack, or webhook the second anything fails.

Its 100% free. No credit card. No feature gates. No trial period that expires. Its a standalone service OWD Cloud offers to the community because every business deserves to know when something breaks.

Who Cloud Desktops Are For

The short answer: any organization that currently hands computers to employees.

The longer answer:

 Small businesses that want to hire anywhere without shipping hardware

 Remote and hybrid teams that need a consistent environment across every location

 Schools, yeshivas, and nonprofits that need to equip staff without huge upfront hardware costs

 Financial services and legal firms that need compliance-grade security and audit trails

 Creative agencies that move massive files and need collaboration without version chaos

 Developers and engineers running resource-intensive software on dedicated instances

 Seasonal and project-based businesses that need to scale headcount up and down fast

 Content creators and streamers needing raw horsepower without buying a $5,000 rig

If your team uses computers  and whose doesnt  theres a reason to at least consider the cloud desktop model.

One Platform. One Dashboard. One Bill.

The real payoff of OWD Cloud isnt any single product. Its that cloud desktops, cloud storage, 2FA management, and uptime monitoring all work together in one integrated workspace.

One login. One admin dashboard. One support team that understands your whole setup. Instead of juggling half a dozen vendors  virtual desktops from one provider, file storage from another, authentication from a third  your organizations entire digital infrastructure lives in one place.

For IT teams, thats a massive reduction in complexity. For business owners, its one bill instead of five. And for employees, its a single, coherent workspace where everything they need is already connected.

Getting Started

The philosophy behind OWD Cloud is simple: every business  from a five-person office to a ten-thousand-person enterprise  deserves the same kind of infrastructure that used to be available only to Fortune 500 companies. And it should be deployable in minutes, not months.

Whether you need a single cloud desktop for one remote contractor or a fleet of virtual workstations for a growing team, the setup process is the same. Pick your specs. Choose your region. Assign access. Youre running in under five minutes.

Visit owdcloud.com to create your account and get started. No hardware required. No long-term contract. Cancel anytime.

The era of shipping laptops is ending. The era of the secure, flexible, five-minute virtual desktop has already begun.

Ready to stop shipping laptops?  Create your Cloud Desktop  Explore OWD Cloud Drive  Secure Your Team With OWD Authenticator
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. On April 18, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the sides discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Jordan, as well as the situation in the Middle East.

The sides emphasized the importance of further developing friendly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Jordan, as well as the need to intensify efforts to expand cooperation both bilaterally and within international organizations. It was noted that the mutual support based on friendship and solidarity within the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE and other multilateral platforms deserves high appreciation.

During the meeting, the ministers held detailed discussions on the current security situation in the Middle East.

The sides stated that the resolution of the crisis is possible only through political and diplomatic means, expressing hope for successful results of dialogue and negotiations.

They also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. On April 18, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Guinea-Bissaus Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, Joao Bernardo Vieira, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

According to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, the meeting focused on prospects for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Guinea-Bissau, as well as opportunities for collaboration in political, economic, humanitarian, tourism, energy and other fields.

The sides noted the importance of continuing joint efforts to advance common interests within multilateral platforms, particularly the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement.

They emphasized the need to expand economic and trade ties, exchange experience in the development of natural resources, share knowledge and best practices in public service delivery, and make more active use of scholarship programs and other opportunities in education and vocational training.

It was noted that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to further developing relations with countries of the African continent, including Guinea-Bissau.

The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
John Deere agreed to pay a $99 million settlement in a class action lawsuit brought by some of its customers.

This month, John Deere, one of the global leaders of agricultural equipment, agreed to pay a $99 million settlement in a class action lawsuit brought by some of its customers.

For Wisconsin farmers, that means people who paid John Deeres authorized dealers for repairs to large agricultural equipment since January 2018 are eligible for refunds. And every farmer who has John Deere equipment should get access to the parts and tools to repair for 10 years.

To me the most relevant rights are the rights of the farmer, Nathan Proctor, the senior right-to-repair campaign director for the Public Interest Research Group, told WPRs Wisconsin Today.

The lawsuit advocating for the right-to-repair movement accused the company of monopolizing maintenance of its products by limiting access to repair software. Proctor said that sometimes farmers are waiting weeks for technicians to come to their farms and repair the expensive equipment, while farmers fields deteriorate.

A John Deere combine unloads corn into an awaiting semi-trailer. After years of waiting on dealers, farmers gain repair rights in John Deere settlement.

John Deere admitted no fault in the lawsuit and remains in control of the copyright for its software and patents for its equipment.

Proctor joined WPRs Wisconsin Today to speak about what this settlement means.

The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Rob Ferrett: The argument from John Deere is theyve got proprietary software and these intellectual property issues. Is there a risk to John Deere by making some of this information more available?

Nathan Proctor: I would summarize that argument as the benevolent monopoly. John Deere has locked you out of the personal equipment that they sold to you for several $100,000 because theyre just worried about you and they have your best interests at heart.

Thats cold comfort to somebody whos about to lose their entire farm because the equipment that they need to fertilize or to seed or to harvest is stuck in limp mode, waiting for the John Deere dealership to come out and plug in a computer and hit a button.

RF: What type of farm equipment are we talking about?

NP: Over the last several decades the technology thats used on farms has really advanced. The equipment is taking precise measurements of the moisture and the nitrogen and the other elements in the soil, it is creating 3D GPS-guided maps to maximize the yield that people get the more plant per seed.

Unfortunately, that software and those features also come with the opportunity to lock the equipment in ways that undermine the farmers ownership rights over that pricey equipment.

RF: Are there such scenarios where without a specific dealership technician I cannot use the equipment?

NP: There are scenarios under which the only solution possible to get the equipment up and running again is if somebody with the John Deere software tool shows up and plugs in that tool to your equipment and runs whatever process they need to run.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fuad Muradov departed on a working visit to Mexico, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora said, Trend reports.

The chairman of the committee and staff members visited the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Mexico, laid a wreath at the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, and honored his memory. As part of the event, a video report on the Great Leaders official visit to Mexico in 1982 was presented.

Later, the Mexico-Azerbaijan Friendship Park located on Paseo de la Reforma, the central avenue of Mexico City, was visited. This friendship park is regarded as a symbol of friendly relations between the two peoples.

One of the main events of the visit was a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. The chairman of the committee met with Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad under Mexicos Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, it was particularly emphasized that Azerbaijans diaspora policy has been developing dynamically during the presidency of Ilham Aliyev. The approaches of both countries to working with citizens living abroad were also discussed, and views were exchanged on issues of mutual interest.

The chairman of the committee spoke about the history of the institution he leads, its activities, and important projects being implemented. He noted that Azerbaijani communities abroad have united closely around national values and have succeeded in becoming a soft power of the country abroad.

It was also noted that 32 Azerbaijan Houses and around 100 weekend schools have been established in 20 foreign countries, while the implemented projects cover hundreds of thousands of compatriots, contributing to the successful integration of Azerbaijanis abroad and their positive role in the socio-political life of their countries of residence.

Tatiana Clouthier, in turn, stated that the institution she heads carries out important work to protect the rights of Mexican migrants living in various countries around the world, preserve their national identity, support the development of entrepreneurship, especially the involvement of women in business, and assist childrens education. It was noted that Mexico attaches great importance to diaspora policy, as 11 million Mexicans live in the United States alone.

The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Mexico Seymur Fataliyev and employees of the diplomatic mission.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico through the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad.

This important document provides for strengthening support for Azerbaijani and Mexican communities living abroad, protecting their rights and interests, and creating mechanisms for cooperation in various fields. Within the framework of the memorandum, regular consultations between the parties, expanded exchange of information and experience, and the organization of joint projects and training programs are planned.

The document strengthens the institutional foundations of cooperation between the two countries in the field of diaspora affairs and creates a basis for implementing broader initiatives in the future.

Overall, this visit and the signed memorandum, along with contributing to the development of Azerbaijan-Mexico relations, open new opportunities for the more effective and coordinated implementation of diaspora activities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. On April 19, President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

During the phone conversation, the two leaders fondly recalled President Ilham Aliyevs official visit to Serbia this February and the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia, held with the participation of the heads of state. The importance of the documents signed during the visit for strengthening cooperation was emphasized.

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Serbia exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral relations and discussed plans to deepen economic cooperation, as well as further developing energy, investment, and new joint projects of strategic importance to both countries.

Aleksandar Vucic once again expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the continuous support provided to Serbia and reaffirmed his countrys determination to continue developing relations with Azerbaijan in the spirit of sincere friendship, mutual respect, and a shared interest in economic progress.

Aleksandar Vucic described this as confirmation of the strong partnership and mutual trust between the two countries. The President of Serbia also stated that he will participate in the 13th session of the World Urban Forum to be held in Baku next month.

During the phone conversation, the leaders expressed satisfaction with the launch of direct flights on the BelgradeBaku route by Air Serbia starting from May 3. The Presidents described this as an important step toward bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together and strengthening the economies, including tourism potential.

The heads of state exchanged views on the current situation in the Middle East and once again underlined the importance of restoring peace and stability as one of the main conditions for the security and development of the region.
Photo: Office of the President of the Republic of Serbia

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. On April 19, during a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that he would attend the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, which will be held in Baku next month, Trend reports.

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Serbia exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral relations and discussed plans to deepen economic cooperation, as well as further developing energy, investment, and new joint projects of strategic importance to both countries.

Aleksandar Vucic once again expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the continuous support provided to Serbia and reaffirmed his countrys determination to continue developing relations with Azerbaijan in the spirit of sincere friendship, mutual respect, and a shared interest in economic progress.

Aleksandar Vucic described this as confirmation of the strong partnership and mutual trust between the two countries.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Azerbaijan exported 96.772 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in the period from January through March 2026.

The data obtained by Trend from the State Customs Committee indicates that revenue from electricity exports amounted to $5.09 million.

Compared to the same period in 2025, the volume of electricity exports decreased by 343.6 million kilowatt-hours, or 4.5 times, and in monetary terms, by $19.3 million, or 4.8 times.

Meanwhile, electricity exports accounted for 0.59% of the non-oil sector.

In addition, it is noted that in the period from January through March 2026, Azerbaijans foreign trade totaled $9.4 billion, which is $2.6 billion, or 21.9%, less than the same period last year.

Of the total foreign trade, exports amounted to $5.4 billion, while imports totaled $4.005 billion. Over the past year, exports decreased by $984 million, or 15.4%, and imports by $1.6 billion, or 29.3%.

Consequently, the trade balance showed a surplus of $1.3 billion, which is $675 million, or 1.9 times, higher than last year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Azerbaijan exported 61,000 tons of crude oil and bituminous petroleum products to France in March, with a total value of $24.1 million, Trend reports, citing the countrys State Customs Committee.

No figures were released for exports to France during the same month last year, making year-over-year comparison unavailable for that market.

Overall, Azerbaijan exported 5.077 million tons of crude oil and petroleum products to global markets between January and March, generating $2.501 billion in revenue.

The data shows a notable decline compared to the same period in 2025. Export value fell by $836 million, a drop of 25.1%, while export volumes decreased by 934,000 tons, or 15.5%.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 20. Kazakhstan and Turkiye are currently implementing agricultural investment projects worth more than $1 billion, Kazakhstan Vice Minister of Agriculture Yermek Kenzhehanuly said, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh government.

Kenzhehanuly emphasized that bilateral trade in agricultural products grew by more than 25% in 2025, reaching approximately $360 million. The primary exports from Kazakhstan to Turkiye include grain and legumes, with 395,000 tons of legumes shipped in 2025.

He noted that Kazakhstan intends to further increase exports of these agricultural products, supported by the ongoing diversification of crop areas and a rise in legume production. Additionally, Kenzhehanuly highlighted significant potential for expanding livestock product exports.

Furthermore, he pointed out that Kazakhstan and Turkiye have jointly implemented around 10 projects in recent years, totaling approximately $400 million in agricultural production, processing, and confectionery manufacturing. The two countries are also currently working on the implementation of five major investment projects valued at $2 billion.
April 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department is preparing an antitrust suit against a few major egg producers, including Cal-Maine Foods and Versova, over alleged price coordination, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Shares of Cal-Maine Foods were down nearly 5% in extended trading following the news.

U.S. egg producers have been facing a growing wave of class action lawsuits accusing them of price fixing, amid consumer frustration over higher prices of food products, including eggs.

Earlier this month, Cal-Maine said it was cooperating with a U.S. Justice Department investigation into potential price-fixing by egg producers, after a civil investigative demand, adding that the scope, duration and outcome of the probe were uncertain.

Cal-Maine and privately held Versova did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The lawsuit claims the egg producers coordinated using an industry price-benchmarking service, according to the report.

Friday's report said the agency and the egg producers could still reach a settlement to avoid litigation.

The Justice Department is also separately investigating the markets for beef, fertilizer and crop seeds, the report added.

(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Iran has no plans to supply enriched uranium to the United States, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh says, Trend reports.

He added that this issue is not subject to discussion.

"We will not send enriched materials to the United States; this issue is not under discussion," he said.

The deputy minister also said that Iran and the United States had exchanged messages, but Washington was making excessive demands on Tehran.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran have killed around 3,500 people, the head of the Foundation for the Causes of the Dead Seyed Ahmad Mousavi said, Trend reports.

According to him, since the beginning of the conflict, there have been reports of 3,468 deaths.

According to the initial agreement, a 14-day ceasefire was declared between the United States and Iran on April 8.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. The Iranian authorities have decided not to participate in a new round of negotiations with the United States, Trend reports.

According to the information, the reasons were the US's inflated demands, unrealistic expectations, constant changes in negotiating positions, contradictory statements, and the ongoing naval blockade of Iran.

Meanwhile, as no tangible progress was made in the nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, the situation escalated on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military airstrikes against Iran. In retaliation, Iran initiated missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. installations in the region. Following these developments, a two-week ceasefire agreement was brokered on April 7 through Pakistan's mediation. However, during subsequent talks between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad on April 11, no consensus was reached.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif had a telephone conversation with President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the evolving regional situation, Shehbaz Sharif wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"I had a warm and constructive conversation with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian this evening on the evolving regional situation.

I appreciated Irans engagement, including its high-level delegation to Islamabad for the historic talks, and recent discussions with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Tehran.

I also shared insights from my recent engagements with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.

I assured him that, with the support of friends and partners, Pakistan remains fully committed to its role as an honest and sincere facilitator of lasting peace and regional stability", he wrote.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 20. US forces have detained an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, US President Donald Trump on Truth Social, Trend reports.

According to him, the ship was stopped for attempting to break the naval blockade.

Trump wrote that the American destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel Touska in the Gulf of Oman and ordered the crew to stop. However, the Iranian sailors refused to comply.

"The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel," he added.
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In Pictures: 1st Batch of Hajj 2026 Pilgrims Arrive in Makkah, Madinah

The first batch of pilgrims arrived in Makkah al Mukarramah and Madinah al Munawwarah as Hajj 2026 operations formally kicked off Saturday April 18, 2026

Hajj 2026: The first batch of pilgrims arrived in Makkah al Mukarramah and Madinah al Munawwarah as Hajj 2026 operations formally kicked off Saturday April 18, 2026.

The flights carrying pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Turkiye landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah from where pilgrims travelled by road and trains to The Two Holy Cities.

Saudi Arabia has allocated India a quota of 175,025 and Pakistan 179,210 pilgrims for this years Hajj. Likewise other countries too have been allotted pilgrim quota based on the population of Muslims in the respective countries.

The Indian Hajj pilgrims after their arrival at Madinah airport were received by Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, along with other senior Saudi and Indian officials.

Suhel Khan also inspected facilities at the airport and met Indian community volunteers assisting Hajj pilgrims.

Makkah Route Initiative

Pilgrims from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Malaysia arrived for Hajj 2026 under the Makkah Route Initiative. Established in 2017 and officially activated in 2019, the Makkah Route Initiative is a revolutionary program aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience for worshipers from Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Maldives and the Ivory Coast.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior later expanded the Makkah Route Initiative to 17 entry points across 10 countries that included Senegal and Brunei Darussalam which will enjoy the facilities for the first time this year.

The initiative is designed to provide a seamless, high-quality Hajj experience by completing all entry procedures in pilgrims home countries. This includes the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, passport control, and verification of health requirements at the departure airport.

Additionally, luggage is coded and sorted according to accommodation arrangements in Saudi Arabia, allowing pilgrims to board dedicated buses upon arrival in Makkah and Madinah without waiting at baggage claim.

The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and other government entities. Since its launch in 2017, it has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.

Haj performed annually is one of the five pillars of Islam. The likely date of Hajj 2026 is May 24 to 29, 2026. The final date of Haj 2026 (1447), however, will be confirmed after Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH moon sighting.

[With inputs from Arab News]

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What are UFO files Pentagon plans to release?

The UFO files that the Pentagon plans to release refer to the official records, documents, and investigative reports related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena as they have been officially named

Washington: The UFO files that the Pentagon plans to release refer to the official records, documents, and investigative reports related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena as they have been officially named.

The UFO files include their sightings, radar data, witness statements from pilots, military personnel, and civilians, internal memos, analyses, and policy discussions about unexplained aerial events.

Governments, including that of the United States, have collected these files for decades, primarily to assess potential threats to national security or airspace. Most sightings turn out to be explainable e.g., weather balloons, aircraft, drones, stars, or atmospheric phenomena, but a small percentage remain unexplained even after investigation.

The UFO has long been generated interests worldwide. The latest interest in the UFO was sparked after U.S. President Donald Trump said the documents in the custody of the Pentagon, the headquarters of US Department of Defense, will be released soon.

Trump on Saturday April 18, 2026 teased the UFO documents that the Pentagon will release saying he found them very interesting. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Trump said he figured it was a 'good crowd' to provide an update, as the people were really into the topic.

"As you remember, I recently directed the Secretary of War to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomenon," said Trump.

"This process is well underway, and we found many very interesting documents, I must say, and the first releases will begin very, very soon," he added.

The Pentagon had earlier launched a portal and online platform for free access the videos, photos and data of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), officially known as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Trump now said the files will soon be available for public access soon.

Based on the tremendous interest show. I will be directing Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters," said Trump.

This comes after repeated allegations that the U.S. is hiding key details about UFO. Most recently, former US Air Force intelligence officer Retired Maj. David Grusch told a House of Representatives' Subcommittee the United States is hiding a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).

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Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) is correctly classified in the energy sector. However, the lofty 5.4% dividend yield is backed by a reliable fee-generating midstream business located in North America. The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East isn't a major factor for the company, even if it leads to a global recession. But there's more to the story than just oil, which is why Enbridge could change your financial future.

Enbridge is a reliable business

Enbridge moves oil and natural gas on behalf of other energy companies. It charges fees for the use of its energy infrastructure assets, such as pipelines, so the price of what is being moved is less important than the volume being transported across its midstream system. Energy is vital to the modern world, so volume tends to be strong regardless of energy prices and stock market dynamics, and it tends to hold up fairly well during economic downturns.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on a little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly," providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need.



Continue 

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That's the foundation on which Enbridge has built a 31-year streak of annual dividend increases (in Canadian dollars). If you are a dividend investor, Enbridge's well-above-market yield should be of interest based on just that information. But the story is more interesting than that, because the company's overarching goal is to provide the world with the energy it needs. This is why Enbridge has been increasing its investment in regulated natural gas utilities and clean energy.

Enbridge is investing in reliable cash flow generators

Regulated natural gas utilities aren't exciting assets, but they generate reliable cash flows. Just as important, they have fairly predictable capital investment needs. Regulators are generally happy to approve the requested spending and allow reasonable rate increases. Like Enbridge's pipeline operations, its regulated natural gas utilities are slow-and-steady growers.

The relatively small investment in clean energy, meanwhile, is all supported by long-term power contracts. Once again, the focus is on reliable cash flows to support the dividend. However, the real draw for investors here isn't the cash flow; it's Enbridge's purposeful effort to position itself to thrive over the long term. If you buy Enbridge, you are buying a midstream company, but one that is looking decades ahead to a future with more clean energy.

Enbridge's yield is the up-front draw, but only half the story

Of course, investors looking at Enbridge will find the high dividend yield and impressive dividend history attractive. But it is the business that backs the yield that is so important. Its midstream focus shields it from today's commodity volatility, and its investments beyond the midstream give it long-term appeal. If you are a buy-and-hold dividend investor, owning Enbridge is a good way for you to help ensure that your income keeps up with whatever the future has to hold.
The U.S. Department of Education published a sweeping Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on April 17 that would  for the first time in the history of federal higher education policy  hold every postsecondary program at every type of institution to a single earnings-based accountability standard, with the loss of federal student loan eligibility as the consequence for programs that fail.

The proposed rule, the third and final of three rules the Department has issued to implement the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025, is now open for public comment through May 20, 2026 at regulations.gov. The Department may modify the rule in response to comments before publishing a final rule, which is expected to take effect July 1, 2026.

This is one of the most consequential higher education policy proposals in decades. Students, faculty, and anyone considering enrolling in a college or university program should understand what it proposes  and what it does not.

The Core Mechanism: The Earnings Premium Test

Under the proposed rule, every postsecondary program  from an eight-week culinary certificate to a doctoral program  must pass what the Department calls an "earnings premium test." The test compares the median earnings of a program's graduates against a benchmark based on the education level of typical workers in the broader labor market.

For undergraduate degree programs, the median earnings of graduates must exceed the median earnings of working adults aged 25 to 34 with only a high school diploma. For graduate programs, graduates' median earnings must exceed those of working adults aged 25 to 34 with only a bachelor's degree.

If a program fails this test in two of three consecutive years, it loses eligibility for federal Direct Loans  meaning students enrolling in that program can no longer borrow federal money to pay for it. Programs that fail cannot simply restart under a new name; the rule includes provisions preventing institutions from enrolling new students in "substantially similar" programs for at least two award years following closure.

A second, more severe threshold applies to Pell Grants. If failing programs account for at least half of an institution's students receiving Title IV aid, or at least half of the institution's total Title IV funding, those programs also lose Pell Grant eligibility. This Pell Grant consequence requires the same two-of-three-year failure pattern before taking effect.

The earliest any program could lose Direct Loan eligibility is July 1, 2028  because the first earnings calculations won't be published until July 1, 2027, and programs must fail in two of three years before losing access.

Why This Matters  and What Makes It Historic

Previous earnings-based accountability rules in federal higher education policy  most notably the Gainful Employment rule in various iterations under Obama and Biden  applied only to certificate programs and for-profit institutions. Nonprofit colleges and public universities offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees were largely exempt.

The proposed rule eliminates that distinction entirely. It applies the same earnings test to a cosmetology certificate at a for-profit school, a bachelor's degree in fine arts at a private nonprofit, a master's degree in religious studies at a public university, and a law degree at an elite institution. The rule's stated rationale is that taxpayer-funded federal student loans should not flow to programs that leave graduates financially worse off than if they had never attended.

As Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent stated in the press release: "If postsecondary education programs do not leave graduates better off, taxpayers should not subsidize them."

The Department notes that the existing debt-to-earnings metric from the Gainful Employment/Financial Value Transparency regulations has been eliminated as part of this rule, on the grounds that the new earnings premium test captures the same information without the duplicative burden.

Which Programs Are at Risk  and the Data Behind the Rule

The Department shared data analysis during the AHEAD Committee negotiations that gives a clearer picture of what the proposed rule would actually do in practice.

According to data presented by the negotiating committee: approximately 6% of all higher education programs are estimated to fail the earnings premium test. The failure rate is highly uneven across program types. Undergraduate certificate programs have the highest estimated failure rate  approximately 29% of certificate programs are projected to fail. Fields of study with the highest projected failure rates include Culinary Services, Cosmetology, Drama and Fine Arts, Religious Studies, and Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

By institution type, for-profit institutions have the highest estimated proportion of students enrolled in programs projected to fail  approximately 55% of for-profit students are in programs that would not pass the test. Public universities and private nonprofits have significantly lower failure rates, but they are not zero.

An earlier analysis by NASFAA noted that "only 2% of college degree programs"  as opposed to certificate programs  are at risk of failing the earnings test. The distinction between degree programs and certificate programs is significant: degree programs largely pass the threshold; shorter, vocational certificate programs are the primary area of concern.

How the Rule Was Developed  and Why It Has Rare Consensus

The rule emerged from the AHEAD (Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell) negotiated rulemaking committee, which concluded its second session on January 9, 2026. The committee included stakeholders representing students, legal aid and consumer protection organizations, institutions of higher education from all sectors, the business community, state agencies, and taxpayer advocates.

Crucially, the committee reached full consensus  meaning no committee member formally dissented from the final regulatory text. Only one member abstained: the representative of legal aid, consumer protection, and civil rights groups, who expressed concern about specific provisions but declined to block consensus after it became clear that doing so could weaken protections for students in undergraduate certificate programs.

The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), which represented student-focused interests in the negotiations, described the outcome in nuanced terms  noting that the framework retains much of the existing Financial Value Transparency data infrastructure under a new name (the Student Tuition and Transparency System, or STATS), and that the disclosure requirements that require programs to warn students when they are at risk of losing loan eligibility were strengthened during negotiations.

The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) described the new STATS framework as one that "will empower students to make more informed decisions about which program to pursue."

The New Reporting and Disclosure System (STATS)

Alongside the earnings accountability test, the proposed rule establishes the Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS)  a renamed and modified version of the existing Financial Value Transparency reporting framework. Under STATS, institutions must report detailed program-level data to the Department by October 1, 2026, covering the two most recently completed award years. Reporting then continues annually each October 1.

The STATS data will form the basis of the Department's earnings premium calculations, which are expected to be published for the first time by July 1, 2027. Programs that appear at risk of losing eligibility will be required to notify current and prospective students with a warning indicating that the program has not passed the earnings premium metric and may lose access to Direct Loans.

What Students Should Do With This Information

For current students: the rule does not affect programs in which you are already enrolled. A "teach-out" provision ensures that students currently enrolled in a program that later loses eligibility can complete their degree or certificate  limited to the lesser of three years or the normal full-time program duration.

For prospective students: this is the moment to look carefully at College Scorecard earnings data for specific programs you are considering. The Department's data infrastructure already provides program-level earnings outcomes for graduates. Programs with earnings below the high school median for your field of study are the ones most likely to be affected by this rule if finalized.

For students considering certificates in culinary arts, cosmetology, fine arts, religious studies, or alternative health fields: these categories show the highest projected failure rates under the proposed rule and deserve particular scrutiny of their earnings outcomes data before enrollment.

Public comments on the proposed rule are open through May 20, 2026, and can be submitted at regulations.gov.
Crude prices have skyrocketed this year due to the war with Iran. Brent, the global oil benchmark, has soared more than 60% to around $100 a barrel. Meanwhile, WTI, the primary U.S. oil benchmark, has rocketed 65% to about $95 a barrel.

Despite the current ceasefire and peace talks, oil prices could remain elevated for a while since it could be quite some time before the market returns to normal. With that in mind, here are three top energy stocks to buy this month to capitalize on the current market conditions.

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 

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Chevron

Few energy companies were in a better position to cash in on this year's surge in crude prices than Chevron (NYSE: CVX). The oil giant completed several major capital projects last year and closed its acquisition of Hess. As a result, Chevron initially expected to produce an additional $12.5 billion of free cash flow this year at $70 oil. It's now on track to reap an even bigger windfall, given where crude prices are these days.

Chevron will return much of this windfall to shareholders. The oil company will likely repurchase shares at the high end of its $10 billion to $20 billion target range. It repurchased $12.1 billion of shares last year and bought $2.2 billion of Hess stock before the merger closed. Chevron has already increased its dividend (current yield of 3.8%), extending its growth streak to 39 consecutive years.

Meanwhile, Chevron is in a strong position to continue growing briskly even if oil prices cool off. It expects to grow its free cash flow at a more than 10% compound annual rate through 2030, assuming oil averages $70 a barrel. With its share price up only about 20% this year, Chevron could have a lot more upside, especially if crude prices remain elevated.

Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) is a leading pipeline company. The master limited partnership (MLP) -- an entity that sends a Schedule K-1 Federal tax form -- operates crucial midstream infrastructure to support the flow of oil and gas. While it has minimal direct exposure to commodity prices (90% of its earnings come from fees), it benefits from higher volumes.

Energy Transfer's terminals are crucial to supporting the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The U.S. is tapping into that emergency stockpile this year to help offset some of the disruption caused by the war with Iran. That should benefit Energy Transfer as oil flows out of the SPR and again when the country refills its reserve.
BUCKLEY, Ill. (WAND)  Three people were taken to the hospital after several rollover crashes in Iroquois County Friday night.

According to Illinois State Police, the first crash happened just before 10 p.m. on I-57 south at milepost 270 near Buckley.

Police said a semi-truck rolled over on the interstate. The driver and passenger were taken to the hospital. The road was shut down and reopened around 12:16 a.m. Saturday morning.

Just over a half hour later, around 10:35 p.m., police said another semi-truck rolled over near the same milepost on the northbound side of the interstate.

The driver of that semi-truck was also taken to the hospital. The road was shut down and reopened around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

It is unclear what caused the crashes, whether either crash was weather-related, or how severe the injuries were. State police said there is no more information available at this time.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
A Facsimile Edition from 1683 and a New Study of River Navigation Meet in the Sala Consiliare This Sunday

Two volumes dedicated to the history of the River Tiber and its surrounding landscape will be presented this Sunday 19 April in Magliano Sabina, in an event that brings together scholarship, cartography, and the deep history of one of Italy's most storied waterways.

The presentation, hosted by Mayor Giulio Falcetta and the town's councillor for culture Antonietta Chieti, takes place at the Sala Consiliare in Magliano Sabina at 11:00 and is open to the public.

The first volume is Stato del Ponte Felice by Agostino Martinelli, a facsimile reprint of the original 1683 edition, edited by Roberto Lorenzetti and Caterina Placidi. Ponte Felice, which spans the Tiber between Lazio and Umbria not far from Magliano Sabina, was one of the most important river crossings on the ancient Via Flaminia. Martinelli's original text, now republished in its entirety for the first time in over three centuries, documents the bridge's condition and its relationship to the river in the late seventeenth century.

The second volume, Navigare il Tevere da Roma a Perugia: Progetti, macchine, ponti e paesaggi nei disegni di Meyer, Van Wittel, Martinelli, Sforzini (XVI-XVIII secolo), is by Roberto Lorenzetti and takes a broader view of the Tiber as a navigable, working river across three centuries of history. Drawing on drawings and documents by Meyer, Gaspar van Wittel, Martinelli, and Sforzini, the book reconstructs the projects, machines, bridges, and landscapes associated with river navigation from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. It is a work that sits at the intersection of engineering history, art history, and territorial geography.

The event will be attended by Roberto Lorenzetti, Caterina Placidi, and Massimiliano Filabozzi.

For anyone interested in the Tiber valley, the history of the Sabina region, or the visual and documentary culture of early modern Italy, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the scholars who brought these two publications to light.

Details

When: Sunday 19 April 2026, 11:00. Where: Sala Consiliare, Magliano Sabina. Admission: Free.
A new partnership between Curraghmore Whiskey and Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is bringing together two established Waterford brands.

Founded on over 850 years of heritage, Curraghmore Whiskey is a Single Estate Pot Still Irish Whiskey made entirely from barley and oats grown on Curraghmore Estate.

The estate has been home to the De La Poer Beresford family since 1167.

The next phase of development for the brand includes plans for an on-site maturation warehouse, with a continued focus on consolidating the product range.

In addition, Curraghmore has also developed The Mad Marquess, a brand that tells the story of the 3rd Marquess of Waterford, best known as the origin of the phrase paint the town red'.

This entry-level whiskey is designed for the on-trade, with a cocktail-led offer capturing that legacy.

CEO Richard, The Earl of Tyrone, said: Curraghmore Whiskey is proudly quiet in its luxury. It is not made to be loud. It is made to last. Weve assembled a team with tremendous experience, and were fortunate to have so much to work with in terms of brand opportunity, given Curraghmores history.

What were focusing on now is creating an authentic and enduring product. Building a discerning community seeking something rare and authentic. Representing the quintessential style of Irish Whiskey - pure pot still. Thats quite the challenge, but its a most exciting one.

Founded in 2010, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has developed into Irelands Summer Opera Festival, presenting opera and concerts across historic venues in Waterford and Cork.

Its place-led model spans castles, estates, private houses, and cathedral settings, supporting regional tourism while attracting a national and international audience.

Festival Director Eamonn Carroll said: This partnership is rooted in shared values and place. Both Curraghmore Whiskey and BVOF are based in Waterford, with a focus on creating something that endures.

It brings together two audiences - those drawn to premium Irish whiskey and those engaging with live opera - in a way that strengthens both experiences within the festival setting and beyond.

Further information is available at blackwatervalleyopera.ie.
President Donald Trump shocked the world on Wednesday with his criticism of Pope Leo. In a post on Truth Social, he claimed that the pope was weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy, weak on Nuclear weapons.

To cap it all, the president declared that if it wasnt for him Leo would not have been elected pope.

Vice-President JD Vance supported Trump. He took issue with Pope Leo's statement that disciples of Christ are never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.

Vance advised that it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of whats going on in the Catholic church and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.

I find it incomprehensible that Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, would fail to recognise the moral implications of the war in Iran.

The hostile response from the president and vice president to the Popes invocation of the beatitude Blessed are the peacemakers is consistent with a more sinister effort to silence the Vatican just before the outbreak of the war.

In January, the Under Secretary of Defence, Eldridge Colby, summoned the then Papal Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, to a meeting at the Pentagon (not to the State Department, where diplomatic business is normally conducted). The Trump administration was furious with Pope Leo who condemned the zeal for war in his address to the diplomatic corps in the Vatican. Eldridge reputedly threatened the Pope and the Church that if they did not side with the US in their war effort, there would be serious consequences.

America has military power to do whatever it wants; the Church had better take sides and it had better be the right side.

Eldridge invoked the memory of the Avignon papacy. In the 14th century, Popes took up residence in Avignon, France, instead of Rome, due to tremendous military pressure from the King of France, Philip IV, who opposed the independence of the Church. Pope Boniface was kidnapped at the time and murdered.

Pope Leo did not flinch. His response: he refuses to attend the 250th celebration of American independence on July 4. Instead, he will visit the Island of Lampedusa in Southern Italy on that day. (Lampedusa is the primary Mediterranean entry point for African migrants reaching Europe, and serves as a pilot site for screening of asylum seekers.)

I also find it to be so hypocritical of the Trump administration to have attempted to justify their condemnation of the Pope's critique of the war and American foreign policy as an unwarranted religious intrusion into politics. At the same time, high-ranking officials in the administration, such as Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defence, and indeed even the President himself, have claimed that the war has divine sanction. Hegseth had asked the American people to pray every day, on bended knee... for a military victory in the Middle East in the name of Jesus Christ.

He stood up after military strikes in Iran and said that God deserves the glory: Tens of thousands of strikes and sorties carried out under the protection of divine providence a massive effort with miraculous protection."

Hegseth represents the views of Christian Evangelical Nationalists, many of whom are closely associated with the Trump administration. I was shocked to see a televised prayer service in the Oval Office where Trump was surrounded by Evangelical Church leaders praying for his success in the war. These are leaders who subscribe to the absurd theological viewpoint of Christian Zionism, which supports a belief that the return of the Jews to the Promised Land would satisfy the conditions for the second coming of Christ.

They fully support the Jewish claim on Palestinian territory, which, according to orthodox Judaism, was mandated by Divine command in the scriptures. This claim is based on a literal interpretation of Genesis 17:8, The whole land of Canaan will be yours.

So, there is unequivocal support for Israel in the current war. Viewed through the apocalyptic lens of Armageddon, the war is the final conflict when Jews will finally take possession of the Promised Land, and Christians can then look forward to the second coming of Christ.

Such an absurd theological force is driving this terrible war. Pope Leo has roundly condemned the use of God to justify violence.

Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.

He declared that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them their hands are full of blood."

The brutal theocratic regime in Iran has blood on its hands as well. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard represents a deviant derivative of mainstream Islam, claiming as it does, that Shia Muslims in Iran were destined to lead and unite Islam in a war against the West.

Inspired by the leadership of Pope Leo, we must pray that the authentic Gospel message of peace will prevail and that moderate Judaism and orthodox Islam expose the blasphemous, heretical deviance in their religions, which is fuelling this war.
By By Rebecca Black, Press Association

Stormont is in talks with the UK Treasury to secure a proper financial package for Northern Ireland.

The regions Finance Minister John ODowd said the decision by the Stormont Executive last week to allocate money towards helping families struggling with rising energy costs will place further pressures on the Executive budget.

He said he has had two meetings with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn over the last week, adding there is a united front from the Executive over the budget.

I have presented two papers to the Executive in relation to the budget for the next three years, all my Executive colleagues are telling me that they cant deliver the services that are required within the confines of that budget, we wont be able to support the economy to the level that the economy needs supported either, he told the BBC.

So on behalf of the Executive, I have been engaging with the British government over this week as have my officials

I am satisfied that the British government are now listening to us but we now need to move quickly into the mode of where they giving the financial whereforall to this Executive to do the job that the Executive needs to do.

Stormont ministers pledged 19.2 million (22 million) to go with 17 million (19.5 million) already set aside for the scheme from the UK government.

The scheme will see up to 340,000 lower-income households receiving a 100 (115) payment to go towards their heating oil bills.

We are talking directly to the British government about securing a proper financial package for the Executive to allow us to fund public services, to support our economy and see us through what is going to continue to be a significant cost of living crisis for several months if not longer, Mr ODowd said.

Speaking on the BBCs Sunday Politics Northern Ireland, Mr ODowd said that despite the financial pressure the Stormont Executive is under, they made the decision that it is vitally important to support those families on low incomes.

We have received a 17 million pot from the British government, and the decision was made collectively at the Executive that given the scale of pressures bearing down on families that we would inject a further, up towards 20 million into that fund, he said.

That funding will come directly from our budget allocation, there is no other separate pot where that money can from, its about decisions, and politics is about making decisions, and the Executive has made a decision in this instance that given the scale of pressures we will supplement that 17 million.

Mr ODowd went on to say the Executive deserves recognition for making the decision to support families in terms of rising energy costs.

We cannot plug every gap the British government creates, the Executive cannot afford to bail out the British government, that is the reality of the situation, and thats why Im involved in discussions with the British government about securing a proper funding package for this place so we can support our community and voluntary sector, so we can support our public services and we can support our economy, he said.
Review: Man of La Mancha at Dick Meany Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir

I cant believe that its exactly thirty years since Carrick-on-Suir Musical Societys inspirational production of Man of La Mancha in this same theatre. The late Dick Meany, who directed the show and after whom the Strand Theatre is now named, would have been delighted with this current production of a show that is really an iconic piece of musical theatre.

The musical is inspired by the seventeenth-century Cervantes, who, as a tax-collector, is arrested after pinning a notice for taxes on the local monastery. Pinning a rates demand on a church at the height of the Spanish Inquisition probably rates at 486 on the scale of bad ideas that runs from zero to invading Russia in the winter. Little wonder that the playwright finds himself in the slammer awaiting purification from the torturers of the Spanish Inquisition.

As a piece of theatre, Man of La Mancha is fascinating. While in the Seville dungeon, Cervantes tells the fascinating story of his mad knight Don Quixote as a play within a play and casts the murderers, harlots, cut-throats and thieves as the dramatis personae of the work. The seamless interweaving from the world of the dungeon to the world of the imagination of a madman  who believes he is a fourteenth-century knight  is a masterclass in writing. Director Andrew Holden, choreographer Claire OHara and musical director Fergal Carroll, and a strong cast, work hard to bring that world to the stage.

Neill Bourke is a colossus as Cervantes/Quixote. He anchors the entire script, plays the two main characters  poet of the theatre Cervantes and fourteenth-century daft knight Don Quixote, who "sallies forth to right all wrongs and scatters heathens, wizards and serpents of sin"  and his magnificent bass in the huge numbers is a joy.

Bourke doesnt simply play Cervantes/Quixote, he invests him with the wisdom of a druid and the humanity of a writer who has known battle "we are all men of La Mancha". (Writer Miguel de Cervantes fought in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, where he served as a soldier aboard the galley Marquesa. Despite a fever, he refused to stay below deck and sustained three gunshot wounds - two in the chest and one that permanently maimed his left hand, earning him the nickname El Manco de Lepanto).

Eoin Sheedy is superb as Quixotes innocent man-servant/squire Sancho Panza. His devotion to his master is endearing and his ability to navigate on the edge of his masters flights and fights of fantasy is remarkable.

Louise Mulcahy gives a fine, earthy performance as Aldonza, who is transformed by Quixotes belief in her inner goodness and completes the trio at the heart of this drama. All the I am moments in the show, where characters declare their true selves, are well directed by Andrew Holden, who recently won the Green Room Award for Best Director. I am I Don Quixote, the Lord of La Mancha; Sanchos I like him and My name is Aldonza the whore are all defining moments in this production.

Its a musical that needs hard work from all its cast and the work of the minor principles is vital. Liam Butler is a strong Governor/Innkeeper who anchors the show and Ray Nolan gives an excellent performance in the meaty role of Don Carrasco and the Knight of the Mirrors, who shatters poor old Quixotes impossible dream.

Tobie Hickey is superb as the cynical heard-it-all-before Padre who still manages to show a sincere concern for his ailing parishioner and his To Each his Dulcinea is one of the highlights of the show.

Ensemble work throughout is the strength of this show. Liadhain OShea as the will-awaiting Antonia and Sandra Pow as Quixotes exasperated housekeeper are an impatient part of the knights household as they wait for their master to head for the castle in the sky.

Caolan Deehy-Power is great fun as the Barber who simply wants to make money shaving heads; Bryanna Lima is the much put-upon Innkeepers wife, while Jim Kennedy is an intimidating Captain of the Inquisition. Theres excellent supporting work from the Muleteers  Audie Murphy, Bobby Landers, Jonathan Caulfield, Jack Coady, Richard Dunphy and Declan Smith-Robinson.

Theres lots of stage business from Director Andrew Holden and choreographer Claire OHara but I would have liked to see more of the ensemble work brought downstage along with Aldonzas big number.

An imaginative set from John ODonoghue although the upstage left rostrum never really worked. The iconic onstage transformation of Cervantes into Don Quixote in full view of the audience is a missed opportunity when it takes place behind this veiled rostrum. Atmospheric lighting design by Alan McCormack, along with grime-tattered costumes, give us that claustrophobic, monotonous, choking experience of the medieval dungeon that is lit up by Cervantes story of Quixote.

Musical Director Fergal Carroll drives the production along at a fine pace; theres some fine choral work to enjoy and the Spanish flavour of the score adds great drama to the story.

Another splendid production from Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society.
Review: Springboard at St Patricks Gateway Centre

Waterford Dramatic Society continues its celebration of its ninetieth year with a couple of original one-act plays at the Gateway in Patricks St.

Almost a century of drama is a massive achievement by any standards. Ive often said that keeping a society going is the hardest part of any performing arts journey. Just think of all the obstacles along the way. The passing of members, massive emigration, loss of interest, ill-health, family matters, Covid and the minor irritations of the War of Independence, the Civil War and World War 2 or, as it was known in this island, the Emergency. Life always gets in the way.

Tonights two one-acts are clever, imaginative, well-written with the emphasis squarely on the dynamic of relationships under strain. And both plays are written with new performers, writers and directors in mind. And I recall a very young Jim Nolan in 1979 winning a Waterford News & Star prize for a new one-act play  The Flowers of May  that would be performed in the Theatre Royal.

Cavans arts loving playwright and psychotherapist Liz OHanlon is first up with an intriguing Smile Handsome set in a womens prison. OHanlons dramatic hooks continue throughout the drama as unpleasant truths emerge as the story pounds along. Judgement features heavily and unpleasant facts tumble out in confessional and confrontational conversations between the three inmates in a drama that veers between confrontation and black humour.

Vivienne Cummins is the newby to the cell block and shes here for assault and battery of a young mother who left her baby in an unvented car in hot weather. Vivienne is superb as Kathleen, the Traveller mother who is forced to confront some unwelcome truths about her own failure as a young mother. Her feisty, uncompromising, in-yer-face attitude gradually crumbles before Lindsey Kirbys neurotic, psychotic Top Dog whose other-wordly stare leaves everyone uneasy.

The dynamic of their relationship is the heart of the drama as each lives out their judgements under the cruel and indifferent scrutiny of the other.

Director Martina Kavanagh deputises for unavailable Claire OSullivan, as repeat offender Jodie whose meek and anxious-to-please manner seeks out compromise between Kathleen and Top Dog.

Liz OHanlons strong script, three superb performances and first-class direction make for an absorbing opening drama.

WDSs Catherine Bradley has an absorbing two-hander that features Paul Barry and Denise Quinn, along with a cameo from high-viz-vest park attendant Bryan Costello.

Bradleys Views from a Lamp Post is as old as love itself. Kevin (Paul Barry) would have been happier if hed married Mary (Denise Quinn), the woman hes held a candle for all his married life. Hes been leaning on this same lamppost and crooning "in case a certain little lady passes by" for over half-a-century in the hope that his life will change. Buthe really doesnt have the resolve to make that decision.

Mary notices things. As women do. Hes been spending too much time in that chair since retirement and varicose veins along with high blood pressure tell their own story.

His wife Maeve has given up on him. Shes made all the suggestions to her moribund husbandpilates, yoga, leaflets, mens shed, ballroom dancing! And lay off the drink. Now shes getting on with her own life and hes being left behind. And she wants to go to Australia.

Mary knows shes the cuckoo in the nest and wants to reconcile with Maeve. "Bring Maeve with you the next time," she offers, "were not rightMaeve needs you."

The lamppost and their special bench are theirs. "This is our timeour lamppostI couldnt leave youI love you, Mary, to the moon and back."

Catherine Bradleys tale is a simple tale well told. A tale of what might have been. Although what might not have been is never factored in. Life has its own way of making us choose and Pauls dilemma can never really be addressed. Maybe he would have been happier with Mary. But maybe he wouldnt.

Paul Barry and Denise Quinn are superb as the lovers-that-never-were and Bardleys tale of old love and an elderly couple is well told.

Well done WDS. Im delighted that I journeyed with you a lifetime ago and its great to see new writing from Liz OHanlon and Catherine Bradley.

You just cant beat good writing.
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Exclusive BusinessCompaniesMedicine Searches up 900%: Google faces influx of illegal peptide ads Kishor Napier-Raman April 20, 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

Tech giant Google has been hosting dozens of advertisements for synthetic peptides that the company says are in breach of its own policies and Australian laws designed to protect the country from companies pushing unlicensed or prescription-only drugs. Searches for some peptides have surged up to 900 per cent on Google in the last year. Many of those drugs are appearing as sponsored products,openly flouting Australian laws banning the promotion of medical chemicals. Google is allowing large volumes of ads for peptides on its search results, contrary to Australian rules. Stephen Kiprillis Among the most commonly promoted products were BPC-157, a prescription-only peptide that backers believe helps muscle growth and recovery, and GHK-CU, an unapproved substance that users say helps with their skin. Neither product can be legally advertised in Australia. Both are riding a wave of social media-driven enthusiasm sweeping the country. A spokesperson for Google said sponsored search results for products like BPC-157 and GHK-CU breached the companys ads policy.

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We have strict Google shopping ads policies that prohibit the promotion of unapproved pharmaceutical supplements, the spokesperson said. Since BPC-157 and GHK-CU are not approved for use in Australia, weve conducted a thorough investigation into these ads and accounts and taken the appropriate action where necessary. Related Article Medicine They promise glowing skin, a ripped body and better sex. Peptides are having a moment  but are they safe? Under Googles policy, the company does not allow the promotion of various pharmaceuticals and supplements, including non-government approved or non-prescription products that are marketed in a way that implies theyre safe or effective. But this masthead confirmed other peptide ads were still live on Google. Google has confirmed it is now reviewing those ads, and it says it is deploying resources to improve enforcement. The surge in advertising reflects the status of peptides as the latest wellness trend, which has spread across social media and become immensely popular in Australia and globally. Most are either not cleared for human use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, or cant be sold without a doctors prescription.

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Googles own internal data shows just how large that craze has become. Searches for peptides increased 30 per cent in the past year. The increase was even greater for specific products. Searches for Retatrutide, an experimental weight loss drug currently undergoing clinical trials but being freely sold online, increased by 900 per cent. Searches for GHK-CU were up 450 per cent. Numerous medical experts and policymakers have urged users to exercise caution, pointing to a lack of adequate research into their long-term effects, and the risks of self-injecting with untested, unregulated drugs. This week, the TGA released a safety alert, saying it had received reports of peptide users experiencing severe inflammation, allergic reactions involving hospitalisation, blurred vision, muscle injuries and insomnia. An investigation by this masthead found that peptides are readily available online, and that they can be purchased without medical oversight and delivered by post within days. Their ubiquity on Google search indicates that peptide suppliers are spending thousands of dollars on advertising with the platform.

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Katinka van de Ven, an adjunct associate professor at the University of NSW specialising in drug policy, said one of the biggest unknowns in the peptide debate was the size of the market for these products. Related Article Social media Who is Androgenic, the Australian looksmaxxer from Claviculars disastrous stream? Even with good pharmaceutical data, we still dont really know how large the private and illicit peptide market is, which makes it very difficult to respond from a policy or health perspective, she said. A TGA spokesperson said the agency monitored online advertising and that it collaborated with digital platforms to disrupt unlawful content. It could not comment on individual cases without proper investigation. The TGA is concerned about the growth in peptide sales, import and online marketing, and issued a safety alert on 13 April 2026 detailing health professional responsibilities as well as consumer safety considerations when using unapproved peptide products, they said.

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Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, a person can commit an offence or be liable for a civil penalty if they advertise or cause the advertising of therapeutic goods that do not comply with the requirements in the Act or the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

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Body image Kishor Napier-Raman is a senior business writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously he worked as a CBD columnist and reporter in the federal parliamentary press gallery. or email. Connect via X
The News from Dublin opens with a fictionalisation of Lady Augusta Gregorys journey to Galway in 1918 to deliver the telegram reporting her son Roberts death to his widow. Toibin has fictionalised Lady Gregory before, in the 2010 collection The Empty Family , and has also written a slim but incisive book, Lady Gregorys Toothbrush , about her role in both the Anglo-Irish ascendancy and the Celtic Revival. This opening story, then, resonates not only with the inherent ambiguities of the Irish literary past, of which Toibin has become a key chronicler, but also with his own body of work, which continues to gather myriad cross-currents and recurring emblems around itself.

By invoking humanism I mean not that Toibins work is conservative or needlessly nostalgic but that it is continuous. Notwithstanding its often contemporary subject matter, it functions within an unusually intact aesthetic of character, community and place, steeped as Toibin is in the work of masters such as Henry James, John McGahern and Marilynne Robinson. Like these writers, Toibin remains neither above nor beyond but firmly inside the ordinary lives of social engagement; he allows the prose itself to disappear to portray eternal human predicaments and intractable emotional ambiguities. Ever so gradually, what could be described as Toibins own artisanal variation on the ethics of ambiguity is infused into the readers, whether they like it or not.

Despite its catchy title, the stories in Colm Toibins collection The News from Dublin are not about newsy issues. Instead, they are about the only issue that ever really exists  our life in relationships. This news itself will not come as a surprise to readers already acquainted with Toibins work because it continues the profoundly humanist approach to fiction he has undertaken for the past four decades.

Readers of Toibin, for instance, will know that his fiction is more than likely to be set either in his home county of Wexford in southern Ireland, in the Irish diaspora of the US, or among solitary Irish residents in Spain, which was itself a formative place for him as a younger writer. The News from Dublin takes us again to exactly these landscapes  they are by now established as recurring geographical motifs in Toibins fiction  as he continues his rendition of how Ireland has extended from its own very particular and imaginative insularity to become an adjunct psychogeography of the fictionalised page. The collection also takes us, in the final, novella-length story The Catalan Girls, to Argentina, the setting for his third novel, The Story of the Night.

Colm Toibin. Alamy Stock Photo

An ongoing quality of Toibins fiction is its cumulative effect. The body of work, as well as each piece within it, wears its dramas lightly at first, until before you know it you are immersed in a difficult and even intransigent world of immense personal difficulties. This is again the case in these new stories, which portray the private worlds of those not only in exile from their birthplace but also from societys approval. In A Sum of Money the consequences of rural poverty for Dan, a boarder at a secondary college in Wexford, are dramatised in such a way that we are made to feel, among other things, empathy for the perpetrator of a devious crime. Likewise, in the chilling A Free Man we find ourselves transfixed by the portrait of a convicted Irish paedophile teacher exiled in Barcelona, a man whose lack of remorse is captivating precisely because Toibins subtle art renders it so believable.

These, then, are character-driven stories that transcend polemics. The point is not to make a point but rather to do the work that fiction does best, portraying the way the backstage of our minds plays out in the context of social situations. In this, Toibins work is incomparably clear-eyed, and also well schooled. He is both an exponent and a scholar of the possibilities and powers of the late tradition in which he works, the modern novel and short story.

In the title piece, a story with indissoluble links to perhaps his two greatest novels, The Heather Blazing and Nora Webster, a family with connections to the ruling Fianna Fail government in Dublin try to obtain a new cure for tuberculosis for a dying family member before it is released to the public. Toibins stories can sometimes read like sculpted narrative arcs, at other times like shards of life polished at the edges. This piece feels almost like a conflation of the two. Its narrative traction does not so much peak as taper off, as if to say that despite the suns glory, life is full of false dawns, the truth being that there will be no news that will ever come to exempt us from our lives.
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG) is one of the top utility stocks to buy now. On April 13, BMO Capital reiterated a Market Perform rating on Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG) and raised its price target to $91 from $90.

Is Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) a Top Utility Stock on Earnings Growth Prospects?

Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock.com

The research firm expects limited updates on the company during the upcoming earnings call following the fourth-quarter 2025 refresh. However, it has revised its Q1 2026 earnings estimate of the company to $1.48 a share, slightly below the median consensus estimate of $1.50. It also expects investors focus to be on potential generation and storage development and the prospects for long-term nuclear asset contracts.

Having invested $1 billion in regulated infrastructure in Q4 2025 and $3.7 billion for the full year to benefit customers, Public Service Enterprise Group expects its 2026 earnings to increase by over 7% to between $4.28 and $4.40 per share. The company also plans to invest $4.2 billion in regulated assets, up 13.5% from last year, on the back of capital spending of between $24 billion and $28 billion.

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG) is a regulated energy company that primarily transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas to millions of customers in New Jersey through its utility, PSE&G. PSEG also owns and operates carbon-free nuclear generation assets through PSEG Power.

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CultureMusicalsAndrew Lloyd Webber Family were in a desperate state: Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals he is a recovering alcoholic Mark Ludlow April 19, 2026  7:36am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

London: Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed he is a recovering alcoholic. The composer says he has stopped drinking completely following a decision 16 months ago to get help for his addiction after going into a downhill spiral. Andrew Lloyd Webber during a 2022 visit to Sydney. Steven Siewert He described sobriety as the best thing that ever happened to me. Lloyd Webber, 78, whose hit musicals include Phantom of the Opera and Cats, was introduced to burgundy by his Aunt Vi, and started collecting wine from the age of 15.

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Andrew Lloyd Webber with wife Madeleine. AP He originally stopped drinking during 2015 and 2016, staying away from his favourite tipple for 18 months while producing School of Rock on Broadway. But it did not last. I was doing what they call white-knuckling, without any back-up, and I started to worry that I wasnt being creative, he said in an interview with The Sunday Times. As his family, including Madeleine, his 63-year-old wife, became increasingly concerned about his drinking habits, Lloyd Webber finally decided to take quitting seriously. You think its secret [your drinking], but its not. Everybody knows, he said. I started getting into a downhill spiral, and about 18 months ago, the family were in a desperate state. My wife was feeling [like] she couldnt go on.

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He checked himself into a clinic and now attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every day as he and his wife divide their time between homes in London, Hampshire and New York. Related Article Performing arts Its actually crazy: How this 22-year-old landed one of musical theatres biggest roles Lloyd Webber, who is selling the remainder of his once extensive wine collection via Christies, the auction house, is happy to describe himself as a recovering alcoholic. Sixteen months ago, I decided that I needed help and its the best thing that ever happened to me, he said. The composer, who has won seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and 14 Ivor Novellos, said he now adores attending AA meetings, even when he was with a whole load of rednecks in St Louis.

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It was great fun  its rather different to a meeting in Chelsea, said Lloyd Webber, who was knighted in 1992 before being elevated to the House of Lords in 1997. What I love about it is, you go into a room and everybodys equal. Ive made friends that I wouldnt have thought possible. Lloyd Webber with King Charles and Queen Camilla at an event in London last year. Getty Images Lloyd Webber said the turning point for addressing his drinking problem was hearing someone else describe the stupidity of addiction. It was about the ludicrous lengths you go to, the hiding and the pretending, he said. He explained he had turned to alcohol to help liberate himself when he had writers block.

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I got that thing of seriously worrying that I wasnt writing, and panicked. Maybe Ill have a drink. OK, Ive written something. Because it does slightly liberate you  but then its more and more and more, he said. Related Article Stage shows Im very restless at the moment: whats next for theatres $1 billion man? Lloyd Webber admitted he had probably written some of his best-known songs while under the influence of drink, but he cannot remember which, apart from No Matter What, which was a big hit for Boyzone. The peers wine cellar had achieved worldwide renown. At a 2011 Sothebys auction in Hong Kong, a 12-bottle case of Chateau Petrus 1982 fetched 48,000 ($90,000). The overall auction brought in 3.5 million. But after the final Christies auction between April 22 and May 6, there will be nothing left. The composer says his newfound sobriety has not affected his productivity.

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Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a tribute to the 1980s drag scene, opened to positive reviews on Broadway, while he is writing two new musicals, one based on the 2006 film The Illusionist and another about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. The Telegraph, London Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter.

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LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life Opinion The three little words helping me to make the most of every moment Jo Stanley Columnist April 19, 2026  3:00am

April 19, 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

This story is part of the April 19 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories .

I have never believed in horoscopes. I barely remember my own star sign. But for a few weeks earlier this year, as Lunar New Year approached, I became obsessed with the Chinese zodiac  specifically the outgoing Year of the Snake. With absolutely no authority or cultural reference point, I joined the overnight experts in my social media feed, favourite podcasts and Pilates class as a sudden believer. Given most of us had no more knowledge of Chinese culture than where to find good yum cha, we had no right to jump on a thousands-year-old bandwagon, but I saw it as a mass response to having our struggles affirmed. I am living is not just gratitude  it is an antidote to these strange and difficult times. iStock Snake years are about shedding, change, letting go of who we thought we were, and the painful, exhausting work of transformation  and it rang so true. So many of us said, Yes! Come to think of it, 2025 did feel like I was dragging my freshly shucked body through dust towards forced renewal. It must have been the snake! Good riddance to that year. And then, as the Lunar New Year ticked over, and we woke up in the Year of the Horse, logic reminded me that every year brings change and uncertainty. Life  in ways no horoscope can predict  will still, at times, be hard. So if I want to have a better year  and I never want one like last year again  I should start with me.

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I admit that last year I formed a habit of seeing a glass as half empty. Sometimes, I preferred the feeling of drowning over swimming to the surface. Something had to shift. And I am lovingly helping myself do this, with one simple phrase: I am living. Last year, I dont know that I was really living. I was enduring, managing, surviving. So this year, I am choosing aliveness. JO STANLEY This might sound a bit woo-woo, but if you can get on board with the Year of the Snake, it should be easy. Its simply the concept of repetition and refocus. I am living is a reminder that I am here, and I choose to live consciously. It sounds fairly obvious  of course Im living  and Im incredibly blessed to be so. Like all of us, I have lost enough loved ones to know that. But last year, I dont know that I was really living. I was enduring, managing, surviving. So this year, I am choosing  deliberately and repeatedly  to live. Im choosing aliveness.

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Im focusing on the feeling of life. On the beat of my heart and the breath in my chest and the strength in my limbs, accompanied by that simple phrase that reminds me to never squander one moment. To make the most of every minute by being open to the possibility within it. Essentially, to stop being such a bloody sad sack because this body and the breath in it are the greatest  and only  gifts we need. Related Article Opinion

Sunday Life How a dog in a yellow raincoat pulled me out of my melancholy Jo Stanley Columnist It turns out, I am living is not just gratitude  it is an antidote to these strange and difficult times. Because of I am living, I have joyfully fed my soul with whatever feels like life. Dance parties in the sun, a solo road trip to nowhere just to enjoy my own company. Ive taken in the beauty of flowers, made friends with magpies, loved sunsets and sunrises and grey stormy skies. I have said yes when before Id say no. Left the house instead of hiding under the doona. Stopped to chat in the street instead of putting my head down and hurrying on. Ive met people, heard stories, laughed laughs that would have gone un-laughed, had I not chosen to live.

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I am living is simultaneously yes to chocolate cake, sleep-ins and comedy shows with friends, and no to anything age-appropriate, doing things because I should, and pants that are too tight. I am living answers my mean inner critic with its hot, Im wearing shorts, and by the way, I love these knobbly knees, and, this is my body, and it gets to be seen. It calls to me this is your life  dont miss it! and be bold, take up space! And when harder days hit, I am living whispers, I love you and you can do this and, dont be afraid, this too is life. In these three words there is resilience, acceptance and hope. There is defiance, rebellion and courage. Self-love and peace. Connection and joy. And there are enough great moments to make a really good year. Which is exactly the change I needed. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWHealthcare Nicks mum can give blood. He cant. Today, that changes Angus Thomson April 20, 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

Every Australian wanting to give blood will be asked gender-neutral questions about their recent sexual activity in an overhaul of rules that had effectively banned many gay and bisexual men from becoming donors. The changes, which come into effect on Monday, are designed to boost the nations donor pool while addressing a major source of stigma for LGBTQ people. Ronda Rohrlach during her 40th blood donation. Her son Nick will donate for the first time on Monday after landmark changes to donation rules. Ben Symons Previously, Lifebloods donor rules prevented gay and bisexual men, and transgender women, from donating blood if they had had sex with men in the previous three months. The rule, which also banned sex workers and women who have sex with bisexual men, was designed to prohibit donations from people at higher risk of exposure to HIV.

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The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved Lifebloods application to change the rule last year, after extensive risk modelling and screening research showed the overhaul would not affect the safety of Australias precious blood supply. Gay and bisexual men have been eligible to donate plasma since July, so far enabling 10,000 donations from 3000 new donors. Under the updated rules, most people in long-term monogamous relationships will be able to donate blood, and many who remain ineligible will be able to donate plasma instead, said Lifeblood chief executive Stephen Cornelissen. We hope many more people will feel welcomed in our donor centres from today and sign up to become blood donors. Yasmin Mowat, a research fellow at the University of NSWs Kirby Institute who has tracked community attitudes towards donation, said the new questions about sexual activity might deter some people, but this number was small.

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Overall these changes are warranted  for equity reasons, and the scientific evidence, she said. Lifeblood expects the new donor rules will add 20,000 more donations to Australias blood supply every year. Australia requires about 33,000 donations of blood plasma and platelets every week. Nick Rohrlach, the outgoing chief executive of Virgin Australias Velocity rewards program, will be one of the first newly eligible men lining up to donate on Monday. Rohrlach grew up in a household where donating blood was a regular event. His mother Ronda worked as a phlebotomist at a blood donation centre in Whyalla, South Australia, while pregnant with him.

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Making her 40th donation on Thursday at Sydneys Lifeblood Town Hall donation centre, Ronda challenged her son  a self-described points nerd  to hit similar figures. I had forgotten that this silly rule existed, and then when Nicholas told me [it was changing], I said, Oh, hallelujah, at last, Rohrlach said. If he can stick with it and keep donating blood, Ill be very proud of him because he doesnt like needles or doesnt like blood very much. Rohrlach, who resigned from Virgin to start a family with his husband, Terry, said the prospect of fatherhood had made him think more deeply about giving back through blood donation. Its normal for two guys to have a baby now; its normal to give blood, he said. It shouldnt be so difficult, or special. Its just normal. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
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NationalVictoriaViolence Cases that stay with you forever: They see women killed by violence, and this is what they want you to know Wendy Tuohy April 19, 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

Joanna Glengarry has performed 5000 autopsies on people who died in hundreds of ways. She describes forensic pathologists as a robust bunch, yet some of these deaths stay with her. They are the cases in which no amount of science can explain the horrendous violence inflicted on women with everything to live for. Joanna Glengarry, head of forensic pathology services at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Photograph by Chris Hopkins Many of these killings made national and international headlines, but the New Zealander who now heads up forensic pathology at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine has seen the carnage up close. Some hit home because she and the victim of a crime that outraged a community had so much in common  as was the case with Auckland accountant Jo Pert, 41. Dr Glengarry did her autopsy after Perts daylight killing during her regular jog.

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She was my age, she was just out for her afternoon run, and she was stabbed multiple times, says Glengarry, a fellow runner. The man [who murdered her] had decided that his goal for that day was to kill someone. He had previously assaulted two women. Related Article Tribute Eva longed to see her daughters again, but she never made it on the plane Others stay with Glengarry because her investigation reveals no one must have known about a womans drawn-out suffering. These are the women referred for other reasons than death by homicide, but whose skin, bones or organs reveal how they really lived. Medicine in general teaches you to compartmentalise, probably even more so in this profession; we really tend to self-select  were a relatively hardy group, says the former surgeon. I can count on one hand the cases that have really affected me over the course of my career, and two of them certainly did even before they hit the media: Eurydice Dixon and Aiia Maasarwe.

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Not long after she left New Zealands national forensic pathology service in 2017 for Australia, Glengarry was abruptly introduced to a scourge that continues to defy national efforts to curb it. Related Series

Crime Remember their faces: Women killed in Australia She did autopsies of both 22-year-old Dixon, a performer who was stalked, raped and killed in June 2018 while walking home through a city-fringe park, and of international student Maasarwe, also raped and killed viciously (seven months later in January 2019) after getting off a Bundoora tram. It is just the brutality and randomness of these crimes against women going about their lives that struck Glengarry as she documented them. She was heartbroken to have to shave Maasarwes lush hair to expose the extent of damage, causing more distress to her devoted father. I remember dreading the court cases as well because I knew having to describe the injuries would be a huge thing for the community, and especially for the families, she says.

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Yet sitting in an office decorated cosily to feel like home and scrolling through her case-file history, the femicides that did not cause a national outcry also catch Glengarrys eye. See that, they are two older ladies killed by their husbands that didnt make the media: an older lady, 78, with an elderly husband who beat her to death, and a woman sent to the coroner as an unexpected cause of death who had ligature marks and bruising around the neck  she had been strangled, she says. Glengarry is part of a national push to have suicides linked to family violence reflected accurately in homicide statistics. Photograph by Chris Hopkins It is the hidden toll of violence that Glengarry and her pathologist colleagues also wish to expose and discuss. She is part of a national effort, including Victoria Police, to have womens suicides strongly suspected to be linked with family violence reclassified as homicides so statistics better reflect reality.

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States around Australia are grappling with how to capture this phenomenon, and submissions to a federal parliamentary inquiry into the relationship between domestic, family and sexual violence and suicide closed on March 13. Glengarrys colleagues Dr Heinrich Bouwer and Dr Paul Bedford share her sense that the community does not have a complete understanding of how much gendered violence we live among, or its true impact. The case of a woman whose body revealed she had experienced a life of prolonged violence that was not recognised until she died will stay with me forever, says Dr Heinrich Bouwer. For Bouwer, one case illustrates what goes unseen. A womans body arrived at the mortuary so heavily concealed under layers of clothing that it took time to understand the extent of her injuries and that they werent one-off, he says. Gradually, it became clear there had been a long pattern of harm, and what struck me most was how hidden it all was, even from people close to her.

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The effect of the case endures. Being confronted with that kind of sustained violence, even indirectly, isnt something you just walk away from unaffected, he says. It shifts your sense of what people can be living through without it being [recognised]. Related Article Victorian Parliament The minister against the manosphere: Allan adds new focus to cabinet shake-up That patients death was recorded as homicide, but Bouwer recalls that the wider world of violence in which she lived was not investigated or reported in a way that reflects what had actually been going on. It is the type of case that stays with you forever, he says. Bedford summarises what he sees as the core issue bluntly: Gruesome, horrible things are tolerated, he says. [Violence against women] is almost acceptable in Australia. Thats where, to me, the real problem is: cultural attitudes.

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In March the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed 2024-25 marked the highest recorded family violence offender rate nationally since family and domestic violence data was first published in 2019-20. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfares most recent national survey on attitudes towards violence against women found 23 per cent of respondents agreed that much of what is called domestic violence is a normal reaction to day-to-day stress and frustration. Related Article Graphic content

Domestic violence She tried to leave her abusive partner. It cost Sophia her children Bedford says his general observation is that there are males who think they have rights, and their duty as a man is to control women. There is just a massive disconnect in equality. It is purely and simply wrong, he says.

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Over Easter, his team examined the body of 53-year-old mother of two Eva Lasrini, after she was found dumped near the Princes Highway at Little River on April 4. Her 67-year-old estranged husband, Allen Keys, of Patterson Lakes, was charged with murder as he allegedly tried to board an international flight. Lasrinis death was listed by the national advocacy group Counting Dead Women as the 14th Australian woman to die by violence in 2026. Since then, a 54-year-old woman was found dead at a property in Mareeba, Queensland, after which a man known to her was charged with murder, and 27-year-old Christine Hunter was found dead in car in the Northern Territory, after which her 33-year-old partner, Blayze Noble, was charged with murdering her while the Sunshine Coast pair were on a road trip. Loading Other than continuing to promote greater community awareness of the scale of, and need to act on, violence against women, Joanne Glengarrys message to those fortunate enough not to be directly affected is to check in clearly with anyone they fear is.

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She urges people to be alert to bruising in unlikely places, such as the soft skin of the upper arms  which can happen from being grabbed and held hard  and on the neck or the cheek, marks unlikely to have happened accidentally. Most importantly, her work has taught her that people should never shrink from asking someone outright about their welfare if the persons behaviour or demeanour suggests violence might be present in their life. People are really reluctant because they dont want to get involved in case theyre wrong, she says. Of course its tough to raise that, but if you care for that person, do it. She vows to reveal the truth for those who have lost their lives. I really do feel like we get to be that voice after death, to tell [the community] what the medicine says, she says. The body may keep its secrets from those around us during life, but after death it doesnt. And its up to us to tell the story of what happened.

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If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
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PoliticsNSWEducation Skipping camp, public speaking: How schools have it wrong on kids anxiety Emily Kowal April 19, 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

Michelle Neverson-Smith thought she was doing the right thing. If an assembly felt overwhelming, the principal let her students sit out. If school camp seemed daunting, they stayed home. At Cudgegong Valley Public School in NSWs central west, as across the country, well-meaning adults had been removing obstacles in childrens path. Primary school principals are concerned by an increase in childhood anxiety but say previous methods of management are ineffective. Monique Westermann We were blissfully unaware of the negative impact that keeping them safe and removing barriers was having, she said. Their ability to cope with failure  both in learning and socially  had really dropped off. Australian school leaders are witnessing rising childhood anxiety. The average age for first diagnosis has fallen to 11 years old, according to the National Mental Health Commission, and a survey of 700 primary school principals found 81 per cent thought childrens anxiety was a significant issue within their schools.

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But experts warn the instinct to shield children is inadvertently fuelling the problem. When adults jump in to fix it, says psychologist Michael Hawton, they rob kids of the opportunity to solve problems for themselves. Hawton is founder of The Anxiety Project. Created alongside the NSW Primary Principals Association, the program is currently used at 144 schools, reaching more than 50,000 students. It seeks to educate not only students but also their parents and teachers. Unlike traditional support models, the program specifically challenges unhelpful accommodations: the practice of letting a child avoid the very things that make them nervous, such as public speaking or playground conflicts. Weve got to expose [children] to an acceptable level of risk, said leading psychiatrist and former Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry. That will strengthen them. At the heart of the program is teaching children the biology of their fear. Students from kindergarten to year 6 learn about the amygdala  their lizard brain, responsible for the bodys fight-or-flight response.

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By identifying anxiety as a physical emotion rather than a permanent character flaw, students, teachers and parents learn to use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy techniques to manage it. Henry Ephraums, 8, and his family know how to tackle anxiety thanks to the new program. Audrey Richardson Eight-year-old Henry, a student at a participating school, said he now knows how to calm his amygdala using rhythmic belly breathing or simply taking a walk. His mum, Kate Ephraums, said the program provided her family with a common language to navigate distressing feelings. It wasnt a Band-Aid, Ephraums said. These are lifelong skills, and as parents we have to help them practise.

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At the Australian Primary Principals Associations student anxiety summit in February, educators and mental health experts gathered to discuss what Australias schools can do to decrease the rate of child and teen anxiety disorders by 25 per cent by 2030. Related Article Education This Sydney school has eliminated bullying. Now theres a plan for every classroom Attendees issued a formal call to state education ministers for a standardised anxiety prevention program that involves the whole school community  including parents. They argued the window between kindergarten and year 6 is the most critical  and cost-effective  time to intervene. Waiting until secondary school or adulthood to act was both clinically ineffective and economically irrational. Experts warned that well-meaning accommodation strategies  where adults allow children to avoid stressful situations like assessments or public speaking  were entrenching the problem. This cycle of avoidance teaches the childs brain that running away is the only effective strategy.

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Weve failed to give these kids opportunities to fall over and hurt themselves because weve cocooned them away, said the Australian Catholic Universitys Paul Kidson. The summits statement also called for child and adolescent anxiety management to be mandatory in all initial teacher education programs and teacher induction frameworks across NSW. The push for a standardised approach across schools comes as mental health experts warn of the high stakes of inaction. The National Mental Health Commission believes 50 per cent of mental health issues emerge before age 14. Kate Ephraums, pictured with her son Henry, said she appreciated the skills taught in the program were not a Band-Aid. Audrey Richardson Left untreated, childhood anxiety acts as a gateway to more severe conditions, including depression, substance abuse and eating disorders.

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A world-first Lancet Psychiatry commission on youth mental health, led by McGorry, found youth mental health had entered a dangerous phase and right now could be societys last chance to act. Suicide is now the leading cause of death for young people in several countries, including Australia. Eighty-five per cent of depressed adolescents have a history of childhood anxiety, while the academic impact is immediate: highly anxious year 1 students are 10 times more likely to be in the bottom third of their class by year 5, according to an Australian study. McGorry attributes the rise in anxiety to a more fragile and precarious world, citing the high cost of living and social inequality. However, he emphasises that anxiety can be unlearned if caught early. This trajectory, if unchanged, will define the wellbeing and productivity of a generation, McGorry said.

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NSW Education Minister Prue Car said all public schools have access to high-quality, evidence-based wellbeing programs to support schools in delivering best-practice mental health support for students.
Child marriage is common in Cambodia. This girl was forced into marriage at just 16.

Its a cultural norm dating back centuries, with children as young as 13 married off in remote parts of Cambodia. But one young woman has defied the odds, resisting tradition and now becoming the first girl from her village to go to university. Neary Ty travelled to Ratanakiri with Plan International to see firsthand the work thats being done to help others follow in her footsteps.

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When Kary was just 13, her parents tried to force her into marriage with a boy in her village in Cambodia. Kary, a proud Indigenous woman from the Praov ethnic group in Ratanakiri province, refused. Karys parents tried to force her to marry at 13. She refused and is now studying psychology in Phnom Penh. Banung Ou/Plan International They wanted me to get married because [they said] if I got old no one would love me, Kary says. I didnt want to at the time because I thought I was still young and still enjoyed going to school. Parents on the boys side had a dream that we were a perfect match. Ratanakiri, in Cambodias north-east, is rich in natural beauty and known for its stunning gemstones. Its also the site of the highest rate of child marriage in the country.

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According to Cambodias Ministry of Womens Affairs, about 37.7 per cent of girls here are married off before the age of 18. Its long been a social norm deeply rooted in many remote communities for girls to be forced into marriage from the age of 13 or 14. The Cambodian village of Ta Veng, where rates of child marriage have been historically high. Banung Ou/Plan International For families struggling with poverty, marrying early is often considered a form of financial security in her village of Ta Veng, which can feel like its stuck in time. But Kary, now 23, stood firm, and insisted that she stay in school instead of marrying. She says her father did not speak to her for two years. When my dad was angry, he was really angry for a long time, she says. It wasnt one day, two days or even three days, when he was angry he didnt look at me in the face. I thought, Why is he so angry? Why are we arguing over that? Something like that shouldnt be causing a nasty fight with your parents.

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The village also turned against her, calling her names and questioning her morals. They say Im a bad girl, that I disobeyed my parents. Its really hard when the whole village is used to one way and you have an idea thats so different, you cant stand up and fight them and win. Kary is calm as she recounts her story, wearing wide-legged jeans, a long-sleeve top and a vest made from traditional indigenous Khmer fabric. Halfway through our interview, Karys father, Chor Lek, arrives home for lunch, and the mood becomes slightly tense. But she powers on. She says that when times get tough, she thinks of the hardship her mother has faced. Kary with her mother Taby. Taby married at 14, but Kary was able to stay in school and avoid a child marriage. Banung Ou/Plan International

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Her mother, Taby, is thin, a sarong firmly tied around her tiny waist. Forced into marriage at just 14, Taby has never been to school and is banned from working. Women in the village can only look after the children, cook and clean. I thought that I should do something to show my mum that girls have power, value and can make decisions, and I want her to be proud of me, Kary says. When Im sad I think of my mum. Kary is now studying psychology in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Shes the first woman from her village to go to university and hopes to one day become a journalist. She says: We should strengthen our knowledge and education, find a good job and earn a modest living. So we can manage our own lives and dont have to rely on anyone. Kary hopes to one day become a journalist. Banung Ou/Plan International Taby says its hard having her daughter so far away. I do miss her. When I see her arrive at home, Im happy. Even though he was furious that Kary refused marriage as a young teen, Karys father now says hes grateful to the aid workers at Plan International Cambodia for helping Kary achieve her dreams and very proud of his accomplished daughter.

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At first I wanted her to be like others, but when the NGO [non-government organisation] supports, Im thankful for the help shes received, Chor Lek says. For her part, Kary hopes she can inspire other girls to choose education and avoid the trap of becoming child brides. I want young girls to have a voice, young girls to be valued, I want the community to change their mentality about how women cant do anything and dont have the opportunities like men. If I could go back in time, Id want to finish school Many people in the communities in Ratanakiri believe that early marriage protects a girls reputation and prevents premarital sex, which is culturally shameful. In a nearby village, we meet a girl who was forced at 16 to marry a 24-year-old man. A girl who was forced to marry at 16 says she hopes to return to study one day. Banung Ou/Plan International I didnt want to get married back then, she says.

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Updated WorldNorth AmericaMass shooting Eight children aged 1 to 12 killed in worst US mass shooting in two years Michael Koziol Updated April 20, 2026  5:46am ,first published 3:26am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: A 31-year-old army veteran killed eight children, seven of whom were his own, in the worst US mass shooting in more than two years. The horrific crime spree took place across three separate homes in Shreveport, a city in Louisianas north-west near the Texas border. The perpetrator then stole a car and was killed following a police pursuit. Police tape surrounds house in Shreveport, Louisiana, that is one of the locations tied to a mass shooting that left eight children dead. AP A vehicle is parked outside one of the locations of the shooting. AP Shreveport police corporal Chris Bordelon identified the killer as Shamar Elkins and described the incident as domestic in nature. Two women, including the childrens mother, were also shot and seriously injured.

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Earlier, at a news conference outside one of the crime scenes, people audibly gasped and wailed as Bordelon revealed 10 people were shot in total, and that the eight dead were aged between 1 and 14. Police later clarified the eldest was 12. All of the deceased in this case are juveniles, Bordelon said. We do know that some of the children inside were his descendants. Loading Later, Bordelon told television network KSLA that seven of the eight murdered children were believed to belong to Elkins and the mother who was shot.

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One of the women shot in the attack fled to a neighbouring house and called police. A 13-year-old boy  not believed to be Elkins child  also fled the property by jumping off the roof, sustaining some broken bones, Bordelon told KSLA. A door that appears to be stained with blood at one of the scenes. AP People leave flowers at one of the scenes. AP He said police were still working to piece together details of the heinous incident, including the connections between the two women and their children. The crime spree unfolded early on Sunday morning (US time), with police called to one of the residences at 6am. It was established that the crime spree encompassed two residences on that street, and another residence nearby.

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Bordelon said gunshots were fired at all three locations, and there was no doubt the scenes were connected. After leaving the third home, Elkins carjacked a vehicle and was pursued by police into a neighbouring parish. Officers fired their weapons and the suspect was killed, though the exact circumstances of his death were still unclear. Bordelon said he had never seen a crime like it in his police career. The Associated Press reported it was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in Chicago in early 2024, according to a database it maintains in partnership with USA Today and Northeastern University.

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Mayor Tom Arceneaux said it was a tragic situation  maybe the worst tragic situation we have ever had in Shreveport. It is a terrible morning  we all mourn with the victims, he said. West 79th Street in Shreveport was the location of two residences tied to the mass shooting, police said. AP Liza Demming, who lives two doors down from one of the shooting scenes, said her security camera captured video of the gunman running away toward a tire shop. She said she could hear two shots on the audio. Thats pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house, she said.

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Demming said she later saw one of the child victims, who had already been covered, laying on the roof of the house. But she said she never heard anything like a fight or argument. It was nothing loud, no altercations. It was quiet. Nothing. It was the worst mass shooting in the US since January 2024, according to the Associated Press. AP With about 180,000 people, the city on the Red River is the third largest in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Councillor Grayson Boucher called the heinous act nothing but pure evil. We as a community  black, white, Republican, Democrat  need to stand together and fight for what is right, he said.

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House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents the Louisiana district where the shootings occurred, called it a senseless tragedy and called on followers to pray for the families and first responders. Local officials are saying it is one of the worst tragedies they have ever seen. God be with the community through this terrible time, he said. With AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldNorth AmericaTrump diplomacy Opinion Trumps taken aim at the Pope. Its another holy war he cant win Julia Baird Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author April 18, 2026  3:00am

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If I could sneak into any room in the world under an invisibility cloak right now, it would be wherever the Pope is hanging out with his gang, combing through the news. Imagine the unfiltered reactions, the flinching and the roars, the deep concern and the bemusement. Just this week Secretary for Defence Pete Hegseth in a prayer at the Pentagon cited what he claimed to be a verse from Ezekiel but was, in fact, from the Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction. Illustration by Dionne Gain Then, on April Fools Day this year, Donald Trump described himself, again, as a Christ-like leader. On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem as crowds welcomed him with praise honouring him as king, he reminded us. They call me king now. Do you believe it? How jarring it must have been for the American president, who has repeatedly touted himself as a messianic figure saved by God from an assassin to make America great, and sold copies of God Bless the USA Bibles under his name, to be felled by a man who actually reads, understands and correctly quotes the Bible: the Pope.

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In recent weeks, as the war in Iran has become increasingly cloudy and destructive, Pope Leo XIV has forcefully argued for peace, calling world leaders to lay down your weapons and issuing blunt reminders that the Bible says God does not listen to the prayers of those whose hands are full of blood. When Trump declared a whole civilisation would die in Iran, the Pope said this was a truly unacceptable threat. In response, an aggravated Trump posted an AI-generated photo of himself looking very much like Jesus Christ, placing his shining hand on a prone mans forehead. A holy healer. After an outcry, Trump later claimed he was meant to be a doctor, not a messiah, and deleted the post  but his meaning was obvious. Last year, he had posted an AI image of himself as Pope during the conclave. Donald Trump holds a Bible outside St Johns Church in Washington during his first term in June 2020. AP On Truth Social, Trump smashed Pope Leo, calling him WEAK on crime, and terrible on foreign policy. I dont want a Pope who thinks its OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon, he said.

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Vice President JD Vance, a conservative Catholic, has, cautioned the Pope should be careful on the subject of theology and stay away from politics, from the smoking ruins and unnecessary deaths, the people homeless, stateless, suffering and dying throughout the Middle East. Its wild to see Vance, who reportedly opposed going to war with Iran, actually chastising the Pope, whom he met in May at the Vatican. He said on Fox News that the Vatican should: stick to matters of morality, stick to matters of whats going on in the Catholic Church, and let Trump stick to dictating public policy. The Vatican disagrees. Cardinal Michael Czerny said the question of living the gospel in the real world was inevitably political. The role of the church hierarchy is to form peoples consciousness as much as possible in line with the gospel. When necessary, we have to speak truth to power. Since the smears from Trump and Vance, American bishops have rallied behind their Pope, who has calmly continued to assert biblical truths on social media. As Trump roils on Truth Social, the Pope issues salvos on X. On April 14: Gods heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies. But our Fathers heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant, or the proud. Gods heart is with the little ones and the humble  Wherever there is love and service, God is there. Trump deleted a social media post of an image depicting him as Jesus Christ, or as he claimed, a doctor. Bloomberg, Truth Social/@realdonaldtrump On April 16: Peace is everyones responsibility, beginning with civil authorities. To govern means to love ones own country as well as neighbouring countries. The commandment love your neighbour as yourself is equally applicable to international relations!

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This is a fascinating dispute with potentially serious consequences in the lead up to the midterms. Related Article Trump's White House Psychiatrists do not diagnose from afar. But Trumps latest messages were too dangerous to ignore First, Trumps support among Catholics  who helped deliver him victory in 2024  is slipping (note, though, 62 per cent of white Catholics supported Trump while 58 per cent of Hispanic Catholics supported Harris.) Republican pollster Whit Ayres told The New York Times the most important variable in a midterm election is the presidents job approval rating. When above 50 per cent, the average loss of their partys House seats is 14. Below 50 per cent, the average loss is 32 seats. Right now, Trump is at about 39 per cent. Loading

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Second, the attempts to dress up the unilateral offence in Iran  started without the permission of Congress or support of American voters  as a holy war have been exposed as bogus and indeed offensive to many. Hegseth, who has tattoos linked to the brutal crusades inked on his skin, even prayed for overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy and justice executed swiftly and without remorse after the first attacks on Iran by Israel and the US. (Neither he nor Trump apologised for the school bombing that killed 175 people, mostly children). But the case for a just war has not been made to Congress, the American voters and the world, let alone a holy one. Third, Leos clarity and boldness have served to highlight the peculiarity of the posture of prominent American evangelicals who have thrown their weight behind Trump, insisting he is deserving of unquestioning support. Their sycophancy has seriously damaged the standing of the church among those who now view Christianity as harsh to migrants and outsiders, rolled in rancour and self-righteousness, steeped in nationalism, lacking in humility and care for the widow, the stranger, the orphan  but most of all, lacking in love. This clearly provokes the Pope. In Cameroon this week, he castigated those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth. The world, he said, is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.

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The Pope is reminding the world the mission of the church should not be the pursuit of power, but standing with, and loving, the powerless. Julia Baird is a journalist, author and regular columnist. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
April 17 (Reuters) - Spirit Airlines on Friday asked the Trump administration for hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency funding to offset rising fuel prices and stave off a possible liquidation, Air Current reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

 Executives from several low-cost carriers are expected to meet with the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy early next week, according to the report.

 The Department of Transportation requested the meeting to review the financial health of the nation's smaller airlines, it added.

 Spirit Airlines did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

 Spirit Aviation Holdings, the parent of Spirit Airlines, is undergoing a deep restructuring aimed at cutting costs and shoring up its finances after filing for bankruptcy twice within a year.

 The low-cost carrier filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in August 2025 with a fleet of 214 aircraft. Florida-based Spirit emerged from its first bankruptcy in March last year.

 Last month, Spirit said it intends to reduce its fleet to 76 to 80 aircraft by the third quarter of 2026, primarily consisting of Airbus A320 and A321ceo jets.

 Surging jet fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East have upended the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to raise fares and revise their financial outlooks.

(Reporting by Megavarshini G. Somasundaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
As gas prices climb past $4 a gallon (1) in the U.S., the White House is urging Americans to stay patient.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that he's "optimistic" that prices will fall back into the $3 range sometime this summer  though that timeline has shifted from earlier expectations, Politico reported (2).

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"I'm optimistic that during the summer we will see gas with a three in front of it sooner rather than later," Bessent said, pointing to a window between June 20 and September 20.

That's a more cautious outlook than what officials had suggested just weeks ago. In March, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News that there was a "very good chance" (3) gas would dip below $3 by the summer.

Now, with geopolitical tensions escalating, the path to lower prices looks less predictable.

Why gas prices are rising

The recent spike in fuel costs is tied to global events  specifically, the Trump administration's military conflict with Iran.

One key factor is the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow yet critical waterway through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. Since global markets are interconnected, disruptions anywhere can ripple through prices everywhere.

That has been a major culprit being the U.S. national average ticking up above $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022. And Bessent has acknowledged that future price movements will depend heavily on the course of negotiations with Iran.

"The exact timeline  will be up to how the negotiations go," he said, according to Politico.

U.S. officials are seeking a diplomatic resolution after an initial round failed to produce an agreement.

Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Start investing with just $10

Gas prices are not expected to stay like this for long

Despite the price surge, the administration is framing the situation as temporary.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the current economic impact as a necessary tradeoff tied to broader national security goals.

"The message is the short-term volatility for long-term gain," Bessent said, according to The Washington Post (4).
SHREVEPORT, La.  Eight children are dead and two women were critically injured in a mass shooting Sunday morning in the Cedar Grove neighborhood.

The suspected shooter, Shamar Elkins, is also dead. He was shot at a scene in Bossier City after a police chase.

The initial investigation indicates the shooting was a domestic situation.

The children, three boys and five girls ranging in age from 3 to 11, were shot just before 6 a.m. at a house in the 300 block of West 79th Street.

The children -- seven siblings and a cousin -- were identified by their mothers as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5.

Shreveport City Council members, Mayor Tom Arceneaux and political leaders across the state are reacting to the tragedy by asking the community to pray for the recovery of those who were injured, and lift up the first responders who answered the call.

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. Those words from John Donne remind us that a tragedy like this does not belong to one family aloneit belongs to all of us. Today, our community is grieving the unimaginable loss of innocent children. There are no words that can make sense of it, and no distance that shields us from it," Mayor Tom Arceneaux said.

The Shreveport City Council is in the process of organizing a community prayer vigil. Additional details will be released Monday.

One shooting occurred on West 79th Street near Linwood Avenue. Police say there are two other related shooting scenes. One approximately a quarter-mile away on Harrison Street between Wallace Avenue and Bernstein Avenue and the third in Bossier City on Brompton Lane near Long Acre Drive.

The first shots were fired at a woman in a house on Harrison. Elkins then went to West 79th Street, where the children and a woman were shot. He then left and carjacked a man before leading police on a chase into a Bossier City neighborhood where he was killed, according to Shreveport police.

"We want to thank LSP for coming in and helping because this is a, this is a large operation. We have three crime scenes just here in Shreveport. One of them is incredibly gruesome in nature and it's going to take several hours to process. I know that some of the suspect's children resided there. I'm not sure if at one point in time he lived there," Cpl. Chris Bordelon said.

Seven children were found dead inside the West 79th Street house. The eighth appeared to have tried to escape off the roof on the back of the house and was found outside, Bordelon said.

A ninth child was also in the house at the time. He was not shot but was injured when he jumped off the roof of the house to get away, police said.

Liza Demming, who lives two doors down from one of the shooting scenes, said her security camera captured video of the gunman running away toward a tire shop. She said she could hear two shots on the audio.

Thats pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house, she said.

Demming said she later saw one of the child victims, who had already been covered, laying on the roof of the house. But she said she never heard anything like a fight or argument.

It was nothing loud, no altercations. It was quiet. Nothing, she said.

According to Louisiana State Police, the agency now in charge of the Bossier City investigation, the suspect was killed by Shreveport police following a pursuit across the river into Bossier City. KTBS 3 News has also learned that the suspect likely intentionally drove into that neighborhood while being chased because he had a connection to a house there.

The suspect

Elkins, 31, has a prior criminal conviction in Caddo District Court. He was arrested in March 2019 on a charge of illegal use of weapons and carrying a firearm on school property.

According to a police report, Elkins said he walked outside to meet a buddy who was going to pick him up but another person in the car pulled a gun and pointed it at him. Elkins admitted firing five rounds at the car as the driver left.

The incident took place less than 300 feet from the fenceline at Caddo Magnet. The gunshots were fired in the direction of the school while children were playing outside, according to the police report.

Elkins pleaded guilty to the illegal weapons charge in October 2019. The second charge was dismissed, and Elkins was placed on probation for 18 months.

Community reaction

Council Member James Green (District F): This is a heartbreaking tragedy for Cedar Grove and the greater Ark-La-Tex community. My prayers are with the families who are grieving unimaginable loss this morning, and I am praying for the recovery of those who were injured. We stand with the community during this difficult time.

Council Chairwoman Tabatha Taylor (District A): We stand with Councilman Green and the Cedar Grove community during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected and those recovering from their injuries.

Council Vice Chairwoman Ursula Bowman (District G): This is a devastating situation. We are keeping the families, the injured, and the entire community in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Council Member Gary Brooks (District B): Our hearts go out to the families affected. We are praying for those who were injured and stand in solidarity during this time.

Council Member Jim Taliaferro (District C): This is a tragic loss for our city and the Cedar Grove community. We are keeping those impacted and those recovering in our prayers.

Council Member Grayson Boucher (District D): We mourn with the families and are praying for strength and recovery for those who were injured. We also lift up the police officers, firefighters, Caddo Parish Coroners Office, and all first responders who had to respond to this scene.

Council Member Dr. Jackson Jr. (District E):Today is one of the saddest days in the history of Shreveport. Eight innocent children lost their lives, and there are no words that can make sense of this tragedy. Our hearts are heavy, and our city is hurting. We lift up every family affected in prayer. God, we need You now more than ever.

Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent Keith Burton called the shooting an "unspeakable tragedy." And while the names of the children nor where they attended schools are immediately known, "we do know that eight young lives were taken far too soon. They were children with dreams, hopes and futures that were just beginning to take shape."

He continued: "There are no words that can make sense of a loss like this. As a community, we must wrap around one another in the days ahead. We must take care of our children, support our families and stand beside our educators and first responders who are carrying the weight of this moment."

Attorney General Liz Murrill's office sent the following statement: Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating this tragic situation. We do not yet know all the details, but I am deeply saddened by the senseless loss of life. Im praying for the victims and their family members in the wake of this devastating violence.

Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip Devillier released the following joint statement: Our hearts are broken by this tragedy that is devastating these families and loved ones, and the community of Shreveport, who have lost so much this morning. As more details emerge, we want to express our gratitude to the emergency personnel who responded so quickly, and to our local and state law enforcement officers who are moving this investigation forward. Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one in the north Louisiana community affected by this senseless loss of life. We stand ready to assist in any way that we can in the days ahead.

Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler said while the incident began in Shreveport, it impacted Bossier City as well.

"The tragic and senseless loss of eight innocent children in our neighboring city of Shreveport is something that is difficult to comprehend. These were young lives with futures ahead of them, taken far too soon in an act of unimaginable violence, " Chandler said, adding, "We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement officers and first responders who acted to bring this situation to an end and protect others from further harm.Today, we stand with our neighbors in Shreveport. We grieve with the families who are experiencing an unimaginable loss, and we lift them up in our prayers."

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson posted the following to his Facebook page: "Heartbreaking tragedy in Shreveport this morning  8 children were senselessly killed and multiple others were injured. My team is in touch with local law enforcement as more details emerge. Were holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. And we are grateful to the Shreveport, Bossier, and Louisiana State Police for their swift response."

Domestic violence resources
Here are the stories making headlines this Sunday.

Tens of thousands of passengers will face travel disruption over the coming weeks as Aer Lingus cuts more than 500 flights from its schedule, according to the Sunday Independent.

The airline said the disruption is being caused by a requirement for mandatory maintenance on aircraft, but it comes against the backdrop of a growing crisis in the aviation sector over the cost and availability of jet fuel.

Nabbed mob boss Daniel Kinahan had ruled out any plans to flee Dubai for Iran or Russia because he believed he would be arrested if he ever tried to leave, the Irish Sunday Mirror reports.

The Sunday World leads with US government officials helping gardai build a case against Daniel Kinahan by hacking into encrypted devices seized from Cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin gave an ultimatum to Michael Healy-Rae that a private two-for-one deal he and his brother Danny agreed in support of the Government would have to be upheld before the Kerry TD quit the Coalition.

The Irish Mail on Sunday reveals that the Taoiseachs chief of staff, Deirdre Gillane, contacted Michael Healy-Rae on Monday night when it became apparent Danny was going to vote against the Government in the no-confidence motion tabled by Sinn Fein in the Dail the following day.

PTSB shareholders were advised to reject Bawag deal, according to the Business Post.

The 1.62 billion value of the deal was at a discount to PTSB's reported end-2025 net assets of just under 2.02 billion.
Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) is one of the top utility stocks to buy now. On April 13, analysts at BMO Capital reiterated an Outperform rating on Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) and increased the price target to $143 from $136.

This Is Why BMO Capital Raised Duke Energy Corporation's (DUK) Price Target

Pixabay/Public Domain

The research firm reiterates its expectation of a limited set of updates in the upcoming May 5 earnings release for the first quarter of 2026. Nevertheless, it expects investors to pay close attention to the ongoing North Carolina rate case and the IURC listening meetings.

The firm, however, remains bullish on the companys long-term prospects, driven by continued large-scale onboarding activity. Thats because the companys forecasts reflect just 75% data center uptake, leaving room for earnings and growth upside heading into 2028.

Duke Energy is poised to reduce its debt by about $800 million upon completing the sale of its Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas business to Spire Inc. for $2.48 billion. The transaction is poised to help the company efficiently fund its capital plan.

Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) is one of Americas largest energy holding companies, serving 8.6 million electric customers and 1.7 million natural gas customers across six states in the Southeast and Midwest. It generates, transmits, and delivers electricity and natural gas, with a focus on modernizing the grid and investing in renewables, nuclear, and natural gas infrastructure.

While we acknowledge the potential of DUK 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: 12 Best Data Center Stocks to Buy Right Now and Top 10 Growth Stocks in Billionaire Philippe Laffonts Portfolio.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and still fairly pleasant. A later afternoon shower is possible but most will stay dry for the day..

Tonight

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy.
Shares of Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) fell on Thursday, down as much as 8.6% at one point this morning, before returning to a 5.8% decline as of 1:30 p.m. EDT.

Oil prices had declined about 10% at that time, to roughly $82 per barrel -- the lowest price since early March, just after the war started.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on a little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly," providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need.



Continue 

Oil prices fell after President Trump said that Iran had agreed to the broad outlines of a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, unlocking the roughly 20% of global oil supply that Iran has restricted since shortly after the beginning of the war.

Trump announces a deal, and Iran reopens the Strait

This morning, President Trump told Bloomberg radio that a deal with Iran was largely complete and would be finalized over the weekend. In addition, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X that the Strait of Hormuz "is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire," subject to certain conditions. Axios also reported that the U.S. is considering un-freezing $20 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for Iran surrendering its stockpile of enriched uranium, while also suspending its nuclear program for a significant period of time.

While such a deal is by no means finalized and could collapse, Iran's announcement about the Strait caused oil prices to fall.

Occidental Petroleum is a U.S.-based upstream producer with the vast majority of its assets in the U.S. and North America. Occidental also sold off its midstream chemical division to Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB) earlier this year, and it has a fair amount of debt on its balance sheet.

Being a pure-play upstream company with a fair amount of debt, Occidental is highly sensitive to oil and gas prices. That's why the stock is moving more than other oil majors today.

Image source: Getty Images.

Occidental could de-risk this year

Even an oil price above $80 would be significantly higher than the low-$60s prices at which oil began the year. Meanwhile the higher oil prices from the first half of 2026 should give Occidental a window of profitability to pay down a significant portion of its debt. That could help de-risk its story and lead to a higher multiple.

Overall, despite its decline today, Occidental remains a good option to hedge against geopolitical disruption and oil shocks stemming from the Middle East and/or Russia, while it also pays a 1.8% dividend.
All work and no play isnt for everyone  even for exceptional pay. Some people have what it takes to manage a demanding job, but others have different priorities.

Ultimately, only you can decide if earning a hefty paycheck makes a taxing job worth it. Keep reading to discover the five most stressful, yet high-paying jobs in the U.S.

See Next: What Is a Good Side Gig Income for 2026?

Trending Now: 10 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

1. Surgeon

Average pay: $239,200 per year or more

Surgeons have to make life-or-death decisions under pressure as a standard part of the job, said Sam DeMase, career expert at ZipRecruiter. The hours are long and unpredictable, making personal life scheduling difficult.

Holding a patients life in your hands is a major psychological weight to carry, she said. If you value financial security and can compartmentalize the stress of work, it can be worth it. Otherwise, it can lead to burnout and prove detrimental to your mental health.

Read This: 6 Passive Income Strategies Making Me Rich

2. Pilot

Average pay: $198,100 per year

Hundreds of people depend on pilots every day and the job leaves zero margin for error, DeMase said.

You need to be in full control of your mind and body and operating at your highest level for extended periods of time, she said.

Its worth the stress if youre passionate about flying and calm under pressure, she said. However, its probably not worth it if you value having control over your schedule.

3. Cybersecurity Director

Average pay: $171,200 per year

In 2026, there is a constant threat of cyberattacks, which puts the company and employees at risk, DeMase said. As a director of cybersecurity, you are responsible for preventing these attacks.

This comes with a lot of pressure, especially at larger companies, where the possibility of a data breach is higher, she said. Conversely, it can be worth it if you work for a smaller company, as the risk of a security incident is likely lower.

4. Sales Executive

Average pay: $138,060 per year

Since corporate sales executives receive commission-based pay, in theory, hard work will lead to higher pay, DeMase said.

In reality, this means being tied to quotas and targets that can feel impossible to reach, she said. Your livelihood depends on hitting sales numbers, which is incredibly stressful.

If youre extremely self-motivated and goal-driven, its worth it, she said. However, if youre not comfortable receiving a fluctuating paycheck, despite consistent hard work, its not worth it.

5. Lawyer
UK Labour government Prime Minister Keir Starmer will deliver a statement to the House of Commons Monday to correct the record regarding the vetting of Peter Mandelson prior to his appointment as UK ambassador to the US.

Before handing Mandelson the job in December 2024, though he is still attempting to deny this, Starmer was fully aware of his intimate connections with the billionaire child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson continued his relationship with the paedophile even after he was convicted and served jail time.

British Labour government Prime Minister Tony Blair and (behind) Peter Mandelson-then Northern Ireland Secretary of State-on their arrival for talks at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, April 18, 2000 [AP Photo/Peter Morrison]

On Thursday, an investigation by the Guardian revealed that A formal decision to deny him clearance was made by [UK Security Vetting (UKSV)] on 28 January 2025 According to sources, UKSV informed the Foreign Office that the risk factors involving Mandelson meant that his clearance should be denied.

Starmer claimed on Friday that he was not informed until as late as Tuesday evening this week that Mandelson failed vetting. Even if a man who has served at the highest levels of the state and was formerly the UKs Director of Public Prosecutions were to be believed, it would reveal a level of incompetence beyond comprehension.

The millions of workers who see Starmer as a liar and swindler produced by the same putrid British bourgeoisie which propelled Mandelson to the highest echelons are 100 percent correct.

That is why his personal approval ratings had already collapsed. In January, his net favourability rating of -57 was the joint-lowest recorded by YouGov of any prime minister other than Liz Truss, with Truss in power for just 44 days.

It was no secret in ruling circles that Mandelson failed his high-level security clearance (developed vetting) for one of the most important posts in the British state.

The Independent reportedfully seven months before the Guardianin the article, Concerns Mandelson did not pass MI6 vetting for US ambassador role  but Starmer appointed him anyway, that it was told by sources that MI6 failed to clear the Labour peer largely because of concerns over his business links to China. However, there were also worries that his past links to the disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein would compromise him.

Starmer therefore knew. Yet much of the media coverage, particularly the pro-Labour Guardian, has still focused on what Starmer knew and when. This is because there is a fear that his downfall will bring to a head a far broader political crisis of rule for the British bourgeoisie, possibly claiming the Labour government as its victim.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) walks with Peter Mandelson, UK Ambassador to the United States of America, at the British Embassy to the United States of America, February 26, 2025 [Photo by Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street/OGL 3]

This weekend, leading Cabinet ministers have rallied around Starmer, including David Lammy, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, and technology secretary Liz Kendall, both firm Blairites. Lammy was Foreign Secretary at the time when Mandelsons appointment was signed off by Starmer, declaring him the right man for the job of UK Ambassador to the US and a man of considerable expertise the right man for this moment.

Among the figures being touted as Starmers replacement should he fall, whether now or after Mays local electionsexpected to be disastrous for Labouris Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Another Blairite, Streeting is equally compromised, having already been forced to delete a batch of photos of himself with Mandelson, including one in which Streeting fawns over the legend Lord Mandelson.

Sections of the media, including the Financial Times, have warned in recent months that whatever Starmers decline in political fortunes, he still represents the stability sought by the bourgeoisie after a period of crisis-ridden Tory rulewhich saw the Conservative Party burn through a staggering four prime ministers and five chancellors in the space of just eight years.

Whether Starmer remains for a few more weeks or months or goes more quickly, such desperate attempts at damage limitation are ultimately doomed to fail.

For the working class, however, the central issue is not which right-wing Labourite replaces Starmer but the necessity to intervene as an independent actor in this escalating crisis.

All the political mechanisms of rule established over more than a century are falling apart at the seamsabove all the Labour Party.

Under conditions of entrenched and growing social inequality and mounting class conflict, political minnows such as Lammy, Kendall and Streetingwho all agreed with Mandelson, as a leading architect of New Labour, that he was intensely relaxed about people getting filthy richare incapable of reversing a perilous situation for the ruling class.

Labour is today hated by millions of workers and youth. Indeed, it is only due to the betrayal carried out by the nominally left Jeremy Corbyn, who led the party for more than four-and-a-half years from September 2015, that the Blairites have survived at all, and Starmer handed leadership of the party.

Keir Starmer (left) and Jeremy Corbyn at a general election campaign event in December 2019 [Photo by Jeremy Corbyn - Revealing Brexit documents / CC BY 2.0

Starmer went on to win a landslide in the 2024 general election under Britains undemocratic first-past-the-post electoral system, despite having won just 33.7 percent of the votethe lowest share for any single-party majority government in post-1945 UK history.

Starmer was eased into power due to the betrayal of the trade union bureaucracy, who quelled a mass strike movement as they backed a Blairite whose hostility to the working class was made clear by his ban on shadow cabinet ministers supporting workers picket lines and his support for genocide in Gaza.

Thanks to the continued refusal of Corbyn and the left to wage political war on the Blairites, almost two years of Starmers government of austerity and militarism has mainly benefitted the most right-wing forcesincluding the far-right Reform UK.

Reform has headed the polls for the last year and remains around 10 points clear of Labour. Starmers party is currently polling in fourth place. Were an election to be held tomorrow, Reform would likely rule as a minority government or in a coalition with the Tory Party on an anti-immigration, pro-business programme of savage austerity and militarism.

Following Corbyns betrayal and the debacle of his Your Party vehicle, and the prostration before Starmer of Labours parliamentary left-wing of a few dozen MPs, the Green Party has seen a surge in support in recent monthsand now polls in second place behind Reform. But whatever vaguely leftist rhetoric is spouted by new leader Zack Polanski, the pro-capitalist Greens also represent no alternative to Starmers collapsing party.

If Reform, and the most vicious anti-working-class representatives of the super-rich they represent, are to be stopped in their tracks, then there is no time to waste: the working class must adopt the programme of socialist internationalism.

As the WSWS noted on Mandelsons arrest:

Mandelsons career epitomised the transformation of the Labour Party into a naked instrument of finance capital and architect of illegal wars of imperialist plunder, most infamously against Iraq in 2003. Having now resigned five times from various positions in his career, including being forced from office twice in the Blair years due to earlier scandals, he was welcomed back to the summit of political power by Starmer. Not only did Mandelson epitomise the New Labour agenda of serving every requirement of the banks and corporations, but his close relations with Epstein were seen at the time as an asset that would facilitate efforts to woo the Trump administration. For the working class, the central issue is not holding Mandelson or [Andrew] Mountbatten-Windsor to account through parliamentary debates, humble addresses, or official inquiriesincluding the public inquiry into Mandelsons appointment as US ambassador advocated by Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. The fundamental task is the building of a new, independent political party of the working class and making a decisive political break with the entire parliamentary set-up and all its rotten parties. It is the capitalist system they all defend that enabled the financial oligarchyand figures such as Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsorto thrive.
Israeli and Turkish leaders have launched the most extraordinary rhetorical attacks on social media against each other.

On April 11, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on X of massacring his own Kurdish citizens, accommodating Irans terror regime and its proxies and undermining regional stability.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on X of massacring his own Kurdish citizens, accommodating Irans terror regime and its proxies and undermining regional stability. (screenshot) [Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu/X]

Erdogan had earlier warned that provocations could derail the USIran ceasefire and criticized Israels actions in the region. Turkish officials described Netanyahu as the Hitler of our time, citing Israels military actions in Gaza and across the region, and stating that Israel was manufacturing Turkiye as its next enemy. They accused him of destabilising the region for his own political survival. Presidential advisor Burhanettin Duran accused Netanyahu of committing genocide in Gaza and dragging the region into chaos.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called Erdogan a Muslim Brotherhood man, who massacred Kurds. He criticised the Turkish president for failing to respond to Iranian missiles fired into Turkiye, calling him a paper tiger, accusing him of antisemitism and declaring field trials in Turkiye against Israels political and military leadership. The fascist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir tweeted in Hebrew, Erdogan, do you understand English? before adding, in English: F*** You.

Several Israeli politicians, within the government and the opposition, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, have publicly described Turkiye as a new regional threat, comparable to Iran. These were references to Erdogans earlier threats against Israel when he said that Turkiye could enter Israel just as it had intervened in Libya and KarabakhTurkiyes interventions to support Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia and in the Libyan civil war.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of deliberately trying to portray Turkiye as its next enemy. Netanyahu was trying to undermine peace negotiations in the region as he continues his expansionist policies.

Erdogan insisted that Israel will resort to all avenues to sabotage the slightest hope for peace, just as it has repeatedly done before. As the front of humanity seeks to put out the fire in our region, the gang of massacre will add more fuel to it. While doing this, they will obviously continue to impudently target the countries, especially Turkiye and Spain, which raise their voices for peace.

Turkish criticisms of Netanyahu function largely as an attempt to channel rising domestic anger over soaring living costs and intensifying state repression toward an external rival. Recent surveys in Turkiye show most of the population opposes the Iran war. Yet Ankara cannot afford a direct confrontation with the United States. It joined the Riyadh Declaration in condemning Iran and redirected much of its public response on the war against Israel, drawing on domestic opposition to the war to reinforce the narrative that Israel provoked the conflict.

Escalating Israeli Turkish tensions

These latest rhetorical attacks followed an announcement that caused uproar in Tel Aviv: Istanbuls chief prosecutor filed indictments against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 34 other Israeli officialsincluding Defence Minister Israel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen. The charges relate to Israels naval interception of dozens of vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla, seeking to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in late September and early October 2025.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, speaks with Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich during the weekly cabinet meeting at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Ronen Zvulun]

Israel detained and later deported all activists aboard the 39 boats, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and 24 Turkish citizens. Ankara condemned the interception as an act of terror that endangered civilians. The indictments include allegations of crimes against humanity, genocide, torture, and unlawful deprivation of libertycharges that, if upheld, would carry cumulative sentences amounting to thousands of years.

Ankara has consistently criticised the mass civilian deaths in Gaza since October 2023, yet it has maintained significant economic and logistical ties with Israel. Azerbaijans oil exports still transit the pipeline running through Turkiye, and US bases in Turkiye have remained available for military intelligence-gathering operations that benefit Israel.

Erdogan was also a signatory to the rotten agreement at Sharm el-Sheikh last October advanced by the Trump administration for Gaza. The plan envisaged Gaza being administered by a Peace Council chaired by the US president, without recognising any political rights for the Palestinians in the territory, while granting Israel a permanent security role controlling borders.

The agreement required Hamas to disarm and relinquish authority in Gaza. Turkiyewhich has hosted exiled leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, with which Hamas is affiliatedjoined other signatories in urging Hamas to accept these terms. Ankara even agreed in principle to contribute troops to an international stabilisation force for Gaza, though Israel rejected the offer.

Todays rapid escalation in IsraelTurkiye tensions reflects a long-running rivalry that has now transformed into open hostility, driven by developments in Gaza, Syria, Iran, and domestic politics in both countries.

The rivalry between two allies of US imperialism in the region primarily concerns their shares in the carve-up of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. While both governments support aspects of Washingtons drive for dominance in the Middle East, Ankara has grown increasingly concerned about Israels expanding partnerships, particularly in Cyprus and Syria.

IsraelTurkiye tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean

In December, Israel hosted a summit in Jerusalem with Greece and Cyprusstates with longstanding disputes with Turkiye. Their leaders agreed to deepen trilateral cooperation on security, defence and military matters to protect critical regional infrastructure in the Mediterranean. This referred to plans for linking their electrical grids via what would be the worlds longest and deepest underwater electricity cable, as well as collaboration on offshore natural gas development.

In Syria, Turkiyes ally Ahmed al-Sharaa and his Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have ruled since toppling President Bashar al-Assads regime in December 2024. Israel had supported a decentralised political structure in Syria, including Kurdish autonomy in the northeast and Druze autonomy in the southwest, which would allow it to maintain influence in those areas and weaken Damascus and its backer in Ankara. But last December, the US administration backed al-Sharaas efforts to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army and bring SDF-controlled territory back under the authority of Damascus.

Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leader Mazloum Abdi agree to dissolve the SDF into the Syrian transitional government, March 10, 2025 [Photo: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) - Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic]

In January, the Nagel Commission, tasked with making recommendations for Israels security strategy and budget for the next decade, stated in its report that Turkiye has become the most influential power in Damascus and that the Sunni-Turkish axis has replaced Irans Shiite axis. It added, Turkiyes interests in turning Syria into a client state and thereby increasing its regional influence are clear. It [Israel] should be prepared for actions on the ground and potential threats that could escalate rapidly, arguing that military capabilities should be strengthened in preparation for a possible conflict with Turkey.

US-Israel war on Iran

It is above all the criminal US-Israel attacks on Iran that have provoked consternation among Turkiyes ruling circles. They fear that, as a NATO member hosting US bases and providing intelligence for US-Israeli forces that have been targeted by missiles, possibly as false flag operations, Turkiye could be drawn into the war. The global rise in oil and natural gas prices caused by the conflict will exacerbate the already severe cost-of-living crisis, intensifying class tensions.

While Erdogan declared the attacks on Iran were illegal and called for a ceasefire and negotiations, Turkiyes military, economic and financial dependence upon its alliance with Washington means aligning with President Donald Trumps new Middle East policy. To do otherwise would invite a coup against him, as the 2016 NATO-backed coup attempt demonstrated. For this reason, he refrained from condemning the US under the leadership of his friend Trump.

Instead, he targeted Israel, holding it responsible for the war, and describing Irans targeting of US bases in the region, a legitimate act of self-defence, as an attack on the sovereignty of other countries. Ankara fears that the war, which has spread to Lebanon, could lead to the collapse of the Iranian regime and its subjugation to Washington, increasing Israels influence on its own borders and precipitating a new wave of migrants fleeing the wars and separatist initiatives by Kurdish nationalist forces allied with the US and Israel.

Israeli Turkish rivalry in the Horn of Africa

Tensions between Israel and Turkiye are also rising in the Horn of Africa, a vital strategic area for the Middle East powers. The regions ports, military bases, and political alliances shape access to the Bab el-Mandeb straitsthe southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canalwhich functions both as Israels maritime lifeline via the EilatAshdod corridor and as Turkiyes access point to the Indian Ocean.

Over the past decade, the two states have cultivated opposing regional blocs: a TurkiyeQatarSomalia axis on one side and an IsraelUAEEritrea/Ethiopia axis on the other.

Somalia is the most visible front in this rivalry. Turkiye has become Mogadishus primary political patron, military trainer, and economic partner. It operates its largest overseas military base in the capital, trains Somali forces, and controls key infrastructure including the port. Ankara has dispatched the Cagr Bey vessel and supporting ships to begin deep-sea drilling at the Curad-1 well, 250 miles off Somalias coast, a move that signals its long-term geostrategic interests in the region.

Israel, by contrast, has sought influence through Somaliland. Last December, it became the first and only UN member state to formally recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state, a step widely interpreted as an effort to secure access to the port of Berbera and one that antagonised both Ankara and Mogadishu.

In Sudan, Turkiye had secured a long-term lease on Suakin Islandviewed by some analysts as a potential naval foothold on the Red Seabefore the Sudanese army ousted President Omar al-Bashir in a pre-emptive coup amid a mass uprising. In Djibouti, Ankara has expanded its diplomatic and commercial presence as part of its broader Red Sea strategy.

Israels footprint in the Horn is older and more discreet. It has long maintained intelligence and security ties with Ethiopia, including around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Egypt and Sudan fear could reduce Nile flows during a drought. Israel has reportedly used Eritrean ports and islands for intelligence gathering in the Red Sea. Its partnership with the UAEa major actor in Eritrea, Somaliland, and southern Yemen, and a backer of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudans civil warhas extended its reach.

The Iran-aligned Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping linked to Israel, carried out in support of the Palestinians, have forced vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, underscoring the strategic value of the Red Sea corridor. This has become more pronounced as Iran threatens to close the Red Sea if the US continues to block the Strait of Hormuz.

Tel Aviv has watched with unease Ankaras warming relations with Riyadh, Cairo and Islamabad. Erdogan had refused for years to recognise Egypts post-Morsi leadership and continued to host senior Muslim Brotherhood figures in Turkiye, positioning himself in direct opposition to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. At the same time, Saudi Arabia and the UAEwhose ambassador in Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, once characterised Turkiye as an enemy more dangerous than Iranhave begun funnelling billions of dollars into the Turkish economy. From Tel Avivs perspective, this convergence between Ankara, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi risks hardening into a Sunni political axis hostile to Israels regional interests.

On Friday, Turkiye held a three-day Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, which more than 150 countries were expected to attend, including more than 20 heads of state and government, among them Syrian President al-Sharaa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were to meet on the sidelines of the forum to discuss the war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Indias pharmaceutical companies are in an intense race to create cheaper generic versions of weight-loss drugs after the patent for the active ingredient semaglutide expired in the country.

The surge in GLP-1 development  which one executive called a bloodbath  comes as the industry rushes to meet the growing demand in India, where nearly a third of adults are obese.

The landscape is also shaped by manufacturing capacity concerns: At last weeks Semafor World Economy, Eli Lillys CEO framed new oral pills as a huge scale solution for global supply constraints, saying that no matter how hard we want to try, we cannot reach the planet with traditional injectable treatments.

 Lauren Morganbesser
Alec Baldwin is going back to court.

Variety and People reported Friday that a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ruled a civil lawsuit filed by a "Rust" crew member can proceed to trial. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died in October 2021 after a gun Baldwin was holding fired.

"A reasonable jury could find that Mr. Baldwin recklessly disregarded the probability that pointing a gun in the direction of someone, with the finger on the trigger, would cause emotional distress," the judge wrote in the filing, obtained by Variety.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Baldwin's representatives for comment.

Alec Baldwin Admits He 'Doesnt Want To Work Anymore' After 'Rust' Shooting Death: 'I Want To Retire'

A civil case against Alec Baldwin is heading to court. (Reuters)

While the "30 Rock" actor originally faced criminal charges, a Santa Fe judge dismissed Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charge with prejudice in July 2024.

Read On The Fox News App

Serge Svetnoy initially sued Baldwin back in 2021, less than a month after Hutchins' death.

"Simply put, there was no reason for a live bullet to be placed in that .45 Colt revolver or to be present anywhere on the Rust set, and the presence of a bullet in a revolver posed a lethal threat to everyone in its vicinity," his lawsuit read at the time.

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Svetnoy was standing behind the monitor and about six to seven feet away as Baldwin rehearsed the scene the crew was about to film. Baldwin had been practicing a cross-draw maneuver when the gun fired.

Alec Baldwin spotted on the "Rust" set holding a rifle by the barrel as he returned to filming after the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins.

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Svetnoy, the film's gaffer, spent the next 20 to 30 minutes rendering aid to Hutchins after realizing the cinematographer had been shot. It wasn't until after the paramedics took over that Svetnoy understood the gravity of the situation.

"He realized that he had been squarely in the zone of danger posed by the loaded weapon in Defendant Baldwins hand, and what he felt pass by him from the discharge of the Colt Revolver was not mere pressurized air," the civil lawsuit read. "But for an inch or two, possibly less, that bullet could have ended his life."

Aerial photo from Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico shows the church where actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun.

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Alec Baldwin finished filming "Rust," which was released in November 2024.

According to Svetnoy's lawsuit, Baldwin was not supposed to be firing a gun in the scene they filmed on that fateful October day.

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"The scene did not call for Defendant Baldwin to shoot the Colt Revolver, which should not have contained any live ammunition," the lawsuit said.

Baldwin has maintained in multiple interviews he did not pull the trigger of the gun. The actor described the moment the gun was discharged during a TV appearance in December 2021, months after the fatal shooting.

Svetnoy was not injured in the shooting.

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Original article source: Alec Baldwin ordered to face civil trial over fatal 'Rust' shooting: report
The Reading Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) recognizes outstanding academic achievement by honoring the top senior girls, based on academic performance, from all 19 Berks County high schools. Each student receives a monetary honorarium and plans to attend college in the fall.

In addition, AAUW Reading awards scholarships to Berks County women pursuing graduate-level study, whether full- or part-time. A separate scholarship program supports women returning to school after a break in their studies to pursue certification, licensure, or an undergraduate degree at an accredited two- or four-year institution. Applications for all scholarships are due May 30. More information and application materials are available on the AAUW Reading Branch website at reading-pa.aauw.net.

Antietam: Sage Boyer

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College: Undecided

Major: art education

Berks Catholic: Jada Do

College: St. Josephs University

Major: pre-pharmacy

Boyertown: Alison Shapin

College: Undecided

Major: biochemistry and philosophy

Brandywine Heights: Lauren Stoudt

College: Kutztown University

Major: biology: pre-med/pre-vet/pre-dental track

Conrad Weiser Rowan Rice

College: Ursinus College

Major: environmental science and graphic design

Daniel Boone: Taylor Morba

College: West Chester University

Major: nursing

Exeter: Ella K. Lynch

College: University of Pittsburgh or Wagner College

Major: physician assistant

Fleetwood: Erin Sonon

College: Case Western Reserve University

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Major: biochemistry on a pre-med track

Gov. Mifflin: Elise M. Clemmens

College: Yale University

Major: undecided

Hamburg: Mackenzie Hoover

College: Kutztown University

Major: biology and secondary education

Kutztown: Joslyn Diffenbaugh

College: Yale University

Major: political science

Muhlenberg: Olivia Lisa

College: Yale, Bucknell, NYU

Major: Philosophy

Oley Valley: Jessica Cielecki

College: Washington College

Major: chemistry and forensic science

Reading: Arianna Alexander

College: Wesleyan University or Syracuse University

Major: anthropology

Schuylkill Valley: Isabel Consugar

College: Millersville University

Major: secondary education (mathematics)

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Tulpehocken: Lyla Pugh

College: Misericordia University

Major: occupational therapy

Twin Valley: Madelyn Vandergoes

College: American University

Major: environmental biology

Wilson: Nghi Amy Tran

College: University of Pennsylvania

Major: neuroscience

Wyomissing: Lily Chen

College: Undecided

Major: psychology
Apr. 19BEMIDJI  The Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota will host a Champions for Children bingo fundraiser on Saturday, April 25, at the SouthShore Hotel ballroom, 1019 Paul Bunyan Dr. S.

A social hour and raffle sign-up will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. with bingo beginning at 6 p.m. A cash bar will be available.

All proceeds will support services for victims of child abuse in the Bemidji area.
McAlester High School Salutatorian Joshua McMichael is the McAlester News-Capitals March Student of the Month.

McMichael is a senior at MHS and plans to go to Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond to major in biology. From there he will become a pediatric ophthalmologist.

As a child, McMichael went to a pediatric ophthalmologist every other week for four to five years. He lived in Abilene, and it was a five hour drive to get to the nearest pediatric ophthalmologist in Dallas.

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He said he would be blind if his parents had not been able to take off work and travel as needed. He is thankful to his parents and wants to give back.

Its just something I want to be able to provide to others, McMichael said.

His motivation to excel are his plans that can only be accomplished through academic excellence.

His father inspires him most with the action his unwavering faith leads him to.

He has 500 hours of volunteer time with Shared Blessings and helped at two orphanages on church mission trips.

I have been fortunate enough to have resources that allow me to lead a comfortable life, but my faith compels action for the sake of those that are not in the same situation, McMichael said.

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McMichael has been part of the band throughout middle school and high school. He loves how rewarding it is when everything comes together when they perform together as a whole.

He is part of the Mock Trial Team and uses it as a way to have something without a grade attached.

Both of these have acted as activities that allow me to take a break from other life stressors while also allowing me to spend time with my close friends. I also learned valuable life skills from these programs, McMichael said.

McMichael has had many accomplishments during his time in high school, but there is one that stands out most to him.

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My biggest achievement is being the first National Merit Finalist from McAlester in many years, McMichael said.

He also is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, a member of HOSHA, was a delegate of the 2026 Congressional of Future Medical Leaders and graduated with honors from Biomedical Science Academy.
April 19 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly (LLY) is in advanced talks to acquire biotech firm Kelonia Therapeutics for more than $2 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

A deal could be reached as soon as Monday and could include additional payments tied to Kelonia meeting certain milestones, the Journal added, citing people.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Eli Lilly and Kelonia Therapeutics did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment outside regular business hours.

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Boston-based Kelonia Therapeutics is a clinicalstage biotechnology company working on a pipeline of genetic medicines across a range of diseases with a focus on CART cell therapies.

CAR-T therapies modify a patient's immune cells to recognize a specific target and destroy cancer cells.

A potential deal would strengthen Lilly's cancer portfolio, which includes therapies, such as Jaypirca and breast cancer drug Verzenio and other promising candidates, to bolster its presence in the fast-growing but competitive cancer treatment market.

Lilly, which is dominating the obesity market, has diversified beyond its blockbuster weight-loss drugs into other therapeutic areas such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, eye disorders and gene-editing technologies through acquisitions and partnerships.

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In February, the company said it would acquire Orna Therapeutics for up to $2.4 billion in cash.

(Reporting by Mihika Sharma in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Gursimran Kaur, Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
When a woman stopped to pump gas in Folsom, California, she noticed a 62-year-old man standing on the nearby street corner holding a sign. He wasnt asking for money. He was handing out resumes.

She offered him cash anyway. He declined and handed her a copy of his resume instead.

My heart sunk, she later wrote. She went home and posted his story, along with his resume, to a private Facebook group called Folsom Chat. Within 24 hours, as CBS Sacramento reported, George Silvey had a job.

Sacramento veterans determination pays off

Silvey was a Vietnam veteran who had spent six years standing on street corners trying to find work the old-fashioned way. Hed had careers in maintenance, heavy equipment operation, painting, and in-home healthcare. He wasnt looking for charity. He was looking for someone to take a chance on him.

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I know that once I get my foot in the door, I can make a lot of money real fast, he told reporters. All I need is the opportunity.

This veterans job search was over

The Facebook post did what six years of sidewalk networking hadnt. Summer Gonzalez, co-owner of KiKis Chicken in Rancho Cordova, saw it and called. The next day Silvey was washing dishes and taking out trash. He showed up early.

How many people are really asking to earn their money when you see them out on the street? Gonzalez said. And how can you say no to someone that actually wants to take the initiative to take care of himself?

She didnt say no. Neither did Silvey when his roommates phone started ringing off the hook with offers after the post went up. It threw me for a loop because I didnt expect this to happen so fast, he said.

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On his first day he put on his uniform shirt and got straight to work. Gonzalez watched and said simply: Hes a great guy.

The importance of community

Silvey called it a lucky day. But the luck was mostly the woman at the gas station who saw someone doing exactly what she would have wanted someone to do  refusing to beg, asking instead to be given a shot  and decided she was going to make sure he got one.

Never give up, never give up hope, Silvey said afterward. It can happen and it will happen.

The post A Vietnam veteran stood on street corners handing out resumes for six years. One woman saw him and changed his life within 24 hours. appeared first on Upworthy.
Two more defendants have submitted pleas in connection with the 2022 kidnapping and murder of an Indiana County man.

Eight people were charged in the death of 19-year-old Hayden Robert Garreffa, who was found dead in a remote, wooded area of Brush Valley Township early on Oct. 22, 2022.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 7 adults charged with criminal homicide in kidnapping, murder of Indiana County man

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On Friday, Indiana County District Attorney Robert Mani announced on social media that two of those charged  Isaac Buchkoski, 24, of Johnstown, and Summer Settlemyer, 22, of Johnstown  entered pleas of guilty but mentally ill.

According to Manzi, the two pleaded to the charges of murder in the second degree, aggravated assault, conspiracy to aggravated assault, kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnapping.

Buchkoski and Settlemeyers sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17. Manzi says their plea allows the court to order mental health treatment while theyre under sentence.

In Pennsylvania, a person can be found guilty but mentally ill when they have been examined by an expert in the field of mental illness, and that expert has opined that the defendant suffered from mental illness at the time of the offense, Manzi said. In a plea of guilty but mentally ill, the defendant is exposed to the same sentencing guidelines, including the same incarceration.

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Police said Garreffa was lured out of a home in Dilltown after he had an argument with one of the suspects earlier in the day. He was then allegedly kidnapped, beaten and stabbed before his body was dumped in the woods around two miles away.

Taylyn Nashell Edwards, 22, was sentenced to life in prison in 2024 after entering a plea of guilty but mentally ill.

Cases remain active against Desean Garcia Alvarez, 24; Mia Shai Catalfano, 21; Thomas Alan Rivera, 23; and Jesse Lee Wadsworth, 21.

Harmony Rhyne Hayward, 17, was originally charged as a juvenile before being charged as an adult in the case.

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Three of University of Iowa students were injured in a shooting early Sunday morning in downtown Iowa City, the school confirmed and the Iowa City Press-Citizen, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

Iowa City Police identified five victims in the shooting, with one victim in critical condition and the other four in stable condition. No other information on the victims is available. Police initially announced that "multiple victims" were taken to the hospital to be treated after a downtown fight sparked a round of gunfire around 1:45 a.m. on April 19.

Iowa City officers allegedly heard gunfire when they arrived on the scene. The area near Clinton and E. College Street houses the city's known Pedestrian Mall and is home to several popular bars, including Donnelly's Pub, TCB Pool Hall, Reunion Brewery, Brother's Bar and Grill and The Stuffed Olive.

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The Pedestrian Mall, known widely as the Ped Mall, is a popular area in downtown Iowa City a few blocks away from the University of Iowa's main campus. It boasts several restaurants, shops, bars, the Iowa City Public Library, a hotel and a frozen yogurt shop.

The police department said "multiple victims" were taken to area hospitals "to be treated for wounds suffered in the shooting." No arrests have been made, according to the Iowa City Police Department and the University of Iowa.

New details emerge: A gunman ambushed wildland firefighters

The Iowa City Police Department did not say how many were believed to be involved in the shooting, but did release an image with a request to help identify five persons of interest associated with the incident. The specific conditions of the three students who were shot were also not known or available as of the morning of April 19.

Local, state officials release statements after Iowa City shooting

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released a statement shortly before 8 a.m. on April 19, saying she and her husband's prayers "are with the victims and their families."

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"This senseless act of violence has devastated the university community and our state," Reynolds said. "I have spoken with University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson and Board of Regents Chair Robert Cramer and assured them that the full resources of the state are available to assist with the investigation."

Other incidents: Prosecutor says families were 'blindsided' by FSU shooting video

University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson announced that three students had been shot in a Sunday morning statement. The school is in "close communication with local law enforcement," and encouraged the community to "rely on official university communication," she said.

"While we await additional information, I am thinking about these students and their families, friends, and all the people who care about them," Wilson said. "I am holding them close in my thoughts, along with everyone in the community who is hurting or feeling shaken right now."

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The University of Iowa alerted the school community of the incident when it issued a "HAWK ALERT" at 2:03 a.m. Sunday to inform students that first responders were on scene, noting "confirmed victims." Hawk Alert is one of the University of Iowa's campus emergency notification methods, which sends out emergency calls, texts and emails.

"Moments like this can feel overwhelming. They can make a large campus feel suddenly very small," Wilson continued in her statement. "Many of you may be worried, upset, or unsure how to process what has happened. Please know that you are not alone in that."

The Iowa Board of Regents also released a statement shortly before 8 a.m. April 19.

"Our hearts are heavy, and our prayers are with the victims, their families and anyone affected by this horrific incident," Iowa Board of Regents president Robert Cramer said in the statement. "The safety of all the faculty, staff and students at our universities is the highest priority to the Iowa Board of Regents. We have been in touch with university officials and will work with them to provide any support they need."

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The latest Hawk Alert states that community members should continue to avoid the Pedestrian Mall as police continue their investigation, and "while the investigation is in its early stages, there are no indications any university students were the intended victims." The Iowa City Police Department is encouraging residents with additional information or video footage to share it with Detective Cade Burma at cburma@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5275.

"This is a difficult moment for our community," Wilson said. "We will get through it together by caring for one another and by holding close what it means to be a part of this community."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 University of Iowa students injured in shooting, no arrests made
NEED TO KNOW

On April 19, 1995, the Oklahoma City bombing shattered the heart of Oklahoma City at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building

Among the survivors were six children from America's Kids Daycare inside the building

Timothy McVeigh was later executed and accomplice Terry Nichols was sentenced to several life sentences for the attack

Thirty-one years ago, on April 19, 1995, the Oklahoma City bombing shattered the heart of Oklahoma City with the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

In a matter of seconds, lives were changed forever. Among the survivors were six children from America's Kids Daycare inside the building. Timothy McVeigh was later executed for the bombing, and accomplice Terry Nichols was sentenced to multiple life terms.

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The attack claimed 168 lives, including 19 children, and left a lasting scar on families, first responders and an entire nation that still grapples with the tragedy decades later.

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.

A nighttime view of the devastated Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, showing the effects of the truck bombing. (

Credit: Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis via Getty

On the morning of April 19, 1995, the Oklahoma City bombing unfolded when a rented Ryder truck packed with explosives was detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The blast occurred at 9:02 a.m., shearing off the building's entire north face and collapsing floors within seconds. The explosion killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds more, making it the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history at the time.

The attack was carried out by Timothy McVeigh, a former U.S. Army soldier who harbored deep anti-government views. He was aided by accomplice Terry Nichols, who helped plan and prepare the bombing materials. Authorities later determined that the attack was timed to coincide with the second anniversary of the Waco siege, an event that fueled McVeigh's extremist beliefs.

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In the immediate aftermath, first responders and volunteers rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the rubble in a desperate rescue effort that lasted for days. McVeigh was arrested just 90 minutes after the bombing during a routine traffic stop for driving without a license plate. Within days, investigators connected him to the attack through evidence including the truck rental and forensic materials.

McVeigh was convicted in 1997 on multiple federal charges and was executed by lethal injection in 2001.

For survivors, the legacy of that day has continued to shape their lives in ways both visible and unseen.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

Credit: Greg Smith/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty

Featured On: https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

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Speaking to PEOPLE in 2015, survivor Joe Webber  just 20 months old at the time of the bombing  reflected on being one of only six children from America's Kids Daycare inside the building to survive the bombing.

It's a blessing, I think, and a hindrance not remembering something like that happening. Because while you don't have any reminders of the horrors, you can't really place yourself in it, Webber, then a junior studying zoology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, told PEOPLE on the 20th anniversary.

He added: When I think about it, I get the overwhelming sense of how I'm connected to those people who were in the building, and by extension to everyone in the city and the nation.

Read the original article on People
Today is 33 years since the Mickelson plane crash. On the way back from a meeting with John Morrell & Co. packing plant officials in Cincinnati, the plane went down at an Iowa farm on a Monday afternoon. Lost were South Dakota Gov. George Mickelson, two state pilots and five men who made up a large portion of the states economic development expertise.

At the time, I was the editor of the daily newspaper in Pierre. Recalling what life was like in 1993 serves as a reminder of what was lost, not only in that plane crash but also what weve lost in the last 30 years.

Talk all you want to about cynical journalists, but Tuesdays newspapers were full of a big story that no one working in South Dakota journalism ever wanted to print. Those newspapers are different today than they were 33 years ago, hollowed out by corporate malfeasance, the internet, social media and the pandemic.

South Dakota Gov. George Mickelson in an undated image from the 1980s. (Courtesy of South Dakota Mines, University Relations/Digital Library of South Dakota)

In 1993, newspapers were so fat with staff that some of the states larger dailies had reporters assigned full-time to cover government in Pierre. Those were reporters whose names many people will still recognize: Terry Woster, Kevin Woster, Bob Mercer. Im not sure if The Associated Press even has a presence in South Dakota anymore. Back then, it had two veteran reporters stationed in Pierre: Chet Brokaw and Joe Kafka.

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At a time when this tragedy made South Dakotans hungry for news, readers across the state benefited from the breadth of knowledge and the empathy that these reporters brought to their writing. They persevered, even though there was no easy way to chronicle the pain of their friends and neighbors.

Looking back at the weeks after the crash and its first anniversary with the unveiling of the Fighting Stallions memorial, I recall a job well done by journalists who really wanted nothing to do with what was probably the biggest story of their lives. All of them would have been happier if Mickelsons plane had landed safely in Pierre and their April days had been filled with reporting on the minutia of government policy and the pettiness of political squabbles.

Just as journalism has felt the effects of time, so have politics and politicians. Gov. Mickelson was, after all, literally a giant among elected officials. The challenges during his tenure are much like the work that still goes on today  trying to improve education, promoting health care reform, dealing with water issues. Mickelson had a vision for the way the state should approach economic development, proposing a temporary increase in the state sales tax to provide money for the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund.

The states financial role in economic development was a topic of debate during this years legislative session. Those critics who like to throw around words like cronyism and corporate welfare should be reminded that Mickelsons vision has led to more than three decades of success at attracting new business and industry to South Dakota.

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Lawmakers these days are eager to take a pass on trying to solve the challenges on the states Native American reservations. They like to think that those are federal, rather than state, problems. In 1990, Mickelson declared a Year of Reconciliation while he sought to improve relations with tribes. No South Dakota leader since Mickelson has had the drive to make that kind of commitment. Relations with the tribes have lapsed so badly that at one point, Gov. Kristi Noem found herself banned from all nine of the states reservations.

Its not the haze created by the passage of time nor nostalgia for the past that makes the 1990s seem better. Its a fact that we were all better off when the states newspapers were robust and the public was well-informed. Its a fact that George Mickelson was an honorable, decent man  characteristics that are too often missing in todays politicians. Years after the plane crash, theres still plenty for us to mourn.

The victims of the state plane crash

All eight men aboard the states twin-engine Mitsubishi MU2 airplane were killed when it crashed into a barn and silo nine miles south of Dubuque, Iowa, on April 19, 1993.

Those who died in the plane crash were:
Five people were injured early Sunday in a shooting on a pedestrian mall near the University of Iowa campus in downtown Iowa City, according police.

At least three University of Iowa students were among those injured, according to the schools president.

Iowa City Police Department officials said the gunfire erupted after a large fight broke out on the pedestrian mall around 1:46 a.m. local time. Multiple victims were injured in the shooting, police said in a statement at the time.

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They later said that they had identified five victims in total, one of whom was in critical condition. The remaining victims were in stable condition, according to police.

Arriving officers heard gunfire. First responders on scene. Confirmed victims, police said in a statement about the shooting that occurred near the intersection of East College St. and St. Clinton Street, just east of the University of Iowa campus.

In a statement to staff and faculty Sunday, University of Iowa President Barb Wilson said that at least three University of Iowa students were injured in the incident.

While we await additional information, I am thinking about these students and their families, friends, and all the people who care about them, Wilson said. I am holding them close in my thoughts, along with everyone in our community who is hurting or feeling shaken right now.

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There were no immediate announcements of any arrests made in connection with the shooting. However, investigators released a surveillance photo of what they said were four persons of interest associated with the shooting, and are asking the publics help in identifying them.

Kevins and my prayers this morning are with the victims of the shooting in Iowa City and their families, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds posted on X Sunday morning. This senseless act of violence has devastated the university community and our state. I have spoken with University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson and Board of Regents Chair Robert Cramer and assured them that the full resources of the state are available to assist with the investigation. The Department of Public Safety has contacted the Iowa City Police Department to offer their support.

Bystander videos verified by ABC News showed multiple people fighting on the pedestrian mall and a large crowd running for cover as gunshots were heard.

At this time, multiple victims have been taken to area hospitals to be treated for wounds suffered in the shooting, according to the initial police statement. No information on their conditions is available at this time.

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A 6-year-old was shot at a park in Ohio on Friday, according to our CBS affiliate WTOL-11 TV.

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The shooting happened in the parking lot of Joe E. Brown Park in north Toledo around 9:30 p.m.

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Toledo police told our affiliate that a group of juveniles was in a dispute at the park.

They had toy Orby guns, which shoot biodegradable water-based gel beads.

However, the argument escalated into someone firing a real gun, WTOL-11 reported

The 6-year-old victim was hit, sustaining serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities said the 6-year-old wasnt involved in the dispute.

It is unclear whether police have any suspects or if anyone has been arrested.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (AP)  A Louisiana father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, in an attack on his family Sunday morning that stretched across two houses in a Shreveport neighborhood left shaken by one of the nations deadliest mass shootings in recent years, police said.

Two women, including the gunman's wife who was the mother of their children, were also shot and critically wounded, according to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon. Officials said the children  who were all killed in the same house  ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old.

The gunman, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, died after a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him, according to Bordelon. Authorities did not say what may have set off the violence but Bordelon said detectives were confident the shooting was entirely a domestic incident.

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The attack was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.

I just dont know what to say, my heart is just taken aback, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.

Bordelon said police were familiar with Elkins, who had been arrested in a 2019 firearms case, but he said officials were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.

Police said the attacks began before sunrise in a neighborhood south of downtown Shreveport when the suspect shot a woman at one home and then drove to the other location where this heinous act was carried out.

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Seven children were killed inside the second house, and one was found dead on the roof after apparently trying to escape, Bordelon said. Another child jumped off the roof and was expected to survive after being taken to a hospital.

State Rep. Tammy Phelps said some children tried to get away through the back door. I can't even imagine what the police officers, first responders actually dealt with when they got here today, she said at a news conference.

Family member says suspect was separating from his wife

The victims were three boys and five girls, according to the Caddo Parish Coroners office.

Shamar Elkins and his wife were in the middle of separating and were due in court Monday, said Crystal Brown, who is a cousin of one of the wounded women. Brown said the couple had been arguing about the separation before the shooting.

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He murdered his children," Brown said. He shot his wife.

Elkins shared four children with his wife and three children with another woman who lived close by and who was also shot, according to Brown. All the children were together at one house, she said.

Brown described all the children as happy kids, very friendly, very sweet.

A neighbor wakes up to a mass shooting

Liza Demming, who lives two houses down from where most of the victims were shot, said her security camera captured video of the suspect running away along with the sound of two shots.

Thats pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving, she said.

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Demming later went outside and saw the covered body of a child on the homes roof.

Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., of nearby St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church, who owns one of the homes where the shootings occurred, said a person who works for him had rented it to the family, but he never had dealings with them.

What began as a domestic dispute has ended in irreversible harm, the parish's district attorneys office said in a statement.

Shreveport is overwhelmed by grief

It was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

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At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

This is a tragic situation  maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had, said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. Its a terrible morning.

Hours after the shooting, mourners gathered outside the single-story house on 79th Street and laid flowers. One door appeared stained with blood. Later that evening at a nearby prayer vigil, Kimberlin Jackson joined other members of the community who lit candles for the victims in a parking lot.

It just makes you take your children and hug them and hold them and tell them how much you love them, she said.

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___

This story has been corrected to attribute the statements about the shooting to police spokesperson Chris Bordelon, not Police Chief Wayne Smith, and corrects the ages of the children killed based on updates by officials.

___

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Contributing were Associated Press reporters Jake Offenhartz in New York, Jeff Martin in Atlanta, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis, Terry Tang in Phoenix and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles.
A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children, including seven of his own, and shot two other people Sunday in an early morning attack of domestic violence carried out across two houses, authorities said, shaking a Shreveport neighborhood in one of the nations deadliest mass shootings in more than two years.

The victims ranged in age from 1 to about 12 years old and one of the adults wounded was the mother of the suspects children, said Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon. Investigators did not say what may have set off the violence.

The suspect, whom Bordelon identified as Shamar Elkins, died after a police pursuit. Bordelon said there was still much to investigate but detectives were confident the shooting was entirely a domestic incident.

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Bordelon said Elkins had been arrested in 2019 in a firearms case. He said police were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.

This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen, Bordelon said.

Officers fired at the suspect during a chase after he carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint, Bordelon said.

Police said the attacks began before sunrise in a neighborhood south of downtown Shreveport when the suspect shot a woman at one home and then drove to the other location where this heinous act was carried out.

Seven children were killed inside the second house, and one was found dead on the roof after apparently trying to escape, Bordelon said.

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State Rep. Tammy Phelps said some children tried to get away through the back door. I cant even imagine what the police officers, first responders actually dealt with when they got here today, she said at a news conference.

Authorities did not release the name of the gunman but did say he was an adult male.

A neighbor wakes up to a mass shooting

Liza Demming, who lives two houses down from where most of the victims were shot, said her security camera captured video of the suspect running away along with the sound of two shots.

Thats pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving, she said.

Demming later went outside and saw the covered body of a child on the homes roof. She said she did not know the gunmans name.

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He looks like the dad that comes over here, she said, adding that he was just with the children a few days ago.

Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., of nearby St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church, who owns one of the homes where the shootings occurred, said a person who works for him had rented it to the family, but he never had dealings with them.

I dont really know them, I really dont, he said. I do plan on having a prayer vigil for the family, and anything I can do, with so many children, to help them bury the children, Im going to do so.

The Caddo Parish Coroners Office released a statement on Sunday saying it was not yet releasing any of the childrens names because identification of the victims was pending.

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Police said two women who were shot and wounded were being treated for serious injuries.

What began as a domestic dispute has ended in irreversible harm, the parishs district attorneys office said in a statement.

Shreveport is overwhelmed by grief

It was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

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I just dont know what to say, my heart is just taken aback, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.

This is a tragic situation  maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had, said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. Its a terrible morning.

Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.

State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is from Shreveport, said in separate statements that they were heartbroken and praised law enforcement for their response.

Were holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time, Johnson said in a statement.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children, including seven of his own, and shot two other people Sunday in an early morning attack of domestic violence carried out across two houses, authorities said, shaking a Shreveport neighborhood in one of the nations deadliest mass shootings in more than two years.

Those killed ranged in age from 1 to about 12 years old, and one of the adults wounded was the mother of some of the suspects children, said Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon. The suspect, whom Bordelon identified as Shamar Elkins, died after a police pursuit.

Investigators did not say what may have set off the violence. Bordelon said there was still much to investigate but that detectives were confident the shooting was entirely a domestic incident.

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This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen, Bordelon said.

He said Elkins had been known to police and was arrested in 2019 in a firearms case. Officials were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.

Officers fired at the suspect during a chase after he carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint, Bordelon said.

Police said the attacks began before sunrise in a neighborhood south of downtown Shreveport when the suspect shot a woman at one home and then drove to the other location where this heinous act was carried out.

Seven children were killed inside the second house, and one was found dead on the roof after apparently trying to escape, Bordelon said.

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State Rep. Tammy Phelps said some children tried to get away through the back door. I cant even imagine what the police officers, first responders actually dealt with when they got here today, she said at a news conference.

The two wounded women were in critical condition, officials said.

Family member says suspect was separating from his wife

Shamar Elkins and his wife were in the middle of separating and were due in court Monday, said Crystal Brown, who is a cousin with one of the wounded women. Brown said the couple had been arguing about the separation before the shooting.

He murdered his children, Brown said. He shot his wife.

Elkins shared four children with his wife and three children with another woman who lived close by and who was also shot, according to Brown. All the children were together at one house, she said.

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Authorities had yet to publicly identify the shooting victims.

Brown described all the children as happy kids, very friendly, very sweet.

A neighbor wakes up to a mass shooting

Liza Demming, who lives two houses down from where most of the victims were shot, said her security camera captured video of the suspect running away along with the sound of two shots.

Thats pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving, she said.

Demming later went outside and saw the covered body of a child on the homes roof. She said she did not know the gunmans name.

He looks like the dad that comes over here, she said, adding that he was just with the children a few days ago.

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Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., of nearby St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church, who owns one of the homes where the shootings occurred, said a person who works for him had rented it to the family, but he never had dealings with them.

I dont really know them, I really dont, he said. I do plan on having a prayer vigil for the family, and anything I can do, with so many children, to help them bury the children, Im going to do so.

The Caddo Parish Coroners Office released a statement on Sunday saying it was not yet releasing any of the childrens names because identification of the victims was pending.

What began as a domestic dispute has ended in irreversible harm, the parishs district attorneys office said in a statement.

Shreveport is overwhelmed by grief

It was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Advertisement Advertisement

At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

I just dont know what to say, my heart is just taken aback, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.

This is a tragic situation - maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had, said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. Its a terrible morning.

Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to help investigate. In a statement, state police said no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.

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State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is from Shreveport, said in separate statements that they were heartbroken and praised law enforcement for their response.

Were holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time, Johnson said in a statement.

___

This story has been corrected to attribute the statements about the shooting to police spokesperson Chris Bordelon, not Police Chief Wayne Smith, and corrects the ages of the children killed based on an update by police.

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___

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporters Jake Offenhartz in New York, Jeff Martin in Atlanta, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is included among the 10 Healthcare Stocks with Highest Dividends.

RBC Trims Becton Dickinson (BDX) Outlook despite Stable MedTech Demand

On April 14, RBC Capital lowered its price recommendation on Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) to $175 from $195. It maintained a Sector Perform rating on the shares. The update came as part of a broader Q1 preview for MedTech names. The firm said its intra-quarter due diligence points to strong fundamentals and stable end markets. It does not see any signs of demand disruption at this stage.RBC also said the recent sentiment-driven dislocation looks unwarranted. In its view, this is creating opportunities across the sector, both heading into Q1 earnings and over the longer term.

For Becton Dickinson, though, the firm expects the stock to remain range-bound. It pointed to the lack of a clear catalyst, while noting that Alaris is likely to remain a headwind in FY26 and FY27.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is a global medical technology company. It develops, manufactures, and sells a wide range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products used by healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, and clinical laboratories.

While we acknowledge the potential of BDX 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: 14 Value Stocks with Highest Dividends and Early Retirement Portfolio: Top 15 Stocks to Buy

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Eight children were killed and the suspect, who was the father of seven of them, is dead following a mass shooting Sunday morning in Shreveport, KSLA-TV and KTBS-TV report. Police say two adult women were also shot and 13-year-old was injured while escaping from the gunfire.

The children who died  three girls and five boys range in age from 3 to 11 years old, according to the Shreveport Police Department. Seven were siblings and the eighth was a cousin, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner.

The children are identified as Jayla Elkins, 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 7, Markaydon Pugh, 10, Braylon Snow, 5, Khedarrion Snow, 6, and Sariahh Snow, 11.

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The 13-year-old who was injured suffered a few broken bones when he jumped off a roof on the back of the house, Shreveport Police Cpl. Chris Bordelon said.

The shootings occurred at two separate addresses about a quarter-mile apart in Shreveports Cedar Grove neighborhood. Police said the suspect, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, first shot the mother of his children at one residence, causing very serious injuries. He then went to the second home where he shot the eight children and another woman, who police said had life-threatening injuries. The second woman was the mother of the eighth child.

Shreveport police pursued Elkins, who reportedly carjacked the vehicle he used to flee from law enforcement. He led police on a chase into Bossier City where Bordelon said officers fired their weapons at Elkins, killing him.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called Sunday mornings events maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had.

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Shreveport police said Elkins was arrested in 2019 on a firearms charge, which resulted in a sentence of 18 months probation.

KTBS reports that Elkins was a member of the Louisiana National Guard for seven years, ending his service in 2020. He was never deployed during his service.

This is the fifth mass shooting in Louisiana this year and one of 114 nationwide, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It counts mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are killed or injured. Mass shootings have killed 10 people and injured 17 more in Louisiana in 2026.

This is a developing story.
Social media users on X thrashed ABC News Friday after the outlet presented a campaign ad from former President Barack Obama in favor of a Virginia redistricting measure as an "exclusive."

"Why the hell does a major news network consider an extremely partisan campaign ad an 'exclusive'?" RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway asked.

The criticism followed ABC News labeling a campaign ad featuring Obama urging Virginians to vote "yes" on a redistricting measure as an exclusively obtained clip.

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The measure could boost Democrats in the 2026 midterms if approved.

Republicans Target Spanberger As Governor Bait And Switch In Bid To Defeat Dems Redistricting Push

Former President Barack Obama urged Virginians to vote "yes" on a redistricting measure, saying it would help "level the playing field," in a video message released as early voting began.

"By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms," Obama said in the video.

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"By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we're counting on you."

Other criticism abounded in the comments of Hemingway's post, with some accusing ABC of being a "propaganda machine" while others blasted the legacy media as a whole.

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Virginia Congressman Says Spanberger Wants To 'Turn Us Into New England'

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2026, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Spanberger is serving in her first year as governor and is the first woman to hold the position in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Its so exclusive I saw it on YouTube before my video started about 20 times in the past week," one user wrote.

Retired U.S. diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez chimed in similarly: "Every time I turn on the television here in Virginia, I see Obama saying this nonsense. For weeks now. How in the world is this "exclusive" or even new, @ABCPolitics?"

Some criticized the outlet for what they described as a partisan slant.

Ny Times Reporter Loses Job Over Hot Tub, Nfl Coach Does Not: Same Old Double-standard Story

The Virginia State Capitol is seen on March 4, 2010, in Richmond, Virginia.

"It's a Democrat and it's the corporate media. Same thing, really," one wrote.

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"Sounds like they might need to provide equal time [to the other side]," said another, while another accused them of "amplify[ing] the message for free."

Others defended the network, responding to Hemingway's question with, "Because its an exclusive I guess?" and by asking, "What does partisanship have to do with it?"

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ABC News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.





Original article source: ABC News faces backlash for presenting Obama campaign ad as an 'exclusive' on redistricting measure
The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) held its large-scale annual "CULEX," or culminating training exercise, on Thursday, giving cadets a realistic look at a combat scenario.

The 24-hour-a-day exercise places nearly 4,000 cadets in a mock war setting, where upperclassmen lead complex missions and younger students follow orders. This year, it runs April 15 through April 18.

The Air Force Academy is 18,500 acres, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, but on Thursday, the culminating exercise scenario transformed USAFA into Hokkaido, a Japanese island under attack by enemy forces.

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"We've pretty much taken over the entirety of USAFA, to allow all 4,000 of our cadets to have space to operate throughout the exercise," said CULEX director Col. Jennifer Hall.

'Fly' Your Own Aircraft In Us Air Force Academy Hotel's First-ever Flight Simulators

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets hike through the woods during field exercise. (Fox News)

In the war scenario, Japan has asked the U.S. to come in as a defensive force.

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"In this scenario, we have four established airfields," Hall said. "And so that's what's established, the four joint operating areas that we have them in."

Each joint operation area, or JOA, has around 800 cadets, defending an airfield, two high-value assets and a downed airman. Cadets also face real-world issues such as injured officers and invasions by enemy targets deemed the "Red Force."

Map displaying the four joint operating areas during the CULEX.

"We pulled out one squadron to play Red Force," said Hall. "So our cadets are actually playing Red Force, and they're out there in the field right now harassing our cadets. They're doing an amazing job. They're super excited."

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Hall explained, "What we're trying to do is have the cadets prioritize through decision-making. And you'll see all across that Red Force is trying to complicate that to the best of their ability."

While the situation may not be real, it definitely looks and feels like it.

Ai Test Flight Moves Air Force One Step Closer To Unmanned 'Wingman' Aircraft

"You'll see about 15 tents laid down as an austere, expeditionary environment, two of which are tactical operations centers and a medical tent and warming tent," Hall explained. "And then we have sleeping tents for the cadets, because we will be remaining overnight for the first time."

U.S. Air Force cadets on the lookout for enemy targets during the culminating exercise.

Some cadets fly airplanes while others deploy parachutes in the sky. On the ground, hundreds of cadets equipped with air soft guns defend their camps, taking radio traffic from troops under attack. Meanwhile, students in mission control use drones and mapping technology to solve real-world problems.

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Air Force Turns To Video Games To Help Prepare Members For Real-life Combat

"The only way to prepare for the fight that we're in, or the future fight, is to develop the training necessary where they can experience it real time, in the woods, in the field," said Hall.

Now in its second year, the CULEX focuses on building confidence, teamwork and leadership skills rather than testing cadets with a pass-or-fail system. It's a multi-domain tactical exercise designed to replicate the environments future Space Force and Air Force officers may encounter.

USAFA students study a map during their culminating exercise.

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"For our seniors, in 44 days, they're going to graduate, and they're going to go off, and they're going to be officers in our Space Force and Air Force  how much more equipped they're going to be to lead, to face complicated problems, to know that they can do what's difficult," said Hall.





Original article source: Air Force Academys CULEX puts thousands of cadets through realistic 24-hour combat simulation
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Richard Russell spent his final moments alone, sick and disoriented, cracking jokes and apologizing as he flew a stolen plane he knew wasnt coming back.

In August 2018, a Horizon Air ground service agent clocked in and took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in a Bombardier Q400. For over an hour, he spoke with air traffic controllers who urged him to land before he deliberately crashed on Ketron Island.

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The 29-year-old, who went by "Beebo" on social media, is now the subject of a new documentary from ABC News Studios, "#SKYKING." It marks the first time many of Russells family members and friends have spoken out publicly. The film includes air traffic control audio from the flight and is based on available investigative records.

Man Uncovers Missing Fathers Bones Buried Beneath Family Home, Unleashing A Thousand' Other Secrets

"When I heard these recordings, they really struck a chord with me," director Patricia E. Gillespie told Fox News Digital. "[Beebo] just sounded like guys I knew back home, especially when he was talking about his work life, minimum wage and some of the frustrations he felt surrounding employment  and the fact that he couldnt talk about the tough feelings he was having.

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"It bewitched me," Gillespie shared. "I couldnt stop thinking about it. I really couldnt get it out of my head."

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As Russell flew over the Olympic Mountains, he made a confession in the recording that Gillespie said still haunts her and his loved ones.

"I got a lot of people that care about me, and its going to disappoint them to hear that I did this," he said. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. [Im] just a broken guy. Got a few screws loose, I guess. Never really knew it till now."

His last transmission indicated that his fuel reserves were dangerously low. Time had run out.

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"Not for long," he said. "I feel like one of my engines is going out or something."

Moments later, the Q400 crashed into the woods, sparking a two-acre fire. The FBI said Russell died of "multiple traumatic injuries."

"Theres also a line where he says he wanted to just talk with these guys, but theyre all business," Gillespie explained. "Those are the things that stood out to me as well.

"At one point in the recording, he says, If you ask me why I did it, blame it on not making minimum wage. Well chalk it up to that. Maybe thatll grease the gears for the higher-ups.' I have heard that at dinner. Not just from my male friends."

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"He says some more controversial things in that call," said Gillespie. "Particularly, he made this statement where he says, Do you think Alaska [Airlines] will give me a job as a pilot if I land this plane? They say, Oh, theyll give you a job doing anything.

"And he says, Yeah, right, Im a White guy. That became sort of a bellwether that got extremely controversial online. Really unsavory characters, like actual White supremacists, are saying hes their poster boy, which was completely inaccurate.

"People who are very far to the other end of the spectrum were saying hes a domestic terrorist hell-bent on destruction, which turned out not to be accurate," she continued. "But when I heard those words, and I saw how they were being taken in context, I had a sense that there was information missing. I didnt know what that information was going to be, but I knew that I felt really compelled to look into it."

Members of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department stand near the Steilacoom Ferry dock in Washington Aug. 11, 2018, near the crash site of the stolen Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 turboprop. (Getty Images)

During Gillespies sit-downs with loved ones, she learned that Russell, born in the Florida Keys and raised in Wasilla, Alaska, was goofy and deeply religious. He later met Hannah, his future wife, at a Christian youth program. They got married in 2012 and moved to Washington. Together, they opened a bakery.

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In a YouTube video posted to his blog, Russell shared photos of his travels and spoke of his job as an airport worker.

"I lift a lot of bags," he said. "Like a lot of bags. So many bags."

But the gig was far from a dream job. While Russell appeared reliable and positive at work, internally, he was feeling unfulfilled in life. His social media posts offered no hint he was quietly suffering.

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"He was not making a statement about feeling oppressed as a White guy," Gillespie emphasized. "It sounds like a statement about things that had been said to him at work. And its scary to me that that story rarely got uncovered because the internet machine was so quick to politicize it instead of acting with curiosity and asking how these words ended up coming out of this person.

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"I think Beebos aunt says it really well when she says something to the effect of, This idea of an American dream  you can provide for your wife, you can have two cars in the driveway, a house, a white picket fence  you can do this on one income. And thats just not the reality we're living in anymore.

Richard Russell, a Horizon Air employee, stole a Bombardier Q400 turboprop from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and crashed it near Ketron Island in Steilacoom, Washington, Aug. 11, 2018.

"Theres a generation  Beebos generation  that can feel like failure when they cant attain that," Gillespie reflected. "The reality is theyre not failing. The economy is failing in this way, and they have to figure it out. And we dont talk about these things, frankly. People dont have an awareness of these social pressures or, in Beebos case, the pressure to be a man or a provider. The pressure to be a success."

People who knew Russell told FBI agents and other law enforcement personnel they had no information indicating they knew of Russells plans to steal or crash an airplane, The Associated Press reported.

"Contacts with Russells employer determined there were no personnel issues," according to records cited by the outlet. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot. Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant."

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Other witnesses told FBI agents Russell "failed to go to work Aug. 3 and had expressed feeling as if he was not living up to what others expected of him," the records show. The witnesses said he went to work Aug. 4 to try to pick up a shift, but the next day he "seemed strange." Loved ones attempted an intervention, The Associated Press reported.

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"Russell seemed fine to family members after the intervention, though he was drinking more," the outlet reported based on records. "The week of Aug. 6, Russell seemed fine to family/friends."

Four days later, Russell entered the plane and took off without authorization. The FBI found evidence he had searched flight simulators before the incident.

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During Russells conversation with air traffic control, he said he didnt want to hurt anyone. He intentionally kept the plane away from populated areas. However, reports noted that Russell could have inflicted vastly more damage had he chosen to do so. Potential targets included tens of thousands of fans assembling at Safeco Field for a sold-out Pearl Jam concert.

Officials also stressed that the incident posed a serious risk to public safety and exposed vulnerabilities in airport security. Many wondered how, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attack, someone could simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization.

Before the plane plunged into the thick forest, Russell performed an acrobatic stunt.

"I think Im going to try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good, Ill go nose down and call it a night," Russell is heard saying from the cockpit.

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"The line that broke my heart when I was doing these interviews was when his brother Phil was asked about it," said Gillespie. "He said, He could have been anything he wanted to be. This idea that if hed just believed in himself, if he just believed he was living in an America where guys like him could win, he could have been anything he wanted to be. He could have been a pilot."

The Pierce County Medical Examiners Office ruled Russell's death a suicide. Authorities concluded Russell acted alone in deliberately taking the aircraft, an act that could have resulted in significant loss of life.

An Alaska Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 operated by Horizon Air takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport one day after Horizon Air ground crew member Richard Russell took a similar plane on an unauthorized flight in Seattle Aug. 11, 2018.

"Eight years later, his familys hearts are still very broken," said Gillespie. "You can never get over something like this. Suicide doesnt end pain. It passes on to your loved ones. But I also think the family wants his story to be a force for good in helping people like him get the help they need so that other families dont have to go through what theyve been through."





Original article source: Airline worker stole plane, performed barrel roll before deadly crash: Inside final moments
Akron's problem

After reading the Beacon Journal the past few months, I figured out the problem in Akron. The police seem to be the problem. All the solutions to the problem, it seems, is to fix the police. If the problem is the police, why not get rid of the police?

Gary Flower, Akron

A recent Supreme Court ruling

On March 31, 2026  Transgender Day of Visibility  the Supreme Court of the United States issued an 81 decision striking down Colorados ban on conversion therapy as applied to talk therapy for LGBTQ+ youth under 18.

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For many in our community, this ruling deepens an already painful moment. As clergy serving in the Akron area, we find this decision not only troubling, but dangerous and unbiblical.

Scripture reminds us, Humankind was created as Gods reflection: in the divine image God created them. (Genesis 1:27, The Inclusive Bible). Every child bears that imagewithout exception. Practices commonly referred to as conversion therapy have been widely discredited and are associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, substance use and self-harm among LGBTQ+ youth.

The life and teachings of Jesus consistently reflect compassion, dignity and care for those pushed to the margins. What is at stake in this moment is not abstract. It is the well-being of young peoplebeloved, worthy and deserving of safety and affirmation. In addition, conversion therapy can profoundly and often negatively affect an individuals religious or spiritual life across emotional, cognitive, relational and institutional domains.

We will continue, in our congregations and in our wider community, to speak and act in ways that reflect love, inclusion and the sacred worth of LGBTQ+ people.

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Submitted on behalf of the Revs. Steve Ashby, pastor at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church; R. Brooke Baker, senior pastor, First Congregational Church of Akron UCC; David Brown, pastor, Trinity UCC Akron; Karen Bruno, interim pastor, Kent Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Emily Culp Ashby, Associate Pastor for Faith Formation, Kent UCC; Joy Fenton-Jones, pastor, Cuyahoga Falls Pilgrim UCC and First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Cuyahoga Falls; Amy Gopp, senior pastor, Kent UCC; Michael Howard, Minister of Faith in Action, Living Water Association of the UCC; Dr. Cindy Parker, senior pastor, Bath Church UCC; Jodi Stillisano, associate pastor, Kent Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); and Brenda Waddell, pastor, Old South Church UCC.

Trump isn't Jesus

It's absurd for anyone to say that Mr. Trump thinks he is Jesus Christ. It's just totally obvious that he fancies himself God Almighty.

Chris Walker, Fairlawn

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Here are Akron's real problem | Letters
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told Michigan Democrats that candidates should talk like a normal human to connect with voters and win elections in tough states.

Beshear was quick to introduce himself at the Michigan Democratic Partys annual Legacy Dinner fundraiser as the guy that won in deep red Kentucky, which he said garners questions about how a pro-choice Democrat won three consecutive statewide elections in a normally red state.

He said the Democratic Partys brand must be one that makes people want to join.

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Beshear said the party has alienated some voters by letting advocacy speak seep into our Democratic language.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, right, welcomes Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, left, to the stage during the Michigan Democratic Party Legacy Dinner in Detroit, Mich., on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Examples he gave include using the term food insecure instead of hungry, referring to a justice involved population instead of inmates and saying people are grappling with substance abuse disorder instead of addiction.

Sometimes these terms make it feel like were talking down to people, like were talking at them, instead of to them, Beshear said.

Beshear pitched it as a change in style, but not substance.

The ideas was we reduce stigma, Beshear said. But we dont reduce stigma by changing words. We reduce stigma by changing parts.

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Beshear said the best way for Democrats to push back on President Donald Trump is by continuing to focus on their own policies aimed at improving peoples lives.

When you are staring at the cost of your childs next prescription, wondering how you can pay for it and put food on the table, nothing else is important, and the latest freak out in Washington, D.C., doesnt even register, Beshear said.

Beshear wore a Big Gretch pin during Saturdays fundraiser, where Michigan Democrats also honored term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wears a Big Gretch pin during the Michigan Democratic Party Legacy Dinner in Detroit, Mich., on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Both Whitmer and Beshear are viewed as possible future presidential candidates by some Democrats, as are former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), who both appeared at an earlier fundraiser for the Michigan Democratic Primary Womens Caucus.

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The Kentucky governor is the chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Whitmer, who introduced Beshear at Saturdays dinner, serves as vice chair.

Whitmer listed off several achievements from her first seven years in office before warning Michigan Democrats that legacy is on the line in 2026, saying the stakes just dont get higher than this.

Every statewide office, and all 148 seats in the Michigan Legislature, will be on the ballot in November, Whitmer noted.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party Legacy Dinner in Detroit, Mich., on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Whitmer asked the party members at the fundraiser to think about how much time they dedicated to the 2024 election  knocking doors, making calls and attending events  then double it this year.

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Thats how much work we need to put in this year, me included, Whitmer said. Because all the progress that weve made over the last seven years doesnt mean anything if we go backward, and the other side isnt taking any days off.

Whitmer closed by emphasizing that she plans to be active on the campaign trail: Big Gretch is all gas this year, baby.

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Argentine President Javier Milei declared on Sunday that the joint US-Israel war against Iran was the "right thing to do", as he signed on to the so-called Isaac Accords aimed at deepening bilateral ties between Israel and Latin American countries.

Making his third visit to Israel as president, Milei reaffirmed Argentina's support for the campaign against Iran, citing his government's earlier decision to designate the Islamic republic's Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organisation".

"We expressed our firm support for the United States and Israel in their war against terrorism and against the Iranian regime, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because our countries are brothers in suffering," Milei said in a joint statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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"Argentina was the victim of cowardly terrorist attacks on the AMIA and on the Embassy of Israel, both instigated by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added.

Argentina has accused Iran of not cooperating with a probe into a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at a Jewish community centre.

Prior to that, in 1992, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200.

Argentine courts have blamed both attacks on Iran, which has always denied involvement and refused to hand over suspects.

"To this day, we still demand justice," said the libertarian leader, an outspoken supporter of both Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.

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"We reiterate our willingness to move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem as soon as conditions allow. We consider it necessary, but above all, just," he added.

The leaders added in their joint statement that the US-backed Isaac accords mirror the Abraham Accords under which several Arab countries normalised relations with Israel during Trump's first term.

The accords were part of "a new strategic framework... in the fight against terrorism, antisemitism and drug trafficking", they said.

Netanyahu said at the ceremony that he had "great hope" that other Latin American countries would also sign on to the accords.

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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also attended the ceremony and described Milei and Netanyahu as "two of President Trump's greatest friends".

"I don't know of any two world leaders on our planet that our president has more respect for and more personal relationship with," he added.

Israel and Argentina also inked a deal to launch direct flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv from November -- a move Milei said would cement "an unbreakable bond" between the two countries.

Netanyahu hailed Milei for showing "moral clarity" in standing with Israel.

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"President Milei... has shown that by standing up with the Jewish people, standing up against anti-Semitic vilifications, standing up in our hour of need, standing up when we fight the battle of civilization against barbarism," Netanyahu said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, meanwhile, described Milei on X as "one of the boldest leaders of our age".

Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, numbering nearly 300,000 people living mostly in Buenos Aires.

Earlier on Sunday, Milei visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, considered the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray.

He had also visited the site in February 2024 and June 2025.

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Argentinas foreign minister, who is accompanying Milei, is also expected to meet Saar for separate talks focused on counterterrorism cooperation and technological collaboration.

Argentinian President Javier Milei arrived in Israel on Sunday morning and is expected to begin his visit at the Western Wall before holding meetings in Jerusalem focused on diplomacy, economic cooperation, and new bilateral agreements.

Later in the day, he is scheduled to travel to the Prime Ministers Office for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials.

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Netanyahu and Milei are expected to hold a one-on-one meeting, followed by a formal signing ceremony for agreements and memoranda of understanding, according to officials. Statements are also expected from both leaders, as well as from senior ministers, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and the CEO of El Al.

A central announcement during the visit is expected to be the launch of a new direct El Al route between Israel and Argentina, a move officials say is intended to strengthen tourism, business links, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Argentinas foreign minister, who is accompanying Milei, is also expected to meet Saar for separate talks focused on counterterrorism cooperation and technological collaboration.

Argentinian President Javier Milei at Western Wall, April 19, 2026. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Among the understandings under discussion is a reported partnership involving Israeli artificial intelligence policy bodies and Argentine innovation authorities.

Announcement regarding 'Isaac Agreements'

Officials have also indicated that an announcement may be made regarding the Isaac Agreements, described as a possible South American framework inspired by theAbraham Accords, though details have remained limited. Milei is also expected to attend a rehearsal connected to Israels main Independence Day events and to take part in one of the ceremonys symbolic moments.

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On Monday, Milei is scheduled to receive an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University and meet the families of recently released hostages, according to the itinerary. He is also expected to hold talks with President Isaac Herzog later that day in Jerusalem.

The visit is set to conclude on Tuesday with a stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalems Old City, reflecting Mileis interest in the citys religious significance across traditions. In the evening, he is expected to attend the Torch-Lighting Ceremony marking the start of Israels 78th Independence Day, one of the countrys most prominent national events.
Dry days this week lead to our next round of wildfire danger. Elevated wildfire danger is expected this week with no rain in the forecast until late week. The drought is so exceptional that any spark or flame could ignite the dry vegetation, causing a wildfire to erupt. Thats why wildfire safety precautions should be taken this week.

Sunday night, temperatures will be chilly, but not as chilly as Sunday morning. Overall lows into Monday morning in Arkansas will reach the 40s with mostly clear skies and calm winds.

On Monday, expect a lot of sunshine and warm air. Highs will reach the upper 70s to low 80s with a southwesterly, calm wind. A wind gust or two up to 15 miles per hour isnt out of the question.

Through the week, highs will average above normal for late April in Arkansas, in the upper 70s to low 80s. The next rain chance arrives on Thursday, although its an isolated chance.

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Not everyone in the state will see rain and storms on Thursday. Thats a slightly better chance for western and northwest Arkansas on Thursday. By Friday, the next storm system brings better, more widespread rain chances to the Natural State. Some of these storms could be strong to severe.

All types of severe weather could be possible in Arkansas on Friday, April 24. Since the best data isnt available yet, the best recommendation at this time is to stay tuned to the daily forecast to see the latest and to think about your schedule on Friday.

Rain chances through Saturday may be disappointing once again. Some areas may be lucky to see a few tenths of an inch of rain. Areas that deal with thunderstorm activity will see higher totals, maybe up to an inch and a half.

For more, download the Arkansas Storm Team app.

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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 KARK.
The towering chalk cliffs of Bempton are home to England's "largest seabird city", with about half a million puffins, gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots living there between March and August each year, according to the RSPB.

Today, these breeding grounds, at Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire, are protected under law.

But this was not always the case. In the mid-19th Century, the birds were considered fair game and day-trippers would hire steam yachts to shoot them, sometimes killing thousands at a time.

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"It was an awful thing to have so many people coming on boats and just wantonly slaughtering birds for sport," says Dave O'Hara, the RSPB site manager at Bempton.

That the reserve and its colonies are here today is thanks to a fight led by a handful of enthusiasts  including two clergymen and a colourful MP  who paved the way for the first law to protect wild birds in Britain.

They led the drive for the Seabird Preservation Act, which was passed by Parliament in 1869.

"It was one of the first actual laws that protected nature," O'Hara tells the Hidden East Yorkshire podcast. "So it was incredibly important.

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"Many of our seabirds are very long-lived, so a puffin can live for 40 years, if it's lucky.

"If they get shot when they're still sort of midway through their breeding season, it's not just the chick that dies, it's also that the breeding population is reduced."

Millions of birds cling on to tiny ledges on the cliffs [BBC]

The men behind the new law included Francis Orpen Morris, a naturalist who was rector of Nunburnholme, and Henry Barnes-Lawrence, the vicar of Bridlington, as historian David Neave explains.

Morris had produced a history of British birds.

"He himself collected birds' eggs and stuffed birds, but he was worried about the slaughter of birds on the East Riding coast," Neave says.

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"He wrote quite a long letter to The Times, pointing out how many birds were being slaughtered."

The birds' plumage was used to decorate women's clothes and headdresses, while eggs were being taken for various reasons, including collectors.

"So the birds were decreasing in numbers," Neave says. "People were coming out and killing thousands at a time.

"Some were just left dead lying in the ground."

Beverley-based historian David Neave says the campaigners won support from the Royal family and other influential Victorians [BBC]

Meanwhile, Barnes-Lawrence became concerned that the people of Bridlington were being blamed for declining bird numbers, when it was actually day-trippers, who would arrive in the resort by train and take boats to the cliffs, who were responsible.

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"So he decided to do something about it," Neave says.

"In October 1868, he launched, at a meeting at Bridlington Vicarage, the Association for the Protection of Seabirds.

"He got lots of support, even support from members of the Royal family and many quite important people, a lot of local landowners."

The third man behind the law was Christopher Sykes, son of Sir Tatton Sykes of Sledmere.

He "detested his father", according to Neave, and left East Yorkshire for London's fashionable society.

"He was known very much as a snob and as a dandy, a man who dressed elegantly.

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"But he wanted a role in life and eventually, without really family support, he became MP for Beverley."

A cartoon of Christopher Sykes as "the gull's friend", in Vanity Fair in 1874 [Vanity Fair]

Sykes was in Parliament for 27 years, eventually serving the Buckrose constituency in the Yorkshire Wolds.

He only spoke on six occasions, according to Neave, but one of those times was to introduce a bill for the protection of seabirds.

"This gave him the nickname among his socialite friends as the gull's friend," Neave says.

Barnes recruited Sykes, who introduced the Bill into Parliament in February 1869.

It was the beginning of a period of reform which included the establishment of the Royal Society of Protection of Birds in 1889.

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"The beginning of so much of the agitation and really getting things moving is very much from the East Riding, from Bridlington," Neave adds.

Gannets rely on colonies such as Bempton for breeding [PA Media]

According to O'Hara, the passing of the Bill was an important step for the East Yorkshire coast.

"The local people here at Flamborough were very keen for the seabirds to be protected because actually the noise of the birds on the cliffs alerted them in foggy conditions, which we see quite a lot here.

"Often it can be clear as a bell a mile inland and you hit the fog at the coast. And the call of the seabirds helped them navigate and keep clear of the rocks.

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"We tend to think that there's almost unlimited supplies because these birds are at these big colonies.

"But for many of our seabirds, the number of colonies is really quite few.

"So for gannets, there's now 30 or so colonies around the UK and Ireland. But back when this law was passed, there were only three.

"They may have become extinct if that law hadn't come in.

"The gannets, kittiwakes, and the guillemots, puffins, razorbills, you have this community here, totally oblivious to what we're doing, feeding out at sea, coming back to the cliff.

"We're really privileged to have that glimpse of them, and it's thanks to that protection."

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Listen to more episodes of the Hidden East Yorkshire podcast.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices

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GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is one of the best defense stocks that will skyrocket. On April 13, GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) inked an agreement with the Indian Air Force, paving the way for the establishment of an in-country depot facility.

General Electric Co (GE) and Indian Airforce Partner to Advance Aerospace Ecosystem

Sergey Kohl / Shutterstock.com

The facility, tailored for the F404-IN20 engines that power the IAFs Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fleet, will help enhance in-country repair and overhaul infrastructure. The facility will also help sustain and make available F404-IN20 engines that power the IAFs Light Combat Aircraft.

Once fully operational, the facility will eliminate the need to depend on overseas repair centers, therefore improving turnaround times. It is to be owned, operated, and maintained by the Indian Air Force, with GE providing training support staff and necessary spares in addition to specialized equipment.

It marks the next step in the companys four-decade-long term partnership with the Indian Air Force. GE Aerospace has also reiterated its commitment to developing Indias aerospace ecosystem, spanning design, development, and manufacturing.

GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is a global leader in propulsion, services, and systems, with about 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military engines in operation. Backed by 57,000 employees and more than a century of innovation, the company is focused on advancing the future of flight and ensuring safe journeys worldwide.

While we acknowledge the potential of GE 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: 12 Best Data Center Stocks to Buy Right Now and Top 10 Growth Stocks in Billionaire Philippe Laffonts Portfolio.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
A Democratic Senate candidate running in the battleground state of Michigan said the United States should try to understand why terrorists commit such "heinous acts," suggesting those actions stem from a place of "pain and frustration and a level of lack of agency."

Abdul El-Sayed, a medical doctor and former Wayne County health director, is vying for Michigan's open Senate seat in the 2026 midterms. He is running on a platform that includes Medicare for All and free education, and has been critical of Israel.

In July 2025, El-Sayed held a town hall in South Haven, Michigan, where a constituent asked how he would address terrorism if elected to the Senate. The exchange was captured on video and first obtained by The Washington Free Beacon.

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El-Sayed said that while the United States' current approach to terror, which leverages U.S. military might against terrorist organizations, is "necessary," he suggested leaders must also try to "understand" where terrorists are coming from.

Far-left Senate Hopeful's Radical Ties To 'Maruro Cronies' Could Torpedo Campaign: 'Tired Of The Chaos'

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed poses for a portrait in Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 21, 2026.

"I also think we need to be curious about why those things happen in the first place, like, [what] drives somebody to want to commit such a heinous act," El-Sayed said. "I have to be a student of people's pain. Like, that's, that's what I did in medicine. That's what I try to do in politics. Like, what, what happens when people are in pain?"

Read On The Fox News App

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El-Sayed said terrorism is political violence committed in "pursuit of a political end."

"There is a level of pain and frustration and a level of lack of agency that they have to feel to do something so insane and absurd, right?" El-Sayed said.

Democrats Team Up With Far-left Streamer Who Once Said America Deserved 9/11

Abdul El Sayed, left, and Hasan Piker

He then said the "heinous acts" of terrorists lead him to reflect on how "we're behaving that may get somebody to think that we don't see them."

"And I think too often, the way we've engaged in the world has been that we set up this rules-based international order, and then we break the rules of the rules-based international order," El-Sayed said. "And that creates a situation where there are a lot of people who look at us and say, 'That's hypocritical, and that's wrong.'"

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He said the United States should not respond in ways that don't "inflame tensions" and that, if elected to the Senate, he would bring "empathy" to U.S. conversations about and responses to terror. He accused Americans of being "high and mighty" in their current views of global conflict.

"I think that, for us, there is strength in wisdom. And there is strength in empathy. And there is strength in justice. And there's strength in consistency," El-Sayed said.

Far-left Senate Hopeful's Radical Ties To 'Maduro Cronies' Could Torpedo Campaign: 'Tired Of The Chaos'

Abdul El-Sayed, a U.S. Senate candidate from Michigan, has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and embraced comparisons between him and Zohran Mamdani.

El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, has been highly critical of Israel's actions during the Gaza War. He previously accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, and he has campaigned with internet personality Hasan Piker, who has aligned himself with the terrorist group Hamas.

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Piker said he would vote for Hamas, saying it is a "thousand times better" than Israel and that he would vote for Hamas over Israel "every single time."

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In the Democratic primary, El-Sayed faces competition from Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.

Fox News Digital reached out to Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and El-Sayed for comment.





Original article source: Battleground Dem says terrorists act from 'pain and frustration,' accuses Americans of being 'high and mighty'
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith accused leadership at Valparaiso Community Schools of being "woke" in social media posts April 18 and 19 after its superintendent apologized for the way the school handled Beckwith's visit during a career fair.

The incident is the latest in a wave of conservative criticism of public education. Schools across the nation have experienced funding cuts, increased government scrutiny and political attacks that claim teachers are indoctrinating students, even as a comprehensive review of the issue, at least in history education, found the claim to be untrue.

Valparaiso High School hosted Beckwith, a self-proclaimed Christian nationalist whose tenure in Indiana government has been marred by controversy, as one of the keynote speakers for its career fair April 17. Though Beckwith spoke only about his professional background and Indiana business during his official remarks, VCS Superintendent Jim McCall wrote in a Facebook post April 18, some students were offended by individual conversations with the lieutenant governor after his speech.

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"Our schools are not a platform for any political agenda," McCall wrote, "and every student deserves to feel respected and welcome here."

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith talks about the state partnership with Turning Point USA during a press conference Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the Governors Mansion.

More: $90K taxpayer-funded SUVs raise eyebrows, questions. Here's what to know

He also promised to "vet outside speakers" with more care in the future.

But McCall's apology to the district's parents sparked criticism from Beckwith, who is now demanding the superintendent resign. McCall announced in March that he had plans to leave the district July 1.

"This is exactly whats wrong with our WOKE education system," Beckwith wrote on social media April 19. "Schools should be places where students are challenged not coddled. Where they learn to think not be shielded from ideas they disagree with. Unfortunately more and more school leaders like Jim are AFRAID of engaging in real education."

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In his post, Beckwith described the majority of his conversations with students as productive but said a small group of students approached him to disagree with some of his views. Beckwith said he welcomed the conversation.

Beckwith's appearance also came as a surprise to many students and parents, as VCS planned it to be a reveal. Students were also kept inside the auditorium after Beckwith's speech because a "scheduling gap" meant the career fair vendors weren't immediately ready, McCall wrote.

McCall also noted that before Beckwith spoke, he was introduced with his official biography, which included political phrases like "fighting the woke agenda."

In his social media post, Beckwith said McCall's apology would have a chilling effect on conservative students and criticized the district for allowing students to walk out for a protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protest at VCS was one of several that occurred at public school districts in Indiana, and while students are not protected from discipline for participating in a walkout, schools are not required to punish them.

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The focus on public schools also coincides with Gov. Mike Braun's statewide push to expand Turning Point USA chapters in Indiana schools.

Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@indystar.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Lt. Gov. Beckwith calls Valparaiso Community Schools woke after visit
Haymel De la Vega should be getting married.

Instead of planning her wedding, she has spent eight months of her engagement filing habeas corpus petitions and asylum paperwork, hoping to free her fiance from federal immigration detention.

Using WhatsApp and handwritten letters, De la Vega documents her fiance Rogelio Bolufe Izquierdos experience, which he described as physical and psychological torture.

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Izquierdo, 44, also reached out to the Journal, mailing dozens of pages of handwritten letters over the course of months.

What is happening today  this system of mass detentions, this institutionalized human trafficking  will go down in history as one of the most shameful chapters this nation has ever faced, reads one of Izquierdos handwritten letters.

While being held in the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia, Izquierdo organized approximately 200 detainees to join an organization he calls the Union of Those Kidnapped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The apparent signatures of immigrants from around the world, from Guatemala to Cameroon to Iran, join onto his letters decrying their living conditions and ongoing detainment.

He has the personality of a leader and people everywhere call him el comandante, the commander, De la Vega said.

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Neither ICE nor the U.S. Department of Justice responded to requests for comment on Izquierdos claims, which included poor medical care, spoiled food, insufficient water, demeaning guard behavior and unsanitary conditions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Shokes, who is named as opposing counsel in a lawsuit Izquierdo filed in federal court in New Mexico, did not respond to multiple calls and voicemail messages.

Izquierdo, originally from Cuba, was detained in August and spent time in Alligator Alcatraz, formally known as the South Florida Detention Facility, before being transferred to New Mexicos Torrance County Detention Facility.

Local laws and federal tensions

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While Izquierdo waits behind bars, local, state and federal politicians are fighting over whether the facility itself can operate in New Mexico at all.

In February, the Democratic majority in New Mexicos Legislature passed a bill banning counties and municipalities from contracting with ICE in an attempt to shutter the states three migrant detention facilities.

As written, the federal government can bypass the law if it decides to contract with private prison corporations directly. One of the largest for-profit prison operators in the country, CoreCivic, already runs two of the three facilities in New Mexico and ICE has confirmed that it plans to pursue a direct contract.

Despite the new law, Otero County commissioners renewed a contract with ICE in March and continue to operate the facility despite lawsuits from state Attorney General Raul Torrez.

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On Thursday, the New Mexico Supreme Court dismissed Torrezs petition without explanation, allowing the facility in Otero County to continue operations.

When passing the law, Senate Democrats described it as a moral imperative driven by dire conditions like those Izquierdo described. Immigration attorneys have also frequently documented complaints in the Torrance facility.

However, officials at CoreCivic have said that claims of misconduct at the Torrance facility are false.

We vehemently deny any allegations of detainee mistreatment, said CoreCivic spokesperson Ryan Gustin. It is important to us to treat those in our care with dignity and respect.

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Meanwhile, Bella Bjornstad, an attorney with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, said both she and other attorneys at NMILC have reported issues raised by their clients for years and seen very little improvement. Worse still, Bjornstad said, the paper trail created by these complaints is just a glimpse into abuses happening behind prison walls.

It's only a sampling of the conduct that's happening inside, Bjornstad said. Because so much of it is obstructed from public view. And I think it's safe to assume that a lot of people are experiencing the same thing.

Bjornstads clients report that food is often drastically under or overcooked, while some have reported finding bugs or mold in their food. In his letters, Izquierdo describes finding a quarter-sized rock in his meal.

Izquierdos letters also describe insufficient access to drinking water. An entire housing unit will have one water cooler to share among dozens of people, he wrote.

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Bjornstad said her clients made near-identical reports.

CoreCivic staff will bring in one of those big Gatorade coolers, you know the maybe 10-gallon ones, for a whole unit of somewhere between 15 and 40 guys, Bjornstad said. And if there isn't someone watching the unit and frequently, frankly, even if there is  those coolers aren't refilled often enough.

Doctors recommend an adult male drink a little over a gallon of water a day. In a unit of 40 people, a 10-gallon water tank will only be enough for each man to have 4 cups or a quarter of the recommended daily intake.

We spend the day very thirsty, Izquierdo wrote.

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Gustin called these claims demonstrably false.

A lack of medical care is also a concern shared by both Izquierdo and Bjornstad.

While in Alligator Alcatraz, Izquierdo said his arm was often chained for more than 24 hours at a time, leading him to lose sensation in his hand that still has not returned months later. After repeated requests, Izquierdo said hes received no medical attention at Torrance for what he believes to be worsening nerve damage.

Similarly, detainees Bjornstad has spoken to are afraid of not receiving emergency medical care because they say housing units often go unmonitored and people have no reliable way to call for help. Her clients have also said non-emergent issues are regularly ignored, causing them to worsen and, at times, can result in grave or permanent injuries.

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Moreover, sewage leaks are common, Bjornstad said, leading detainees to sleep, eat and live in unsanitary conditions. People are sometimes asked to clean the flooding themselves without cleaning supplies or protective equipment like gloves, she said.

As a result, people spend some time walking around and even sleeping in raw sewage, or at the very least dirty water, Bjornstad said.

In one letter, Izquierdo describes a man in his unit slipping on the sewage and hitting his head. He writes that similar accidents have happened multiple times.

Izquierdo wrote that their prolonged detainment itself is the greatest violation of all.

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Fundamental rights are being eroded today, Izquierdo writes. The Fifth Amendment is imprisoned, the First Amendment is mortally wounded and the Constitution itself is in danger.

With his fiancee's help, Izquierdo has filed multiple petitions in New Mexico and Florida district courts, known as habeas corpus relief petitions, demanding his release. His suits claim that he is being held indefinitely without bail despite not being accused of any criminal offense.

Because Izquierdo entered the country legally in 2020 and overstayed his visa, he faces a civil immigration offense rather than a criminal one.

We are being held in high-security prisons, under punitive conditions, without the right to bail  a direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of the United States Constitution, Izquierdo writes.

Izquierdo was detained in August after his friend was pulled over for allegedly driving while intoxicated, De la Vega said. As a passenger in the vehicle Izquierdo initially faced drug charges, though De La Vega said they were quickly dismissed.

Searching both Florida and New Mexico criminal court records revealed no documentation of any drug charges or criminal charges of any kind against Izquierdo.

While De la Vega dreams of the day her fiance can return to Miami and they can continue with their lives, she is also proud of his efforts to organize and advocate for detainees across the country.

His efforts are bigger than himself, she said.

This is not only a struggle; this is a call to the conscience of the nation, Izquierdo wrote. We urgently call upon all citizens to defend democracy, to stand on the side of the Constitution and to refuse to be complicit  through silence or indifference  in the suffering of millions of human beings. History will judge. And we will not remain silent.

Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wus office is denying reports that city funds were used to support a program offering LGBTQ migrants up to $500 in "wellness" perks, after a local advocacy group advertised the benefits and later scaled back its description amid backlash.

Through its program "Belonging Matters," the group had planned to provide yoga, arts and other recreational services.

"No funds have been distributed or directed for these purposes. This organization received a $7,500 grant through a City program to support mental health services. Those funds were not designated for and may not be used for the voucher program referenced," a spokesperson for the city told Fox News Digital.

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The dispute highlights conflicting claims about what the "Belonging Matters" program actually offered and whether any city-backed funding was tied to those benefits, drawing scrutiny over how Boston distributes and oversees grants to outside advocacy groups.

Boston Police Ignored 100% Of Ice Detainer Requests In 2025, Citing Sanctuary Law

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ordered the release of ICE body cam and surveillance footage, accusing federal agents of unconstitutional actions and pledging transparency and accountability. (Getty Images)

OUTnewcomers is listed as one of 45 recipients of a larger $200,000 push to support LGBTQ communities in Boston. The $200,000 figure was approved by Wu last year as a part of the Mayors Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement (MOLA).

Read On The Fox News App

According to Boston officials, OUTnewcomers was awarded a $7,500 mini-grant allocated from the 2026 budget. The city has not green-lighted grant funding or cash assistance.

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"These investments represent our continued dedication to uplifting LGBTQ+ Bostonians by putting resources directly into the hands of trusted community organizations," Wu said in a press release at the time.

The mayor's office declined to answer questions about what the $7,500 fund had originally been approved for.

The registration form for Belonging Matters offered applicants yoga, breathwork and meditation, gym memberships, creative arts, peer support, storytelling, nature-based wellness and hair styling. If approved, the program promised applicants $250 to $500 in "wellness allowances" evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

But the organization later described the program as offering vouchers of $50 or less, creating a discrepancy between how the initiative was initially presented and how it was later characterized.

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"Our City of Boston-funded program is modest and need-based. It provides small vouchers of $50 or less to eligible LGBTQ+ migrants living in Boston to access limited wellness support such as haircuts, acupuncture, or massage," the organization said in a press release.

Boston's Wu Orders Release Of Ice Surveillance And Body Cam Footage, Says Fed Government 'Hides Behind Masks'

Boston, Mass., skyline.

The program drew scrutiny online, with critics calling it a waste of taxpayer dollars.

"Handing out perks & benefits like this all the while telling the tax payers of Boston you need to pay more because we have a huge shortfall in our budget," one observer wrote in a post to X, alluding to property tax hikes approved by the Boston City Council in 2025.

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OUTnewcomers did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital on how many registrants are expected to join or how many have enrolled so far. The group announced on Thursday that it had temporarily suspended the program due to "security threats."

Founded by Sal Khan, a queer journalist originally from Pakistan, OUTnewcomers describes itself as a "grassroots and volunteer-run organization based in the Greater Boston Area" focused on "community-led advocacy, resource navigation and collective care."

Mayor Wu speaks as the Mayor and City leaders hold a press conference on violence and drug use in DTC on February 26. (Getty Images)

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OUTnewcomers only recently launched its website in April, according to a post to X put up by the organization.

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The website does not list a 990 form, the required disclosure for nonprofits that normally lays out an organizations structure, leadership and revenue.





Original article source: Boston mayor denies funding LGBTQ migrant wellness perks after program touts up to $500 benefits
A 57-year-old Bradenton man died early Sunday after a motorcycle crash on U.S. 19 near Palmetto, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 12 a.m. Sunday, April 19, on eastbound U.S. 19 west of Hightower Road, an FHP news release states.

According to investigators, the man was riding a motorcycle in the left lane when he lost control, traveled onto the shoulder and overturned. He was thrown from the motorcycle and came to rest in the eastbound left lane.

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An SUV driven by a 39-year-old St. Petersburg man was also traveling east on U.S. 19 and struck the motorcyclist as he lay in the roadway, FHP said.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation.

A trial date has been set for a 73-year-old Sarasota woman in connection with a fatal February 2025 hit-and-run that killed 29-year-old Taeler Joy Bennett and her two young children, court records show. Bennett is seen here feeding Kiylan Galliher as Rio Galliher watches. Read more. Five-month-old Kiylan Galliher was tragically killed in a Sarasota hit-and-run crash. Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, smiles with her 2-year-old son Rio Galliher. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Candice McCormick, 73, the great-grandmother of the two boys killed in the crash hugging Bennett's four-year-old daughter Roni Galliher, who both spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2025, from outside of their home. On the night of the crash, 72-year-old June Fenton crashed her Lexus ES300 into the family while they were crossing the street near U.S. 301 (North Washington Boulevard) and 7th Street at 8:30 p.m., police said. The crash killed two-year-old Rio Galliher and 5-month-old Kiylan Galliher, while their mother Taeler Joy Bennett, 29, remains in a coma. Sarasota crash that killed mom, 2 sons moves toward trial 1 of 13 A trial date has been set for a 73-year-old Sarasota woman in connection with a fatal February 2025 hit-and-run that killed 29-year-old Taeler Joy Bennett and her two young children, court records show. Bennett is seen here feeding Kiylan Galliher as Rio Galliher watches. Read more.

How many people have died this year in Sarasota-Manatee motorcycle crashes?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports there were 2,211 motorcycle crashes in Florida between Jan. 1 and April 9, 2026, with 129 resulting in fatalities.

The departments Florida Crash Dashboard shows that during the same period, there were 93,268 total crashes statewide, including 597 fatal crashes.

In Sarasota and Manatee counties, there were 97 motorcycle crashes during the same period in 2026, including five fatalities.

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The dashboard shows there were also 3,392 total crashes in the two-county area, including 22 fatal crashes.

The Herald-Tribune previously reported that at around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to a crash on Tamiami Trail and Bayshore Drive in Sarasota involving a Lincoln Corsair and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

According to FHP, a 68-year-old Michigan woman was driving south in the right lane on Tamiami Trail in the Lincoln Corsair. A 62-year-old Port Charlotte man riding the motorcycle was traveling south in the left lane.

The driver of the Lincoln made a left turn from the right lane, colliding with the motorcycle, which was redirected southeast and came to rest in the median pass-through lane for Bayshore Drive, according to FHP.

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The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by Sarasota County EMS.

Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bradenton man, 57, killed in motorcycle crash near Palmetto
The Buford Bay fire in Nassau County is currently 30% contained after burning approximately 100 acres, according to Florida Forest Service officials.

Crews have established contingency lines around the fire and continued working overnight to strengthen and expand existing containment areas. Three heavy dozers remained on scene through the night, improving fire lines.

A Florida Forest Service helicopter also assisted operations, dropping 116 buckets of water on active flames and identifying hot spots.

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Firefighters will continue efforts today using three heavy tractor-plow units and three medium tractor-plow units to reinforce containment lines. A Florida Forest Service fixed-wing aircraft will also monitor fire activity in the district.

Crews are expected to remain active in the area near Georgia Street and the Buford Bay region.

Officials are asking the public to avoid the area if possible due to heavy smoke and ongoing operations.

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By Alex Lefkowitz and Edward McAllister

SOFIA, April 19 (Reuters) - Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev is set for a runaway victory in Bulgaria's election and may even secure a parliamentary majority, exit polls showed, potentially ending years of weak coalition governments and altering the European Union member's foreign policy.

An updated exit poll conducted by Sofia-based Alpha Research showed Radev's Progressive Bulgaria with 44%, far ahead of the long-dominant GERB party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, at 12.5%.

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If confirmed, the performance, which outstripped opinion polls, would mark one of the strongest results by a single party in a generation, sideline a party that has ruled on and off for decades, and may see an end to the instability that has resulted in eight elections in five years.

"Progressive Bulgaria won decisively. This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, if you will, a victory of morality," Radev said of the exit poll results during a press conference.

Radev, a eurosceptic and former fighter pilot who opposes military support for Ukraine's war effort against Moscow, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the parliamentary election, which comes after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.

He rode a wave of frustration with political instability in the Balkan country of 6.5 million people, where voters are sick of corruption and veteran parties that have dominated politics for decades. Alpha Research put turnout at 47% with one hour of voting to go, up from the 39% total in the last election in October 2024.

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"There is now an opportunity for the things people have been hoping to see change to actually become visible," Evelina Koleva, a manager at digital marketing company in Sofia, told Reuters.

Final election results are expected on Monday.

RADEV MAY HAVE TO COMPROMISE

In his campaign, Radev drew comparisons with Hungary's pro-Kremlin former Prime Minister Viktor Orban when he talked about improving relations with Moscow and resuming the free flow of Russian oil and gas into Europe. He also criticised the EU for relying too heavily on renewable energy.

It is not clear how much his views will impact the foreign policy of Bulgaria, a NATO member on the EU's southeastern flank which joined the euro zone in January  a move Radev has criticised.

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He said he would be willing to work on judicial reform with the pro-European reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, which came third in the Alpha Research exit polls with 11.3%. A minority government was also an option in the 240-seat parliament, Radev said.

"Bulgaria will make efforts to continue its European path," he said. "But a strong Bulgaria and strong Europe... needs pragmatism because Europe has fallen victim to its own ambition to be a moral leader in a world without rules."

GERB's Borissov appeared to concede in a post on Facebook, but added a note of caution: "To win the elections is one thing; to govern is quite another. Elections decide who comes first, but negotiations will decide who governs."

Bulgaria has developed rapidly since the fall of communism in 1989 and joined the European Union in 2007. Life expectancy has risen sharply, unemployment is the lowest in the EU, and the economy has greater safeguards since joining the euro zone in January.

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But it lags behind other EU countries in many metrics, and graft remains endemic, including in elections, where vote-buying is rife.

The cost of living has become a particular issue since Bulgaria adopted the euro. The previous government fell amid protests against a new budget proposing tax increases and higher social security contributions.

(Writing by Edward McAllister; Additional reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Christina Fincher, Ethan Smith and Bill Berkrot)
The northern Michigan city of Cadillac, beset by severe flooding, has asked residents to limit water and sewage use as the city deals with a disabled transformer and pumps at a facility overnight Saturday that are necessary for moving raw sewage to a treatment plant.

The disabled lift station affected residents served by the Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority, the city said in a news release Sunday.

City Manager Marcus Peccia said "a perfect storm" of circumstances contributed to the flooding that kicked off in the last week, including rainfall, snowmelt and frozen ground that can't absorb water. Cadillac has seen about 11.5 inches of rainfall in April, he said, which has caused the city's water systems to rise several feet.

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"This is an absolute crisis and natural disaster that I don't think our community has ever experienced before," Peccia said.

Flooding in Cadillac comes as officials in northern Michigan deal with flooding and as Cheboygan-area and state officials race to prevent the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex from failing. The height of the water in the dam has fluctuated.

On Friday and Saturday, it hovered around the 7-inch range below the top of the dam, levels lower than earlier in the week. The river crested Thursday at just under 5 inches below the top of the dam. Officials expect peak river flow in the next two days.

Flood waters overwhelmed the corner of Lesson Avenue and West Division Street in Cadillac Sunday morning, April 19, 2026. The area started to flood Saturday morning and by Saturday evening the city closed roads and worked to protect the sewer lift station.

Historic flooding has also hit entire neighborhoods along the Black Lake in Cheboygan County, as have those in Indian River, Mich., along the Sturgeon River. Areas in northern Michigan, including near Petoskey, Alpena, Traverse City and Manistee, remain under a flood warning until Monday or Tuesday. Flooding in rivers, creeks, lakes, field drains and ditches was reported last week across Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Charlevoix, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford counties.

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Some roadways and small bridges were washed away by floodwaters from Grand Traverse County on Lake Michigan to Presque Isle County on Lake Huron in the northeast Lower Peninsula.

More: Michigan faces new road challenges from 'historic weather challenge'

Michigan Task Force crews address flooding along the Muskegon River in Newaygo County on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The lift station in Cadillac moves sanitary sewer water through the sewer mains to a wastewater treatment plant to be processed and cleaned. Flooding overwhelmed sandbags and sand berms created overnight Saturday. The city is working with Wexford County Emergency Management, according to a news release posted on Facebook.

To mitigate the damage, water needs to be pumped away, replacement pumps acquired, and a portable industrial-size generator brought in overnight and connected. The city asked residents west of the lift station facility near Division and Leeson Streets, including the Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority area, to reduce or stop sanitary sewer use as much as possible, including flushing toilets and drain use, until the ability to move sewage to the treatment facility is restored.

Flooding caused by four days of heavy rainfall around Traverse City has caused the Boardman/Ottaway River to overflow on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Peccia said the flooding of Lake Mitchell has been due to a confluence of water levels rising in several bodies of water in the area: Lake Mitchell feeds into Lake Cadillac, which is located within the city's boundaries. Both lakes have some swampy areas around them, and Lake Cadillac is the source of water for the Clam River, which runs through Wexford, Missaukee and Clare counties.

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"The water that's flooded the outlying areas ultimately has to go somewhere, and it's going to most likely go back to its source, which is Lake Mitchell or Lake Cadillac or the Clam River," he said.

The Cadillac Area YMCA is offering showers, drinking water and space to charge electronic devices for people who have lost power or water, the organization said earlier this week in a Facebook post. Residents can also call 211 for community information and referral services, or go to Airbnb.org to apply for short-term stay vouchers for Airbnb units.

About 35-40 volunteers worked into Sunday afternoon to help with sandbagging around the Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority, said Capt. Greg Bock of the Salvation Army in Cadillac. The Cadillac location at 725 Wright St. is also open as a day shelter with the ability to house people displaced by flooding overnight if needed. The organization serves Wexford, Missaukee, and Kalkaska counties.

"We stand ready to fill the gap wherever we're needed. That's what we do as an army," Bock said.

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jcardi@detroitnews.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Cadillac flooding disables lift station moving sanitary sewer water
Democrats who once saw retaking the U.S. Senate as a long shot in 2026 have newfound hope thanks to an unpopular president and a California donor machine that has snapped into action.

Californians provided the most out-of-state cash to Democrats in nearly every hotly contested race, and in several cases gave more than in-state donors, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance filings covering the first three months of 2026.

Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who took in more than $14 million overall, received nearly as much from California backers as from supporters in his home state among donors who contributed at least $200 and whose identities were disclosed.

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James Talarico, a Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, has raised a staggering $27 million so far this year, with California donors contributing just under $1.2 million to back his campaign  second only to Texas supporters among those donors whose names were disclosed.

Donors who give less than $200 are not required to be identified in campaign finance reports and made up a significant share of the donors to Ossoff's and Talarico's campaigns.

Republicans currently have control of the Senate with 53 of the chamber's 100 seats. This year 35 seats are at play, including special elections in Florida and Ohio.

GOP still winning a key cash race

While more of the seats up for grabs are in Republican hands, polling showing the potential for tight races in several of them has given Democrats hope that they might be able to shrink or reverse their deficit in November.

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Top Democratic candidates have out-raised their GOP rivals in the most competitive Senate races, but Republicans are winning the cash race among big-money committees that can accept checks far larger than the $7,000 cap on donations to candidate committees.

Read more: North Carolina's electoral future may hinge on rural Black voters who feel ignored by Democrats

Those Democratic candidates have continued a tradition of relying on donors in the country's most populous state to bankroll their campaigns.

"California has been a rich gold mine for many a candidate and continues to be that," said Michael Beckel, director of money in politics reform at Issue One, a bipartisan advocacy group.

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Democratic Senate candidates in a few races raised more from California donors than from donors in their home states, according to campaign finance reports filed Wednesday.

Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska, who is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, brought in nearly $900,000 from California donors who had contributed at least $200. Alaska donors contributed just over $520,000 to Peltola in the same time period.

Two of the three leading Democratic hopefuls in Michigans open Senate race, Rep. Haley Stevens and physician Abdul El-Sayed, reported taking in more from California donors than from donors in Michigan. California was the second biggest bank of support for the other top Democratic contender, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.

And in Nebraska, independent Dan Osborn, who is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, took in $80,000 more from disclosed California donors than from Nebraskans.

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Dozens of California donors gave to at least five Senate candidates across the country, according to The Times' analysis of the filing data.

Burbank playwright and screenwriter Winnie Holzman has donated to Democratic candidates in nine key races and said she has been inspired to give to them  and other candidates and political groups  because of concerns about the policies of President Trumps administration and what she sees as its violation of the law.

This isn't just about who is in the Senate, said Holzman, who wrote the script for the play "Wicked" and co-wrote its movie adaptations. But if enough Democrats were in the Senate right now, there would be a lot more ability to push back on this.

The impressive fundraising hauls by Democrats come with a significant caveat.

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The two most prominent political committees that support Republican Senate candidates  the party-affiliated National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund super PAC, have both outraised rival Democratic groups by a significant margin this cycle.

For the NRSC, an $11.5-million fundraising advantage since the start of 2025 has translated to a modest $2-million advantage in cash in the bank through the end of February compared with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

But the Senate Leadership Fund, which can accept unlimited amounts of cash from donors, had $91.6 million more to spend at the end of March than the Democratic rival Senate Majority PAC.

And the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. had a stunning $312 million in the bank at the end of February.

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Money raised by candidate campaign committees does, however, bring some advantages over money raised by other committees. Most significantly, candidates are able to buy advertising at cheaper rates than other political committees.

That is an important distinction in a year when advertising spending in Senate races is expected to top $2.8 billion.

The Senate map

While political analysts expect that Democrats will likely perform well in congressional races  with early signs pointing to a strong possibility that the party regains control of the House  winning control of the Senate would be a much taller order.

The Senate is going to be won or lost in red states, said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginias Center for Politics.

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Read more: Democrats' crisis of the future: The biggest states that back them are shrinking

Even in the best-case scenario for Democrats, to retake control of the chamber they would probably need to win in at least two states such as Iowa, Alaska, Ohio or Texas, all of which went to Trump in the 2024 presidential election by double-digit margins.

With the vast sums likely to be raised  and spent  by both sides, Kondik said that fundraising can reach a point of diminishing returns.

You'd rather have more than less, obviously, but the actual effect is pretty debatable, he said.

And history shows that fundraising prowess doesnt necessarily translate to electoral success in November.

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Take the example of Texas Democrat Beto ORourke.

In his 2018 challenge of incumbent Republican Ted Cruz, ORourke brought in more than $80 million, more than double Cruzs fundraising haul of $35 million.

But it wasnt enough to put the then-congressman from El Paso over the top.

ORourke lost the race by about 2.5 percentage points.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Cenk Uygur sharply criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on his show Thursday, accusing the congresswoman of giving a "Kamala-like word salad" when asked whether she would endorse her former chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, in an upcoming primary.

Speaking on "The Young Turks," Uygur mocked Ocasio-Cortezs response after she was pressed by Drop Site News about backing Chakrabarti, who previously served as her chief of staff and campaign manager during her 2018 congressional victory.

"What was that? That was a Kamala Harrislike word salad," Uygur said. "OK, Im going to try to decipher it."

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Uygur's comments came as AOC declined to directly endorse Chakrabarti, despite his central role in her rise and his current candidacy in a high-profile primary contest.

Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Images)

Left-wing Host Says Aoc Uses Trump-like Attacks On Media Critics In Voting Record Dispute

Explaining her hesitation, Ocasio-Cortez framed the decision as part of a broader political calculation.

Read On The Fox News App

"Im trying to think about the role that I am trying to play more broadly in these things," she said. "Weve got 435 seats in Congress, right? And once you go in then its like what about this, what about this, what about this one? We're thinking about how much of myself I'm pouring into this."

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Uygur rejected that reasoning, arguing the question was straightforward given her relationship with Chakrabarti.

"Yeah, but were not asking about 434 other seats. Were asking about your former chief of staff," he said.

Uygur also questioned the delay in endorsing Chakrabarti, suggesting it should not require extended deliberation.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes part in the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 13, 2026.

Left-wing Host Blasts Aoc As 'Weak,' Says She Only Engages Critics Who Are 100% Friendly

"Does your crack team have to work for six, eight months to endorse your former chief of staff?" he asked. "Dont you know who your former chief of staff is?"

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"I know how much of himself [Chakrabarti] poured into your campaign... 100%. And I think it made all the difference," Uygur said.

Uygur broadened his criticism of the progressive movement, arguing that leaders should more actively support allies like Chakrabarti when they run for office.

"Youre supposed to put up a ladder so they could climb up, not take the ladder away or not take six months to decide," he said.

California State Sen. Scott Wiener speaks at a "Just Majority" nationwide bus tour press conference to call for reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court on May 16, 2023, in Sacramento, California.

Potential Pelosi Successor Pressed On Transgender People In Women's Spaces

"Im not against AOC, she is on our side on the policies way more than the average person in Congress," Uygur said, adding that her response in this case was "bizarre" and "inexplicable."

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Uygur also contrasted Chakrabarti with his primary opponent, California State Sen. Scott Wiener, criticizing the California Democrat's record on Israel-related issues.

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"In fact, his main opponent, Scott Wiener, is one of the most pro-Israel legislators in all of California," Uygur said, adding that Wiener has supported efforts targeting criticism of Israel in schools and on college campuses.

"So its not like this is a hard question as to who progressives should support," he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez for comment.

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Original article source: Cenk Uygur slams AOCs Kamala-like word salad on ex-aide endorsement
Ilika Goliath batteries in Brompton next-gen e-bikes collaboration - ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF, FRA:I8A) CEO, Graeme Purdy, talked with Proactive about the companys collaboration with Brompton Bicycle and how its Goliath batteries are being applied in the growing e-bike market.

Purdy explained that the partnership represents an important step in demonstrating real-world demand for Ilikas Goliath technology, which is primarily being developed for electric vehicle applications. However, the company is now leveraging its 10Ah prototypes to explore additional use cases, including e-bikes.

He described the collaboration as a really exciting one, noting that the batterys characteristics align closely with Bromptons design and mobility goals.

A key advantage of Goliath batteries lies in their improved energy density and safety profile. Purdy highlighted that reducing battery weight is critical for e-bike users, as it enhances range and makes bikes easier to carry and integrate into multi-modal transport systems.

He also pointed out that having an intrinsically safe battery helps reduce risks when transporting e-bikes on trains or buses.

Looking ahead, Ilika will focus on integrating its battery technology into Bromptons designs, with milestones tied to technical progress and prototype development. Demonstrations of working e-bikes are expected as the programme advances toward trials in 2027.

Purdy also emphasised the broader opportunity in the rapidly expanding global e-bike market, including strong demand and strict safety regulations in key regions such as China.

For more videos like this, visit Proactives YouTube channel, like this video, subscribe to the channel, and enable notifications so you never miss an update.

Proactive Graeme very good to speak with you. Brompton Bicycle is a real iconic brand. What does the partnership signal about real-world demand for Goliath? And how important is this as a commercial validation point for Ilika?

Graeme Purdy: Well, I think Goliath has some very unique properties and benefits that it can offer to different application areas. Ultimately, Goliath is an EV development program, as we've talked about before. But we're at an interesting point where we're able to intersect some of the application areas with the 10Ah prototypes that we've been distributing to potential partners over the last few months. Frankly, I think that the Brompton collaboration is a really exciting one, where some of the properties of the Goliath batteries really fit into Bromptons mission.

Proactive: You highlight safety and energy density advantages. How meaningful are these in practice for e-bike manufacturers and do they give Ilika a clear edge over conventional lithium-ion solutions?
Chicago police are warning people on the West Side about an attempted sexual assault on a CTA Blue Line train.

The crime happened Saturday between the Cicero Avenue and Austin Avenue stops in the Austin neighborhood, police said.

Police released a picture of a man who they say performed a lewd act and made sexual comments at a woman before attacking her and trying to sexually assault her.

Chicago police said the suspect is a man who is "40-49 years old, 5'6", medium build, short black hair, full beard and last seen wearing a black jacket unzipped, plain white t-shirt, dark jeans with red and blue bandanas hanging out of the rear pockets and white gym shoes."

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The suspect took off at the Austin Avenue stop.

Anyone who recognizes him has been asked to call Chicago police.

The crime comes as prosecutors ramp up efforts to crack down on crime across the CTA.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood
BEIJING, April 17 (Reuters) - China said it monitored a Japanese warship's transit in the Taiwan Strait on Friday, calling the move "a deliberate provocation" as Beijing's ties with Tokyo remain fraught.

Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Strait from 4:02 a.m. (2002 GMT) to 5:50 p.m. (0950 GMT), and the Chinese military's naval and air forces tracked and monitored the vessel throughout the process, a Chinese military spokesperson said in a statement.

Japan's Self-Defense Forces declined to comment on a report about the sail.

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China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory despite Taipei's rejection of the claim, and frequently refers to the issue as a "red line" in its diplomatic relations with other countries. It also claims sovereignty over the strategic Taiwan Strait and has responded aggressively on occasion to foreign navies sailing there.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November angered Beijing with her remarks that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan. Bilateral ties have since deteriorated.

Takaichi's "wrong remarks" regarding Taiwan have already severely impacted bilateral relations, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said at a press briefing on Friday.

Japan's dispatch of a military vessel into the Taiwan Strait, as "a display of force" and "a deliberate provocation", marks a "mistake upon mistake" and threatens China's sovereignty and security, Guo said.

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China firmly opposes this and has lodged a strong protest to Japan, he said.

The Chinese navy tracked and monitored the transit of an Australian warship through the Taiwan Strait in February, state-backed Chinese media had reported.

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Additional reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo in Tokyo; Writing by Yukun Zhang; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
The Enquirer recently published an opinion piece, "CPS treats every kid the same. That's the problem" (April 12), arguing that a one-size-fits-all approach to public education should be rejected. The column's opening sentence states that significant budget cuts are irrelevant to the struggles of Cincinnati Public Schools. But the fact is, CPS faces serious, long-term financial instability through no fault of its own.

Treasurer Mike Gustin said the school district is facing a $101 million budget deficit by 2030 if changes aren't made. Revenue is expected to stay flat even as costs rise, especially after property tax law changes that were recently passed by the Ohio Legislature. We are not talking about a hypothetical problem; CPS is staring down the barrel at a nine-figure deficit if nothing changes.

CPS has faced budget cuts over the past several years for a variety of reasons. Leading up to the 2025-26 school year, the CPS Board of Education eliminated 100-plus teaching positions that were vacant, and yet the cuts just keep on coming.

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More: Gratis, Ohio, chief did ICE checks at Cincinnati schools. Who is Tonina Lamanna?

School funding in Ohio remains a problem

The Cincinnati Public Schools main office in Corryville.

Believe it or not, the budgetary struggles of CPS are not unique. Public school districts across Ohio have seen the state legislature cut funding and divert public tax dollars to unaccountable charter schools and private religious schools, via the states school voucher program. Approximately 330 Ohio public school districts have joined the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit. The lawsuit against our state government argues that school vouchers are a clear violation of Ohios constitution, which mandates our state government to appropriately fund public school districts across Ohio.

The districts participating in this lawsuit are located all across Ohio, encompassing rural, suburban and urban districts. If more than half of all public school districts in the state of Ohio are saying vouchers hurt public schools, we should probably listen.

In a 1997 Ohio Supreme Court decision, it was determined that Ohio is unconstitutionally funding schools by utilizing an overreliance on property taxes. Despite this ruling, nothing has been done since 1997 by our state government to resolve our school funding issue. Theyve actually made it worse with the incorporation of charter schools and vouchers. This also goes hand-in-hand with the massive tax cuts our state government has lavished on corporations and billionaires.

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The result means local taxpayers are backfilling our state governments policy failures, and we are paying the price. These policy failures mean higher property taxes as well as more staffing cuts, program cuts and funding gaps for local school districts like CPS.

Far from a one-size-fits-all district

Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Shauna Murphy talks with eighth graders at Ethel M. Taylor Academy in Millvale on the first day of school, August 20, 2025. Previously it was K-6th grade. Its all part of the increased number of middle school in Cincinnati Public Schools.

We also must reject the premise of CPS being a "one-size-fits-all" school district. This is a district that educates 35,000 children in 66 school buildings across 91 square miles. The district has a variety of schools that incorporate many different types of curriculum and instruction. The district offers schools with Montessori programming, project-based instruction, and schools that focus on college preparatory instruction.

Opinion: Fear of ICE is keeping Ohio kids from class

Moreover, each school and the student population they educate is unique and diverse. CPS is far from a "one-size-fits-all" district, which is why funding is so crucial.

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The CPS school board must act now to put a new money levy on the November election ballot. Simply doing nothing will not preserve the system; it will just deepen inequality. When you underfund a system serving the highest-need students, inequality is the result and not just the cause. The board members must recognize that you cannot meet the growing needs of students with flat funding.

When schools are funded appropriately, students succeed. The problem isnt that CPS only works for some kids. The problem is we havent invested enough to make it work for all kids.

Clayton Adams

Clayton Adams lives in West Price Hill. He is vice president of organizing for the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers and a special education teacher with Cincinnati Public Schools.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: CPS cannot meet growing needs of students with flat funding | Opinion
CNN anchor Jake Tapper on Sunday called out Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) for giving President Donald Trump a pass for his call for genocide in Iran. (Watch more in the clip below.)

You are putting those words in his mouth, said Stefanik, who took issue with Tapper using the word genocide to describe the presidents threat to wipe out the whole civilization of Iran earlier this month. You are putting those words in his mouth. He is engaging in diplomatic back-and-forth.

Politics: Now Trump Reportedly Wants Nations Highest Military Honor... For Himself

Tapper chimed in, paraphrasing Trumps post, Your entire civilization will die?

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The tense TV faceoff began when the State of the Union host referred to Stefanik criticizing university presidents who refused to condemn pro-Palestinian students who chanted from the river to the sea, a phrase some critics view as a call for the elimination of Israel.

You characterize [that phrase] as a call for genocide, to wipe out all the Jews in Israel from the river to the sea, Tapper began. Just to be clear, you believe wiping out an entire civilization is genocidal and nobody should make a call to do such a thing?

Yes, of course, replied Stefanik as she recalled how she questioned university presidents at congressional hearings on antisemitism back in 2023.

Politics: U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Uncertain As Ceasefire Deadline Looms, Kevin Warsh Faces Confirmation Hearing: Live Updates

What did you think when President Trump threatened to obliterate the entire Iranian civilization? Tapper later asked.

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He was focusing on the Iranian regime and what did it do? It brought the Iranians to the table, it led to the ceasefire, replied Stefanik, who described Trumps language in his statements as very strong.

As Stefanik tried to float away from Tappers question, the host reeled her back.

Your whole civilization will die tonight. He didnt say the regime will be wiped out. He said, Your whole civilization will die tonight, Tapper said while reading from Trumps post. And I just have to say, its interesting that a 20-year-old college kid on a campus yelling, From the river to the sea, thats worthy of condemnation but a president of the United States who actually has.

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You dont think its worthy of condemnation  Jake, you dont think its worthy of condemnation of students that are targeting Jewish students, replied Stefanik before the interview morphed into crosstalk.

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Several seconds later, Tapper jumped back in, Im saying youre applying two different standards here.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

H/T: Mediaite

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President Donald Trump is staring down the prospect of filling another hole in his Cabinet  and one of his own appointees may end up forcing the issue.

Anthony DEsposito, who leads the Labor Departments in-house watchdog, has spent this year investigating damaging allegations against agency Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and her closest aides, a probe that has already prompted multiple people to resign from the agency.

Dozens of DOL staffers have spoken with DEspositos office since he opened the internal inquiry in January, according to two department officials who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Investigators are also poring over information pulled from travel records, department documents and subpoenas issued to outside parties, including hotels where Chavez-DeRemer stayed during official travel. The Labor secretary has denied wrongdoing.

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The alleged culture in the secretarys office and the inspector generals digging has created an awkward dance for the two Trump appointees. That could prompt Chavez-DeRemers exit as the White House juggles multiple high-level vacancies and crises ahead of the midterms. A messy departure would also risk muddying the White Houses pro-worker campaign messaging and its efforts to stave off criticism of the presidents stewardship of the economy.

It is such a fucking distraction, said one of the DOL officials, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics.

The White House has allowed the saga between an ex-cop from Long Island and a Cabinet secretary the president has jokingly described as a Democrat to play out, even as leaks from the investigation have led to unflatteringheadlines. The investigation is nearing a close, though it is unclear exactly how much longer it will continue. Chavez-DeRemer has said she will cooperate and is expected to meet with investigators.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment on whether the president continues to have faith in the Labor secretary. Chavez-DeRemers personal attorney declined to comment.

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DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella declined to comment on the investigation, but she said the agency continues to deliver on the Presidents agenda and advance major results for American workers.

Any suggestion that the Departments work has been slowed or distracted is not accurate, Parella said in a statement.

Trump has begun mulling whether to remove Chavez-DeRemer and other top officials in recent weeks, and the outcome of DEspositos investigation could force the White Houses hand. Several people who have come under scrutiny during the investigation have complained about how DEspositos office is handling the matter and accused the office of leaking information to the media.

Meanwhile DEsposito  a retired New York Police Department detective and former congress member whose single House term overlapped with Chavez-DeRemers  is facing deep suspicion from Democrats and government ethics groups that he will pull punches with his findings. But key witnesses are eluding investigators, and there are other limitations that may make it impossible for the investigation to reach a conclusion that satisfies everyone.

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Americans need to know that the DOLs watchdog is acting impartially, especially as the agency faces its own scandals, and right now there are real doubts about that, said Donald Sherman, the head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed an ethics complaint against DEsposito this month to the council that oversees federal IGs.

DEsposito has dismissed CREW and other critics as political hacks and said hes focused on carrying out the presidents agenda. And his allies are downplaying the pressure he faces.

Hes been doing a pretty fair job, said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis(R-N.Y.). Lori was one of his very good friends here, and hes been able to do his job and hold her agency accountable.

DEsposito has positioned himself as a defender of taxpayer money, appearing coast to coast to announce busts with federal prosecutors and leading Trump administration figures like Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. The White House has rewarded the inspector general with a spot on an anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance, a role that DEsposito referenced in explaining his decision to forgo a bid to reclaim his House seat.

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DEsposito said people should judge him and other Trump-appointed IGs by results, not rhetoric.

Suggesting investigators lose their independence because of who signed an appointment insults the professionals who follow the facts and the money wherever they lead, he said in a statement.

DEsposito reportedly angled for other high-level law enforcement posts during the presidential transition, including at the Drug Enforcement Administration, before the White House settled on placing him at DOL.

Like DEsposito, Chavez-DeRemer was also out of a job after losing reelection in 2024, and she landed at DOL with the strong support of the Teamsters union as Trump looked to capitalize on his gains with working-class voters and rank-and-file union members.

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Several of the allegations against Chavez-DeRemer and her inner circle pertain to alleged misuse of government resources, ranging from scheduling official events to subsidize her personal travel plans to allegedly drinking on the job and directing staffers to run errands.

A spokesperson for the IGs office did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the investigation.

But there may be questions that the IGs report leaves unanswered, as some of the people at the center of the firestorm are now out of its reach.

Chavez-DeRemers chief of staff and deputy chief of staff resigned under pressure from the White House without meeting with the IGs office. A member of Chavez-DeRemers security team who was under scrutiny amid allegations that he was involved in an extramarital relationship with the Labor secretary also quit, citing his refusal to participate in a politically motivated investigation. The Trump administration fired a fourth DOL official shortly after investigators pressed her on travel expenses related to events scheduled for the secretary.

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The IGs office generally has no authority over former employees. That lack of authority also extends to those who do not work for the department, such as the Labor secretarys husband, who was banned from DOL headquarters earlier this year after staffers reported he touched them inappropriately.

DeRemer has denied the allegations through an attorney, and D.C. law enforcement looked into one alleged incident but closed the case without filing charges. His attorney, James Bell, did not respond to a request for comment.

Inspectors general are typically viewed as nonpartisan and independent from the agencies they oversee, but DEsposito has aligned himself with the administrations messaging and with its sharp-elbow style after Trump fired Labors previous inspector general and other agencies watchdogs last year.

It is unusual for a former elected official to serve as an inspector general  typically a low-profile bureaucrat focused on rooting out wasteful spending, assessing agency initiatives and investigating internal misconduct  and DEsposito has faced questions about his political ambitions since he was nominated.

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It diminishes their credibility to the public if youre putting in place political allies of Donald Trump, as opposed to really independent investigators who really dont care where the information leads, theyll follow it to the end, Doug Pasternak of the watchdog group Public Citizen told POLITICO.

On Tuesday, local Republican leaders on Long Island backed Hempstead tax receiver Jeanine Driscoll, putting to rest the possibility that DEsposito would once again face off against Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.), who defeated him in 2024 after DEsposito beat her two years earlier.

Anthony DEsposito disgraced himself in Congress and made it clear he cant be trusted to hold any position of authority, Gillens campaign said in a statement.
The Charlotte City Council is asking that residents visit the NCDOT community center to give their feedback on the Interstate 77 toll lane projects.

Councilmember Victoria Watlington told the Political Beats Joe Bruno that the city is watching the community and waiting to hear more from them. She said the city may rescind its vote as the city continues its research.

We know that this has been decades in the making and we know there has been a lot of work and announcements that have taken place, she said. With that said, it is still a very public process.

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She said the city council is leaving several options on the table. It may work with the community to redesign the project, but it may completely rescind its support for the project.

The project would create express lanes stretching from Uptown to South Carolina.

The state has paused the project while it collects more community feedback.

Hear more from Watlingtons interview with the Political Beat in the video at the top of this page.
At least two people were injured after a three-vehicle crash in Greene County on Sunday morning.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Just after 9 a.m., crews were dispatched to the intersection of Ohio 380 and East Krepps Road on reports of a multi-vehicle crash, according to a Greene County Dispatcher.

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The crash involved three vehicles, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Trooper on scene.

Two vehicles were reportedly going in opposite directions, while a third vehicle was stopped at the intersection.

The stopped vehicle pulled forward, striking one of the other vehicles and causing it to go left of center and strike the third vehicle.

At least two people were injured and taken to local hospitals by medics, according to the trooper.

Details on the extent of their injuries were not immediately available.

We will continue following this story.

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Crime Reports file

Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Thursday at 11 a.m.

David Wade Chilcoat, 51, of Fulton, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, sale of methamphetamine.

Timothy Lee Clay, 52, of Aberdeen, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, aggravated assault.

Joaquin Q. Elkins, 36, of Nettleton, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

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Emmitt H. Ellis, 42, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine,

Demetrice Shovonne Grady, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Matthew Griffin, 33, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, violation of probation, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of paraphernalia.

Kelon James Hampton, 25, homeless, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, violation of probation.

Quentasha Johnson, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, burglary of a dwelling.

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Willie Quarles, 42, of Summit, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, sale of cocaine.

Misty Shelene Randle, 51, of Plantersville, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, abuse of 911.

Phillip W. Rodgers, 58, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, grand larceny.

Seth Aaron Stephens, 33, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, speeding.

Brandon T. Thomas, 43, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine.

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Lee County Sheriff's Office

The following reports were filed Thursday by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

A County Road 855, Shannon, man spotted a black Dodge truck backing into the driveway of his property down the road around 8:45 a.m. A Black male in his late 30s got out and started loading a dryer that was on the porch into the truck. When the man confronted him, the suspect unloaded the dryer, got int he truck and left.

A County Road 1149, Plantersville, man said a dark colored small SUV drove past his house several times one night, starting around 11 p.m. and continuing through 3:15 a.m. He noticed the vehicle when reviewing his security cameras. He said it was unusual to have that much traffic at that time of night.

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A Highway 178, Mooreville, woman said an unknown white male started banging on her front door around 2 a.m. and began pacing back and forth on her front porch. She did not answer the door and the suspicious man eventually walked away.

A Highway 370, Baldwyn, man returned home and discovered someone had kicked in his back door. The intruder had rummaged through drawers and closets and thrown items on the floor. Nothing appeared to be missing but things were in disarray and he could not be certain. He and his wife will go through everything and make a list of anything they find missing.

A County Road 821, Saltillo, man said there was a Black male walking down the road near his house around 3:20 p.m. The man went to the end of his driveway to escort his daughter when she got off the bus. He said the suspect was the same one he had seen trespassing on his property a few days earlier.

A County Road 192, Nettleton, woman said she heard a very loud beeping noise when she left home for work at 4:15 a.m. She thought it might be a neighbors security alarm.

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A Highway 178, Mooreville, woman said an unknown white male tried to get into her residence at 1 a.m. and again at 8 a.m. She said he tried turning the door knob both times.

Anyone with information on any of these crimes is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
A mass of Coweta County Sheriffs Office deputies and Georgia State Patrol officers were out in a neighborhood near East Coweta High School.

Channel 2s Eryn Rogers was there, where GSP said they are supporting the sheriffs office in a search for someone in the area.

The Coweta County Sheriffs Office said the incident started Sunday around 10:30 a.m.

Deputies on patrol went to part of Sandstone Drive after receiving multiple reports of someone running through the neighborhood while armed.

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Soon after arriving, deputies found and detained an uncooperative individual who had a rifle.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

After learning the person lived nearby, deputies went to the house and found a second person, who told them there may be dead people inside the home.

No victims were found in the home, or evidence of someone being hit by gunfire, but multiple bullet holes were visible through the home.

The sheriffs office said some holes appeared to show where bullets exited the building toward other nearby homes.

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While searching the house, deputies found narcotics and alcohol and both people they spoke to displayed signs of impairment.

At this time, the sheriffs office has both people detained and the Criminal Investigations Unit is working the scene now.

Troopers told Channel 2 Action News at the scene that they were there to provide ground and air support to the sheriffs office. A helicopter was seen circling above as deputies worked to determine what the situation was.

Crime scene tape and multiple sheriffs office vehicles were visible at the scene.

During the investigation, deputies heard additional gunfire nearby and requested a drone, K-9 unit and helicopter to assist in searching the area.

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At this time, the gunfire is believed to be unrelated to the original incident, the sheriffs office said.

Channel 2 Action News is working to learn more about who the people detained were and what charges they might be facing.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The Rockdale County Sheriffs Office said a woman was shot while deputies responded to a mental health disturbance on Saturday.

Channel 2 Action News reported when deputies warned residents to avoid the area as they responded on Sugar Creek Lane in Conyers around 7:47 p.m..

Late on Saturday night, deputies announced they had encountered a hostile woman who later produced a knife before running at deputies in a confrontation.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

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The sheriffs office said a deputy fired a shot at the woman, hitting her and she was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate the incident.

At this time, the woman has not been identified and her current condition is unknown.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the GBI for more information.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Kirk Gunhus has been in the medical aesthetics industry for 30 years. He has gray hair and, by his own cheerful admission, is not a technology guy. He wasnt interested when Fathom AI first pitched him on switching vendors.

Brown explained to Fortune that the partnership is essentially like collecting a paycheck. Wed rather take the money now and then, theres not a lot to reinvest in, because we dont have huge costs.

By year-end, Fathom projects $5 million in ARR across 15 to 18 enterprise customers. The team is structured as a partnership specifically to distribute profits now, a deliberate decision to get paid rather than hold out for a distant exit in a market none of them can predict.

The VC said, Youre going to need an engineering team of this size, a customer success team of this size,' Brown recalled, adding that when he and Fathoms founder and CEO Ben Hooten walked out of the meeting, they basically said, Were not going to need that.

The company has taken no outside funding. When venture capitalists came calling, Fathom got all the way to the finish line on a term sheet and walked awaynot because the deal was bad, but because they genuinely couldnt figure out what theyd spend the money on.

We launched 2.5 months ago, and right now, we have $300,000 in ARR, said Brown, who manages the three-person companys finances as the president of Fathom AI.

Fathom AI, an Austin-based sales enablement platform built specifically for the medical aesthetics industry, launched in early 2026. Within 12 weeks, it achieved an estimated annual recurring revenue of $300,000, gross margins north of 90%, and operating costs under 10% of revenue, according to records reviewed by Fortune. And the total capital invested to start the company was just $300.

He didnt spend long feeling sorry for himself. Instead, Brown joined a three-person startup with no venture funding, no engineering team, and no traditional software infrastructure. What they did have were 12 AI agents.

I got laid off nine months ago, and it was AI-related, said Brown, 48, with a career that stretches back to 2000 , aside from a few months as a ball boy for the Denver Nuggets in his youth. I had to sit there and say, This is a blessing, because I get a head start on everyone else thats going to have to go through this in a little while.'

Nine months ago, Sam Brown was out of a job. The reason, hell tell you without a sense of bitterness, was artificial intelligence. The company hed spent years building a career inside decided it needed fewer people, and he was one of them.

Story Continues

The origin story starts with a frustrated rant. The CEO, Hooten, then still a sales rep, was sitting in one of Gunhus meetings when Gunhus, a couple of beers in, unloaded on the state of sales technology. Youve got all this stuff here, and none of it really works well, Gunhus said. Someone needs to just put it all together, so when I walk into a zip code, I know exactly what accounts are perfect for us to go after.

He forgot about his rant immediately, but Hooten didnt. Gunhus said he got a call the very next weekend from Hooten, who said he put a plan together.

Gunhus agreed to a pilot with six sales reps. The company, he said, couldnt afford the subscription, but every one of those six reps paid individually to work with Fathom AI. Thats because it works, Gunhus said. Its making them so much money.

The results bore him out. In all of 2024, one of Gunhus consulting clients, Tiger Aesthetics, did not open a single net new account. Within one quarter of deploying Fathom, he said they had opened 225. The bosses over at Tiger are like, [Give them] whatever they want. They just saved a ton of money.

The medical aesthetics industry is a multibillion-dollar world of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, med spas, and device manufacturers and, according to Fathom AI and their clientele, its ripe for disruption. Sales have historically been entirely manual. Reps cold-called, drove routes blind, and relied on memory and intuition to figure out who to see and when.

Fathom replaces all of that. A rep enters a zip code, and the platform surfaces every nearby account that fits their product profile, ranked by fit. It layers in real-time Google search data so a rep can walk into a doctors office and say, with specificity, what that physicians patients are searching for. It also serves as a live training tool: new hires roleplay sales scenarios against an AI that corrects their technique in real time, flagging wrong answers and asking follow-up questions.

The team that isnt supposed to exist

Hooten, the CEO and the junior member of the group at 39, explained to Fortune that his 12 agent co-workers hold real operational rolesone runs customer success for a national sales force; another wakes up every two hours to scan the competitive landscape and file a briefing.

His background was in sales, not software, Hooten explained, and so he looks at the AI agent era as a chance to build things that he never had the skills to, before. When a colleague told him that he couldnt build an automated sales tool that actually worked, he built it anyway, and on his first day using it in the field, he closed $440,000 in a single day.

Gunhus said he had firsthand experience with the customer service bot: a Tiger Aesthetics rep called with a support issue, was walked through the solution by what they believed was Hooten on the line, and had no idea theyd been talking to an AI. The rep has no idea whats going on, literally.

Crump, the senior member of the group, at 56 years, is a former Marine with decades in tech sales experience at companies including GE and IBM. He has watched every major tech cycle from the early internet to the smartphone era. He recalled one morning about 25 years ago visiting Enron, when he was working as a sales rep for HP, the exact time when the famous accounting fraud was going belly-up. The elevator door opened, and a lady had a plant and a Herman Miller chair, and she was rolling it out of there, cussing, Crump recalled. I go up, and my buddy says, Hey, somebody just tried to throw a chair through the window.' Hed been on the phone with his manager minutes earlier to confirm Enron owed his company $27 millionand that it had cleared the Friday before. So I was like, Okay, thank God well get paid,' he said. Ive seen a lot of stuff.

In this industry, he added, sometimes tech sales is just uninspiring. With Fathom, he said he feels like theyre making something that makes a difference.

The 23-year-old parallel

Fathom isnt the only small team rewriting the economics of what a company can be. Half a continent away, in Toronto, Yatharth Sejpal is running a strikingly similar experiment, and hes 23 years old.

Sejpal is the CEO of KNOWIDEA, a predictive intelligence platform that advises executives on decision-making. He has no computer science backgroundnever written a line of code in my life, he saidbut within six months of launching he said he has closed $500,000 in ARR with six enterprise clients spanning energy, manufacturing, professional services, and financial services. He co-founded the firm with Brian Zhengyu Li, who is completing a PhD and previously worked as an applied scientist intern at Amazon Web Services.

Like Fathom, KNOWIDEA is a three-person operation. And like Fathom, Sejpal passed on early VC money. If I wanted to exit, I would have taken VC money really quickly, he said. He turned down a spot in Antler, one of the worlds largest startup accelerators, because he didnt want to dilute equity before proving his model. Instead, he took a strategic investment check, from a consulting firm, not a venture fund, at a $15 million valuation.

His pitch to enterprise clients is almost a philosophy as much as a product. Leaders need clarity, Sejpal told Fortune from a hotel room (he said he spends nearly all his time traveling). Thats it. There is no other reason, a dashboard, a report, all of it is just to bloody get clarity. His platform ingests decentralized data and produces ranked, risk-weighted insights for C-suite decision-makers.

Crucially, Sejpal is careful about what his platform wont do. On the question of AI hallucinations, a persistent concern among executives considering high-stakes AI tools, he draws a clear line. At the core of decision-making is clarity plus judgment, he said. Our job is to give clarity. Your job is to make the judgment. His system flags predictions that deviate dramatically from market norms and filters them out before they reach a client.

Sejpal, who grew up in India and moved to Canada to attend the University of Waterloo, spent years inside some of the largest people consulting firms in the world before deciding the industry was ripe to be disrupted. His vision of where the three-person company model leads is more radical than his current headcount suggests. He doesnt think three-person teams are the endgame: he thinks they represent the beginning of a total restructuring of how work gets organized.

I dont want to ever hire an account executive or a customer success manager, he said. The only two roles that we want to hire are FDEs and FDCs, forward deployed engineers and forward deployed consultants. One person who understands what data to select, and one who understands what context to apply. Everything else, he said, can be automated using artificial intelligence.

That logic extends to his larger argument about the enterprise. Take 20-person project teams, for example: I think that is going to slim down to a two-person team. FDC plus FDE can do all of the work, and then one supervisor who can overlook. Thats it. Its as non-complicated as that.

It hasnt been as lucrative for Sejpal as it has for the Fathom co-founders, but hes not concerned about that yet. His savings dwindled for months until the spring of 2026, when he finally started drawing a salary, but he cheerfully said that his excitement about what hes doing is more than enough for him. If I if I wanted to make money, there are much simpler, less strenuous, mentally and body-exhausting tasks that I can do. Im worried every single night, I have night sweats thinking how Ill make salary for my employees, how Ill grow my team and 20 other headaches. I could have made much more money without having a single of those stress.

Dramatic implications

Brown was careful to say that the Fathom story isnt primarily about Fathom. Its about what Fathom represents: the first wave of a much larger shift in who gets to build a software company and who has the advantage doing it. In fact, thanks to AI, businesses have exploded in recent years, and it looks like theres no chance of stopping what innovations can come next, according to financial firm Apollo.

The VC model was built around the assumption that you needed massive capital to build technology: engineering teams, customer success departments, sales headcount. That assumption is now structurally broken. A platform that once required $10 million in seed funding to staff can be assembled by three experienced operators and a suite of AI agents for the cost of a dinner out.

That changes who wins. Gunhus, for his part, said hes not interested in launching his own three-person AI startup. Ive done all that, I dont want to go through all that mess again. But hes watching carefully and telling everyone he knows to pay attention to the AI agent revolution. If you dont use it, he said, its gonna run you over anyway.

Thats more or less the same conclusion Sam reached nine months ago, sitting with a pink slip and a decision to make about what came next. He doesnt sound like a man who was laid off. He sounds like a man who got lucky.

Everyones going to have to go through this to some extent, Brown said. I just think I got to go through it a little earlier than most.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Editors note: This story was originally published on April 19, 2025.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On April 19, 1993, the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ended as the Davidians set fire to their compound following an FBI tear gas attack. Seventy-five people, including 25 children and sect leader David Koresh, were killed.

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Exactly two years later, in 1995, Timothy McVeigh, seeking to strike at the government he blamed for the Branch Davidian deaths two years earlier, destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.

The front page of the Deseret News on April 19, 1993, as the standoff between authorities and members of the Branch Davidian group came to a deadly conclusion near Waco, Texas.

McVeigh was convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001.

In both cases, those involved in the incidents felt government agencies were intruding in their personal lives.

And just like that, in the space of 730 days, Americans were reminded that terror can come in unlikely places and lead to harsh conclusions.

Some historians also note that the American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord  the start of an eight-year armed conflict between American colonists and the British Army  on April 19, 1975.

The front page of the Deseret News on April 19, 1995, as a federal government building in Oklahoma City was partially destroyed by a bomb.

The Branch Davidian standoff

On Feb. 28, 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

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The siege boiled over on April 19, as the compound burned to the ground after FBI agents in an armored vehicle smashed the buildings and pumped in tear gas. The Justice Department said cult members set the fire.

Here are stories from Deseret News archives about the Waco incident:

Lesson from Waco: Religion matters when dealing with the nonconventional

Waco documentary indicates agents fired at trapped cult members

Cult leader? Sinful Messiah? 25 years later, interest in David Koresh still strong

FBIs lies, siege at Waco unjustified

Murrah building bombing

On April 19, 1995, a date purposely chosen, American Timothy McVeigh detonated explosives planted in a truck outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. He plotted the attack with two fellow Army veterans who shared his anti-government views, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier.

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The Oklahoma City Bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children, and wounded hundreds more, in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history to that date.

Before he was executed in 2001, McVeigh made it clear that he intended the bombing as retribution for the deaths at Waco and the Ruby Ridge standoff in northern Idaho in 1992, and had deliberately planned the bombing to take place on the second anniversary of the Waco disaster.

Here are stories from Deseret News archives related to the Oklahoma City bombing:

Weve taken notice, but will we learn?

FBI explanation of missing Oklahoma City bombing tapes not credible, judge says

Impact of 95 Oklahoma City bombing still felt

Judge talks of surviving 1995 blast and 9/11

Nichols says bombing was FBI op
Jeans, a clerical collar and a rosary on his wrist: this is how Father Guilherme Peixoto -- the "DJ Priest" -- appeared in central Buenos Aires on Saturday to spin electronic music at a massive rave paying tribute to Pope Francis one year after his death.

Techno versions of the "Super Mario" soundtrack and "Ameno" -- the 1990s classic that emulates Gregorian chant -- were mixed with excerpts from Francis's speeches in Plaza de Mayo, the political heart of Argentina, which had been transformed into a Catholic celebration.

From behind the decks, Peixoto energized tens of thousands of people beneath a laser light show, flanked by the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral and Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine government.

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Peixoto told AFP his goal for the event was "to let the music touch hearts so deeply that young people return home with a desire to change the world."

On stage, an illuminated cross hung above Peixoto as a nearby screen showed a large white dove flapping its wings as a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Many people in the crowd wore halos fitted with white lights, sold by street vendors for less than $10.

The concert kicked off with an audio clip of Francis saying, "The Church is not an NGO." Later, the 52-year-old Portuguese priest recited Francis's frequent request to young people to "make some noise."

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Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires and served as archbishop of the city before his papacy began in 2013, died on April 21, 2025.

Tomas Ferreira, a 25-year-old lawyer, told AFP that while he is not Catholic, he thought it was "really great that the priest is trying to bring people together through the fusion of electronic music and religion."

"Religion is modernizing, and that's a good thing," he said.

- From Guimaraes to the booth -

A native of Guimaraes, Portugal, Peixoto has served as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Braga, northern Portugal, since 1999.

His Sunday masses, he said with a laugh, "are normal. It's a normal liturgy."

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He entered the seminary at age 13, but always kept one foot in the world of music. As a young man, he played the organ in a pop-rock band alongside his fellow seminarians.

"Going to church and going out to a bar or a club to listen to music felt the same -- it was normal," he recalled in an interview with AFP.

In the early 2000s, he organized karaoke nights to raise funds for his debt-ridden parish. He learned how to mix music by watching videos on YouTube and practicing the craft over several years.

"When I first started learning how to mix, I also began to immerse myself in electronic music culture. It wasn't just about understanding the technicalities, how to structure a set, but grasping the very essence of what an 'electronic music journey' truly is," Peixoto said.

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"It was a long, long process -- a journey that led me right here."

- Breakthrough in Ibiza -

The Covid-19 pandemic marked the turning point for Peixoto.

He began streaming live sets on Facebook, his videos went viral and the nickname "DJ Priest" stuck.

"Techno started becoming a bit more melodic, which is the style I play now," said Peixoto.

"The music isn't quite as intense or heavy as it used to be. Instead, it serves as a vehicle capable of conveying messages, thoughts and melodies."

He said he conveys "messages of peace."

Peixoto's breakthrough moment came in Ibiza in July 2024, when he celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest by performing in front of thousands of people.

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He said he was concerned about how people would react to seeing a priest in the DJ booth. But the fear quickly faded when he said he saw young people showing "such incredible warmth."

"I get goosebumps when I feel that we are all united on the dance floor, that we are all on this journey together," he said.

lm/lb/lga/aks
VERO BEACH  The Environmental Learning Center (ELC) brought together more than 20 dedicated volunteers on March 11 for its EcoAction Spoil the Lagoon event, a hands-on restoration effort focused on enhancing three spoil islands within the Indian River Lagoon.

ELCs EcoAction volunteers use buckets and grabbers provided by Friends of the Spoil Islands to remove trash on Indian River County Spoil Island 13.

Organized through the ELCs EcoAction program and in partnership with Friends of the Spoil Island (FOSI) and the Florida DEP Regional Aquatic Preserves, the event united volunteers from Coastal Connections, ELC, and the broader community in a shared mission to protect and care for one of Floridas most important estuaries.

Giancarlo Cetrulo (third from left), ELCs EcoAction Coordinator, debriefs volunteers on the beautification tasks for the day.

EcoAction is the ELCs community-driven initiative that empowers individuals to take an active role in environmental stewardship through restoration projects, citizen science, and conservation-based education. Events like Spoil the Lagoon provide meaningful opportunities for participants to make a direct, positive impact while deepening their connection to the natural world.

ELCs EcoAction volunteers celebrate cutting a new trail and cleaning up signage on Indian River County Spoil Island 14.

Throughout the day, volunteers worked to clear overgrown trails, improving accessibility and safety for future visitors, and installed new BBQ grills to support responsible recreational use of the islands. These improvements help ensure that the spoil islands remain both enjoyable and sustainable for the community.

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In addition to restoration work, participants contributed to important citizen science efforts by documenting local wildlife using the iNaturalist app. Volunteers recorded 190 observations representing 37 different species, providing valuable data that supports ongoing environmental monitoring and research within the lagoon system.

Volunteers and staff from Coastal Connections complete a turtle stranding report upon finding the shell of a juvenile sea turtle as part of the "Spoil the Lagoon" project.

During the cleanup, the group also recovered a turtle shell, which was promptly reported by Coastal Connections staff and volunteers to assist in ongoing marine life stranding research. This discovery highlights the importance of community involvement in supporting scientific efforts and protecting wildlife.

The EcoAction program continues to grow as more community members seek opportunities to get involved, give back, and engage with the environment in a meaningful way. Events like this demonstrate the power of collective action and reinforce the importance of preserving the Indian River Lagoon for future generations.

ELCs EcoAction volunteers after beautifying Indian River County Spoil Island 12.

The Environmental Learning Center offers EcoAction opportunities year-round, inviting individuals, families, and groups to participate in restoration projects, cleanups, and citizen science initiatives that support the health of local ecosystems. Those interested in getting involved are encouraged to reach out to Gian Cetrulo at EcoAction@discoverelc.org to join an upcoming event.

About the Environmental Learning Center

The Environmental Learning Center is a nonprofit lagoon-island nature center in Vero Beach dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering people of all ages to become active stewards of the environment and their own well-being. For more information, visit DiscoverELC.org or call 772-589-5050.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach volunteers restore Indian River Lagoon islands
By Anna Voitenko

KYIV, April 19 (Reuters) - Eight people including a child remain hospitalised in Kyiv after being wounded in a shooting that killed six people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Sunday.

A Russian-born man opened fire on passers-by with an automatic rifle on Saturday before barricading himself in a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police.

Police stormed the supermarket after unsuccessfully trying to negotiate with the suspect for 40 minutes, although officers were initially filmed running away from the incident, prompting the resignation of a police chief.

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Klitschko said the wounded child, whose parents were killed in the shooting, was in moderate condition, while one of the adults was critical. "They are all receiving all necessary medical care," the mayor said on Telegram.

BULLET HOLES STILL VISIBLE

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the shooting, which happened in the capital's leafy Holosiivskyi district, injured 14 people.

The supermarket has been cordoned off and remains closed. Bullet holes are visible in windows of the supermarket, and bloodstains can be seen nearby.

Flowers were left near a residential building a couple of hundred metres from the supermarket, where the shooter shot his first victims.

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"I saw how people grabbed children from the playground and ran away. They screamed: 'run away, hide'," Daryna, a 31-year-old local resident, told Reuters. "People didn't understand what was going on. They said that there was a man there, a man was shooting with a machine gun."

Shootings of this nature are extremely rare in Ukraine and the country's security service said the incident was being investigated as a terrorist act. Police have not yet identified a motive for the crime.

PATROL POLICE HEAD RESIGNS

Yevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine's Patrol Police - a division of the national police service whose duty is to patrol the streets - resigned on Sunday after social media circulated a video showing patrol officers running away after hearing gunfire, leaving civilians without protection.

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Reuters could not independently verify the video.

"The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger," online media outlet RBC Ukraine quoted Zhukov as saying.

"As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold," Zhukov added.

Earlier on Sunday, minister Klymenko said the officers' behaviour was "a disgrace to the entire system". An investigation has been launched and decisions will be made regarding their superiors.

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RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE

The shooting of civilians not far from central Kyiv has raised questions both about the public's right to self-defense and about how the gunman was able to obtain a firearms permit, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.

"The attacker's mental state was clearly unstable. How he obtained the medical certificates required to renew his gun permit must be thoroughly investigated," Klymenko said.

He said the ministry intends to prepare the final version of a bill on civilian firearms as he was certain that "people should have the right to armed self-defense."

At present, Ukrainians can own only hunting weapons.

(Additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Christina Fincher and David Holmes)
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Police in Elberfeld ask residents to be on high alert after they say a man tried to lure kids into a vehicle.

Police say it has happened twice on the west-side of town. The first incident was at around 7 p.m. on April 7.

Officers say it involved a black truck with an extended cab, possibly a Chevrolet. Another incident happened around 6 p.m. on Friday.

Were told it involved a rusty light yellow or cream colored van with peeling paint. Police encourage residents to check their cameras if they live on the west side of town.

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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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
HAVANA (AP)  Havana's broad avenues are empty at night. Theaters are closed. Bars and cafes have curtains lowered. Its hard to find lights in the streets or Cubans making money entertaining tourists.

Under the weight of an oil embargo imposed by the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, and the island's most severe economic crisis in decades, the city's once bustling nightlife has gone quiet.

I feel empty inside when I see my streets empty, said Yusleydi Blanco, a 41-year-old accountant. I cant be happy when my country is sad.

Worse than the Special Period

Following a 2016 deal between then-Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro easing U.S. travel restrictions on Cuba, money flooded the island as tourism spiked. A small number of entrepreneurs opened newly allowed private businesses and bought imported modern vehicles that shared the streets with classic cars from the 1950s.

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In 2018, a record 4.7 million tourists arrived on the island. Hotel accommodations were so saturated that travelers without lodging were seen sleeping in a park in the small western Cuban town of Vinales that draws thousands of tourists and rock climbers to its scenic limestone cliffs.

Today, gasoline sales are limited to 20 liters (5 gallons) per vehicle and owners can wait months for a turn at the pump. Buses now stop running at 6 p.m. and international airlines including Air France, Air Canada and Iberia have stopped flying to Havana because they cant refuel there. The sound of cars has disappeared in the wealthy El Vedado neighborhood, where the soundscape of chirping birds has reemerged.

The Cuban government reported the arrival of 77,600 tourists in February, down from 178,000 on the same month a year ago.

This is worse than the Special Period," said 65-year-old parking attendant Dolores de la Caridad Mendez about the years of economic devastation that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba's Cold War patron, in the 1990s.

Testing everyone's stamina'

In contrast with his Democratic predecessors, U.S. President Donald Trump has tightened economic sanctions against Cuba, demanding an end to political repression, a release of political prisoners and a liberalization of the islands ailing economy.

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The deepening crisis has led to persistent blackouts, cuts to the state-run food ration system, and severe shortages of water and medicine that have transformed daily life into an ordeal for many in the island of 10 million. Between 2021 and 2024, approximately 1.4 million Cubans left the island  mostly young people but also accomplished musicians, actors, dancers and other entertainers who fueled Havana's nightlife.

In January, the U.S. captured then-President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, which had been Cuba's primary supplier of oil. The Trump administration severed that supply and threatened to impose tariffs on other countries that sold oil to Cuba, which went without a single shipment until a Russian tanker came in March.

For entrepreneurs and business owners across the island, life has become difficult as tourism plummeted and their hopes of selling cheaper goods to fellow Cubans dashed against the rocks of a vastly harder economic reality.

You wake up and you're ready to conquer the world, saying, Today Ill sell more than ever,' said Yeni Perez, owner of the Old Havana cafe Entre Nos. Then not a single client comes in and you go home devastated.

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The next day, she said, You say, Lets give it another chance.' It's a time that's testing everyone's stamina."

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Former CIA counterterrorism official John Kiriakou said President Donald Trumps "handshake agreement" with China could disrupt Irans military supply lines and help bring an end to the conflict.

Speaking on the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, Kiriakou explained what this could mean for the conflict in the Middle East and outlined the potential impact of an Iranian nuclear weapon.

"The president announced on either X or on Truth Social that he had come to some sort of a handshake deal with the Chinese and that the Chinese were not going to provide weapons [to Iran]," Kiriakou said.

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"If that's the truth, then it's pretty much over."

Morning Glory: The Us-iran Negotiations In Islamabad Became Reykjavik 2.0

A split image shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and President Donald Trump, right, after Trump said China agreed to stop supplying weapons to Iran. (Getty Images)

Trump announced the deal with China on Truth Social Wednesday, saying China is "very happy" with his plans to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz after Iran blockaded the vital waterway and disrupted the flow of oil.

Read On The Fox News App

"I am doing it for them, also - And the World. This situation will never happen again," Trump wrote, adding that China has agreed to stop supplying Iran with weapons.

China Slams Us Military Blockade Of Strait Of Hormuz As A 'Dangerous And Irresponsible Move'

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"They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!" Trump posted.

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou appeared on Sean Hannitys podcast, "Hang Out with Sean Hannity," for an interview discussion.

The president is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month in Beijing. Their meeting was previously delayed over fighting that erupted in the Middle East earlier this year.

Cia Whistleblower Claims Obama-era Espionage Charges Against Him Were A Test Run For Targeting Trump

Beyond the China agreement, Kiriakou said a nuclear-armed Iran remains a serious threat to the United States. He said assessments of Tehrans missile range have changed.

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Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Hannity said the U.S. underestimated Irans missile range and that missiles could reach major European cities like Paris and London.

Kiriakou confirmed the assessment, saying that by "stripping down" the missiles, Iran "extended the range by something like 60%." He added that even without long-range missiles, Iran could "wreak havoc on the entire region by making a dirty bomb."

In March, the regime launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the U.S.-U.K. base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, roughly 2,500 miles from Iran, according to Israeli officials. The strike challenged previous assessments of Tehrans capabilities, which Irans foreign minister previously claimed were capped at a 2,000-kilometer range.

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Both agreed that the conflict will not turn into a "forever war," with Hannity asserting that Trump "won't let it" happen.

"I can't imagine this turns into one of the long wars. It doesn't make any sense. . . . You know, if it were going to be, we already would have boots on the ground," said Kiriakou.

Watch the full interview with John Kiriakou on YouTube.





Original article source: Ex-CIA official says Trump's 'handshake' deal with China could cut off Iran's weapons, end conflict
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, has pledged to remove imposter accounts tied to scams that were recently flagged by the Manhattan district attorney's office, following a phone call between the two parties this week, the DA's office told ABC News Friday.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last week accused Meta of failing to remove imposter accounts that Bragg said pose as organizations like Catholic Charities to offer fake immigration services that scam money from unsuspecting victims.

"These imposter accounts have led to tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent transfers," Bragg said in a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding the company take action after requests to remove false profiles were declined.

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Facebook, WhatsApp should remove accounts that defraud users, Manhattan DA says

"Scammers frequently target immigrant populations because they are perceived to be, and often are, more vulnerable to fraud and in need of a specific type of legal assistance," Bragg wrote.

In some instances, scammers create public Facebook accounts that mirror real accounts belonging to pro bono legal services organizations, Bragg said. In others, they create WhatsApp profiles posing as immigration lawyers associated with those same organizations, frequently using the names and logos of legitimate organizations to give the appearance of credibility.

"Your company has made representations about the importance of the safety and security of your platform for its users," Bragg's letter to Zuckerberg said. "If you sincerely wish to protect the safety of your users from fraud, we urge you to take necessary, proactive steps."

Julia Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg speaks in New York City, May 1, 2024.

In a statement issued in response to Bragg's letter, a Meta spokesperson said, "Account impersonation violates our policies, and we take action against people and groups that attempt to misuse our platforms. We're committed to engaging constructively with all levels of government, law enforcement and cross-sector partners to tackle this industry-wide challenge."

Bragg is the latest prosecutor to go public with criticism of Meta for failing to protect the public from criminals lurking on its social media platforms. New Mexico recently won a $375 million civil case that held Meta liable for failing to police its sites for child predators, and a jury in Los Angeles found Meta, along with Google, liable for a 20-year-old woman's social media addiction.
Federal authorities arrested an Iranian woman at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, alleging she brokered deals to sell Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses, assault weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan in violation of U.S. sanctions laws, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint.

"Last night, Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran," First Assisant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote Sunday on X.

"She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C.  1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.

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"If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. She is expected to make her initial appearance on Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown L.A. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court."

Ice Arrests Relatives Of Slain Iranian General Soleimani Living In Us After Rubio Revokes Their Green Cards

Prosecutors say Mafi, granted permanent U.S. residency in California under former President Barack Obama, worked with others on behalf of Iran and was preparing to board an LAX flight to Turkey when she was taken into custody, according to a redacted member of the Iran Counterintelligence Squad of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office.

Read On The Fox News App

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The complaint accuses Mafi of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and says she allegedly brokered a contract worth more than $70.6 million for the sale of Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones to Sudans Ministry of Defense.

Investigators allege she also helped arrange the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese military and multiple ammunition deals, including 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a separate proposed contract for 240 million rounds.

"MAFI is a lawful permanent resident in the United States who maintains a residence in Woodland Hills, California, and travels frequently to Iran, Turkey, Oman, and other countries," the 68-page complaint read. "As set forth below, MAFI executed her illegal weapons brokering scheme from multiple locations, including within the Central District of California.

Israeli Man Built Bomb Lab For Iranian Plot Targeting Ex-pm Bennett, Authorities Say

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Mafi, born in Iran, relocated to Istanbul and eventually ended up in the U.S., where she is not a citizen. She has a sordid history and connection to Iranian government and intelligence.

"During interviews with U.S. Customs and Border Control ('CBP') officers and the FBI, MAFI acknowledged communicating with an officer of Irans Ministry of Intelligence and Security ('MOIS Officer-1')," the complaint alleged.

Feds Say Pakistani National Backed By Iran Plotted To Assassinate Trump, Others In Murder-for-hire Scheme

"Mafi stated that she is 'more useful to them [i.e., MOIS] in Iran than in the United States,' and records obtained pursuant to a search warrant show approximately 62 bidirectional contacts between Mafi and MOIS Officer-1s phone numbers between December 2022 and June 2025."

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According to the FBI affidavit, Mafi and her alleged co-conspirators used an Oman-based company, Atlas International Business LLC, to facilitate the deals and routed payments through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, which investigators say was intended to evade U.S. sanctions.

The filing also alleges Mafi coordinated with figures tied to Irans government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and maintained contact with an officer from Irans Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

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Federal agents said Mafi never obtained the required U.S. licenses to broker such transactions involving Iranian goods or defense articles. The complaint says she was scheduled to depart LAX for Istanbul on April 18 and that investigators believed evidence of the alleged scheme would be found on her person and at her residence.





Original article source: Feds arrest Iranian woman at LAX for allegedly brokering weapons sales for Islamic regime
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Five people have been arrested in Kentucky, Indiana, and Colorado on federal charges after officials say they were involved in a scheme to fraudulently obtain around $1,600,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

According to the United States Attourneys Office of Western Kentucky, a federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment charging Kaelynn Greene, 31, and Camden Newton, 32, with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering on April 8.

Veteran prosecutor confirmed to lead new Justice Department division targeting fraud nationwide

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Officials say all charges related to fraud involving COVID-19 financial assistance program funds. The indictment says Greene and Newton engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through fraudulent statements on applications.

The indictment also charges Betty Walker, 39, Breanna Patterson, 32, and Jordan Greene, 34, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment says Kaelynn Greene conspired with Betty Walker, Breanna Patterson, Jordan Greene and others to recruit borrowers who were ineligible for PPP loans to submit fraudulent loan applications.

Officials say more than 20 EIDL applications and more than 50 PPP applications were filed on behalf of ineligible borrowers. The applications resulted in disbursement of more than $850,000 in fraudulently obtained federal funds and attempts to obtain an additional more than $750,000 in such loan proceeds that were declined.

Vance says administration is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota because of fraud concerns

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As part of the Department of Justices new National Fraud Enforcement Division, this indictment begins the process of holding five fraudsters accountable for their theft of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, says U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner. These defendants allegedly took advantage of two federally funded programs designed to carry our country and its small businesses through unprecedented economic uncertainty by lying, cheating, and stealing. Their conduct will not be tolerated, and they will be aggressively prosecuted by this Office.

The indictment follows the Department of Justices creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division on April 7. The division was created by President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, aiming to eliminate alleged fraud in federal benefit programs.

Kaelynn Greene, Patterson and Walker made their initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on Thursday. Jordan Greene and Newtons court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
The Cheboygan River level remained elevated Sunday as forecasters continued to issue fresh warnings about flooding in the region and as workers scrambled to clear debris and reinforce other nearby dams  including one where sinkholes have formed.

The Cheboygan River was 7.56 inches below the top of the dam as of 12:45 p.m. Sunday, about a quarter of an inch below the prior measurement taken at 8:30 a.m., according to Michigan State Police. Levels had fluctuated around the seven-inch range below the dam's top late Friday and Saturday after surging substantially higher earlier in the week.

Authorities said Sunday that peak river flow is expected in the next two days.

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As such, crews were working to keep water flowing and prevent a collapse and major flood event beyond the Cheboygan Lock and Dam, a state police news release issued Sunday afternoon said.

A central focus has been keeping the Black River moving because it feeds into the Cheboygan River, authorities said. That work has recently included removing a jam of wood and other debris from the Black River's Tower Dam, opening gates to increase flow on Kleber Dam, and sand bagging and cleaning debris at Alverno Dam  a third key dam along the Black River and the one immediately upstream from the Cheboygan Dam.

The Alverno Dam has "small, grass-covered sinkholes" that have formed nearby, and the holes will be plugged with bentonite, a clay material, to stop them from seeping, officials said.

State officials alerted the public about the emergency at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex on April 10 when the river was 18 inches below the dam's top. It then fell 2 inches to 20 inches below cresting on Saturday before starting five consecutive days of rising levels, raising concerns over the potential for a major flood disaster downstream in and around the city of Cheboygan if the dam were to wash out.

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Officials said Sunday that the hydroelectric plant at the Cheboygan dam continues to run after restarting late in the week, with 16 large-capacity pumps moving water through and over the dam.

"The hydroelectric turbines have been operating well and playing an integral role in keeping water levels stable as peak flow is expected over the next couple of days, said Richard Hill, who co-leads the incident management team with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Scattered snow showers are possible in Cheboygan and other parts of the northern Lower Peninsula on Sunday and into Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. Much of the remainder of the week is expected to be sunny.

More: Michigan dam fixes were urged by experts. Lawmakers did 'almost nothing'

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The weather agency on Sunday morning posted a flood warning for Cheboygan and Emmet counties that's in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday. "Expect many areas of slow moving or standing water," it said.

People should stay away from flooded roads to avoid being swept away, the agency said, adding that "river banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe."

The Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office also warned of "significant debris" flowing through local waterways and urged residents to stay away. The sheriff listed on its Facebook page more than a dozen road closures as of Sunday.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development urged residents Sunday to keep animals and farm equipment safe. It said livestock should be moved to higher ground, and utilities for lower-lying farm building should be switched off. Building doors and windows should be left partially open to "equalize pressure and help prevent buildings from shifting."

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The agency also broadly warned about the dangers of floodwater, given that it can contain harmful bacteria, sewage, toxic chemicals and debris. Pets should be kept way, the MDARD said. And all food and utensils should be kept away from it.

Michigan State Police scheduled a meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday to provide the public an update on the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex situation. It will take place at the Cheboygan Opera House, 403 North Huran St., in Cheboygan. Residents can also join remotely via Zoom, with details on the agency's social media pages.

A public meeting has been scheduled for Sunday to provide the public with the latest information regarding the situation at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex. The meeting will be available virtually on Zoom, however questions will only be taken in person due to time constraints. pic.twitter.com/HHai5aHhuv  MichEMHS (@MichEMHS) April 19, 2026

lramseth@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Crews work to keep water flowing as Cheboygan River stays high
Former judges speak out on Trump admin's immigration court purges 10:38

At an Oct. 27, 2024 campaign rally during his run for president, Donald Trump told his audience, "On Day One, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history." And he did. President Trump began his second term by dispatching troops and armed ICE agents to carry out aggressive arrests and mass detentions, mainly in blue states.

The president appointed as his Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, whose appetite for deportation, and publicity, appeared to match (and at times eclipse) his own. That, and pinning her promotional campaign's $220 million price tag on the boss, may have ruffled a few important feathers at the White House. Secretary Noem was fired  signaling a change in tone for the administration, but no change in mission. You have only to check out what's happening in our immigration courts.

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Former immigration judge Ryan Wood told us there is no doubt among immigration judges these days as to what the administration wants: "Zero doubt, they want numbers, they want deportations. They want to keep as many people detained as possible, and stress the system," he said.

When Wood retired a little more than a year ago, he was an assistant chief immigration judge in the Midwest. He probably could've stayed on. He was appointed during President Trump's first term, and denied many more asylum applications than he granted.

But even so, he didn't like what he was seeing: "I have seen judges that have not made it very long in this new regime, where they've been walked off the bench for whatever reasons  They're in the middle of dictating an oral decision and they get an email, or they get a tap on the shoulder, literally on the bench, saying, 'Please come with me.'"

Asked if that had happened in years past, Wood replied, "No, never. We've never seen anything like this."

The nation's immigration courts fall under the Department of Justice, rather than the Judicial Branch. / Credit: CBS News

"We're not 'deportation judges'"

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The immigration court is not part of the judiciary; it is overseen by the Department of Justice, which is in the executive branch. And over the past 14 months, the Trump administration has fired, retired, or forced out more than 200 immigration judges.

Anam Petit was fired last September. "It was crushing," she said. She'd given up a well-paid job as a law partner to take on a job as an immigration judge in Annandale, Virginia. "It was a dream job for me in a lot of ways. I made personal and professional sacrifices to take that job, because I believed I could be a good and fair judge.

"In my two years of being a judge, I never received any negative feedback from colleagues [or] superiors," she said. "All my probationary reviews were positive, and no reason was given [for my dismissal]."

Asked what her gut tells her about why she was fired, Petit said, "I came from a background where I represented immigrants previously. I was a law professor at Georgetown Law, where I taught on gender-based immigration issues. I am a woman, a person of color."

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Jeremiah Johnson was an immigration judge in San Francisco for eight years. "My last words on the bench were to a family of four: 'You've been granted asylum in the United States. Welcome to the United States,'" he said.

Johnson was appointed during the last Trump administration. He was caught off-guard last November when he was terminated: "I logged onto the computer and I saw the email notification with attached letter indicating that I had been fired," he said. "Within 30 seconds, I was locked out of the computer system, unable to print that letter. And then, I was escorted out of the building."

He said no reason was ever given for why he was fired.

A recruitment ad from the Department of Homeland Security, posted online last December, offers a pretty broad hint: It features the fictional character Judge Dredd, a futuristic hanging judge, and reads: "Deliver justice to criminal illegal aliens. Become a deportation judge. Save your country."

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A page on the Justice Department website, headlined "You be the judge," promises a salary up to a little more than $200,000 a year to be a "deportation judge"  and even a 25% bonus for taking a job in a "sanctuary city."

/ Credit: Justice Department

Johnson said he found the ad offensive: "When I first saw the ad, I thought it was a little bit fake. It was not real. It might be spam. We're not 'deportation judges'; we're immigration judges."

So far, the administration has recruited more than 70 "deportation judges," most from enforcement backgrounds with little or no immigration experience. Also, to fill the gap created by the administration's own firings, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized sending military lawyers (known as JAGs) to serve as temporary immigration judges for six-month rotations.

Wood says that's a problem: "I'm a former Army judge advocate. So, I have a lot of affinity and respect for those judge advocates. This is not a temporary detail. Immigration law is extremely complex. It's only rivaled by the tax code in complexity. It takes a year or two to really get up to speed and to understand the law and how to make good, fair decisions. But we're pulling these people out of private practice for six-month details, and truncating the training, and there's clearly been messages out there of, 'Read the room. If you're not gonna make "appropriate" decisions, you won't be here for long.'"

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The Department of Justice declined our request for an interview; but in May of last year, the president succinctly summed up his approach aboard Air Force One: "We need judges that are not going to be demanding trials for every single illegal immigrant. We have millions of people that have come in here illegally, and we can't have a trial for every single person. That would be millions of trials."

There are more than 60 immigration courts, for an estimated 3.5 million cases. "We had around 600 immigration judges," said Petit. "And there are about 100, 125 fewer judges now."

Asked if she sees any legitimacy to the administration's argument that an overwhelming number of undocumented immigrants requires mass deportation rather than trials, Petit replied, "The issue is that we also have a statute. Congress has set laws, and it has established what removal proceedings are. It has established what a right to asylum is. And an administration can't procedurally get around that rule of law."

Unless they ignore the law.

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"I think you're seeing chaos in the courts"

Johnson, who continues to serve as executive vice president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, said, "You're seeing chaos in the streets; I think you're seeing chaos in the courts. You shouldn't have police or ICE agents arresting people who are coming into court, tasers being outside the courtroom."

And what are the consequences of that happening? "If they're there to send a chilling effect to the people coming to courtroom, then that person is prevented from having their day in court," Johnson said. "If they're arrested before they even get to the courtroom, then they have to defend their case miles away in a detention facility, perhaps away from their family, resources, lawyers."

A man is detained by masked federal agents after leaving a court hearing in immigration court, at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, August 26, 2025 in New York City. The New York Attorney General's Office asked the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York to block ICE from detaining immigrants inside of courthouses as they attend their court hearings at immigration court. / Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

There are about 60,000 such people currently being held in U.S. detention. More than 70 percent of them have no criminal record.

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According to a count by the Associated Press, 30,000 immigrants have filed what's known as a habeas corpus petition, claiming illegal detention because they haven't been granted a bond hearing.

"These are basic due process issues," said Wood. "American citizens are taken into custody. They're flown across the country and held without bond. That's extremely concerning. Even if you are wanting to deport more people, that's fine, but we should follow the laws that are in place. And if we don't like the laws, Congress should change them."

Wood said it is not clear how many American citizens have been detained. "The real answer is that I don't think we know on some of these cases. There's such strong incentives to self-deport and to give up and to sign papers without talking to counsel or even talking to a judge. And I think we're gonna learn, years from now, about some really egregious examples of where we didn't do what we were supposed to be doing."

A year ago, 31 percent of those seeking asylum in this country were successful. According to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) for this past February, that number hit an all-time low of 5 percent. The legal pathway for asylum seekers to the United States is approaching zero.

/ Credit: CBS News

"I'm very concerned that we're doing a lot of things right now without any changes to the law," said Wood. "We're doing it by executive order and executive power alone, whether it's firing of immigration judges, or deportation orders. That's not the way a democracy is supposed to be run."

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WEB EXTRA: Daniel Caudillo on immigration judges and due process (Video)Professor Daniel Caudillo, director of the Jim and Leah Finley Immigration Law Clinic at Texas Tech University School of Law, also served as an immigration judge in Laredo, Texas. He talks with Ted Koppel about impacts on immigration judges today, and the importance of protecting due process for all.

For more info:

National Association of Immigration Judges

Story produced by Deirdre Cohen. Editor: Ed Givnish.
A former New York City police officer, sentenced to three to nine years in prison for fatally throwing a cooler at a fleeing suspect, will be released from prison while he appeals his conviction.

Erik Duran was granted $300,000 bail by a state appeals court in a ruling on Friday, the New York Post reported.

"I am very pleased to announce that the SBAs team of attorneys has secured bail for Erik Duran, and he will be released from prison and remain free throughout his appeal," Sergeants Benevolent Association president Vincent Vallelong said in a statement.

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"This is a major win for Erik and his family and for law enforcement officers around the country!" Vallelong added.

Gubernatorial Candidate Vows To Pardon Cop Convicted Of Manslaughter In Death Of Fleeing Suspect

Former New York City police sergeant Erik Duran is seated during his sentencing hearing at the Bronx County Hall of Justice on April 9, 2026, in New York. He was sentenced for throwing a picnic cooler full of drinks at a fleeing suspect, Eric Duprey, who then crashed his motorized scooter and died. (AP Images)

Duran's attorney, Arthur Aidala, told Fox Digital that it was no surprise that their client was released.

Read On The Fox News App

"We are very pleased but not surprised that the Appellate Division found that there are legitimate appellate issues in Sgt Duran's case," Aidala said. "It was obvious to the Court that he is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community and was entitled to be at home with his family during pendency of the appeal."

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Duran, 38, a married father of three, was convicted of manslaughter in February for the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey. Duprey was attempting to flee arrest on a moped during an undercover drug sting in the Bronx when Duran chucked an Igloo cooler at him, causing him to crash onto the pavement.

Eric Duprey died in August 2023 when a an NYPD officer threw a cooler at him as he was fleeing a drug operation in the Bronx.

He died instantly.

Duran maintained he was trying to protect other officers from Duprey, who was operating the motorized bike on a sidewalk.

During sentencing, Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell said the punishment would serve as a "general deterrent" to other officers from acting recklessly.

He rejected Durans defense that his actions were justified, concluding that the former officer threw the cooler because he was upset that Duprey was fleeing.

NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran appears in court during his arraignment at the Bronx Hall of Justice on Jan. 23, 2024. Duran was indicted in connection with the Aug. 2023 death of Eric Duprey during an undercover drug operation. (Getty Images)

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"They had enough to investigate and catch him on a different day," Mitchell said of the police. "The distinction is that the deceased will no longer be seen again by his family."





Original article source: Former NYPD officer who fatally threw cooler at fleeing suspect granted bail during appeal of conviction
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent part of his Saturday in the Bronx with young school children - and former President Barack Obama.

Both Obama and Mamdani spoke after the mayor's historic election last year, but the event at 'Learning Through Play Pre-K Center' is the first time they have met face-to-face. They spent their time reading children's books and getting to know each other.

Obama playfully asked Mamdani what it means to 'flourish' when the word appeared in the book the two were reading to a class of 3K and Pre-K children called 'Alone and Together.'

WATCH: Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani read to school children in the Bronx:

Both Obama and Mamdani spoke after the mayor's historic election last year, but the event at 'Learning Through Play Pre-K Center' is the first time they have met face-to-face.

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"Together we flourish! What does 'flourish' mean? Mr. Mayor?" said Obama.

"I knew you were going to pass that to me. It means that we're doing really well," answered Mamdani.

It was the first time Obama and Mamdani publicly appeared together, but Eyewitness News is told they had a private conversation before reading to the children and singing 'Wheels on The Bus.' Obama spent 30 minutes on the phone with Mamdani just before Election Day, reportedly calling him 'impressive to watch,' and offered to be a sounding board for the new mayor.

It seemed like the perfect time for the two to appear together now that Mamdani has logged 100 days in office and is in the midst of implementing the city's first 2K program to provide free full-day childcare to two-year-olds.

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Obama posted on X on Saturday night saying it was great spending time with 'New York City's Cutest,' thanking Mamdani for the chance to break out his best 'Wheels on the Bus.'

Great spending time with New York Citys Cutest. And thanks to @NYCMayor for giving me an excuse to break out my best Wheels on the Bus pic.twitter.com/RxJ7ZRZse6  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 18, 2026

Eyewitness News asked Obama what he thinks of Mamdani in his first 100 days as mayor.

"Well, I'll tell you - I'll do this somewhere else," Obama said.

The former president indicated that he felt more comfortable answering that question in a different venue. Even so - it appears Mayor Mamdani and former President Obama are continuing to build their relationship - notable, considering the divide that has existed in the Democratic Party and the willingness of Obama to get closer to the Democratic Socialist mayor.
Palos Heights is one step closer to extending its Gateway Redevelopment Project tax increment financing district by 12 years after a vote of support Wednesday by the High School District 218 board.

The Palos Heights City Council approved the TIF district in April 2005 with an expiration date of December 2027. Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz said the 12-year extension is standard, but the village will likely seek to close the TIF district sooner, once two areas along Harlem Avenue are developed.

Straz said a Culvers restaurant is planned for the west side of Harlem, where a CIBC bank formerly stood, though those developers are not seeking TIF financing. Behind that parcel is a vacant lot Straz said could fit another restaurant, but no plans are underway.

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The Culvers parcel is within District 230, while the vacant lot is within District 218.

In a TIF district, property tax revenues for all government bodies are frozen at creation, and the city uses any increase in property tax revenue  the increment  to pay for public improvements such as streets, sidewalks, water and sewer lines or to offer incentives to developers.

District 218 business manager Anthony Corsi said even though the district will lose some property tax revenue from the TIF extension.

Anything that makes our communities better, which is going to draw more business in, which is going to draw more people  thats ultimately healthy for our district, Corsi said. So were going to support that, even though itll potentially cause some loss of tax dollars for us.

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Corsi said he did not know how much property tax for District 218 typically is diverted to the Gateway TIF fund.

Before seeking state approval for the TIF extension, the village must gain support from all affected taxing bodies. The TIF district spans parts of District 218 along with Orland High School 230, which Straz said is the only taxing body that hasnt expressed support.

They want us to just close it out and start a new TIF, which becomes too costly  for a small remaining project here, Straz said.

The District 230 board raised concerns March 19, including whether the remaining developments would benefit the district. District 230 officials said $13,400 in annual property taxes now go to the TIF instead of District 230, which includes Stagg High School in Palos Hills.

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I dont know why we would need to extend ours, the side, the west side of Harlem and lose that revenue, board member Susan Dalton said. I dont think that would benefit our taxpayers.

District 230 Superintendent Robert Nolting said the board would like more information on timing, specific TIF plans and alternatives to renewing the entire TIF for 12 years.

The TIF fund had a balance of more than $2.1 million at the end of December 2023. The TIF audits for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 were not filed on the Illinois comptrollers website.

The 2023 audit listed three developments assisted by the TIF: Tiffany Square, Starbucks and the former CIBC Bank, where the Culvers is planned.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com
One of the most significant demographic shifts in the early years of the Irish Free State was the drop in the country's Protestant population, newly-available papers from a 100-year-old census have revealed.

The 1926 census is available online from Saturday morning and the public are able to look up their own families.

The data shows that between the 1911 census, when Ireland was part of Britain, and 1926, there was a one-third decline in the non-Catholic population, which was mostly Protestant.

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This compares to just a 2% drop among Catholics.

The years between the 1911 census and 1926 were some of the most tumultuous in Ireland's history, including the Easter Rising and two-year War of Independence.

That war led to the creation of the independent Irish Free State in 1922, which would later become the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom.

The decision to split Ireland in two followed decades of turmoil between nationalists, who wanted independence from British rule, and unionists, who wanted to remain in the United Kingdom.

Protestants were on the whole more likely to be unionists, while Catholics were more likely to be nationalists.

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The 1926 census reflected the first few years of the new state's life.

Census officials estimated that about a quarter of the overall Protestant decline could be explained by the withdrawal of the British Army and their families.

Protestant communities were unevenly spread across the state, and the rate of decline varied by region.

Munster saw the sharpest fall (42.9%), followed by Connacht (36.3%) and Leinster (32.4%), while the Ulster border counties (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan) experienced the smallest decline (22.5%).

However, even though their population declined, Protestants remained strongly represented in many professional, commercial and agricultural occupations in 1926.

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They accounted for a high share of employers (17%), managers and professionals (18.4%), chartered accountants (46%) and barristers (39%).

The number of nonCatholic farmers and their families had actually risen slightly since 1911 (by almost 4%).

'Significant drop'

Protestants continued to be overrepresented among larger farms, partly because many had benefited from land reform or retained demesne land after the breakup of estates, according to analysis by historians working through the census by the National Archives.

Orlaith McBride, director of the National Archives, said it was safe to assume that while people with other religions lived in the Free State at the time, the majority were Protestants.

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"Between 1911 and 1926, in terms of the 26 counties, we see a drop in the non-Catholic population of 32%. That's very, very significant. There is a drop in the overall population in the 26 counties of about 5%," she added.

"We can see that between 1911 and 1926, that people who were perhaps of the Protestant faith, they moved into the six counties [in Northern Ireland] and then you saw people of the Catholic faith from around the border moving down into the 26 counties [in the Irish Free State]."

'Life wasn't bad'

Anne Carey shows off her top she sewed herself [BBC]

Anne Carey, who lives in County Meath, will turn 102 in November and is in the 1926 census.

She is one of the 48 centenarian ambassadors chosen from almost 100 people who were alive at the time the census was taken in 1926 and who contacted the National Archives.

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Carey has three daughters, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

She was a seamstress and made her own clothes - and she worked making fur coats in Dublin.

Carey lived through both world wars and remembers when German bombs were dropped in Dublin in 1941.

"[Life] wasn't bad. I remember the bombing on South Circular Road. My mother woke me up to say we were being bombed. But I said, 'Why did you wake me up?'" she said.

And the secret to living past 100 years?

"In my bedroom, I have a window and I look out. And I say to myself: 'I'll never see this day again, don't bang it up.'"

What was life like 100 years ago?

Even though a Northern Ireland census was also carried out in 1926, it has been lost.

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But the Irish Free State census also sheds a light into the life our ancestors lived a century ago.

The total population had fallen - it was recorded at 2,971,992, down from 3,139,688 in 1911.

It was split into 49% female and 51% male.

Dublin was the only county to record an increase in population since 1911 (up almost 6%), while all other counties recorded a loss.

It shows that 92.6% of the population was Catholic and 18.3% of people could speak Irish.

The 1926 census also shows what jobs people worked.

Some 51% were in agricultural occupations, 4% were fishermen, 14% worked in manufacturing and 7% were domestic servants.

More on this story
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) on Thursday alluded to President Trumps since-deleted image of himself resembling Jesus Christ when she slammed the impact that the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran has had on costs in the U.S., prompting her to say the president can f his a.

Kamlager-Dove said in a video taken by MeidasTouch reporter Pablo Manriquez that Stevie Wonder can even see how much this war is costing us when answering his question about the conflicts impact on the national debt.

So gas prices are going up, its almost $10 in California and fertilizer is going up, she continued. I mean, you name it, the prices have gone up. And this dude, Dr. Jesus, OK, is wanting to spend $2 billion of your money every single day rather than help you get health care.

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F his a! she concluded.

Her reference to Trump as Dr. Jesus stems from the presidents remark Monday that he thought he was depicted as doctor in the AI image of him as a Christ-like figure. The post was removed from Truth Social after Christians and conservatives denounced the image as blasphemous.

Republican members of Congress told Politico last month that they fear the Pentagon is spending an estimated $2 billion a day during the conflict with Iran. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought on Thursday did not say how much has been spent after Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) asked if the Pentagon has spent $50 billion on the conflict, as some media reports have indicated.

I wouldnt [want] to make a characterization of that at this point, Vought told Merkley.

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The White House and the Pentagon have not released a total number on the cost of the war, but senators believe it has cost roughly $10 billion a week. Merkley accused Vought of trying to hide the cost of the war at a time when the U.S. national debt is more than $38 trillion.

The White House scaled down its initial $200 billion defense supplemental funding request to between $80 billion and $100 billion, sources briefed on the administrations thinking previously told The Hill.

The conflict has also impacted the cost of goods passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which reopened Thursday for a second time since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Keeping it closed put a halt to roughly 20 percent of the worlds oil and gas exports from passing through. Gas prices skyrocketed and climbed day by day.

Those prices dipped on Friday, with the U.S. national average for gas dropping to $4.08, according to AAA. Brent crude, the global benchmark, decreased to just under $92 per barrel Friday afternoon after reaching lower to $89 earlier in the day. The U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate reached to under $86 per barrel at the same time, having earlier dipped down to $81.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 26-year-old caretaker is accused of leaving two disabled adults unsupervised for several hours without proper care. Court documents alleged it happened on Saturday.

The documents listed an apartment complex in Spring as the address where the two disabled adults were allegedly abandoned.

It also listed that complex as the home address for the defendant, Margarete Scott.

Court documents said Scott is the care provider for two disabled adults who she left unsupervised on Saturday.

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It mentioned one adult in particular and said Scott intentionally abandoned her at the address under circumstances that exposed her to the unreasonable risk of harm by leaving her without proper supervision for several hours and with the intent to return to her.

According to court documents, one of the adults was able to leave the apartment and started going into neighboring apartments in a state of confusion.

Scott is now charged with abandoning an elderly or disabled person.

According to court records, her employer's name is Sugarheart and she's been a caretaker there for one year.

ABC13 is currently making attempts to contact the owner with questions about Scott's employment there.

Court documents said Scott posted a $15,000 bond and is now out of jail.

She is due back in court Monday morning at 9:00 a.m.
Their backgrounds stand out. And not in a good way.

Two bankruptcies and six law enforcement jobs in three years. An allegation of lying in a police report to justify a felony charge against an innocent woman  an incident that led to a $75,000 settlement and criticism of his integrity. A third job candidate once failed to graduate from a police academy, then lasted only three weeks in his only job as a police officer.

Their common bond: All were hired recently by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during an unprecedented hiring spree  12,000 new officers and special agents to double its force  after the agency received a $75 billion windfall from Congress to enact President Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign.

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The president put a premium on swift action, and for ICE that meant rapid-fire recruitment and hiring, which in turn led to new employees with questionable qualifications. Their backgrounds and training have come under scrutiny after numerous high-profile incidents in which ICE agents used excessive force.

If vetting is not done well and its done too quickly, you have higher risk of increased liability to the agency because of bad actions, abuse of power and the lack of ability to properly carry out the mission because people dont know what they are doing, said Claire Trickler-McNulty, who served as an ICE official during the Obama, first Trump and Biden administrations.

The agency has said the majority of new hires are police and military veterans. But evidence is mounting that applicants with questionable histories were either not fully vetted before they were brought on or were hired in spite of their past, an investigation by The Associated Press found.

On Thursday, prosecutors announced felony assault charges against ICE officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. for allegedly pointing a handgun at the occupants of a car after pulling alongside them on a Minneapolis-area highway in February. Court records show Morgan had a history of financial problems, and the police department in Alexandria, Virginia, said he was an entry-level recruit for six weeks in 2022 but never completed its police academy. It is unclear when he started at ICE, which didn't return messages seeking comment.

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ICEs acting director, Todd Lyons, said during a congressional hearing in February that he was proud of the hiring campaign, which drew more than 220,000 applications. This expansion of a well-trained and well-vetted workforce will help further ICEs ability to execute the presidents and secretarys bold agenda, he said.

AP finds legal issues in new ICE hires backgrounds

Unlike many local law enforcement agencies, ICE said it shields the identity of employees to protect them from harassment, making a full accounting of the new hires impossible.

The AP focused on more than 40 officers who recently made public their new jobs as ICE officers on LinkedIn pages, using public records to check their backgrounds. All but one were male.

While most of them had conventional qualifications as former correctional officers, security guards, military veterans and police officers, it's unclear how many should have potentially been disqualified because AP did not have access to their full personnel files. But several had histories of unpaid debts that resulted in legal action, two had filed for bankruptcy and three others had faced lawsuits that alleged misconduct in prior law enforcement jobs, the AP found.

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Marshall Jones, an expert on police recruiting at the Florida Institute of Technology, said it's hard to get a full picture of ICE's new employee pool without more data. But he said ICE has likely hired some less than ideal candidates who meet minimum requirements but would be passed over in a normal hiring cycle.

If youre hiring hundreds or thousands of people, even with the best of background processes, there are going to be outliers, he said. The question is, are these normal outliers from human beings doing things, or is there a systemic challenge in properly vetting folks if there are issues?

DHS says vetting is an ongoing process

The Department of Homeland Security, ICEs parent agency, did not answer questions about specific hiring decisions. But it acknowledged some applicants received tentative selection letters and offers to begin working on a temporary status before they had been subjected to full background checks.

ICE is committed to ensuring its law enforcement personnel are held to the highest standards and rigorously vets them throughout the hiring process, the department said. Vetting is an ongoing process, not a one-time occurrence.

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The process includes reviewing their criminal histories and credit scores and conducting background investigations that include interviewing prior employers and other associates, which can take weeks. But the deluge of hires has strained the agency, which promised signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and advertised that college degrees were not required.

An internal memo, first reported by Reuters in February, told ICE supervisors that if they receive derogatory information about a newly hired employees conduct they should refer the allegations to an internal affairs unit for investigation. Such information could include the employees termination or forced resignations, the memo said.

Two bankruptcies, six jobs before ICE hired him

Among the new hires is Carmine Gurliacci, 46, who resigned as a police officer in Richmond Hill, Georgia, to join ICE in Atlanta in December, according to a resignation letter obtained by AP.

He filed for bankruptcy in 2022, saying he had no income and had been unemployed for two years after moving from New York to Georgia, court filings show. He said he was living with a friend and doing chores in exchange for housing, listing tens of thousands of dollars of unpaid loans, bills, child support and other debts. He also had filed for bankruptcy in 2013 in New York, when he listed $95,000 in liabilities, records show.

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Serious financial problems are a pretty big red flag because they might make employees susceptible to bribes or extortion, which have been problems at ICE, Trickler-McNulty said.

After his 2022 bankruptcy petition was approved, Gurliacci rejoined the work force, hopping to six Georgia law enforcement agencies within three years, each time resigning before moving on, records obtained by AP show.

He left one campus security job in 2023, citing unforeseen personal issues that render me unable to fulfill my duties, a resignation letter shows. But he then began working for the Butts County Sheriff's Office soon after.

He lasted months there before moving to the Chatham County Sheriffs Office, where he quit after two months on the job, records show. The federal government recently obtained his Chatham County personnel file as part of a background check, two months after he started at ICE.

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Reached by phone, Gurliacci told a reporter he would call back. He never did and did not respond to follow-up messages.

Critic says new ICE hire abuses his power

Another new hire is Andrew Penland, 29, who joined ICE after resigning in December as a sheriffs deputy in Greenwood County, Kansas.

Penland had spent most of his career as a deputy in Bourbon County, Kansas, but left last year after facing a lawsuit alleging he arrested a woman on false allegations in 2022. The countys insurer paid $75,000 to settle the case, the agreement shows.

The woman, June Bench, recounted in an interview what happened. One of her neighbors, a county official, claimed Bench had purposely made a wide turn and nearly hit him with her car.

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Penland responded to the property. Body camera video shows he urged the neighbor to press charges and told the man Bench would go to jail but he would not have to testify in court because it would get resolved through a plea.

Bench denied the allegation and said it was part of a personal dispute. But Penland arrested her on a felony assault charge, took her to jail and seized her car. Penland wrote in a report that he watched surveillance video showing her neighbor jumping out of the way of her speeding car.

It took a week for Bench to get out of jail and more than a year to defeat the charge, which was dismissed for lack of evidence. When she obtained the video Penland cited as proof, it showed her car appearing to make a routine turn and no near-collision with the neighbor.

Bench said she was outraged to learn Penland had been hired by ICE.

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Thats scary to me. He abuses his power, she said.

After being reached for comment, Penland deactivated his LinkedIn account and alerted ICE to the inquiry but did not respond to AP.

New hire struggled at police academy

A third new ICE hire, Antonio Barrett, initially failed to graduate from a Colorado law enforcement academy in 2020, one of two students who did not complete portions of the academy and received an incomplete grade, an email obtained by AP shows.

He finished the program after a community college arranged a special one-day training and test for him, and landed a job at the police department in La Junta, Colorado, in July 2020. But he only worked three weeks before resigning and never worked in local policing again.

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Previously, Barrett worked as a corrections officer at a Colorado prison.

He was accused in a lawsuit of excessive force for inflicting pain on a handcuffed inmate when he and another colleague forcibly removed the man from a wheelchair in 2017. But state officials argued their actions were not excessive and a court agreed, dismissing the case.

Barrett didn't respond to a message seeking comment.

Ex-ICE instructor says training is inadequate

ICE has denied removing any training requirements, saying new recruits receive 56 days of training and 28 days of on-the-job training. The agency said that most of the new officers have already completed law enforcement academies.

But former ICE academy instructor Ryan Schwank testified in February that agency leaders cut training on the use of force, firearms safety and the rights of protesters. He said the new recruits include some as young as 18 who lack college degrees and whose primary language is not English.

Were not giving them the training to know when theyre being asked to do something that theyre not supposed to do, something illegal or wrong, he said.

_

AP reporter Claudia Lauer contributed to this report.
French President Emmanuel Macron had announced on Saturday that France holds Hezbollah responsible for the attack, which killed a French UNIFIL soldier and injured three others.

The IDF confirmed on Sunday that Hezbollah had opened fire on UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

According to the statement, the peacekeepers were attempting to clear several unexploded munitions in the Al-Ghandouriyah area when they came under attack by a Hezbollah terrorist cell.

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One peacekeeper was killed in the attack, and three others were wounded, two of them severely, the IDF said.

The military noted that Hezbollah "continues to exploit the ceasefire," and is endangering and causing harm to international forces in Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron had announced on Saturday in an X/Twitter post that France holds Hezbollah responsible for the attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a press conference after the multinational virtual summit at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, France, April 17, 2026. (credit: Tom Nicholson/Pool via REUTERS)

Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, said Macron. France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.

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France identified the soldier as Sgt. First Class Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban.

Lebanon, UN condemn Hezbollah attack

Lebanons Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack on Saturday in an X/Twitter post, saying such attacks cause great harm to Lebanon.

I condemn the assault today on elements of the French battalion in UNIFIL, said Salam.

I have issued my strict instructions to conduct an immediate investigation to uncover the circumstances of this assault and to hold the perpetrators accountable, Salam added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack, though did not mention Hezbollah by name, stating on X/Twitter that "All actors must respect the cessation of hostilities & the ceasefire."
SANTA FE  For the last three decades, the ranks of New Mexico independent voters have been growing at a more rapid rate than registered Democrats or Republicans.

But that trend has accelerated in advance of the states first semi-open primary election  set to take place in June  and after implementation of a new statewide automatic voter registration system.

Since the new system was enacted in July, the number of independents in New Mexico, or those who decline to affiliate with a political party, has increased from 314,017 to 371,380 as of March 31  a 57,000-plus voter increase that averages out to nearly 6,400 new voters per month.

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In the three months prior to the implementation of the system, the number of independent voters had increased by an average of about 1,500 voters per month.

At a glance:

The June 2 primary election will be New Mexicos first under a semi-open primary system adopted last year. Here are some key dates and numbers to keep in mind:

*

May 4 is the last day for voters affiliated with a major party to change their party affiliation.

*

Unaffiliated, or independent, voters can request either a Democratic or Republican ballot when voting.

*

As of March 31, the breakdown of registered voters by party was as follows:

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Democrats  573,554 (40.5%)

Republicans  443,598 (31.3%)

Independents  371,380 (26.2%)

Other  27,916 (2%)

Total  1,416,448

(Information courtesy of Secretary of States Office)

In contrast, the number of registered Democrats over the last nine months increased by an average of just 371 voters per month, according to Secretary of States Office data. As for Republicans, the number of GOP voters during the same time period grew by an average of roughly 913 voters per month.

Looking at it another way, about 82% of the states newly registered voters since last summer declined to state a party affiliation.

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Longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff said the proportion of independent voters in the state has been increasing for years but ramped up noticeably after the state began automatically registering eligible residents to vote last summer at Motor Vehicle Division field offices.

Newly registered voters under the automatic voter registration system are just more likely to register as unaffiliated, said Sanderoff, who is the president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc.

While he said he does not anticipate a high vote turnout among independent voters in this years primary election, he said the meteoric rise could lead to big changes to the states political landscape in the future.

I think this trend, in conjunction with the change in law allowing independents to vote in primary elections, will have a major impact over time, Sanderoff said.

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He also said the semi-open primary law could eliminate an incentive for new voters to affiliate with a political party, since independent voters can now cast a ballot in either the Republican or Democratic primary.

Independent voters were previously barred from voting in New Mexico primary elections unless they changed their party affiliation, but that is changing this year under the law signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that created a semi-open primary system.

Political impact of independents rise

The recent surge in independent voters hasnt gone unnoticed by candidates running for statewide office this year.

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez said last fall the rise of unaffiliated voters could mean New Mexico voters are shedding traditional political labels.

Another GOP candidate, small business owner Doug Turner of Albuquerque, attributed the trend to New Mexicans core identity.

I think that speaks to the fact that we are a wildly independent state, Turner said at a recent Journal town hall event. People like to run their own show and keep their business their own business, but they want to support people who also agree with them.

However, Sanderoff cautioned that independent voters, who tend to be younger than registered Democrats and Republicans, have voted at lower rates in recent election cycles.

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In last years regular local election in Albuquerque, for instance, only about 21.7% of registered independents voted, compared to 41.5% of Democrats and 36.8% of Republicans.

In addition, Sanderoff pointed out that independent voters who do cast a ballot in the June 2 primary election will be split, since some will select a Democratic ballot and others will opt to receive a Republican ballot.

If 10% of the roughly 371,000 unaffiliated voters end up casting a ballot, that means the 37,100 votes will be divided between the two major political parties, which could dilute the impact of independents in determining races outcomes.

Will new voters end up voting?

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The new automatic voter registration system was launched last year under New Mexicos latest plan to expand voting access.

The system stems from a 2023 state election bill approved by lawmakers  via a vote that broke down largely along party lines  and signed into law by Lujan Grisham.

Since the systems launch in July 2025, a total of 62,653 new voters have been registered in New Mexico at Motor Vehicle Division field offices, according to Secretary of States Office data. That represents the bulk of the states 70,199 total newly registered voters during that time period.

An additional 201,371 voters have used the system to update their registrations, while 671 new registrations have been declined because applicants did not meet necessary requirements to be voters.

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Lindsey Bachman, a spokeswoman for the Secretary of States Office, said its possible theres a link between the launch of the new system and the surge in independent voters statewide, but said the office could not confirm a correlation.

She also said individuals are given the option of selecting a party affiliation on electronic signature pads they use when completing MVD transactions.

But how many of the newly registered voters end up casting a ballot is a big question as election officials ready for voting to begin next month.

Only 25.2% of registered voters cast a ballot in New Mexicos last primary election in a nonpresidential year, which took place in 2022.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
President Donald Trump is proposing for a second straight year to eliminate federal funding for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Congress rejected Trumps request last year, but the Republican president has a new stated reason for his move this year.

In his proposed budget for the federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, Trump suggests that Native Hawaiians shouldnt receive funding under the 1996 Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act, or NAHASDA, because Hawaiians are a racial group and not a tribal nation.

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U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) calls Trumps position a stepped-up assault after last years unsuccessful attempt based on DHHL having a large unspent balance of federal funding for beneficiary assistance that the administration said would be more appropriately paid for by the state.

This is absolutely an escalation from what we saw last year, Tokuda said in an interview. And last year was bad.  This is doubling down on that insult, quite frankly, to say that Native Hawaiians should be viewed as a racial group. Theyre an Indigenous population.

Tokuda also is concerned the move is part of a broader objective to invalidate long-established Native Hawaiian trust responsibilities and entitlement programs.

DHHL said in a statement that the rationale in Trumps budget proposal regarding funding for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program within NAHASDA fails to acknowledge the unique history of how such funding furthers the implementation of the federal Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which was spearheaded by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole as a nonvoting delegate in Congress and signed into law by President Warren Harding in 1921.

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When Hawaii became a state in 1959, the federal act admitting the former island nation to the United States provided that the federal government continued to have oversight responsibilities over the HHCA while the state assumed trustee duties for Hawaiians.

Congress amended the 1996 NAHASDA in 2000 to include Hawaiian households that earn no more than 80% of the median income and live on DHHL homesteads.

Federal housing block grant funding for DHHL is subject to annual congressional appropriations, which have been denied in some past years  including in 2016 under the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama  due to the inability of DHHL to spend a lot of the funding in a timely manner.

In each of the last four years, Congress appropriated about $22 million for DHHL, including $22.3 million in each of the last two years.

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DHHL said its block grant balance as of Feb. 28 was $5.5 million, and that the expected receipt of last years $22.3 million will be combined to finance home construction in progress on Maui and Oahu as well as

for planned homes on Hawaii island that will exceed

$27.8 million, demonstrating the need for more federal funding this year.

THE AGENCY uses federal housing block grant funding for various beneficiary programs that also include home loans, rent subsidies for low-income seniors, homestead subdivision development, land acquisition, emergency rent and utility payments, and financial

literacy training.

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Homestead subdivision development is the agencys main mission and costliest endeavor. There are close to 30,000 DHHL beneficiaries waiting for homestead leases that cost $1 a year but require recipients to buy or build their own homes.

Beneficiaries must be at least 50% Hawaiian to receive homestead leases from DHHL, which offers residential, agricultural or pastoral land leases for renewable 99-year terms.

DHHL, in its most recent annual block grant program performance report sent to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, said planned spending in the current state fiscal year ending June 30 includes $11.6 million for homeowner financing, $9.6 million to convert property into affordable housing, $7.5 million to finance home construction built for beneficiaries by developers, $3.8 million in rent assistance for low-income seniors and $2 million for low-income beneficiaries to repair or replace existing homes.

The report also said

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$10.9 billion would be sufficient block grant funding to provide homes for all beneficiaries awaiting homesteads.

Over most of the last century, federal and state funding to return beneficiaries under HHCA to their ancestral lands has been dismal, providing for the creation of roughly 10,000 homestead lots often on land that is difficult to develop.

In 2022, Hawaii lawmakers stepped up with a historic $600 million appropriation to DHHL with a deadline for the agency to encumber all the money for use within three years, a deadline that was extended to June 30 and is being met.

The agency anticipates being able to develop 2,472 homestead lots through 2031 using $511 million. An additional $52 million has gone toward buying land

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for lot development, and

$36 million is being spent on beneficiary services that include mortgage financing.

EARLY LAST year, DHHL unsuccessfully sought another $600 million from the Legislature to produce roughly 3,000 more lots. Then in December, agency officials told a legislative panel that about $100 million a year over the next eight years could deliver 6,285 lots at projects in DHHLs development pipeline.

If we have something thats consistent each year, we can plan ahead accordingly, Kalani Fronda, DHHL land development division administrator, said during the December meeting of a state House of Representatives working group charged with oversight of the

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$600 million appropriation.

A bill currently pending at the Legislature, Senate Bill 3028, proposes to deliver up to $60 million a year to DHHL generated by a share of state conveyance tax revenue boosted by increasing rates on sales of high-end homes.

As for federal funding, DHHL in the past has credited Hawaiis congressional delegation for unwavering advocacy. In addition to Tokuda, those delegates are Rep. Ed Case and Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie

Hirono, all Democrats.

Tokuda said she believes funding for DHHL has support from some Republicans in Congress who recognize the importance of housing assistance for Indigenous communities.

Ive seen members on both sides of the aisles  very high up in leadership committees, part of the appropriations process  that do recognize the responsibility we have to our tribal nations, our Native Hawaiian communities, our Alaska natives, Tokuda said. We all work together to support each other.
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Grand Rapids Democrat who announced she was separating from her husband earlier this month, previously sought to seal filings from their divorce case, according to court records reviewed by The Detroit News.

On April 3, Scholten released a statement, saying her husband, Jesse Holcomb, "suddenly left our family home and then filed for divorce."

Holcomb filed for divorce on Jan. 26 in Kent County Circuit Court. Eight days after that filing, Scholten's lawyer, Erica Auster, asked a judge to seal the case, meaning its documents wouldn't be available to the public. Auster cited four reasons why the records should be secret: safety, confidentiality, "irreparable reputational harm," and "preservation of public trust."

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"Because divorce pleadings frequently contain allegations that have not been adjudicated  and may be inflammatory in nature  public disclosure could subject defendant to immediate and irreversible reputational harm, with serious consequences for her professional standing, public service and reelection," Auster wrote.

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, is in the midst of a divorce from her longtime husband, Jesse Holcomb, and sought to have their divorce records kept secret. Her attorney argued disclosure of the divorce records could have "serious consequences for her professional standing, public service and reelection" in west Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.

Scholten, a second-term lawmaker, is up for reelection this fall in west Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.

The release of "potentially inflammatory information" could unintentionally erode public confidence and undermine Scholten's credibility, the congresswoman's attorney said.

Holcomb's lawyer, Victoria Drake, supported the motion to seal the records. In her response, Drake said Holcomb admitted "information related to defendant's personal life could unintentionally erode the public's opinion of her."

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Kent County Circuit Court Judge Matthew DeLange denied Scholten's motion to seal the records on Feb. 16, according to court records.

On Friday, Max Ernst, Scholten's chief of staff, said Scholten "sought to keep initial proceedings private for her safety and the protection of her young children."

"The congresswoman has issued a transparent letter to her constituents about this personal matter and beyond that, she will not be discussing it further," Ernst said in a statement to The News. "She is focusing her time on raising her kids and serving Michigans 3rd District. We ask that you respect her privacy and the privacy of her children.

To date, two Republican candidates have announced they intend to challenge Scholten: longtime Grand Rapids television meteorologist Terri DeBoer and Grand Rapids trial attorney J. Allen Fiorletta.

Trump pens foreword for retired Michigan autoworker's book

The front cover of former Michigan auto worker Brian Pannebecker's upcoming book is pictured.

President Donald Trump has followed through on a promise and penned the foreword for the upcoming book written by Macomb County resident Brian Pannebecker, the leader of the group Auto Workers for Trump.

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Pannebecker and Trump struck a deal concerning the book during a rally in Macomb County in 2025. The book, titled "Blue Collar Conservative from Reagan to Trump," is scheduled to be released this summer.

An autoworker for more than three decades before retiring from a position at Ford Motor Co.'s Sterling Axle Plant at the end of 2020, Pannebecker has been a staple of Trump's campaign events in Michigan. The book is about Pannebecker's life.

In Trump's foreword, the president refers to Pannebecker as a "good friend" and a "cherished supporter."

"In the following pages, you will see how Brian was a crucial part of our Big Victories in Michigan going all the way back to the beginning of this Movement to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump wrote.

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More: Insider: Trump's go-to Michigan auto worker has a history in conservative politics

Haley Stevens releases her tax returns first in U.S. Senate race

Ahead of tax day last week, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens became the first U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan to release her 2025 tax return, issuing a challenge to her rivals in the race to do the same.

Im not a millionaire, and Im not running for office to line my pockets, Stevens said in a statement. People are tired of politicians getting rich when they should be working for us.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmgingham, is seen at the Michigan Democratic Party Women's Caucus Legacy Luncheon on Saturday at Huntington Place in Detroit. Stevens is seeking the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat this year.

Her top Democratic opponents took Stevens up on her challenge, with both state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak and physician Abdul El-Sayed making tax returns available to The Detroit News.

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The campaign of Republican Mike Rogers, a former seven-term congressman from White Lake Township, declined to provide his return. Rogers spokeswoman Alyssa Brouillet said Rogers' required financial disclosure report is already public, but that Stevens should thank Republicans for her tax refund because the GOP's domestic policy bill helped to boost refunds by an average 11% around the country this year.

Stevens reported no income outside her congressional salary. She paid $28,249 in federal taxes on income of about $169,970 after claiming the state and local real estate tax deduction, mortgage interest deduction, and the personal property tax deduction, per a redacted copy released by her campaign. She got a refund of $3,579.

McMorrow filed jointly with husband Ray Wert, paying $79,679 in federal taxes on $415,788 worth of income. They took itemized deductions and the qualified business income deduction and received a refund of about $6,400.

El-Sayed received an extension on his 2025 tax return and plans to file in October, according to his campaign. Instead, he provided a redacted copy of his 2024 return, which he filed jointly with his wife, Sarah Jukaku, a psychiatrist.

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El-Sayed paid about $92,000 in federal tax on about $431,940 of income after claiming the standard deduction and the qualified business income deduction.

While it is commendable that Congresswoman Stevens has not enriched herself while in office, she has certainly enriched the corporations that make life so unlivable for Michiganders, El-Sayed spokeswoman Roxie Richner said.

She's taken huge amounts from DTE, Big Insurance companies, Big Tech companies, and AIPAC donors."

More: Two Michigan Senate hopefuls have shunned corporate PAC money. One is raking it in

Bergman endorses Bouchard

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman is endorsing Mike Bouchard in a competitive GOP primary to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. John James, who is running for governor.

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Bouchard, an Army paratrooper and son of the Oakland County Sheriff of the same name, announced his candidacy for James' suburban Detroit U.S. House seat last November after returning from a deployment to Iraq. Bergman, R-Watersmeet, recognized the younger Bouchard's service record in proclaiming his endorsement.

"Ive served alongside some of the finest Americans this country has to offer," Bergman said in a statement. "Captain Michael Bouchard meets that standard. Hes disciplined, principled, and understands what it means to put mission-first. I know hes ready to fight for the people of Michigans 10th District and deliver results on Day 1."

Bergman is the first current member of Michigan's congressional delegation to endorse a candidate in either of the competitive 10th Congressional District Republican or Democratic primaries in the race to replace James.

"Congressman Bergman is a true American leader and I am honored to have his support," Bouchard said in response to the endorsement.

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Bouchard, of Rochester Hills, will face off in the GOP primary against Robert Lulgjuraj, a former Macomb County assistant prosecuting attorney.

Lulgjuraj of Sterling Heights was the first entrant into the primary and has raised about $1.2 million to date, but Bouchard has closed the money gap in recent months. Both are first-time candidates.

More: Michigan U.S. House contenders share first money hauls of midterm year

Tweet of the Week

The Insider report's "Tweet of the Week," recognizing a social media post that was worthy of attention or, possibly, just a laugh, from the previous week goes to state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing.

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On Wednesday, Republican candidate for governor Perry Johnson made a campaign stop in downtown Lansing. While his campaign bus was parked in the southbound lane on Washington Square and Johnson was being interviewed by reporters, an employee of Lansing parking enforcement pulled up to give the bus a ticket for blocking traffic.

In response, Anthony highlighted the infamous high level of activity of the parking watchdogs in the capital city.

Lansing parking is undefeated.  Sarah Anthony (@SarahAnthony517) April 15, 2026

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Insider: Rep. Hillary Scholten sought to seal her divorce records
Insurance fraud is a major problem with estimates of amounts lost due to fraud from all lines of insurance including health, auto, property, life and workers compensation estimated to be as high as $308 billion by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, motor vehicle insurance fraud accounts for losses of approximately $7.7 billion annually with 10% of all motor vehicle insurance claims containing an element of fraud according to the Insurance Research Council. The most common forms of motor vehicle insurance fraud are exaggerated damage claims and staged accidents.

Unfortunately, according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud less than 1% of detected insurance fraud cases result in criminal prosecution.

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But not this time.

Recently Alfiya Zuckerman, Ruben Tamrazian and Vahe Muradkhanyan were convicted of felony insurance fraud after being caught bear handed, so to speak.

The California Department of Insurance began an investigation dubbed Operation Bear Claw after an insurance company identified a suspicious claim related to a January 28, 2024 incident in Lake Arrowhead, California in which Zuckerman, Tamrazian and Muradkhanyan claimed a bear entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost causing extensive damage to the interior of the car. In support of their claim, they submitted video surveillance footage showing the bear in their car. During the course of their investigation, detectives discovered two additional claims with two other insurance companies claiming similar bear damage to two other cars, a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350 filed by the same people for incidents at the same date and location where the Rolls Royce was allegedly harmed by a bear. All in all, the insurance companies paid $141,839 for the three claims.

But can a bear open a car door?

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Believe it or not, bears can readily open car doors and often do so in national parks or campgrounds looking for food. In fact, in 2021, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildfire Department, a single bear in Colorado went through eight cars in one night. In its report on the incident the department noted, in the town of Estes Park, Wildfire Officer Rylands observed 8 vehicles overnight that a bear got into. All 8 vehicles were UNLOCKED. While not all of the vehicles had food or attractants, some bears go from car to car just to see if theyre unlocked, then hope to find food.

So, bears causing damage to the Rolls Royce and two Mercedes automobiles was possible, however, it still seemed suspicious to California Department of Insurance detectives who thought the bear shown in the videos movements were questionable. A biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife was brought in to analyze the video who concluded that while the perpetrator was not a wolf in sheeps clothing, it definitely was a human in a bear costume. Subsequently a search warrant was issued, and the bear suit was discovered at the home of the suspects.

Zuckerman, Tamrazian and Muradkhanyan eventually pleaded guilty to felony insurance fraud. Apparently, they could not bear the ordeal of a trial. (Sorry). A fourth defendant, Ararat Chirkinian has also been charged and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in September.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara summed up the incident saying What may have looked unbelievable turned out to be exactly that  and now those responsible are being held accountable. My Departments investigators uncovered the facts, exposed this scam and helped bring these defendants to justice. Insurance fraud is a serious crime that drives up costs for consumers and no scheme is too outrageous for us to investigate.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
The two Indian-flagged vessels were attempting to carry crude oil across the strait when they came under attack, India's External Affairs Ministry confirmed in a statement.

Radio transmissions suggested that two Indian-flagged vessels, which were attacked while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, were permitted to make the journey by the Islamic regime, according to a maritime intelligence company.

"You gave me clearance to go! My name is second on your list; you gave me clearance to go! You are firing now! Let me turn back!" the individual can be heard saying in the radio transmission.

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The two Indian-flagged vessels were attempting to carry crude oil across the strait when they came under attack, India's External Affairs Ministry confirmed in a statement.

One of the vessels attacked was identified as the Sanmar Herald, an Indian government source told Reuters, adding that the crew was safe.

India's deep concern over the shooting incident

Tehran's ambassador to New Delhi, Mohammad Fathali, was called in for a meeting with India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, during which Misri conveyed India's deep concern over the shooting incident.

Misri urged the ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and to resume, at the earliest, the process of facilitating the passage of India-bound ships across the Strait.

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India said it had called in the Iranian envoy to New Delhi and flagged its "deep concern" over the attack, and India's top foreign ministry official asked the Iranian ambassador to convey India's view to Iranian authorities and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait, a statement from the ministry said.

The ambassador said he would convey these views to Iranian authorities, according to the statement.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Britain's government is set to announce legislation next month to move the country closer to the European Union, as the Iran war sours the UK's so-called special relationship with the United States.

President Donald Trump's unpredictability and stream of insults towards America's historic ally is adding impetus to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's bid to deepen ties with the 27-nation bloc, a decade after Britons narrowly voted to leave the EU.

"We have a government that is already eager to move closer towards the EU, and the events in Iran provide an opportunity to speed up that process," Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think-tank, told AFP.

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Starmer's administration is preparing an EU "reset" bill that will give ministers powers to align UK standards with EU single market rules as they evolve -- something called "dynamic alignment".

King Charles III will announce the legislation on May 13 when he reads out Starmer's legislative plans for the coming months, a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Starmer has repeatedly called for a deeper economic and security relationship with Europe since his Labour party won the 2024 general election, ousting the Conservatives, who had implemented the 2016 Brexit referendum.

He has upped those calls in recent days, telling Dutch leader Rob Jetten on Tuesday that "he believed the partnership between the UK and the bloc needed to be fit for the challenges we were facing today".

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The EU is Britain's biggest trading partner, while the International Monetary Fund warned this week that the UK will be the advanced economy hardest hit by the Iran conflict.

"Certainly Iran has made it (the reset) more prescient," said the UK official.

"We need to build economic resilience across the continent," they added.

Starmer refused to involve Britain in the US and Israel's initial strikes on February 28, angering Trump, although he has since allowed American forces to use UK bases for a "limited defensive purpose".

Under pressure at home for his disastrous decision to appoint former Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, Starmer has received plaudits for standing up to Trump in the face of repeated taunts from the US president.

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Days ago, Trump threatened in a phone interview with Sky News to scrap a US-UK trade deal that limited the impact on Britain of his tariffs blitz.

"There's no doubt that there is now momentum in the UK-EU relationship partly as a result of Trump's unreliable behaviour," David Henig, an expert on UK's post-Brexit trade policy, told AFP.

"Independent UK trade policy looks much harder, the prospects of working with the EU much brighter."

- Brexit regret -

Starmer's administration hopes to table the EU legislation in the next few months, meaning it could come around the time of the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, held in June 2016.

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MPs will get to approve whether to provide the government with a mechanism to adopt EU rules -- sometimes without a full parliamentary vote -- in areas where it has already signed deals with the bloc.

They include a trade agreement designed to ease red tape on food and plant exports and plans for an electricity deal that would integrate the UK into the EU's internal electricity market.

Britain and the EU are also aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for a joint summit in Brussels expected in late June or early July.

Starmer has ruled out rejoining the single market or returning to free movement.

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The Liberal Democrats, Britain's traditional third party, wants him to cross one of his other red lines by negotiating a customs union with the EU.

"We need to be doubling down on relations with reliable partners who share our interests and values," the Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller told AFP.

But Brexit remains a toxic issue and the hard-right Reform UK party, leading opinion polls and headed by Eurosceptic firebrand Nigel Farage, have branded the legislation "a betrayal" of the referendum's narrow result.

Surveys regularly now show, however, that most Britons regret the vote to leave the EU, something Starmer hopes to capitalise on.

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Rising cost-of-living pressures on family households, which UK finance minister Rachel Reeves has blamed on Trump for starting the war "without a clear exit plan", could also influence minds.

"When the relationship with the United States is fracturing, it means there's reduced opposition to a closer relationship with the EU among the public," said Aspinall.

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An Iranian state news outlet on Friday questioned the unexpected tweet from Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following the start of Israel and Lebanons 10-day ceasefire.

Araghchi wrote on the social platform X that the Strait of Hormuz was open for all commercial vessels for the remaining period of ceasefire, which Irans government announced earlier in the day.

The Fars News Agency, reacting to the post, wrote on X that along with Araghchis unexpected tweet about the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz, and following Trumps subsequent nervous saber-rattling, Iranian society has been plunged into an atmosphere of confusion, according to Xs translation from Persian.

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The state-run outlet cited international analysts who have assessed that President Trumps recent behavior comes from desperation in the complex Iran arena. The Fars News Agency added that Iranians worry about the absolute and strange silence from the countrys Supreme National Security Council and its negotiators.

They [Iranians] accept it, but it is expected that at least a clear explanation be provided regarding the reason for silence,' the agency continued. Public opinion raises this question: if it is in the countrys interest that the details of the negotiations or recent developments not be publicized, why is this very interest and the reason for avoiding transparency not explained to the people?

The Fars News Agency called on its government to not allow the enemys narrative and hostile media to fill the created narrative vacuum by toying with the spirit and psyche of society.

These days, Twitter and short, pithy statements are no longer a suitable medium for persuading domestic public opinion; rather, even this very not explaining requires explanation, the agency wrote in its last post in the thread.

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The path of transit through which around 20 percent of the worlds oil and gas passes reopened more a week after the U.S. and Irans 14-day ceasefire went into effect. Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz shortly after that ceasefire was reached as Israel continued its strikes on Lebanon, which Iranian leaders said violated a condition of its ceasefire plan.

Trump celebrated the reopening of the strait on Friday, adding shortly later that the U.S. blockade installed Monday was still in full force until the two countries can agree to a long-lasting agreement.

The president also claimed that Iran had agreed to hand over its nuclear dust, an apparent reference to the countrys enriched uranium.

Irans closure of the strait spiked global fuel prices and impacted the passage of other goods, including fertilizer. Brent crude, the global benchmark, decreased to just more than $91 per barrel Friday afternoon after reaching lower to $89 earlier in the day. The U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate reached to under $85 per barrel at the same time, having earlier dipped down to $81.

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The national average for gas in the U.S. dropped to $4.08 on Friday, after reaching $4.15 last week, according to AAA.

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.
Former MSNOW host Joy Reid said on "The Joy Reid Show" that California Democrats failed to properly vet the gubernatorial field, allowing two Republican candidates to sit at the top of the race while broader concerns about Democratic preparedness went unaddressed.

Reid framed her criticism around the stakes of the contest, warning that control of California was central to Democratic electoral success.

"What we really care about out here in these streets is that California doesnt go Republican," she said.

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Reid emphasized the states importance in presidential politics, arguing Democrats could not afford missteps in such a critical stronghold.

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, left, and business leader Steve Hilton, both Republicans, were ranked the top two California gubernatorial candidates in a recent poll by Berkeley IGS. (Getty Images)

Jon Stewart Blasts California Dems, Warning Their Eight Candidates May Split Vote, Lead To Gop Victory

"You cannot become president as a Democrat without California," Reid said. "Do you see how many electoral college votes they have? That number is 54."

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The segment shifted to her concerns about Democratic strategy when Reid questioned whether party officials had conducted sufficient vetting and opposition research during the primary.

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"Do yall not have an oppo research arm inside of the Democratic Governors Association?" Reid asked.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican candidate for California governor, joins Kate Monroe, an advocate for veterans, on a tour of Skid Row in Los Angeles Jan. 6, 2026.

California University Cancels Gubernatorial Debate After Backlash For All White Candidates

She argued that internal failures allowed "flawed" Democratic candidates to advance, while the GOP remained competitive in the race.

"If you let California fall into the hands of somebody who we cant guarantee would run a free and fair election in the state of California, then, you know what, Democrat, that would be on you if 2028 is cooked because you all let Eric Swalwell get to the front of the line without a simple basic oppo research vet," Reid said.

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Reid said she had learned opposition research was being prepared by political opponents but had not yet surfaced publicly, raising questions about timing.

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is surging in recent California gubernatorial polls, accused Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats of having a "sick and twisted love affair with criminals."

Trump Backs Hilton Ahead Of California Gop Vote, Testing Biancos Grip On Party Endorsement

"I learned over the weekend that there were people who were preparing huge amounts of oppo on the right to dump on this guy once he got closer to the primary," she said.

"They were going to wait until right before the primary," Reid added. "Democratic Party, what is the plan here?"

Reid reiterated the broader national implications, comparing Californias importance to Democrats with Texas for Republicans.

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Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture

"In the same way that if Republicans ever lost the 40 electoral college votes in Texas, they couldnt win an election. Same goes for Democrats and California," she said.

"Yall didnt think maybe yall should leak to a system, and maybe there was some issues?"

Fox News Digital reached out to the California Democratic Party for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App





Original article source: Joy Reid blasts California Dems for letting GOP contenders take lead in governors race
By Nate Raymond

April 17 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's bid to force Rhode Island to turn over non-public data on nearly 750,000 registered voters so the Trump administration could probe "election integrity" in the Democratic-led state.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Providence marked the latest in a series of legal setbacks for the Justice Department's efforts after judges ruled against its similar requests in California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.

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The Justice Department under President Donald Trump had sued 30 states and the District of Columbia seeking unredacted voter files that contain their driver's license numbers and last four digits of their Social Security numbers, saying such data is needed to probe their compliance with federal election laws.

McElroy called the request to Rhode Island "unprecedented" and concluded the department lacked authority under the National Voter Registration Act or the Help America Vote Act "to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here."

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump, a Republican, has long pushed the false claim that his 2020 election defeat to Democratic President Joe Biden was the result of widespread voter fraud.

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The Justice Department says it aims to ensure states maintain accurate voter lists and is already identifying duplicate and deceased voters using nonpublic voter registration data in its possession.

It filed the case before McElroy in December, after Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore, a Democrat, offered to provide a copy of the state's publicly available voter registration list but declined to provide unredacted data.

Eric Neff, the acting chief of the Justice Department's voting section, during a March 26 hearing said the Trump administration wanted that information to ensure Rhode Island's voter list is "clean" and flag anyone who should be purged.

That process, he said, would include sharing data with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to have it confirm if registered voters are citizens.

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The Justice Department relied on a provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to demand the voting-related records, a legal authority that McElroy said was intended to allow the government to detect voting-related racial discrimination.

She said that while the law does not limit its application to examining discrimination, the department must provide a factual basis for why it needs voting records, which it did not give in Rhode Islands case.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Nia Williams)
A federal judge has ruled in favor of an Indiana man who sued the Trump administration for pushing Apple to remove an app he created that allows users to post and monitor the activities of Immigration Customs and Enforcement.

App creator Mark Hodges of Brown County sued then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in February, alongside Kassandra Rosado, creator of a Chicagoland Facebook group where residents could report ICE sightings. Apple and Facebook took down the Eyes Up app and "Ice Sightings - Chicagoland" page in October 2025, for which Bondi and Noem claimed credit in public statements.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Bondi and Noem have been replaced by Todd Blanche and Markwayne Mullin, who are the new defendants in this case.

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In issuing a preliminary injunction April 17, the Illinois judge decided the plaintiffs are likely to succeed with their contention that this pressure to remove the app and page violated the creators' First Amendment rights.

More: Lawsuit: Bondi, Noem coerced Apple to remove Indiana man's ICE monitoring app

"They reached out to Facebook and Apple and demanded, rather than requested, that Facebook and Apple censor Plaintiffs speech," the judge wrote.

Bondi and Noem's "thinly veiled threats" to prosecute what they consider "doxing" of ICE agents on these platforms add likely merit to the plaintiffs' case, the judge wrote.

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The injunction blocks the government from coercing the platforms to continue prohibiting or suppressing the content.

The First Amendment protects Americans' right to observe and record law enforcement while they are doing their jobs. But the Department of Homeland Security has argued apps like these interfere with ICE agents' jobs and can lead to violence against them.

Contact state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Judge rules in favor of Indiana ICE-monitoring app creator
FIRST ON FOX: Justice Elena Kagans frustrations boiled over in the aftermath of the Dobbs opinion leak in 2022, leading her to allegedly scream "so loudly" at Justice Stephen Breyer that the "wall was shaking," observers said, according to a new book.

Conservative author and Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingways forthcoming book "Alito," reviewed by Fox News Digital and set for release Tuesday, details the incident and other heated moments surrounding the leak, which spurred waves of protests and death threats against the five conservative justices expected to overturn Roe that year.

The Supreme Court's deep division on abortion was clear at the time, but the book reveals that a typically unified liberal bloc was also fractured.

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Hemingway wrote that Kagan, an Obama appointee, angrily confronted Breyer, a Clinton appointee, in May 2022 behind closed doors after at least one justice, Samuel Alito, had asked his liberal colleagues to speed up writing their dissent because of security threats. Breyer was most likely to agree to Alito's request, Hemingway wrote.

Biden Doj Weaponized Face Act Against Pro-life Americans, 882-Page Report Alleges

Justice Elena Kagan, retired Justice Stephen Breyer (Getty Images)

"Though he had not said he would accommodate the justices whose lives were at risk by getting out a dissent, [Breyer] was the member of the liberal bloc most willing to do so," Hemingway wrote. "Fiercely liberal in his jurisprudence and in strong disagreement with the majority decision, he nevertheless was a gentleman and a friend to all on the Court. Kagan remonstrated with Breyer not to accommodate the majority, screaming so loudly, observers noted, that the wall was shaking."

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Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Breyer as well as the Supreme Court's press office for comment on the book.

The security threats at the time were severe, as protesters who supported access to abortion frequently showed up at conservative justices' homes. Shortly after the leak, Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to provide full-time security for all the justices, but he drew criticism because authorities did not arrest protesters despite a law that prohibits "picketing or parading" near a federal judge's home to influence a court decision.

In June 2022, before the Supreme Court issued its decision, a suspect armed with a pistol, a knife and burglary tools was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaughs home. Nicholas Roske, who now goes by Sophie, later pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a Supreme Court justice and received a controversial sentence of eight years in prison, which the Department of Justice is appealing.

Justice Kavanaugh's Attempted Assassin Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison

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"As the protests continued, the Alitos were moved to a secure location," Hemingway wrote. "Justice Barrett had to put on a bulletproof vest in front of her children, most of whom still lived at home."

Kagan's contentious interaction with Breyer, who was set to retire in June 2022, came after a May 12 conference meeting, according to the book. Only the nine justices attend conference meetings, which are held periodically. Hemingway, who wrote the book based on interviews with the justices and dozens of others, said at this point the majority opinion had been ready for months and only the dissents were outstanding.

Hemingway did not name the justices she had interviewed, because they had spoken on background, but she told Fox News Digital she had spoken with most of them.

"Alito asked the dissenters to make the completion of their dissents their priority because delay of the decision was a security threat," Hemingway wrote. "Abortion supporters had an incentive to kill one or more of the justices in the majority to change the outcome. The dissenters demurred. [Justice Neil] Gorsuch spoke up, asking for a date by which they might be done. They would not give a date."

Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway during a Fox News appearance.

The landmark opinion, overturning Roe 5-4 and upholding a Mississippi law 6-3 that banned most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, was released June 24, 2022. An investigative report by the New York Times detailed an internal effort spearheaded by Chief Justice John Roberts, the lone conservative to object to dismantling Roe, and Breyer to flip one conservative in the months leading up to the decision. Breyer had been eyeing Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the outlet reported.

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Pro-life Movement Confronts High Abortion Rates Three Years After Dobbs

Hemingway's book sheds new light on those internal deliberations, which came against the backdrop of heightened polarization over the decades-long fight over Roe.

"Everyone knew that the leak posed a serious security risk for justices. Since decisions do not take effect until issued officially from the bench, the death of a justice before then could alter the result. The threat of assassination increased dramatically."

The Supreme Court's draft opinion, authored by Alito, was published May 2 in Politico, representing a stunning breach of the high court's rules. The leaker's identity remains unknown to this day.

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"In the ensuing weeks, hundreds of pregnancy centers, churches, and pro-life organizations would be vandalized, some even set ablaze," Hemingway wrote of the fallout.





Original article source: Kagan screamed so loudly at liberal ally after Dobbs leak the wall was shaking,' book claims
Kent's City Council unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on massive data centers at its April 15 meeting.

In discussions the previous month, Ward 6 Councilman Jeff Clapper sought to adopt a six-month halt on receiving and issuing permits for such centers. But during discussion, his motion was amended to a one-year period, with council agreeing by unanimous vote.

The legislation says data centers " are industrial-scale facilities that consume significant energy, water and infrastructure capacity " and the city needs time to study whether it has the resources to accommodate them.

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In a social media post, Clapper applauded the council's recent vote.

"I know Ravenna grabbed some well-deserved headlines last week with their public hearing about data centers, but dont assume we are late to the party here in Kent," Clapper stated. "We have been working on addressing AI data centers and how to control them through our zoning code for a few months, and this moratorium gives us a little extra protection while that process continues."

Ohio is home to nearly 200 data centers, most of which are concentrated around the Columbus area, the USA Today Network State Bureau has reported. Critics say these projects harm the environment and drain energy resources while providing few permanent jobs.

Several communities in Summit and Portage counties have been considering or have passed moratoriums on the centers.

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Tallmadge passed a six-month moratorium on April 13. Ravenna and Streetsboro also recently had public meetings to discuss moratoriums on data centers. Shalersville recently extended its existing moratorium on data centers.

In October, Norton officials rejected a proposal by Quantum HPC, which wanted to construct a data center, dubbed Project Triton, on a 90-acre site off South Cleveland-Massillon Road.

Data centers house computer systems that power services such as data distribution, cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence.

Editorial: How Ohio's massive tech tax breaks inflated electric bills

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent joins other communities in placing moratorium on data centers
By Thomas Suen , Aziz Taher , Emilie Madi and Jihed Abidellaoui

QASMIYEH, Lebanon, April 17 - Lebanese children leaned out of cars flashing victory signs on Friday as they bumped across a makeshift bridge erected overnight across the Litani River after a truce with Israel - but bombed-out ruins and hard times await.

Nearly a quarter of Lebanese have been forced from their homes, both in the south and other Shi'ite Muslim-majority areas, ordered by Israel to leave as it levelled villages and city districts and sent in troops over six weeks of war.

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Israel says it has avoided targeting civilians in a military campaign it described as necessary to protect its own people from Lebanon's Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah group.

A 10-day ceasefire announced on Thursday is now bringing respite, allowing many of the displaced to return to what remains of their homes while they pray for a lasting truce.

But tens of thousands will be unable to go back - their homes in ruins or lying in areas still held by Israel's military.

LEBANESE WANT PERMANENT END TO WARS

The Halabi family's silver sedan was among the throng of vehicles crowding the coast road to head back over the Litani, where Israel destroyed the last bridge connecting the south with the rest of Lebanon on Thursday.

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Workmen with bulldozers and diggers worked through the night under floodlights to build an earthen dyke in place of the bridge at Qasmiyeh, its twisted metal piled nearby.

After 10 hours in the car - on a journey that usually takes one - the family passed huge piles of rubble as they drove slowly into Tyre, a major historic Lebanese city in the south, heading back to their home and relatives.

"These are the first two children to arrive - my son's children," said Sobhi Halabi, 80, hugging his returning grandchildren as they arrived in his apartment, decorated with photographs of the family - and of Hezbollah leaders.

But many were coming back to less joyful scenes. Rubble disfigures many streets where buildings were destroyed. Posters of local men killed fighting Israeli forces are pasted on walls.

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For many the starkest signs of war were visible at the beginning of their journey, passing through Beirut's southern suburbs.

Burnt-out or smashed cars littered the streets along with debris from targeted buildings. Some had their fronts shorn off by strikes, revealing individual rooms like giant doll houses.

Back in the southern town of Nabatieh, one of the worst-hit areas of Lebanon, Fadel Badreddine could barely believe the scale of destruction. As cars piled with mattresses and other belongings drove into the town, he said he and his wife and young son would not be able to live there for now.

"We're taking our things and leaving again," he said. "May God grant us relief and end this whole thing permanently - not temporarily - so we can return to our homes."

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More than 7,000 housing units have been destroyed or damaged in Nabatieh alone, Lebanese authorities say.

'MY HOME, MY BIRTHPLACE'

Not every displaced family has tried to return. Kodor Mouzannar, 62, from the southern village of Souaneh, has been living during the war in a blue tarpaulin tent in Beirut's Camille Chamoun Stadium.

"The village is my home, my birthplace, and it means so much to me. It's my childhood, my life, my grandparents, my relatives, and the people. I miss them all. We're all one community," he said.

But though he longs to go home, he has no trust that Israel will stick to the ceasefire and that the bombing will stop. After a truce in 2024, Israeli airstrikes continued in the south as it and Hezbollah accused each other of breaching the truce.

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He also remembers the difficulty his family had in finding shelter in Beirut at the start of the war. They spent two nights sleeping in the car waiting for a place in a shelter and fear a similar experience if they return home to find it in ruins and have to turn back.

"I hope that the (ceasefire) continues and that the situation calms down and people return to their homes. But on one condition that they return to their homes - without having, every day, someone going to work and getting killed," he said.

(Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem told Iranian media five steps that the terror group requires for a ceasefire with Israel.

Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Maronite Christian Lebanese Forces political party, denounced Hezbollah as the reason for violence and displacement in Lebanon in a Saturday post to X/Twitter.

Geagea argued that Hezbollah and its weapons are the reason Lebanese civilians need a ceasefire.

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He also said that the armed terror group is the reason for "an Israeli occupation."

"If it weren't for Hezbollah and its weapons, we wouldn't have prisoners, displaced people, or need reconstruction," he added.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem spoke to Iranian media, discussing Hezbollah's conditions for a ceasefire with Israel.

A poster of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem lies next to a vehicle as displaced people return to their homes, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, April 17, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/ZOHRA BENSEMRA)

The first step would be a "permanent cessation of aggression," Qassem said.

'Zionist enemy' needs to withdraw to border, Hezbollah chief Qassem demands

Secondly, the "Zionist enemy" would need to completely withdraw from Lebanese territory to the border.

Thirdly, Israel would need to "release prisoners," he stated.

Fourth, Lebanon's displaced residents would need to be able to return to their cities and villages in border areas.

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The fifth step is to begin reconstruction, with support from the international and Arab communities, as well as "national responsibility."

Hezbollah is "ready for the highest level of cooperation with the Lebanese government within a new framework for realizing national sovereignty," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim News Agency cited Qassem as saying.
April 18 (UPI) -- The only life jacket worn by a person who survived the sinking of the Titanic ever put up for auction was sold for $906,000 on Saturday.

The jacket, which was worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli, a passenger in first class who boarded lifeboat No. 1, sold for nearly twice the roughly $473,000 it was expected to sell for.

The life jacket, sold during an auction that also included a handful of other Titanic artifacts, was sold by Henry Aldridge & Sons in Britain to the Titanic Museum and Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo., auctioneer Andrew Aldredge told The BBC.

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Aldridge said that the life jacket is the only one from a survivor that has been offered for auction since the ill-fated ship set sale 114 years ago.

"It reflects the ongoing interest and passion for the story of the Titanic, and its passengers and crew," he said, calling the opportunity to buy it a "once in a lifetime opportunity for collectors."

Francatelli, who at the time of the sinking was husband of Sir Cosmo Edmund Duff-Gorden, a Scottish landowner and the 5th Baronet of Halkin, was the sister of novelist Elinor Glyn and herself a famous dress designer who ran several famous salons in London, Paris and New York, according to Aldridge & Sons' auction listing.

Her survival has carries slight controversy because the lifeboat that her husband shepherded several people onto as the Titanic was going down -- for reasons that remain the subject of questions -- lowered from the ship with only 12 people aboard, despite having room for 40.

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The Titanic Museum and Attraction, which The Independent also reported purchased the life jacket, has since March 2025 had on display five of the 14 known life jackets to have survived the sinking, it said.

Most recently, the life jacket has been on display not only at the Pigeon Forge museum, but also at Titanic Belfast, a museum in Ireland.
Orange County Deputies say that five people are facing racketeering charges in Central Florida after a complex luxury car theft ring was busted.

The suspects stole cars, spent the money they found inside, and towed the vehicles out of state to cover their tracks. One of the stolen cars was involved in a crash on I-4, but miraculously, everyone survived.

Sheriffs say that They hit a pole so hard it split in half. One of the suspects had no pulse or vitals on scene but was later resuscitated at the hospital.

The keys were left in the cars in all of the theft cases, deputies say.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
BEIRUT (AP)  A U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon came under attack with small arms fire Saturday morning, leaving one French peacekeeper dead and three others wounded, two of them seriously, France's president and the force known as UNIFIL said.

Both President Emmanuel Macron and the UNIFIL force blamed Hezbollah, but the Lebanese militant group denied involvement.

The attack near the southern Lebanese village of Ghandouriyeh came after a 10-day ceasefire went into effect at midnight Thursday between Israel and Hezbollah.

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The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2 when the Iran-backed group launched rockets into Israel after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, killing top officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The war, in which Israel invaded parts of Lebanon, left nearly 2,300 people dead in Lebanon, more than 1 million people displaced and caused widespread destruction.

Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, Macron wrote on social media. France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible and assume their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL, the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon.

Investigation launched

In Beirut, three judicial officials said that Lebanon's Military Tribunal opened an investigation over the attack and is in contact with the army's intelligence department to work on identifying the perpetrators. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

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Hezbollah denied links to the attack, calling in a statement for caution in assigning blame and judgment until the Lebanese army completes its investigation to determine the full circumstances. Hezbollah said that peacekeepers should coordinate with the Lebanese army in their operations.

Hezbollah expressed surprise in the statement at the hasty accusations leveled against it, especially given the silence of these same parties when the Israeli enemy attacks UNIFIL forces.

Macron identified the dead soldier as Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban. He said that three of Montorios comrades in arms were injured and evacuated.

The nation bows in respect and extends its support to the families of our soldiers and to all our military personnel engaged for peace in Lebanon, he said.

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His death came nearly a month after a drone attack on March 12 targeted a Kurdish military base in Iraq's Erbil region, killing French Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion and wounding six others.

French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said Saturday that the soldier was killed during an ambush. She said he was on a mission to open a route toward a UNIFIL post that had been isolated for several days, because of fighting in the area between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

The ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on Friday, but it wasn't clear to what extent Hezbollah would abide by a truce that it didn't play a role in negotiating.

He was caught in an ambush by an armed group at very close range, she said on X. Immediately hit by a direct shot from a light weapon, he was pulled back under fire by his comrades, who were unable to resuscitate him.

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UNIFIL said that a patrol that was clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghandouriyeh on Saturday to reestablish links with isolated UNIFIL positions came under small arms fire from non-state actors. UNIFIL said that one peacekeeper succumbed to his wounds and three others were wounded, two of them seriously.

Macron demands clarification

Macron spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam following the attack in order to call on the Lebanese authorities to shed full light on this incident, to identify and prosecute those responsible without delay, and to do everything possible to ensure the safety of UNIFIL soldiers, who must under no circumstances be targeted, Macron's office said.

Salam posted on X that he ordered an investigation into the attack and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Aoun and Lebanon's parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the attack.

The Lebanese army condemned the attack in a statement adding that it will continue its close coordination with UNIFIL. The army said that it's working to detain the perpetrators.

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Macron also reiterated the importance of full respect for the ceasefire by all parties and reaffirmed Frances commitment to Lebanons sovereignty, for the benefit of all Lebanese people and regional stability.

Israel strikes on Lebanon

Earlier Saturday, the Israeli military said it had conducted aerial and ground strikes in southern Lebanon after it identified several incidents in which militants violated the ceasefire understanding by approaching areas close to where Israeli troops are located.

The military mentioned for the first time what it called a Yellow Line, saying militants tried to approach it from the north.

There is no mention of a Yellow Line in the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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The U.S. State Department said Thursday that according to the ceasefire agreement, Israel reserves the right to defend itself at any time, against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.

Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qammati told Lebanons Al-Jadeed TV on Saturday that the group won't tolerate any Israeli strikes like those which happened after the November 2024 truce, when Israel continued to carry out almost daily airstrikes.

This time we will not practice the strategic patience policy, Qammati said.

___

Samuel Petrequin reported from London.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the French presidents first name is Emmanuel, not Emmanual.
It wasnt a great week for the far rights self-appointed crusade to reconquer Europe as a fairytale paradise of whiteness and Christianity. Maybe thats because that whole idea is vaporware, rooted in a nonsensical social and historical vision and devoted to a losing battle against economic and demographic reality. But that quality of noble, doomed struggle toward impossible goals is both the far-right movements fundamental weakness and the source of its power and danger.

Viktor Orban, the pudgy poster boy for illiberal democracy and object of a mysterious man-crush by legions of American conservatives, suffered a catastrophic electoral defeat in Hungary that felt, at least for a day or two, like the global MAGA movements Waterloo moment. As for Donald Trump, what is there to say? The entire world is over him, big time, and its the unique curse of Americas narcissistic self-regard that were still stuck with him, dominating the headlines day after day with his empty, contradictory and randomly-punctuated blather. Trump heads into the latter stages of his presidency as a damaged and toxic figure, a human AI meme desperately trying to spin his way past the massive humiliation of the Iran war he chose to fight and the global energy crisis he single-handedly created.

Political leaders of Europes patriotic or ultra-nationalist right-wing parties only halfheartedly tried to save Orban and have, at long last, absorbed the lesson that Trump was never a reliable friend and doesnt care about anyone or anything except his own power and glory. The Old Worlds three biggest far-right names  Giorgia Meloni in Italy, Marine Le Pen in France and Nigel Farage in England  never had much in common with each other or with Trump and now understand that, in politics, you always fight alone. As for the ambitious schemes to reshape Europes political map variously proposed by JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon and Elon Musk, among others, to this point none have amounted to more than flatulent rhetoric.

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If we throw in the semi-related fact that Mark Carneys Liberal Party just won a parliamentary majority in Canada, it might feel for a minute like the forces of right-wing reaction are in full retreat. But thats not convincing either, and only partly because Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, is a deeply strange choice as leader of the global democratic resistance. None of those formerly determined to make Europe great again  a slogan from early 2025 that most implicated European leaders would rather forget  have given up or gone away.

If Orban is already yesterdays man and Trump is most of the way there, those guys are only the visible symbols of a seething, enduring discontent that can be found both percolating upward and trickling downward throughout the Western-style democracies. Those currents have multiple overlapping causes and cannot entirely be described in terms of right and left. It may be comforting to the liberal mindset to insist that its all Astroturf outrage orchestrated by Machiavellian billionaires, or that racism, xenophobia and other forms of small-minded bigotry are the only salient factors. That doesnt mean its true.

At least two contradictory things can be said about Orbans downfall: It holds important lessons for both sides in the battle for Europe, and nearly everyone (this writer included) is assigning too much importance to a parliamentary election in an isolated Eastern European nation of less than 10 million people. Everyone in Hungarys democratic resistance, regardless of ideology, united behind Peter Magyar, a charismatic candidate who only left Orbans nationalist party two years ago. After his smashing victory, Magyar made clear that he would govern as a normative pro-European leader, cracking down on corruption, supporting the basic rights of LGBTQ people and turning away from Orbans bromance with Vladimir Putin.

All of that was cause for celebration in Budapest and around the world, and fair enough. It also seems clear that Magyar will govern as a standard-issue center-right neoliberal. He is likely to confront Hungarys economic stagnation by imposing fiscal austerity budgets and hocking the future, to whatever extent is deemed necessary, to Europes central bankers and bureaucrats. Whether you and I believe that is good or bad is beside the point, and how much political runway Magyar will have, as his country recovers from the Orban hangover, is unknowable. But the real problem is that those policies, and the underlying ideology, are exactly what led to the systemic crisis of liberal democracy in the first place.

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Magyars big win, in other words, feels rather too much like Joe Bidens one-sided victory in the pandemic-year presidential election of 2020. Its nearly impossible to remember now how much that felt, for millions of Americans  and many more millions around the world  like a moment of redemption and release, and like the sure and certain end of the Trumpian nightmare. As drastically different as Hungary and the United States are, the central quandary remains the same: Pulling together a pro-democracy coalition to bring down a reactionary regime is one thing; managing democratic governance in a way that disempowers or defeats the deeply entrenched reactionary forces within Western society is quite another.

Both sides in the perennially undecided but potentially cataclysmic battle for hearts and minds across the Western-style democracies tend to oversimplify the contradictions, or rather to insist that since their own side is obviously correct, there are no contradictions. In a lengthy interview with the New York Times last week, Barnard political scientist Sheri Berman makes a strong case that the populist right epitomized by leaders like Trump and Orban has dramatically overplayed its hand, and that its record in power has been a disastrous litany of corruption, economic mismanagement and cultural failure.

But Berman also says that intellectual and political elites on both sides of the Atlantic have been overly eager to dismiss the widespread anxiety or insecurity caused by rapid economic and social change as nothing more than backwardness and bigotry. That sense of frustration and dissatisfaction has been fueled by growing inequalities within almost every Western nation and an inescapable awareness that establishment parties, politicians and institutions are increasingly detached from the public they supposedly served. At this moment, we can see political leaders as different as Magyar, Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois trying to break through this alienation and dislocation.

Another Times report last week explored the clownish overreach of the second Trump administrations so-called diplomacy. This has evidently involved sending a pair of young and blissfully ignorant State Department ideologues to Europe to spread fake news about internet censorship and the great replacement and to forge largely ineffectual alliances with patriotic nationalist parties opposed to immigration and wokeness.

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But to repeat myself, its overly convenient to see the invisible hand of sinister MAGA influencers behind every troubling upsurge of populism, when the real politics of Europe and the world are driven far more by unresolved contradictions. In a dramatic crisis that seemed to emerge out of nowhere on Europes western periphery, the Republic of Irelands centrist coalition government has been badly shaken by two weeks of protests against soaring fuel prices, originally sparked by a leaderless movement of truckers and agricultural contractors forged on Facebook and WhatsApp.

(Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) Protesters on OConnell Street in Dublin on the fifth day of a national protest against rising fuel prices, April 11, 2026.

By the time the rest of the world noticed that Irelands main arterial roads, the countrys principal oil refinery and Dublins iconic OConnell Street had been shut down by convoys of trucks and tractors, the protests had indeed been partly transformed by inchoate right-wing outrage. Demands for government aid on diesel prices (in U.S. terms, now around $8 a gallon) were at least rational enough, but other protesters wanted the Irish government to drill for oil off the west coast or to end financial aid to asylum seekers and use that money for farm support.

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Ireland is an anomalous country in several different ways. It has no far-right, anti-immigrant political party of any consequence, but feels tremendous anxiety about that possibility, especially after Steve Bannons threat or promise to forge an Irish Trump, perhaps in his secret underwater lair. The Irish state also possesses a huge budget surplus, entirely due to tax revenues from U.S. technology and pharmaceutical firms, and was able to make the fuel protest go away, however conditionally, by throwing roughly $800 million at it.

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As with the Yellow Vest protests in France in the early 2020s, or the pandemic-era trucker protests in Canada, its a mistake to draw categorical boundaries around this kind of angry populist upsurge and decide that it means whatever you want it to mean. (Irish legislators on both the left and right tried to claim common cause with the fuel protests, but with no ability to exercise meaningful control.) Contradictions abound here: As Berman told the Times, there are indications that the far-right political wave has crested and is losing popularity. That doesnt mean that old-school, pre-Trump liberal democracy, in ruins almost everywhere, is coming back. Something else is waiting to emerge, but what?

The post MAGA lost big in Hungary  but the battle for Europe isnt over appeared first on Salon.com.
Many Cubans and Cuban Americans in South Florida are unhappy with the Trump administration over its treatment of migrants from the Caribbean island, according to a new Miami Herald poll.

The poll, released Thursday, found that 68 percent of surveyed Cubans strongly or somewhat disapprove of the administrations push to deport Cuban nationals without legal status and without criminal records, compared with 28 percent who strongly or somewhat approve.

An overwhelming majority of respondents, 81 percent, also said the Trump administration should allow Cubans to immigrate to the U.S. legally, according to the poll.

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The survey was conducted among 800 randomly selected Cubans and Cuban Americans living in South Florida, from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County. Roughly three-quarters of respondents were born on the island, while the others were born in the U.S., the Herald noted.

The survey comes amid simmering tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, which is located a few hundred miles from Miami-Dade County, which itself is home to the largest concentration of Cubans outside the island, according to Florida International University.

The Caribbean nation has plunged into a deep economic and energy crisis due to an oil embargo put in place by the Trump administration in January following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela.

The islands entire electrical grid collapsed last month, leaving nearly 11 million people in the dark for more than a day. Cubans are also facing a worsening humanitarian crisis with limited access to food, water and medication.

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The U.S. has sought to leverage economic pressure to push for political reform in Cuba, with President Trump warning other countries not to do business with them.

The administration has also taken other aggressive actions against Cuba since the start of Trumps second term, redesignating the country as a state sponsor of terrorism, announcing new visa restrictions and revoking legal protected status that shielded Cubans in the U.S. from deportation.

The State Department announced in January that it was pausing the processing of immigration visas from Cuba and 74 other countries. It also signaled that it would phase out parole programs that allowed some people to live and work in the U.S. for up to two years on the basis of urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit.

An analysis by the Cato Institute also found that nearly a million applications from Cuban migrants have been affected by a federal benefits freeze, including nearly 36,000 applicants seeking naturalization.

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The Miami Herald poll showed that 76 percent of respondents said the administration should resume processing benefits for Cuban nationals already living in the U.S., with 16 percent saying it should not.

The survey was conducted by Bendixen & Amandi International and the Tarrance Group from April 6 to April 10. It had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

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(NewsNation)  A viral video of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani touting a proposed tax surcharge on pricey second homes in Manhattan is drawing jeers from a Republican City Council member and a local real estate official.

In the footage, Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist who sailed to victory last fall, taps the camera lens and says, Today, were taxing the rich.

This here video is absolutely evil, if you ask me, Vickie Paladino, a GOP member who represents the City Councils 19th District in Northeast Queens, told Katie Pavlich Tonight on Friday.

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Zohran Mamdanis message about rich a false narrative: Glenn Beck

She said the so-called pied-a-terre tax that targets the ultrawealthy will ultimately drive out businesses and erode the citys tax base.

The plan was endorsed this week by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat. If state lawmakers approve the measure, the Big Apple could impose tiered tax surcharges on secondary residences worth more than $5 million. The proposal would raise an estimated $500 million annually to help fill a significantly higher budget gap.

Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, said Mamdanis administration ultimately will try to hike property taxes on multi-family buildings  a move that would hurt renters.

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Which goes, really, antithetical into his affordability campaign, what he ran on, in trying to make the most expensive city in the country cheaper, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sidestepped questions Sunday about whether Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer, declining to take a position amid growing debate over Democratic leadership.

"I have to be honest with you," he told NBC's Kristen Welker. "This is another question that gets into the future," Mamdani said when asked if Schumer should step aside as Senate Democratic leader.

The exchange unfolded as divisions within the Democratic Party have intensified over generational change, with progressives increasingly raising the prospect of Ocasio-Cortez mounting a primary challenge against Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats for years.

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When pressed directly on whether he supported such a challenge, Mamdani avoided endorsing the idea while praising Ocasio-Cortez.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez previously backed Zohran Mamdani for mayor. (AP Images)

Crockett Lukewarm On Aoc Primarying Schumer, Says She Doesn't Subscribe To 'Ageism'

"I will tell you this, that I have had the privilege of being represented by Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez," he said. "Now its an honor to work with her as an incredible congresswoman, and Im excited to see whatever it is that she decides to do next."

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Welker noted Schumer did not endorse Mamdani in his own mayoral race and asked whether that influenced his view, but the mayor emphasized cooperation.

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"Ill tell you that right now my focus is on working with everyone, and that includes Senator Schumer," Mamdani said.

Mamdani doubled down on his answers about Democratic leadership on "Meet the Press," opting instead to focus on New York.

David Marcus: How Chuck Schumer Finally Reaped The Whirlwind

"You know, recently I worked with Senator Schumer to deliver on a hub of relief for delivery workers right here across from City Hall."

Mamdani expanded on his broader view of the party, suggesting the issue was not simply about age.

"I think its time for a party that reflects the urgency that were seeing across this country," he said. "We know very well what we oppose. What are we for?"

Mamdani was previously asked in December whether he believed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., needed to leave.

Leading Senate Democrat Tells Fox News 'It's Time ... For New Leadership,' As Schumer Faces Growing Pressure

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He also declined to weigh in on former Vice President Kamala Harris and her potential political future, despite repeated questioning.

"I have to be honest, I havent thought about the candidacies for president this time," Mamdani said.

"I think that New Yorkers are tired of politicians pontificating about other politicians. What they want to see are results."

Mamdani ducked a question from NBC's Kristen Welker on whether he'd support a future Kamala Harris run.

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Harris has hinted at another presidential run, placing her at the center of early discussions about the Democratic field. Party leaders have emphasized the importance of focusing on the 2026 midterms as Democrats look to regain momentum.

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Mamdani signaled he planned to stay focused on governing rather than engaging in national political debates.

"And here in 2026 I want to be delivering for New Yorkers," he said.





Original article source: Mamdani sidesteps question on whether he supports AOC challenging Schumer
Youve heard the news and may have seen the video: New York Mayor Mamdani mugging for the camera, his face in a gleeful smirk, saying "When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich. Well today, were taxing the rich!"

He was announcing - on April 15, the day federal and state income tax returns are due - a new special tax on "second homes" located in New York City valued over $5 million. The Marxist mayor is standing in front of a building where he says hedge fund entrepreneur Ken Griffin has a residence that he uses only occasionally. Under Mamdanis proposal, approved by Democrats in Albany, Griffins annual property tax on the residence would increase from $841,000 to about $3 million.

Two aspects of this announcement were striking: the perverse stupidity of this proposal, and Mamdanis sadistic excitement in announcing it.

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I grew up just north of New York City in an era when the city almost collapsed under a mountain of debt. People who cherished the place jumped in to turn the city around and, as I graduated from high school in 1977, they launched the iconic "I Love NY" ad campaign to attract visitors, especially wealthy visitors, to come back and invest there.

The stage was set for a turnaround in New York by putting the citys financials under control of an Emergency Financial Control Board, which shrank the government significantly, and by creating incentives to attract greater investment in the citys aging infrastructure and real estate.

The comeback was institutionalized by the tax cuts and deregulation of financial markets (largely based in New York) that began in the Reagan administration and lasted through most of Bill Clintons presidency. This one-two punch spurred a national economic boom benefiting everyone in America, and especially those in NYC.

As a result, Manhattan became a destination for wealth and capital from all over the country - indeed, all over the world. The world loves New York!

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Now, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani - who was an obscure backbencher in the state legislature at this time last year, cheerfully proposes turning back the clock. Rather than attracting capital, talent, and wealth from outside the city, he wants to drive it away by imposing what amounts to a sin tax on success manifesting itself in high-end real estate investments by nonresidents. And for what purpose? The proposed rationale is to raise tax revenue, but its axiomatic that increasing taxes increases the cost of investing in real estate by outsiders, which reduces outsider demand for making these investments.

What New York Democrats have really done is lower the value of New York real estate, and increased the value of real estate in Miami, Palm Beach, Austin, and Dallas - places run by political leaders who are economically literate. There are condos in Manhattan that were worth $5.5 million in January that just fell to $4.99 million today, and investors from Mexico, Brazil, Europe. and Asia are calling off plans for putting some capital into New York - capital that would flow through New Yorks economy and be taxed at various levels.

How is it good for the people Mamdani claims to want to help to have fewer rich people from outside the city invest in and visit? Rich people spend money thats taxed, some pay income taxes to the city for the days that they are in the city - shopping, attending shows, visiting museums, doing deals, hiring people to work in office space thats built and leased, and giving money to all sorts of great city institutions.

Ken Griffin, whom Mamdani singles out in his nasty little video, has given over $60 million to Success Academy Charter Schools, $40 million to the Museum of Modern Art, and $40 million to the American Museum of Natural History. And his firm Citadel and its employees pay hundreds of millions into the city coffers.

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Ken Griffin loves New York, but since the 2025 mayoral election its turned into an unrequited love. Dont think that he and other wealthy investors wont notice.

Chicagos Democrats gave Ken Griffin the high hat too, so he packed up and left - reducing city and state tax revenues, hammering commercial real estate in the loop, and hitting charitable institutions Griffin had supported around the city.

Only a moronic politician doesnt want more rich people like Ken Griffin in their city. Mamdani is that moron.

In these dog days of Democratic rage, there are many voters who derive pleasure from hurting the wealthy or those with whom they disagree. That there are enough of them to elect people like Mamdani to important offices should give smart, good-spirited Americans who vote for Democratic politicians pause: Do you hate MAGA so much that you want to make America worse?

Richard Porter is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alfa Institute, a platform for ideas, policy proposals and new technology integration pertaining to artificial intelligence
A Maryland high school employee was arrested after being accused of filming students undressing in a girls changing room.

James Mulhern III, a media services technician at Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, was filmed placing a camera in the girls changing room in the school theater shortly before several teenage girls went in to change before a performance, according to Wusa 9.

School employees called the police Wednesday after two students discovered the camera in the theater's control booth and alerted the principal. The video showed recordings of girls undressing in the changing room.

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Florida Teacher Accused Of Sex With Student Whose Parents Tracked His Location

The memory card on the camera also recorded a man placing the camera in the room before the students went in to change, according to a news release by the Montgomery County Department of Police.

Detectives said they recovered several items of evidence at the high school and after searching Mulhern's home.

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Mulhern was arrested and charged with sex abuse of a minor, police said. He was sent to a detention center, where he is awaiting a bond hearing.

Court documents obtained by WUSA say Mulhern initially denied to police he had recorded students but later admitted to "having [an] inappropriate attraction to multiple students" while working at the high school.

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Montgomery County Public Schools shared a letter with Fox News Digital that was sent to parents, students and staff on Thursday by Walter Johnson High School Principal Nicole J. Morgan.

In the letter, Morgan said the employee had been placed on leave without pay while the investigation was underway.

Police vehicles outside of Chief J. Thomas Manger Public Safety Headquarters where the Montgomery County Police Department 1st District is based in Gaithersburg, Md., on Sept. 2, 2022. (Getty Images)

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"School administrators were made aware of an incident on Wednesday, April 15, and immediately reported it to MCPD. This is an MCPS staff personnel matter and a police investigation; therefore, the information that can be shared is very limited," the letter said.

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Morgan said school counselors, psychologists and social workers would be available to provide support to students.

A Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation. Because this involves a confidential personnel matter, we are unable to disclose further details at this time."

Lockers in a high school.

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Walter Johnson High School student Gage Familant told WUSA9 students were disgusted after learning the news.

"People are calling it disgusting. That's what it is, heartbreaking," Familant said.





Original article source: Maryland high school employee arrested on accusations of filming female students in dressing room
A Metropolitan Police officer who worked on domestic abuse cases has been found guilty of a series of rapes and sexual assaults.

Dion Arnold, 33, of Camberley, was convicted of four charges of rape, two of assault by penetration and two of sexual assault following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

The Met Police said Arnold will face a misconduct hearing, adding that he "remains suspended from duty".

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Claire Gallagher, senior crown prosecutor from the CPS, said: "These women believed that, as a police officer, they could trust Arnold and would be safe with him. He abused that trust in the most appalling way."

Arnold worked in a unit dealing with domestic abuse and was an Army reserves medic.

Surrey Police, who investigated the case, said there was no indication that he met any of the women through his role with the force.

He met some of the women he assaulted through online dating apps, prosecutors said.

One woman reported him in March 2025 and following his arrest, an examination of his phone revealed a list of women's names, the CPS said.

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When contacted, three unrelated women came forward with allegations of rape or sexual assault.

The women told the jury that they felt pressured by Arnold and had to submit to him and that when they repeatedly asked him to stop, he ignored them, the CPS said.

Woman felt 'powerless'

Gallagher said: "As a police officer working with victims of domestic abuse, Arnold knew exactly what the law of consent means. These women asked Arnold to stop and he knew that, even referring to it in messages between them.

"The impact that Arnold had on these women cannot be underestimated. One told him in messages that he had 'destroyed and broken her', while another described feeling 'powerless' and that she had no option but to submit. In law, that is not consent.

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"Arnold deliberately targeted women that he thought would not stop him and would never have the courage to report him. They have proved him wrong and have seen him brought to justice for his appalling crimes."

Met Police 'sickened'

Met Police Ch Supt Dan Knowles, who leads policing in the South West where Arnold worked, said the victims had shown "enormous courage by coming forward and giving evidence in court".

"Their testimony has played a crucial part in his conviction and in ensuring that he won't be able to treat any other woman in this deplorable way," he said.

"We are sickened that PC Arnold carried out these horrendous crimes while serving as a police officer in the Met, something he deliberately told the victim-survivors from the outset so that they would have more trust in him.

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"We do not underestimate the impact that cases like this have on the confidence that women and girls have in our organisation but would encourage anyone in a similar situation to report allegations."

He added that they had grown their professional standards teams "to ensure we are robust in investigating matters at the earliest opportunity".

He said that they now had more officers who were "specifically and proactively focused on uncovering and dealing with wrongdoing, including our specialist Public Protection team".

Arnold will be sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on 22 June.

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(NewsNation)  Ten scientists have died or disappeared, all with links to the nations nuclear programs, raising questions about possible connections.

On Thursday, President Trump said he was in a meeting about the cases and expects to know more in a week and a half. He expressed hope the links between the cases were just a coincidence.

Heres what we know about the wave of scientists who have died or disappeared.

Steven Garcia

Steven Garcia, a 48-year-old government contractor, was last seen leaving his home in Albuquerque on Aug. 28, 2025. He was on foot and carrying a handgun, with police reportedly warning he may have been a danger to himself.

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Garcia worked as a property custodian at the Kansas City National Security Campus, which manufactures nonnuclear components for nuclear weapons.

He had a top security clearance at the facility, which would allow him wide access.

Frank Maiwald

A researcher with NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Frank Maiwald, died on July 4, 2024, at 61, in Los Angeles.

According to Maiwalds obituary, he specialized in space research.

Frank managed the development of the SBG-VSWIR instrument and had previously overseen the successful delivery of two instruments for the AMR-C program, the obituary said. His roles included serving as a technical group supervisor and contributing to various significant projects such as AMR/SWOT, COWVR, AMR/Jason 3, and HIFI.

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No public cause of death has been provided.

Carl Grillmair

On Feb. 16, Carl Grillmair was shot to death on his front porch. He was an astrophysicist at Caltech who collaborated with NASA and found water around exoplanets.

Grillmair was known for his work on collisions of galaxies and his search for water outside our solar system.

There is no clear motive for his death. Detectives arrested Freddy Snyder later that day for carjacking and connected him to Grillmairs death.

Although detectives believe the two men didnt know each other, Snyder had been arrested in December for trespassing on Grillmairs property while carrying a rifle.

Michael David Hicks

Michael David Hicks died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 59. Also a physicist with JPL, he specialized in comets and asteroids.

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He worked on major space missions, including NASAs Dart Project, which tested whether asteroids could be deflected.

Michaels passion for science was coupled with a deep appreciation of art. He pursued projects in visual media, from woodblock prints to oil painting to metalwork, and he played the ukulele, his obituary stated.

His cause of death has not been disclosed.

William Neil McCasland

A retired Air Force general, William Neil McCasland, disappeared on Feb. 26, 2026, after leaving his New Mexico home.

Rumors about McCaslands connections to alleged UFO programs sparked questions about his missing case and his possible connections to other scientists on this list.

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During his tenure in the Air Force, McCasland oversaw classified space weapons programs and was head of research at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, Coulthart notes. That facility has long been rumored to house fragments of extraterrestrial debris from Roswell, N.M.

Monica Jacinto Reza

Monica Jacinto Reza, a former colleague of McCasland, was another JPL employee who disappeared on June 22, 2025, while on a hike.

Reza was last seen hiking in the Los Angeles forest with a companion. Police say Reza was about 30 feet behind the person she was with, smiling and waving. When the person turned back around, she was gone. Rescue teams searched for days, but her body was never recovered.

Reza was an aerospace engineer who worked on burn-resistant and high-strength metal alloys. She also had connections to the Wright Patterson Air Force base.

Melissa Casias

Melissa Casias disappeared from her home on June 26, 2025. Casias was an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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She forgot her work badge and decided to work from home that day. She took her daughter to lunch, then disappeared.

Casias was last seen walking alongside a highway without her phone, wallet or keys.

Anthony Chavez

Former Los Alamos employee Anthony Chavez disappeared on May 4, 2025. He was last seen leaving his home on foot.

Officers have conducted thorough searches of known residences, hiked local trails, distributed flyers to businesses, reviewed hours of surveillance footage, and diligently followed up on every tip received, the Los Alamos government said in May 2025.

Nuno Loureiro

Nuclear physicist and MIT professor Nuno Loureiro was shot to death at his home on Dec. 15, 2025.

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The shooting has been attributed to a rivalry with another scientist.

Jason Thomas

A Novartis researcher, Jason Thomas, disappeared Dec. 12, 2025. His wife reported him missing when he didnt return home.

His body was recovered from a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026.

A Wakefield Police detective who was searching the Lake Quannapowitt area, which had previously been frozen, located his body.

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.
Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

A Maryland woman purchased a vase for about $4 on a clearance rack at a local thrift store, and kept it in her home for a few years.

Upon visiting the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, she recognized that many of the artifacts resembled the vase she had at home to a remarkable degree.

An authentication process confirmed her vase to be roughly 1,200 years old, and from the height of the Mayan reign.

A $4 vase sitting on a Maryland thrift store clearance rack looked interesting to Anna Lee Dozier, so she decided to make the purchase. It took about five years for Dozier to discover that this inexpensive addition to her household collection was in fact a roughly 1,200-year-old Mayan artifact.

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She was a bit surprised, but not so much so that she was unsure what to do, promptly returning the vase to the Mexican government for its inclusion in the countrys museum collection.

Dozier, who works with communities in Mexico as a human rights advocate for Christian Solidarity Worldwide, saw the vase in the 2A Thrift Store near the checkout counter and was drawn to the Mexican-feeling design.

It did look old to me, but not old-old, like 20 to 30 years old, maybe, Dozier said of the original find, according to NPR. I could see that it had some kind of link to Mexico, in terms of what it looked like, and since its a country that I work on and its really important to me, I thought it would be just a nice little thing to take home and put on the shelf and to remind me of Mexico.

That reminder took a real turn when in January 2024, she visited the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City while on a work trip. Some of the things I was looking at looked awfully like what I had at home on my shelf, she said.

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Thats when she started the process of looking into authenticationfirst talking to skeptical museum staffers before they asked her to contact the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C. She stuck with it, sent photos and measurements of the vase to the embassy team, and was told via email that it was the real deal. I got an email saying, Congratulationsits real and we would like it back, she said.

Experts believe that the vase dates between 200 A.D. and 800 A.D., during the height of Mayan influence. Dozier was more than happy to put such a find in its rightful place.

Giving it back feels so much better than it would if I put it on eBay and I got a bunch of money, she said. Dozier told WUSA that shes thrilled to have played a part in its repatriation story.

Esteban Moctezuma Barragan, ambassador of Mexico to the United States, posted on X that a valuable witness to our Mayan history returns home, and that thanks to Dozier, the historical gem will get integrated into the countrys museum collections.

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I would like it to go back to its rightful place and to where it belongs, she told WUSA, but I also want it out of my home because I have three little boys and [] I was petrified that after 2,000 years I would be the one to wreck it.

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U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman doubled down on her call for President Donald Trumps removal from office this week.

The Democratic New Jersey congresswoman responded to a Fox News X post quoting a video in which she stated, If we wanted to eliminate abuse and fraud, wed eliminate the president of the United States from the office right now, and the rest of the sycophants in his administration.

The remark was made during a recent congressional hearing.

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Correct, Ive been a vocal critic of Trumps corruption, abuse of office, and violence against the American People, US Capitol Police, and civilians abroad. Im calling for Trump to be impeached and removed from office  as I have for months, wrote Coleman, who represents Central Jerseys 12th District in the U.S. House.

Coleman, 77, who announced shell retire after her term ends early next year, has denounced Trump for attacking Iran without getting approval from Congress, asserting he violated the War Powers Act.

Speaker Johnson must immediately hold a vote on the Massie-Khanna Iran War Powers Resolution, Coleman said. Donald Trumps actions are reckless and make the world less safe. If the American people are to be safe, Donald Trump must be impeached.

Coleman also called for the 25th Amendment to be used on April 7 in response to Trumps Truth Social post that stated a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again if Iran did not meet the deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

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Thats it, Coleman wrote. Its time to use the 25th Amendment. In just 48 hours, the president has gone from threatening war crimes to threatening genocide. He is clearly unstable and must be set aside.

The 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which governs presidential succession, says that the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet may vote to declare a president unable to discharge the powers and the duties of his office and give the vice president the duties of acting president. It would need a vote by a two-thirds majority of both the House and the U.S. Senate.

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WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.

Federal Funding Cuts Threaten Lifeline of Tribal Radio Stations in Rural America

A public radio station in Kotzebue, Alaska, serves a vast, roadless region larger than Indiana, where communities rely on planes and seasonal ice trails for travel. The station provides critical, sometimes life-saving information, including search-and-rescue alerts, weather updates and warnings about unsafe ice conditions. News director Desiree Hagen said the station is super crucial, noting that without federal funding it could be reduced to automated broadcasts with no local news or community coverage.

The threat stems from a Republican-backed law that eliminated federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which dissolved earlier this year. The CPB had supported rural and tribal stations that often serve as the only news source in remote areas. While some lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), secured about $10 million in temporary funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, that support is not guaranteed beyond the 2026 fiscal year. Advocates warn that without sustained funding, many stations could shut down.

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According to Native Public Media, dozens of tribal radio stations have already been heavily impacted, with many relying on federal funding for most of their operations. A survey found that most could close within a year without additional support, leading to widespread layoffs and loss of essential services. Leaders warn of a cascade of closures across Indian Country, as stations that provide emergency alerts, election information and Native language programming struggle to survive.

$3 Million in Federal Funds Awarded for Tribal, Rural Transportation Projects in Northern California

U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), along with Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), announced more than $3 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support rural and tribal transportation projects in Smith River and Annapolis, California. The funding comes through the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program and targets safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades in underserved communities.

The largest portionabout $2.5 millionwill support the Tolowa Dee-ni Nations efforts to advance the design and engineering of a long-planned pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 101 near Smith River. An additional $541,130 will fund planning and safety improvements at Stewarts Point Rancheria in Annapolis, including efforts to address traffic concerns and enhance roadway safety.

Lawmakers said the investment reflects a broader commitment to improving aging infrastructure, increasing public safety and expanding economic opportunity in rural and tribal areas. They emphasized that the projects will help better connect communities while addressing long-standing transportation challenges.

The post Native News Weekly (April 19, 2026): D.C. Briefs appeared first on Native News Online.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday said he demands answers from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding comments the secretary made in an interview in 2024 about Black children on certain Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications being re-parented.

Weve known RFK Jr. has been unfit to serve as Secretary, but these resurfaced remarks reflect a racist mentality that is absolutely unacceptable for a leader charged with protecting the health of 341 million Americans, Newsom said in a statement.

We cannot go numb to the insanity of this federal administration, he added. The Secretary must be held accountable for his deeply disturbing comments.

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Kennedys remarks came during a 2024 interview with wellness and productivity influencer 19Keys on the online show High Level Conversations, where the two talked about Black men and mental health.

Kennedy, less than two months before he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, said every Black kid is now, just as a standard, put on adderall, [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors], benzos, which are known to induce violence.

And those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented, to live in a community where therell be no cell phones, no screens, youll actually have to talk to people, he said.

Kennedy added that the basis for this community came from an experience a family member had living in San Patrignano, an addiction treatment program in Italy.

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The people come out of there and they are extraordinarily productive workers, he later said. So they get a second chance at life. They get re-parented, they understand how to have relationships, how to have intimacy, how to be honest and all these work skills to take care of themselves, to steward themselves and their own lives.

In Newsoms statement condemning Kennedys comments, he compared them with remarks made by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz about the Armenian community in northern Los Angeles County. Oz claimed that the lettering outside Armenian hospice centers suggested they were run by a Russian Armenian mafia. The governor filed a civil rights complaint against Oz in January.

Kennedys 2024 remarks resurfaced Thursday when he testified before the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) questioned Kennedy about the comments from the interview and asked him to explain himself.

I dont even know what that phrase means and I doubt that I said that phrase, he told Sewell. Im not going to answer something that I didnt say  because it doesnt even make sense.

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Kennedy accused her of making stuff up, which she denied. Sewell reminded Kennedy of the history of separating Black children from their families, including during the pre-Civil War era, and the harm that racist federal and state laws caused Black families.

For you to suggest that Black families are not capable of raising their own children is deeply offensive, Sewell said, shortly later adding, When you suggest re-parenting Black children, when you sow doubt about the safety of vaccines, and when you promote unproven statements that have no basis in science, you endanger the lives of everyone across this nation.

The Hill has reached out to HHS for comment.

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.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsoms political action committee spent more than $1.5 million buying thousands of copies of his new memoir  accounting for about two-thirds of all copies sold nationwide  according to campaign finance filings.

The PAC spending helped propel Newsoms memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," onto the New York Times bestseller list and is raising new scrutiny as his national profile builds ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.

In November, the Campaign for Democracy Committee launched a book campaign asking donors to contribute any amount to the PAC to receive the memoir when it was released on Feb. 24. Newsom spokesperson Nathan Click told the New York Times that the PAC bought about 67,000 copiesrepresenting a substantial portion of the 97,400 total sold.

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"We were thrilled with the response," Click told the New York Times. "Our goal was to deepen the relationship between him and the millions of folks who have already expressed support for Governor Newsoms work."

Trump Questions Newsoms Fitness For White House, Citing His Dyslexia

Campaign finance filings reveal Gavin Newsom's PAC bought 67,000 copies of his memoir for over $1.5 million amid his 2024 presidential positioning. (Getty Images)

The PAC made two payments totaling over $1.5 million to Porchlight Book Company, according to a FEC filing posted on Wednesday and reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Read On The Fox News App

The Most Unusual Presidential Candidate: Newsom Is Dyslexic, Struggles With Speeches, Rejects 'Liberal' Label

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When asked about the book's ranking on the best seller list, a New York Times spokesperson explained the outlet places a dagger symbol on the list to indicate when a book's ranking has been influenced by a bulk purchase.

"When The Times has reason to believe that sales of a book include a mix of organic and bulk sales, the book's best-seller ranking is accompanied by a dagger. That's what we did with the Newsom book," Nicole Taylor, spokesperson for The Times, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

A spokesperson for Newsom told Fox News Digital later on Friday evening, "Governor Newsom did not do a bulk buy of $1.5M worth of books to boost sales."

"The book sales through his email list were individual sales done through a new, innovative approach that allows his list to receive copies of the book early. The campaign viewed the book offer as a major list-building and engagement opportunity  one of the largest of any campaign in the country."

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The spokesperson said the books were sold at cost through a vendor and that Newsom did not receive royalties on copies distributed through the program.

"Supporters were invited to give whatever amount they could afford and still receive a copy of the book. The goal was participation and engagement, not fundraising," the spokesperson continued. "The campaign's list provided an opportunity for supporters to buy the book through a vendor consistently used by other authors. Each book was sold and sent out through the vendor, similar to buying from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. In total, more than 67,000 individual sales were made through the campaign's offers."

Newsoms memoir, released in February, is about the challenges he faced in his upbringing and political rise.

Book promotion is common among politicians, but Newsoms PAC spending outpaces similar political committee purchases. The Republican National Committee, for example, spent about $100,000 in 2019 purchasing Donald Trump Jr.s book, the New York Times noted in its report.

Gov Gavin Newsom: From Privilege To Heartbreak, My Life Behind The Headlines

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Newsoms memoir is focused on the challenges he faced in his upbringing, addressing his battle with dyslexia and having divorced parents, as well as his political career.

Newsom's book tour, which included visiting cities across the nation, drew criticism from conservatives for the Democrat governor allegedly putting himself over leading California.

Chairwoman of the California Republican Party Corrin Rankin told Fox Digital, in response to the book campaign, she believes Newsom is trying to "rebrand his national image" while abandoning issues at home, as recent data underscores ongoing challenges in the state.

A man is seen holding a copy of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new memoir titled "Young Man In A Hurry."

Social media commenters have not shied away from mocking Newsom over the book sales, including Republican California gubernatorial candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.

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"Gavin Newsoms bestseller memoir just got the ultimate California treatment: his PAC dropped $1.56 million of donor cash to buy 67,000 free copies and mail them to anyone who donated any amount," Hilton posted to X on Thursday. "Thats two-thirds of all print sales. Nothing says Young Man in a Hurry like rigging your own book numbers with political slush funds while California burns."

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Newsom is considered a top potential 2028 presidential candidate for the Democrat Party, though he has not confirmed whether he will officially throw his hat in the ring.





Original article source: Newsom PAC bought thousands of memoir copies about his hardships, juicing sales
After Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, a section of the railroad through Asheville and Old Fort Loops was wiped out.

But on Saturday, a train traveled those tracks again.

A Norfolk Southern train ran west to Asheville from Linwood, rolling through downtown Old Fort around 10 a.m. Saturday.

Several community members visited as the train came through the town to celebrate the return to normal operations and enjoy some giveaways.

Officials at the Old Fort depot also joined in the celebration and provided rail safety tips.
The proposed closure of a university nursery has left people without sufficient time to find alternative childcare, some parents have said.

Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) said it was consulting on the closure of its Collegiate Nursery, in Broomgrove Road, with a final decision expected in June.

The nursery, which was rated "outstanding" by Ofsted in 2023, is open to the wider community as well as to the children of staff and students.

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A university spokesperson cited falling attendance and rising costs, adding that since 2020 the facility had recorded an operating loss of nearly 600,000.

Dan, whose two-year-old son has Down's Syndrome, said he rated the care at the nursery as "second to none" and worried about finding an alternative.

"They've really supported him, taking additional training to understand his needs," he said.

"He's obviously developmentally delayed, so he's just learning to walk, he's just learning his first words.

"Waiting lists for any provision in Sheffield are months and months, much longer than the three or four months notice we've been given."

Richard said families had not been given enough notice to find suitable alternative provision [BBC]

In an email to parents and carers the university said the decision was no reflection on the quality of care but was based on "a combination of falling demand, financial sustainability challenges and wider changes across the early years sector".

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An SHU spokesperson said the number of children attending had dropped from 52 to 39 in recent years, or which just 13 were children of university staff or students.

Richard's son, who is three-and-a half years old, also attends the nursery. He questioned whether SHU was doing enough to promote the facility

"There's no waiting list. If somebody wants to put their child in that nursery, they can do," he said.

"And I don't think the university's doing as much as it can to advertise the fact that it exists.

"I can imagine that there are parents out there who believe that because it's the Sheffield Hallam University Nursery, it's only available to children of students and staff - that's not the case. But I don't see too many places where that is corrected."

Callum has praised the nursery's care of his two children as "fantastic" [BBC]

Earlier this year SHU put forward plans for 27m of cuts on top of 60m of savings over the last two years.

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The University and College Union has previously called for a government-led public inquiry into how SHU has managed public money, claiming finances are "perilous".

At the time the university said: "The overall financial picture for universities is likely to be challenging for some time, which means we must continue to reduce costs and increase income where we can."

Callum, who has two children, aged four and 18 months old, at the nursery said he was worried the nursery was paying the price for problems elsewhere at the university.

"It seems completely mad to be closing an outstanding nursery. It just seems completely crazy," he said.

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"I think it must be they need to sell the building to make up for lack of funding elsewhere."

SHU said attendance numbers at the nursery had fallen in recent years from 52 to 39 [Google]

All three parents said without suitable care they or their partners would have to cut down their working hours, adding that they had not yet found a nursery with capacity to take their child until early 2027.

In a statement SHU said they were engaging with staff, parents and stakeholders as part of the process.

"If the proposal goes ahead, we will work closely with parents to support them, including signposting to alternative local childcare provision, and we are supporting our staff through this process."

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Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North

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Former President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met face-to-face for the first time during a visit to a Bronx child care center on Saturday, a moment that underscores the growing national attention surrounding Mamdanis tenure.

The two appeared together at a pre-K site in the Bronx, where they read to children and highlighted the importance of early childhood education. While both had previously commented publicly following Mamdanis election, the event marked their first in-person meeting.

Mamdanis rise to the mayors office has drawn significant attention beyond New York, with national Democrats closely watching how his leadership and policy priorities unfold. His election was widely viewed as a notable political moment, reflecting shifting dynamics within the city and the broader party.

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Obama, who has remained active in public life since leaving office, has frequently emphasized education as a cornerstone of economic opportunity in his entire political and post-political career. He has also signaled a more direct role in Mamdanis early tenure, indicating he would serve as a sounding board for the new mayor as he navigates the demands of the office.

The Bronx visit allowed both leaders to align around their mutual educational focus while also signaling a level of national recognition for Mamdanis administration.

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Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Though the event focused on a classroom setting, the optics of the meeting carried broader political weight. Appearances alongside a former president can serve as both validation and visibility, particularly for a mayor navigating the early stages of a closely watched tenure.

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As New York continues to confront challenges around education access, affordability and inequality, the visit highlighted how local leadership and national political figures intersect, often in ways that extend beyond the immediate setting.

The post Obama and Mamdani read and sing with Bronx pre-K students appeared first on Salon.com.
The local police chief and officer who allegedly entered Cincinnati schools, claiming to be with ICE, have been placed on leave.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Gratis Village Council decided to place police chief Tonina Lamanna and officer Jeffrey Baylor on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

As previously reported, Lamanna and Baylor drove over an hour to get from their department to the Cincinnati schools on April 15.

TRENDING STORIES:

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A spokesperson with the Cincinnati Public Schools said the officers visited three buildings, claiming that they were with ICE and needed to conduct welfare checks on students, according to a previous report.

The officers didnt interact with any students.

Gratis Mayor Kevin Johnson said he wasnt aware of their chiefs actions until other law enforcement agencies notified him.

The village of Gratis does not condone these actions. It is not the practice or policy of the village to participate in law enforcement operations outside of our jurisdiction, particularly those occurring two counties away, Johnson said.

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On Saturday, News Center 7 spoke to Lamanna and Baylor.

>>RELATED: Officers accused of entering Cincinnati schools, claiming to be with ICE speak out

I did not insinuate that I have a federal license or that I am there on behalf of any federal agency, Baylor said.

Baylor said the chief asked him to pair up on Wednesday for backup in an officer safety role.

He said he didnt know they would visit Cincinnati Public Schools or that he would be portrayed as immigration enforcement.

She had all the talking, I stayed silent the whole day because again, thats not my job, Baylor said.

News Center 7 also got a hold of Lamanna for a brief conversation on this topic.

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After being asked why she tried to check on children an hour and 15 minutes from Gratis, she said the information was Provided by ICE and only had 7 days to complete once they provided names and addresses.

Lamanna said she will provide more information once she is permitted to do so.

News Center 7 obtained documents that show the Gratis Police Department is an identified partner of the federal agency.

Earlier this week, this media obtained the following statement from ICE about the incident:

ICE does not target schools for enforcement actions. Yesterday, a local law enforcement partner attempted to verify school enrollment and conduct welfare checks on children who arrived unaccompanied across the border. To be crystal clear, this was not an ICE officer or an enforcement action.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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Students at an Oklahoma high school crowned their principal prom king after he charged, disarmed and was shot by an armed intruder at their campus.

Kirk Moore, the Pauls Valley high school principal, received the honor on Friday night after his students voted to honor him for having defended them.

Ladies and gentlemen, our king, an announcer declared at the Pauls Valley high school prom.

Related: Oklahoma principal shot while tackling ex-student armed with handguns

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Video of the scene showed students cheering and celebrating as Moore received the honor, with a couple high-fiving him in congratulations. One clip showed him walking in to sound of the Nickelback song Hero, the hit theme of the 2002 film Spider-Man.

Right after someone put a crown on Moores head, part of the songs chorus blared on the video: And they say that a hero can save us / Im not going to stand here and wait.

The jubilant moment punctuated a sequence of events that began with the attack in which Moore intervened at about 2.30pm on 7 April at his school about 60 miles (96.6km) south of Oklahoma City, a sworn police document states.

According to investigators, the alleged attacker, Victor Lee Hawkins, had two semi-automatic handguns and fired several shots before he was disarmed by Moore and another school staff member who arrived to help. School surveillance video captured the intrusion.

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Hawkins entered the school, pointed his pistol, and yelled for everyone to get on the ground, special agent Meric Mussett of the Oklahoma state bureau of investigation wrote in the sworn police statement.

The statement added that the alleged shooter pointed the gun at a female student in the lobby and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.

Hawkins then stepped out from behind the vending machine and pointed his gun at a male student in the foyer, Mussetts statement said. Principal Moore then came out of his office and charged at Hawkins.

Moore was shot in the leg as he wrestled the attacker, a 20-year-old described in court documents as being obsessed with the 1999 shooting at Colorados Columbine high school in which 12 students and one teacher were killed.

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Authorities praised Moores actions, saying he prevented a tragedy and possible mass shooting at his school.

It doesnt surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took, Don May, Pauls Valleys police department chief, told NBC News. Theres not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids lives.



Investigators said the alleged attacker was a former Pauls Valley high school student.

Moore said in a statement reported by NBC that he was grateful for an outpouring of love and support after the attack that he thwarted.

Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats, Moore said. I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as Gods hand, were available to me.
The Canadian province of Ontario is now selling a jet recently bought for Premier Doug Ford, after he faced criticism for the purchase of the private, pre-owned jet for C$28.9m ($21m; 15.5m).

Ford's office had said he would use it for official travel, including to the US to advocate against the Trump administration's tariffs. But after confirming the purchase on Friday, he drew flak from political opponents who called it a "gravy plane" and "out of touch".

On Sunday, Ford said in a statement that it will be sold "as quickly as possible".

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"Despite the best of intentions, I have heard and agree that now is not the right time for the expense of a government plane," he said.

Ford said the province was working with Bombardier and other partners on the sale. The plane is a Bombardier Challenger 650 executive jet, built in Canada in 2016.

"I will continue the work of building relationships with business and political leaders, both across Canada and in the United States, to fight tariffs, attract investments and create jobs for Ontario workers," he said.

Ford bought a pre-owned Bombardier Challenger 650 [NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Critics have been swift to paint the purchase as unnecessary. A taxpayers' advocacy group, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said Ford should "stick to flying commercial".

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Marit Stiles, leader of the left-leaning Ontario New Democratic Party, claimed Ford only changed his mind after "the heat [got] too hot".

"Doug Ford is turning the plane around mid-air for an emergency landing because he got caught living like a rockstar on your dime," she said in a social media post.

Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser accused Ford of wanting to "live like a billionaire" with "your money".

"Trying to buy a private jet while families are struggling says everything you need to know about Doug Ford," Fraser said on social media.

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Ford's polling hovers around 31%, according to an Angus Reid Poll from earlier this year. It is among the lowest in Canada for the premier who won a rare third-consecutive majority government last year.
For years, the Democratic establishment appeared to have known enough about Eric Swalwell to worry, whisper and warn. But not enough, apparently, to do anything.

As people recount it now, allegations about his behavior toward women have long circulated among Hill staff, California Democrats, Alameda County political figures, and reporters  some dating back to 2013, when he was first elected to Congress  yet none of this ever materialized into actual consequences for the now-disgraced former lawmaker.

Swalwell cultivated allies in Congress and fashioned himself into a minor Democratic star, a darling moralist of the #MeToo era who was entrusted by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) with helping lead Donald Trumps second impeachment in 2021. In 2016, Swalwells fellow Democrats crowned him the Snapchat King of Congress, a title meant to capture his ability to relate with young people. All the while, stories about his own conduct circulated widely enough that, by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) recent telling, Every member in Congress [knew] not to let any young staffer get around Swalwell or Matt Gaetz.

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Last Friday, four women came forward with sexual assault allegations in what appeared to be a coordinated release. Within a day, his campaign went from a haze of rumor to an outright collapse. He suspended his bid for governor and on Monday resigned from Congress.

This looks very much like an act of intra-party political assassination, quite possibly abetted by primary rivals. Swalwell has denied wrongdoing, writing in his resignation letter he would fight the allegation, oddly in the singular, while his attorney dismissed the claims as a political hit job. But with the weight and number of allegations against him, together with the growing evidence that people had known of his depravity for years, the Democratic establishment cannot plausibly claim to have been blindsided.

Top Democrats are complicit in remaining quiet when their principles  the very same ones they demanded the American public accept wholesale at the height of #MeToo  demanded that they speak. They were willing to sit on credible allegations of abuse until it became politically expedient to sacrifice one of the Democratic Partys loudest champions of Believe All Women, the moment those tactics served a political end.

In Californias jungle primary, party operatives had every reason to fear a scandal breaking only after Swalwell limped through June and emerged as the nominee. The cost to take him out early was low. His House seat was all but certain to remain in Democratic hands. Whoever made that call was no more morally righteous to the congressman himself.

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Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), whom Swalwell once called his best friend in the whole world, first insisted he had no knowledge of the allegations. Then he conceded he had heard rumors in Washington for many years that Swalwell was a flirty, social guy, while claiming that personal closeness had clouded his judgment. He now calls Swalwell a predator who lived a double life, lied to all of us, and manipulated him. (Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) now says a woman is prepared to come forward with sexual assault allegations against Gallego.)

Pelosi, who spent years elevating Swalwell and vigorously defended him during the uproar over his ties to Christine Fang, the suspected Chinese intelligence operative, struck a similarly implausible note. Now, she claimed she had no idea whatsoever. The suggestion that Democrats had turned a blind eye, she insisted, was absolutely not true.

Im not necessarily suggesting these party elites knew every sordid detail of Swalwells misconduct, but  even now, after the spectacle has unfolded, they incredibly persist in pretending to bear zero culpability for the arrangement that made it possible. Swalwell knew the party would avert its eyes as long as he played his part. But the congressman wanted more. In reaching for it he misjudged the central question of the affair, one the public still cannot answer: How much filth were his allies willing to sit on until it suited them to throw him to the wolves?

But none of this is especially shocking. It is disappointing, certainly, but the Swalwell affair is merely the latest indication of how politics has come to be practiced in the Machiavellian climate of a party establishment committed both to internal impunity and to public righteous indignation.

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William Liang is a writer living in San Francisco.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say a person died after bringing themself to a hospital following a shootout.

Officers responded to a call about a shooting into an occupied dwelling on the 2300 block of Dundeen Street around 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

When the police arrived at the scene, officials said they found that two people had been exchanging gunfire when a bullet struck at least one home. No one at the home was injured.

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But one person arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound. Police determined the individual was involved in the shooting.

ALSO READ: Mom says bullet hit teen daughters finger in north Charlotte shooting

The person, who has been identified as 24-year-old Zaquez Blakley, died from his injuries, police said.

Police are working to collect evidence and are investigating the scene to find out more.

They ask that anyone with information regarding the incident call 704-432-8477.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: Statesville man dies after home invasion, shooting call, police say
Pride flags will be on display at Philz Coffee cafes again after the chain's CEO, Mahesh Sadarangani, reversed the company's new policy requiring all locations to remove a "variety of flags and other decor" to promote an "inclusive experience" for customers.

On Friday, April 17, Sadarangani announced that the company would reverse its decision after he held a series of "meaningful" conversations with staff and San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford.

A photo of Philz Coffee location that opened in Aliso Viejo, California in 2025.

I made a mistake, and I am sincerely sorry," said Sadarangani in a press release. "To our Team Members, to our customers, and to the LGBTQIA+ community that has been with us since the very beginning, the confusion and hurt we caused around our new policy for Pride flags failed you.

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"The Pride flag is a symbol of safety and belonging for people who don't always find that in the world, and that is not something I want to take away from anyone who walks into a Philz," he added.

When the new policy was first announced in early April, the company faced a wave of backlash from Philz Coffee baristas, and the San Francisco and LGBTQIA+ communities.

"The pride flags within the stores hold deep meaning and value to both staff and visitors, symbolizing that these locations are safe and welcoming spaces for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity," read a Change.org petition started in response to the new policy.

Sadarangani on Friday reiterated the company's long-standing support for the LGBTQIA+ community and emphasized that "any Pride flag that was previously removed can be put back up."

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Moving forward, Philz Coffee will allow each of its locations to feature artwork created by local artists, staff, and neighborhoods in hopes of representing the "82 unique communities" the company serves. "A living expression of the diverse communities Philz is proud to be part of," Sadarangani said in the press release.

A majority of Philz Coffee cafes are located in major cities across Northern and Southern California and Chicago.

When Philz Coffee removed Pride flags from some of their locations, our community felt it. That kind of action sends a message, especially right now, when LGBTQIA+ people are navigating a climate that feels more threatening by the day, Ford, the San Francisco Pride executive director, said in the press release.

People gather in protest at the Stonewall National Monument after the Trump administration had the National Park Service remove the LGBTQ+ Pride flag from the site, which is considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, on Feb. 10, 2026, in New York City. The monument recognizes The Stonewall Inn, a legendary Manhattan gay bar that was the site of a 1969 uprising credited as a turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The decision to take down the flag has drawn backlash from national civil rights groups, LGBTQ+ advocates, and New York officials, and there is currently a plan to reinstall the flag later this week. Stonewall Inn owner Stacy Lentz speaks during a protest in front of the Stonewall Monument in Manhattan in New York, on Feb. 10, 2026 after the administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the removal of a Pride flag at the site. The Stonewall National Monument sits across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a National Historic Landmark known for its involvement in the beginning of the modern struggle for civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans. A person gathers at the Stonewall National Monument, where the LGBTQ+ rights movement was born, after authorities removed the Pride flag from the Greenwich Village site in New York City on Feb. 10, 2026. People gather at the Stonewall National Monument, where the LGBTQ+ rights movement was born, after authorities removed the Pride flag from the Greenwich Village site in New York City on Feb. 10, 2026. A person poses for a photo during a protest in front of the Stonewall Monument in Manhattan in New York, on Feb. 10, 2026 after the administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the removal of a Pride flag at the site. The Stonewall National Monument sits across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a National Historic Landmark known for its involvement in the beginning of the modern struggle for civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans. Stonewall Inn owner Stacy Lentz speaks during a protest in front of the Stonewall Monument in Manhattan in New York, on Feb. 10, 2026 after the administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the removal of a Pride flag at the site. The Stonewall National Monument sits across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a National Historic Landmark known for its involvement in the beginning of the modern struggle for civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans. Human Rights activist Jay Walker speaks during a protest in front of the Stonewall Monument in Manhattan in New York, on Feb.10, 2026 after the administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the removal of a Pride flag at the site. The Stonewall National Monument sits across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a National Historic Landmark known for its involvement in the beginning of the modern struggle for civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans. People gather in protest at the Stonewall National Monument after the Trump administration had the National Park Service remove the LGBTQ+ Pride flag from the site, which is considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, on Feb. 10, 2026, in New York City. The monument recognizes The Stonewall Inn, a legendary Manhattan gay bar that was the site of a 1969 uprising credited as a turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The decision to take down the flag has drawn backlash from national civil rights groups, LGBTQ+ advocates, and New York officials, and there is currently a plan to reinstall the flag later this week. People gather in protest at the Stonewall National Monument after the Trump administration had the National Park Service remove the LGBTQ+ Pride flag from the site, which is considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, on Feb. 10, 2026, in New York City. The monument recognizes The Stonewall Inn, a legendary Manhattan gay bar that was the site of a 1969 uprising credited as a turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The decision to take down the flag has drawn backlash from national civil rights groups, LGBTQ+ advocates, and New York officials, and there is currently a plan to reinstall the flag later this week. People walk past The Stonewall Inn after authorities removed the Pride flag from the Greenwich Village site of the Stonewall National Monument, where LGBTQ+ rights movement was born, in New York City on Feb. 10, 2026. The Stonewall National Monument, where the LGBTQ+ rights movement was born, after authorities removed the Pride flag from the Greenwich Village site in New York City on Feb. 10, 2026. Supporters gather at Stonewall amid outcry over pride flag removal 1 of 11 People gather in protest at the Stonewall National Monument after the Trump administration had the National Park Service remove the LGBTQ+ Pride flag from the site, which is considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, on Feb. 10, 2026, in New York City. The monument recognizes The Stonewall Inn, a legendary Manhattan gay bar that was the site of a 1969 uprising credited as a turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The decision to take down the flag has drawn backlash from national civil rights groups, LGBTQ+ advocates, and New York officials, and there is currently a plan to reinstall the flag later this week.

The initial policy decision came as President Donald Trump's administration targets history and representation for the LGBTQ+ community, as part of the president's campaign promise to remove symbols that represent diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the federal government.

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Ford noted that Sadarangani reached out to San Francisco Pride to learn how he could apologize and make amends with the community.

He reached out, listened and understood that this wasn't about optics. It was about whether queer people, and the employees who show up for them every day, feel safe and seen," Ford said in the press release.

"Mahesh sat with our community members, heard their perspective and apologized, not as a formality but as a person who got it wrong and wanted to make it right. That matters. San Francisco Pride's role is to sit down at the table and find a way forward that reflects our values."

Who owns Philz Coffee?

For nearly 20 years, Philz Coffee was a locally owned company, starting with a single storefront in San Francisco's Mission District before expanding to 77 cafes across California.

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In August 2025, the company was acquired by Freeman Spogli, a growth-focused private equity firm headquartered in Los Angeles, which owns other companies like El Pollo Loco, First Watch, Popeyes Chicken and more.

The sale was overseen by Sadarangani, who became the CEO of Philz in 2021.

"This is an exciting new chapter for Philz as we expand and continue our mission to deliver a high-quality, personalized coffee experience to our loyal customers," said Sadarangani at the time of sale.

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: Philz Coffee reverses policy removing Pride flags in stores
A 36-year-old man died after a shooting Saturday night at a southeast Raleigh apartment complex, and another man has been charged with murder, police said.

Raleigh police officers responded to reports of a shooting shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday at an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Walnut View Road, department officials said.

When officers arrived, they found Tyrone Vandyke, 36, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers rendered first aid until emergency medical services arrived. Vandyke was taken to WakeMed, where he later died from his injuries, police said.

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Officers also located the suspect, identified as Donte Young, 42, at the scene without incident. Young was detained and found to be in possession of a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting, according to police.

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App

Young was taken into custody and transported to the Raleigh Police Department's Detective Division for further investigation and questioning. He has since been charged with murder.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Vandyke and Young knew each other and were involved in a verbal altercation before the shooting, police said. No additional injuries were reported.

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Police did not immediately release further details about what led up to the confrontation or whether the shooting occurred inside or outside the apartment complex.

The investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional charges could be filed, authorities said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Raleigh Police Department or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Police officers were called to settle a schnitzel-related dispute in southern Germany after a man assaulted his neighbour for allegedly pounding meat for the dish too loudly.

Police said on Sunday that the 61-year-old resident of an apartment block in the town of Geiselhoring went to the amateur cook's flat on Saturday evening, insulted him and slapped him in the face.

Officers were called to the scene, where they recorded the assault and separated the two neighbours.
It has been seven months since a young man was shot and killed in West Philadelphia.

Now, the search continues for his killer.

The family of the victim, identified as Adrian Hardy, continues to struggle with his loss.

"They took a huge part of our family, we're not the same without him," says Stephanie Tonelli, Hardy's aunt.

The 23-year-old was shot and killed just before midnight on September 12, 2025 on the 800 block of South 59th Street.

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"He was a good kid, everyone loved him. He has friends everywhere," says Colleen Siebert, Hardy's mother.

According to family, Hardy received a phone call to meet someone on South 59th Street.

Minutes later, he was shot.

"If anyone knows anything to come forward," says Siebert.

There is a $20,000 dollar reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case.

You will remain anonymous.
The search is on for whoever stabbed a man to death in South Philadelphia.

Police responded to the 400 block of Tasker Street just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Upon arrival, they found a 30-year-old man who had been stabbed in the chest.

The man was rushed to Jefferson University Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

So far, investigators have not named a suspect, or said what led up to the violence.
An investigation is underway into a string of car burglaries and thefts in South Jersey.

Police were called to the Bateman Farms neighborhood in Washington Township late Friday night.

Home Ring camera video from the area shows the suspect trying to break into a car - before hopping into a white SUV and taking off.

Authorities say they are looking for four suspects who allegedly stole a Jeep and a Chevy SUV.

The SUV was last seen crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philadelphia.
Polk County voters will be critical to countrys direction

Mid-term elections are about six months away, which is a long time, but not too long to simply ignore.

Polk County voters will have the ability to help select several members of Congress and one U.S. senator. Per the Polk County Election Supervisors website, no-party affiliated voters will play a major role in making these selections.

The following are Polk Countys voter statistics: 129,981 Democrats; 190,610 Republicans; 109,801 No-Party Affiliation; and 17,914 Other.

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All members of Congress are up for reelection. Polk County is included in multiple U.S. Congressional districts, but only one will be heavily impacted by Polk County voters. That one is District 18 and is currently held by Scott Franklin.

The Senate position is somewhat unique in that Marco Rubio resigned to become Secretary of State. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ashley Moody to replace Rubio. This Senate position will be subject to a primary election in August 2026 followed by an election in November 2026.

In summary, the voters of Polk County can either maintain commonsense government by electing Ashley Moody and reelecting Scott Franklin, or they can return to the days of Joe Bidens presidency.

Edward McDonald, Auburndale

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Voice of the People, April 12, 2026: Trump proudly threatens genocide

77.3 million Americans owe the world a sincere apology

Mary Trump stated that her uncle, Donald Trump, destroys everything he touches. Trump's second term has spread his toxic policies worldwide.

Trump's oligarch, Elon Musk, without concern for how it affected people, dismantled USAID, causing the deaths of 750,000 people, mostly children. As of late, over 1,700 Iranian civilians have been killed by US munitions. The US military has had 13 killed and over 300 wounded in this conflict.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is totally disrupting oil, LP gas, fertilizer shipments. The whole world needs these commodities for energy, food production and industrial products.

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Gas and oil prices are surging, hurting the most needy people everywhere. Trump, on his own, is potentially setting the stage for a worldwide recession. The 77.3 million Trump voters should shoulder some of the fault for this international calamity.

Apologies and sympathy would be appreciated aimed at all those who are suffering from Trump's deadly decisions. This situation will take months, maybe years to recover to normalcy.

Daniel Brasier, Lakeland

Voice of the People, April 5, 2026: We can't afford this war

Think twice: The true meaning of Easter

In April, many of us celebrate Resurrection Day, Easter with baskets, chocolate eggs and cherished traditions. While these moments bring joy, we must pause and remember the true reason we celebrate.

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Easter is a reflection of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us and took away the sins of the world.

His life was the ultimate example of love, grace, mercy and righteousness. I am deeply grateful for his sacrifice, which provides each of us the opportunity to live with purpose and make a positive difference in the world.

There is a common misconception that those who walked closely with Jesus, including his disciples, were perfect. They were not. They were human, flawed, learning and growing. Jesus mission was not perfection but transformation. He called them, and he calls us, to turn from our ways and follow Gods way through grace, mercy and righteousness.

I hope you pause this season to reflect on how you live, not just how we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Because honoring Jesus Christ is not just about one day, it is about the life we choose to live every day.

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Shandale Terrell, Lakeland

Voice of the People, March 29, 2026: Polk commissioners and their spy plane trip

Right-wing hypocrisy at its finest

During the previous administration, Donald Trump, Fox propagandists, right-wing media, and Republican lawmakers instructed their listeners to be outraged with government spending. They encouraged them to demand answers as to how taxpayer funds were spent.

So, after six weeks of Donald Trumps war with Iran, and with over $40 billion spent, 13 military personnel dead and hundreds wounded, what have American taxpayers received in return? The Strait of Hormuz was fully open, secure and operating as a vital, toll-free and safe global shipping artery before the war.

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President Trump and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth both told us that Irans nuclear capabilities were obliterated after Americas attack on Iran last summer. The Supreme leader of Iran was murdered by armed forces at the beginning of the war and replaced with his son, so no significant regime change has taken place.

Are the current administration, Fox propagandists, right-wing media or Republican lawmakers still instructing their listeners to be outraged with government spending and encouraging them to demand answers as to how taxpayer funds are spent.

The hypocrisy is incredulous.

Michael Schwam, Lakeland

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Voice of the People, March 22, 2026: Lakeland leaders need measurable performance goals

President Trump is working hard. Congress should too

President Trump's Epic Fury is bringing change and attention to Iran.

The U.S. and Israeli armed forces continue to target Iran as President Trump is determined to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons. In his recent speech to the nation, President Trump confirmed that all military objectives are being met and that the conflict will be completed shortly.

Meanwhile, our congressional political leaders in Washington continue partisan politics that divide our nation while wasting millions of taxpayers' dollars. They continue anti-capitalism politics, using federal tax dollars to transform capitalism into socialism with a controlled authoritarian government.

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Today's democratic socialist political leadership is not representing the United States. They are not respecting our country's history, including American citizen birthrights, the rule of law and legal citizenship. Are they really concerned with our security and national debt?

It's time American citizens wake up and realize we need common sense and a positive approach in Washington. Please stand strong, unite and vote to strengthen and secure our country's future.

Let's demand an honest government in Washington D.C. that recognizes and protects the people's constitutional rights while representing all American taxpaying citizens.

Walt Back, Lakeland

Want to contribute?

Send letters to the editor to voice@theledger.com, or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj, or go to TheLedger.com, click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County voters will be critical to countrys direction (Voice)
The Post visited southern Lebanon with the IDF to see the newly established position in Ait a Shaab, a former Hezbollah stronghold.

The IDFs 162nd Division is currently employed in the western part of the de facto buffer zone that Israel has established over the past two months, north of the international border between Israel and Lebanon. The yellow line that now separates this area from the rest of Lebanon is located around 15 kilometers from the Israeli border in the area held by that division.

The IDF chose this week to allow Israeli military correspondents their first chance to visit the buffer zone in the area held by the 162nd. The Jerusalem Post took part in the visit.

The 162nd Division in Gaza and Lebanon

The 162nd Division, which is attached to the IDFs Southern Command, was engaged in constant combat in the period between October 7, 2023, and the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in October 2025.

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Its units were deployed in their entirety to the North when Hezbollah chose to join the renewed hostilities on March 4 of this year. Since then, with the world and Israels attentions largely focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the division has been fighting Tehrans proxy Shia militias in the green ascents and hills and through the villages of the border area.

The combat was fierce in its initial stages. Hezbollahs presence in the area was limited prior to the recommencement of hostilities, but it rapidly beefed up its presence in expectation of an incursion by the IDF. In the initial period following the incursion, the infantry and armored forces of the 162nd faced determined resistance from Hezbollah. Tens of anti-tank missiles were fired daily on the advancing Israelis. The Hezbollah defenders used sustained mortar fire and FPV drones to try to slow the advance of the 162nd.

The organizations tactics were not sufficient to prevent the establishment of the expanded buffer zone. The 162nd lost four soldiers who were killed in the course of the operation (three from the Nahal Reconnaissance Company and one from the armored 401st Brigade).

It killed 251 identified Hezbollah fighters, according to the divisions own figures.

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Prior to the current 10-day ceasefire, the division found itself engaged in the Sisyphean task of clearing out remaining groups of Hezbollah terrorists still located south of the yellow line. At present, both sides are replenishing supplies and preparing for the next round.

The intention behind the establishment of Israels expanded buffer zone is fairly clear: to maintain the residents of Israels border communities out of the range of Hezbollahs anti-tank missiles. Implicit also is the ambition to make impossible any future October 7-style rampage.

Nevertheless, the establishment of a zone of this kind does not address the wider problem of Hezbollahs missile and drone capacities, which can, of course, be operated and launched from further north.

Aita al-Shaab, once a major Hezbollah stronghold

Ayta ash Shab, where the division hosted journalists this week, was once a stronghold of Hezbollahs presence along the border. The IDFs Paratroopers Brigade fought a fierce engagement in the town during the war of 2006. Earlier, it was located in the security zone maintained by Israel in the 1985-2000 period. During that time, it constituted a significant base of support for Hezbollahs insurgency.

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An obvious question regarding the newly established buffer zone is why its creators think it will escape the fate of the old security zone from which Israel ended up unilaterally withdrawing in May 2000, without quelling Hezbollahs attacks.

At that time, the IDF found itself the target of a sustained guerrilla campaign, which maintained a steady toll of Israeli lives.

A clue to the way in which Israel hopes to avoid a similar result this time around may be found by observing Ait a Shaab. The village is not currently subject to occupation. Rather, it has been depopulated and largely reduced to rubble.

Mao Tse Tung, the Chinese theorist and successful practitioner of guerrilla warfare, recommended that an insurgent force should move among and depend on the civilian population the way that fish swim through water.

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Israel, south of its new yellow line in Lebanon, evidently intends to deprive any would-be guerrilla force of this vital element of civilian support. The pro-Hezbollah villages of Ayta ash Shab and Beit Lif in the 162nds sector have been depopulated.

The Christian village of Debel, by contrast, remains intact and unharmed. The second element differentiating the current buffer zone from its predecessor is the IDFs intention to maintain a far lighter footprint, avoid the establishment of large outposts, and rely on technical means to deal with any Hezbollah fighters seeking to make their way from the north towards the zone.

The soldiers of the 162nd Division were impressed by elements of the Hezbollah mens technical prowess during the fighting in March, particularly in their employment of the FPV drones. By contrast, they found the motivation and fighting spirit of the Shia militiamen generally inferior to that of the Sunni Islamist fighters in Gaza.

Few believe that the fighting in March and April will be the last round. The tactical race for advantage between the sides continues in the rubble-strewn border villages and further north. The larger strategic issue, meanwhile, remains far from resolution.
The Potomac River was named the most endangered river in the United States in a new report by American Rivers, which pointed to a massive sewage spill this winter and the growing footprint of data centers in Maryland and Virginia.

The report cited the Jan. 19 collapse of the Potomac Interceptor, which state and federal agencies have said released an estimated 243 million to 300 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the river. American Rivers and Potomac River advocates cast that disaster, along with fast-moving data center growth, as evidence that the river is under mounting strain.

As the backdrop to our nations capital, the Potomac should reflect the highest standards of water health and stewardship, Pat Calvert, Virginia conservation director for American Rivers, said in a release Tuesday. The Potomac is at an inflection point and cannot continue to sustain the rapid expansion of water-guzzling data centers drawing from its waters. Act now or watch this river be detrimentally redefined for the everyday citizen that depends on it.

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Betsy Nicholas, president of Potomac Riverkeeper Network, said the sewage spill exposed broader vulnerabilities in a region that depends heavily on the Potomac for drinking water.

What it did is spotlight to us how vulnerable we are, particularly with respect to our drinking water in this region, Nicholas said. This giant overflow happened just five miles below our drinking water intake for more than five million people  showing us that the infrastructure failure really does pose a significant threat to our health, our drinking water, our businesses.

Nicholas also called the region ground zero for data centers and said Maryland and Virginia are allowing the industry to expand faster than regulators are studying its long-term effects on water quality and water supply.

But state and federal officials pushed back on the idea that the Potomacs current condition is captured fully by the most endangered label.

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In a statement, the Maryland Department of the Environment said the Potomac is healthier today than it was a generation ago, citing long-term pollution reductions tied to the Clean Water Act, wastewater treatment upgrades and restoration work across the watershed. The agency also pointed to Potomac Riverkeeper Networks own 2024 Swimmable Potomac report, which found the river was safe for human contact more than 70% of the time on average across monitored sites over five years.

MDE said the interceptor collapse was serious but an acute, localized incident, and argued that data center growth is not happening without oversight. The agency said such projects face permitting and review tied to air quality, stormwater, wetlands, waterways and other environmental standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency likewise said ongoing sampling indicates contamination has remained localized near the collapse site and that drinking water for the D.C. metro area has not been significantly affected because water intakes are upstream. EPA says emergency repairs were completed March 14, ending use of the bypass, and that the agency took over daily sampling in mid-March, with testing set to continue through at least May 1 and results posted publicly through D.C.s monitoring page.

The debate is also playing out in Annapolis.

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Marc Korman, chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, said lawmakers in December overrode a veto of a 2025 bill requiring a statewide study of data center impacts, including environmental and water-quality effects. Under that law, the final report is due to the governor and General Assembly by Sept. 1.

Korman also pointed to this years Utility RELIEF Act, which passed the General Assembly on April 13 and includes new large-load customer registry requirements. Legislative analysts say that the registry will require disclosure to the Public Service Commission of information, including a data centers intended energy source and estimated water use.

I think I can safely say that we are open to further action based on the September 1 report and other developments that occur between now and a future legislative session, Korman said.

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A central announcement during the visit is expected to be the launch of a new direct El Al route between Israel and Argentina.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President of ArgentinaJavier Milei met on Sunday afternoon, during Milei's visit to Israel.

Netanyahu and Milei held a one-on-one meeting, followed by a formal signing ceremony for the Isaac Accords, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The Isaac Accords will aim to strengthen ties between Israel and Latin America, the PMO said.

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Statements were also made by both leaders, as well as by senior ministers, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and the Chairman of El Al, Amikam Ben Zvi.

A central announcement during the visit was the launch of a new direct El Al route between Israel and Argentina, a move officials had previously said is intended to strengthen tourism, business links, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

"Direct flights between Israel and Argentina will make the friendship between our countries even closer," Netanyahu said during the announcement. "Together with my friend, President Milei, we are expanding cooperation in economy, technology, security, and now also in aviation and tourism through a direct and fast connection. We will continue to connect Israel to the world  and the world to Israel."

"The direct route to Argentina is a strategic move that strengthens Israel's connection to the world and expands our aviation map to new continents," Regev said. "In these challenging times, when maintaining open skies is a national mission, we continue to act decisively in creating transportation continuity, making new destinations accessible to Israeli citizens, and strengthening the economy, tourism, and international relations. We will continue to open more and more routes, bolster competition, and ensure accessible, safe, and advanced aviation for the Israeli public."

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The flights would be flying non-stop, El Al announced during the press conference, beginning in 2026. Milei said flights should begin in December.

Sa'ar meets with Argentine Foreign Minister, announces plans for cooperation

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also met with his Argentine counterpart, Pablo Quirno, on Sunday, and announced several of the upcoming plans for strengthening ties between Israel and Argentina.

These plans included launching a direct El Al flight between the two countries, opening a 150 USD credit line for Israeli businesses operating in Argentina, and signing a Memorandum of Understanding on counterterrorism cooperation and an agreement on AI partnership.

The counterterrorism agreement, a GPO press release revealed, contains nine articles, whose purpose is to "contribute to the prevention and suppression of terrorist activities, to the fight against extremism and the ideology that fuels it, recognizing the countries' shared concern about the rise in acts of terrorism and extremism and the importance of addressing them."

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The cooperation will include training and development for the two countries' security forces and law enforcement agencies, as well as information sharing and exchange, courses, meetings, and other training programs. The agreement also includes the establishment of a joint working group with the powers to promote and implement these areas.

A second Memorandum of Understanding was also signed by the two foreign ministers on the topic of artificial intelligence. The agreement highlights future cooperation between Israel's National Artificial Intelligence Headquarters and Argentina's Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry.

"The partnership will address supercomputing infrastructure, application of artificial intelligence in critical civilian sectors, human capital, and joint research," the GPO press release stated.

Yesh Atid MK Beliak denounces Milei singing on stage at Independence Day rehearsal

Milei attended the dress rehearsal of the Independence Day torchlighting ceremony.

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Video footage from the rehearsal appeared to show Milei singing along with some of the singers on stage.

Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak denounced this on X, asking, "What does this have to do with Israel's independence celebrations?"

"Insolent and disconnected [from reality]," he wrote.

Shir Perets and Maariv contributed to this report.
By Nate Raymond

BOSTON, April 17 (Reuters) - A Tufts University graduate who was arrested by U.S. immigration agents last year as part of the targeting by President Donald Trump's administration of pro-Palestinian campus activists has returned to her home in Turkey following a settlement with the U.S. government.

Lawyers for Rumeysa Ozturk announced the accord on Friday, a week after the administration fired an immigration judge who had in January rejected the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's efforts to deport her.

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The administration had been appealing that decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is part of the U.S. Justice Department. It also was awaiting a ruling by a federal appeals court in its bid to overturn another judge's decision that led to Ozturk's release from immigration custody in May 2025.

Friday's settlement resolved all of the legal proceedings, her attorneys at the American Civil Liberties Union said, and let Ozturk return to Turkey unhindered after completing her PhD program in child study and human development in February at Tufts, which is located in Massachusetts.

The sole basis authorities provided for revoking her visa to the United States was an editorial she co-authored in the Tufts student newspaper in 2024 criticizing the university's response to Israel's war in Gaza.

"I am choosing to return home as planned to continue my career as a woman scholar without losing more time to the state-imposed violence and hostility I have experienced in the United States - all for nothing more than co-signing an op-ed advocating for Palestinian rights," Ozturk, a former Fulbright scholar, said in a statement.

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The Department of Homeland Security in a statement said it was "glad to see Ozturk self-deported from the U.S." It said visas that allow foreign students to study and work in the United States "are a privilege, not a right."

The ACLU said the U.S. government in Friday's settlement acknowledged Ozturk always had lawful status while in the United States.

Ozturk's case was an example of the Trump administration's efforts to detain and deport non-U.S. citizen students with pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel views.

She was held for 45 days in a Louisiana facility after immigration authorities in March 2025 arrested her on a street in Massachusetts after the U.S. State Department revoked her student visa.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Will Dunham)
Austrian police have found rat poison in a baby food jar in a probe that has seen the company HiPP recall the line over suspected tampering, with the firm stating on Sunday its production process was not to blame.

The HiPP brand's German base announced the recall at SPAR supermarkets in Austria late Friday over the possibility that "a hazardous substance" was introduced into its "carrot with potato" puree through tampering.

As part of ongoing investigations in Germany, police have seized jars in Austria, as well as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, police in Austria's eastern Burgenland province said in a statement late Saturday.

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"A sample of the seized product was examined on Saturday afternoon and tested positive for rat poison," they said.

HiPP said on Sunday that its "production, quality, and control processes are fully intact" and the incident "is in no way related to product quality or production".

"According to the current state of knowledge, as officially confirmed by the authorities, the case concerns only clearly defined sales channels," a HiPP spokesman told AFP.

"Products and distribution channels in Germany or other European countries that are not part of the investigation are not affected," he added.

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- Consumer warning -

Austria's agency for food protection said on Saturday that rat poison may have been introduced as part of an extortion scheme.

Customers were asked not to consume the product, which can be identified by a white label with a red circle on the bottom of the jar, and instead return it to the store of purchase.

Czech police on Sunday on X also warned consumers.

The scare is the latest to hit the baby food market.

Since December, several manufacturers -- including European giants such as Nestle, Danone and Lactalis -- have issued recalls of infant formula in more than 60 countries that could be contaminated with the toxin cereulide.

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Several infants who consumed powdered milk containing cereulide -- which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea -- have died, according to French authorities.

French prosecutors said in March the death of one baby in January "does not appear to be linked" to the infant's consumption of contaminated formula.

kas-frj-jza/rmb
For the past 25 years, Nashville has been one of the fastest-growing cities in America. New towers reshape the skyline, cranes dot the horizon and tourism continues to shatter records. By every outward measure, the city is thriving.

But for many Middle Tennesseans, that success has come at a high cost. As property taxes rise and housing affordability vanishes, residents are asking a simple question: If Nashville is generating this much wealth, why arent the people who live here feeling any relief?

The answer lies in a series of policy decisions that have quietly shifted the burden of growth away from those profiting from it and onto the shoulders of local residents.

Conceptual renderings show "The Pike," a multi-phase, mixed-use real estate development planned for the Dickerson Pike Corridor, just three miles away from the future home of Oracle on the East Bank.

Passing down the costs of growth

In 2006, the State of Tennessee revoked Nashvilles authority to charge developer impact fees. In most growing cities, these fees ensure developers contribute to the infrastructure and public services their projects require. Roads, schools and emergency services do not appear out of thin air; they must be funded. In Nashville, however, the state has decided that developers shouldn't have to pay their fair share, leaving residents to make up the difference.

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Compounding this issue, Nashville carries a higher-than-average share of tax-exempt property. State buildings, federal facilities, nonprofits and universities occupy valuable land without contributing to the local property tax base. While these institutions serve vital roles, the financial reality is unavoidable: A smaller tax base places a heavier burden on homeowners.

Opinion: Why is Waymo using Nashville as a test case for robotaxis?

This brings us to one of the city's largest revenue generators: tourism.

With $11.2 billion in annual tourism revenue and a $143 million surplus tied to the Music City Center, Nashville is not short on resources  its residents simply are not the priority of the state. Even as the industries profiting most from the citys expansion continue to flourish, the message to working families remains the same: Tighten your belts.

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This is not shared prosperity. It's a system where the rewards are protected while the costs are passed down.

Tourists cross Nashvilles Second Avenue Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The historic thoroughfare had been closed for five years before being reopened Dec. 22, 2025. A bomb inside an RV  parked between Church and Commerce streets exploded on Christmas Day 2020 doing damage to 65 buildings and killing the bomber and injuring eight others.

How Nashville lost control

The taxes generated within Nashvilles tourist development zone, particularly those tied to the Music City Center, represent a significant and growing stream of revenue. This is money generated here, in Nashville, driven by the citys success and sustained by its residents. Yet local leaders have limited authority over these funds, and residents see no direct relief from them.

In 2023, the GOP supermajority didnt stop at limiting local control; they stripped Metro of access to excess revenues from its own convention center. And today, the same lawmakers are pushing to take even more control over Tourism Development Zones across the state, centralizing power while local communities are left with fewer tools to manage their own growth.

Opinion: Is Bill Hagerty positioning himself to lead TVA?

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This raises a fundamental question of governance: Should a city generating billions in economic activity have the power to direct its own growth, or should those decisions be made elsewhere by officials who are not accountable to local residents?

This is not an abstract debate. When local governments lack the tools to manage growth, when they cannot ask developers to contribute and when major revenue streams are controlled externally by state politicians, the burden does not disappear. It shifts. In Nashville, it has shifted squarely onto working families, homeowners and small businesses.

Rebuilding a broken system

This is neither sustainable, nor fair. If Nashville continues to grow  and it will  its residents must not be treated as an afterthought in their own citys success. They deserve tangible benefits from the prosperity they help create.

That means revisiting the states prohibition on impact fees. It means having an honest conversation about the imbalance created by tax-exempt property. And it means ensuring revenues generated in Nashville are used to provide direct relief to its people.

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Growth should not come at the expense of the people who make a city worth growing in the first place. Nashville is a community, not a state legislature's slush fund. The people who call it home deserve a system that works for them, not one that squeezes them while politicians look out for their biggest donors.

Mike Cortese

Mike Cortese is the Nashville-Davidson County Metro Council member for District 4 and an adjunct professor at Belmont University. He is also a candidate running to represent Tennessee's 5th Congressional District.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How state overreach makes Nashville unaffordable for locals | Opinion
New Yorks $263 billion state budget has been stuck well past its April 1 deadline, and one of the biggest issues its facing has very little to do with traditional spending. Instead, theres a fight going on over car insurance between Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders.

Hochul has made lowering car insurance rates a large part of her agenda this year. Her proposal looks to reduce costs by targeting fraud, staged crashes and expensive litigation. It basically limits the ability of drivers with minor injuries to pursue expensive claims, lowering payouts for insurance companies and, theoretically, lowering prices for consumers.

But Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris has criticized this idea and Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz has added that this legislation doesnt actually guarantee that insurance rates will fall. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie are pushing against it.

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Theres now a lobbying war between trial lawyers, insurers, and rideshare giants like Uber. Trial lawyers, who stand to lose substantial revenue if injury payments are tightened, have poured money into this fight. In fact, theyve added nearly $3 million to more than 300 campaigns since 2021. Hochuls campaign has received roughly $200,000 from auto insurers during the same period. In response to the pushback, the governors office has openly attacked dissenting lawmakers, accusing them of defending a broken system that benefits the trial lawyers.

group of people walking on pedestrian

Despite this, Hochul continues to argue that the fight is a necessary thing to lower expenses. Her administration argued that New Yorkers pay an average of $4,000 a year for car insurance, roughly $1,500 above the national average. Staged crashes and other fraud add an estimated $300 to those annual premiums. Her office also recently announced that the reforms would protect public transit from jackpot legal settlements, saving the MTA an estimated $48 million annually.

So, while insurers promise that lowering the cost of liability and litigation will eventually trickle down to those signing the checks, there is no mandated pass-through forcing those savings into the pockets of everyday drivers. Until that is changed, theres still a fight ahead.




Irving ISD was a B-rated district as recently as 2019, but its been struggling with lackluster performance more recently. The district scored a 76 from the Texas Education Agency last year  a C rating. Thats a small improvement over the low-C scores it achieved the two years prior.

The district serves some 30,000 students, and about 85% are economically disadvantaged. Three F-rated and 14 D-rated schools make up roughly half of those in the district, according to the TEA. There are no A-rated campuses.

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Thats the backdrop in the race for Irving ISD board of trustees District 1  a struggling school district that was out-scored by peer districts in North Texas that serve similar populations of diverse and economically disadvantaged students.

We reluctantly recommend voters choose Tom Robles, the incumbent who was appointed this year after former trustee Rosemary Robbins resigned.

Robles, 77, has experience serving on local committees and commissions. These include the city of Irving Building and Standards Commission and the board of the Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation.

Robles talked about the importance of parent involvement and the need to keep the student population up. Like most North Texas districts, Irving ISD has seen an enrollment decline in recent years.

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One important issue on Irving ISDs horizon is selecting a new superintendent. Magda Hernandez will step down in December after eight years in the role. Robles praised her work and said he would look for someone with similar qualities in selecting her successor.

Irving ISDs property tax rate is about $1.015 cents per $100 of assessed value. Robles indicated the district should maintain its current rate. He said lowering the rate is not doable at this time, citing the states unfunded mandates like security requirements.

We understand school finance is challenging, but we would encourage Irving ISD trustees to actively try to lower the tax rate to account for rising property values that are squeezing homeowners.

We wish Robles had shown a greater sense of urgency about addressing Irving ISDs poor performance. And we were disappointed that he proved unwilling to take a stance on the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program the district is currently implementing. This initiative that pays teachers more based on higher student performance has shown immensely positive results in Dallas ISD and other districts.

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Also running is Kelly Snapp, 54, who works with a nonprofit that mentors fourth graders in economically disadvantaged elementary schools. She has volunteered with Irving ISD and has worked as a substitute teacher in the district.

Snapp was well-spoken and pleasant in our interview and struck us as someone whos very passionate about education. She articulated pragmatic ideas about standardized testing and interventions for struggling students. But Snapp was less familiar than Robles on the day-to-day logistical and financial aspects of running a school district. And she was unfamiliar with Irving ISDs adoption of a pay-for-performance compensation model.
Gwinn Area Community Schools Superintendent Sara Croney felt lucky when a "generational" snow storm hit her northern Michigan home  she only got 3 feet of snow.

Most of the families in her district, however, were crushed under more than 4 feet of snow last month. Her high-altitude, rural district of 900 students was out of school for four days as they dug their way out of the devastating blizzard.

"Our students and staff, it was to the point where (they had) cabin fever, 'we're ready to go back to school,'" Croney said.

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More: Michigan record snowfalls by county

Traffic moves slowly north along US-31 in blizzard condtions in Acme, Michigan, northeast of Traverse City on March 16, 2026. Many districts across the Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula asking the state Legislature for forgiveness for days missed because of a blizzard and other extreme weather events.

In all, Gwinn was out of school 14 days this school year due to extreme weather events.

Gwinn is one of many districts across the Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula asking the state Legislature for forgiveness for days missed. If they don't get it, they will have to add days of school or risk losing state funding.

Several Michigan House lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday to forgive an additional four days. It's not clear whether the bill will move forward, but if passed, it would absolve districts like Gwinn from having to add days to their calendar, cutting into summer vacation for both staff and students.

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"This is an interesting situation that we find ourselves in," Marquette-Alger RESA Superintendent Gregory Nyen said. "As educators, we certainly are always advocating for more instructional opportunity time, not less. Yet we find ourselves in a position this year with an extremely hard winter in the Upper Peninsula."

One station in the UPs Luce County reported 52 inches of snow over 48 hours, while a location at Cusino Lake in Schoolcraft County reported a two-day total of 48.5 inches, setting new record highs, according to the National Weather Service.

The Marquette-Alger RESA sent a letter to three legislators with signatures from superintendents across the two-county area, explaining how the hard winter had affected school days and asking for exceptions to be made.

"The severity of this winter has forced many of our districts to cancel between twelve and thirteen days of instruction, rapidly exhausting the three additional days available from the Department beyond the initial six statutory days," the letter read. "Moreover, conditions on several days presented a significant risk of falling below the 75% attendance threshold required to count a day of instruction."

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The letter also noted that winter lasts well into spring in the UP, and further cancellations could still be necessary through the end of the school year.

What's Michigan's requirement for school days and exemptions

Michigan requires schools to have 180 days on their calendar, but allows for up to six days called off due to circumstances out of the district's control, from weather to building conditions or other unforeseen issues.

After those six days are exhausted, school districts can decide to add days to their calendars or submit a waiver to the Michigan Department of Education to forgive an additional three days. Only the Legislature has the power to forgive any days beyond that.

School districts also have some flexibility to make days designated for professional development count as instructional days if those days have at least five hours of training related to instruction.

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"We know that students can't learn if they're not in school," Michigan Deputy Superintendent Diane Golzynski said. "So if we're closing school, if the students are absent, whatever it is, they can't learn if they're not there. And so our job is to assure that they're learning, which means that we need to assure that they get as much instructional time as possible."

What Education Department required in UP's Gwinn district

In the case of Gwinn schools, the Michigan Department of Education determined the district would only have to add two additional days. Croney said that wasn't bad, considering how many days they'd had off school. But it could still present problems for staff and families, she said, who may have other plans.

The district also has to have at least 60% of the student body present on those days for it to count; otherwise, the school could lose a prorated amount of state aid.

The proposed bill, House Bill 5797, would forgive up to four additional days for schools in 42 northern Michigan and UP counties named in the bill, as well as any other county that had a state of emergency declaration during the school year.

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The office of Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, did not respond Friday to a request for comment on whether the bill might advance. Similar bills have passed in previous years after significant weather events that disrupted the school year more than usual.

Nyen said he hadn't heard back from the RESA's letter yet and hoped the bill would move forward. While school cancellations are the norm every year up north, he said, this year was an anomaly. Many districts were out of school for a full week in March after the blizzard. The region, he said, got 100 inches more snow than an average winter this year, including over 4 feet over two days in March.

"There was a lot of attention given to the fact that this is a generational storm, and so we're not asking for the regular allocation of snow days to be changed, and to be ongoing, or furthermore a greater number of snow days," Nyen said. "We're asking for a one-off. This was an exceptional year, so were asking for some temporary forgiveness."

In the future, Gwinn said, she plans to advise staff and students to anticipate the need for adding days to the end of the year.

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"In the future, do not book your family vacation so close to when school is going to end," she said. "Because we don't know what this weather pattern is going to do for the following year."

jpignolet@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Record snow prompts Michigan schools to seek relief from adding days
The Chinese government is increasing pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled church while tightening surveillance and restrictions on an estimated 12 million Catholics, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

The group said in its report that the increased pressure is part of a decade-old campaign to ensure religious groups align with Communist Party ideology.

The Associated Press reported that the Chinese government has rejected the claim, saying Human Rights Watch is "consistently biased against China."

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Chinas Catholics have long been split between a state-run church and an underground church loyal to the Vatican. In 2018, Pope Francis reached a deal allowing the Chinese government a role in appointing bishops to ease tensions.

Watchdog Highlights Nations Where Christians Face Persecution Around The Globe

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during an international business meeting at The Great Hall Of The People March 28, 2025, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)

"A decade into Xi Jinpings Sinicization campaign and nearly eight years since the 2018 Holy See-China agreement, Catholics in China face escalating repression that violates their religious freedoms," Human Rights Watch researcher Yalkun Uluyol said in the report.

Read On The Fox News App

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"Pope Leo XIV should urgently review the agreement and press Beijing to end the persecution and intimidation of underground churches, clergy, and worshipers."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespersons office told The Associated Press that Human Rights Watch "fabricates all manner of lies and rumors and lacks any credibility whatsoever."

The office added that the government "oversees religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects citizens freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities."

Bishop Robert Barron: The War On Christians Is Real, And The World Can No Longer Stay Silent

A man looks on at a Catholic church in Zhuozhou, China's northern Hebei province April 22, 2025.

Human Rights Watch said its researchers are not allowed into China and that the report is based on interviews with people outside the country who had firsthand knowledge of Catholic life in China, along with experts on Catholicism and religious freedom.

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The 2018 agreement stipulates that Beijing proposes candidates for bishop, which the pope can veto, though the full text has never been made public.

In June 2025, Pope Leo XIV, who had just become the pope, appointed a Chinese bishop under the 2018 agreement and said he would continue to honor the deal "in the short term."

Pope Leo Xiv To Visit Fastest-growing Catholic Continent During 4-Nation Africa Trip

Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Bamenda on the fourth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa April 16, 2026.

"Im also in ongoing dialogue with a number of people, Chinese, on both sides of some of the issues that are there," Leo said. "Its a very difficult situation. In the long term, I dont pretend to say this is what I will and will not do, but after two months, Ive already begun having discussions at several levels on that topic."

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Since 2018, Human Rights Watch says Chinese authorities have pressured underground Catholics to join the state-run church through detentions, disappearances and house arrests, citing accounts from unnamed individuals who have left China.

The report also said China has tightened ideological control, surveillance and restrictions on religious activity and foreign ties, including requiring state approval for clergy travel, while officially recognizing and closely overseeing five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam.

Pope Leo Picks New Vatican Ambassador To Us As Trump Tensions Mount Over Policies

Xi Jinping said in 2016 he would "Sinicize" the countrys religions, a policy aimed at aligning religious practices with Communist Party ideology.

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Human Rights Watch said authorities have taken sweeping steps to curb religious practice, including tearing down churches and crosses, blocking gatherings at unregistered churches and seizing religious materials not approved by the state.

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The group said the broader "Sinicization" campaign has also led to intensified crackdowns on Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Report details rising pressure on underground Catholics as China denies crackdown
Iran's leadership opposes holding a second round of talks with the US, state media reported on Sunday evening, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that his negotiators would be in Pakistan on Monday for fresh negotiations on ending the war.

After a first round of talks failed in Pakistan last week, Tehran rejects holding a second meeting because excessive US demands, Washington's constant change of course and the continued naval blockade of Iranian ports offered "no promising prospect for serious negotiations," state news agency IRNA reported.

The agency described reports that a second round of talks would be held in Pakistan next week as an US-engineered media campaign aimed at exerting even more pressure on Tehran through recriminations.

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Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of violating the agreement, condemning what he described as "continued provocative and illegal actions" linked to the naval blockade against Iran.

In a phone call with Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian said the measures amounted to a clear breach of the ceasefire, according to a statement published on his website.

He added that such actions, along with threats from the US president, were deepening mistrust, and warned that Iran would firmly defend itself against the United States and Israel.

Trump announced earlier on Sunday that US representatives would be in Islamabad on Monday evening for further talks, but there has been no official confirmation from Tehran on whether Iranian negotiators will be there too.

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White House sources told dpa that the US delegation will include Vice President JD Vance, who led last weekend's negotiations in Islamabad that ended without tangible results, as well as special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, previously also reported that there will be no further negotiations as long as the US navy continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
Israel has divided the part of southern Lebanon it controls into three zones following the ceasefire between it and the Lebanese government, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

The so-called red line refers to the first row of villages directly on the Israeli-Lebanese border, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

Most buildings there have already been destroyed and there are no longer any fighters from Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in this area, the paper said. In some places Israeli ground troops have taken up fixed positions.

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The army initially did not comment on the report when asked.

Ground troops in zone up to 10 kilometres wide

The "yellow line" runs six to 10 kilometres from the border, the paper reported. Israel has also deployed a "yellow line" concept in the Gaza Strip, half of which it continues to occupy since the ceasefire in October 2025.

In this zone of Lebanon, which contains dozens of villages, the army's goal is reportedly to prevent shelling, mainly by rockets, of northern Israel.

Israeli ground troops are still deployed in this zone and there are still isolated clashes, including around the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil, it said.

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The third line extends as far as the Litani River, which is around 30 kilometres from the border.

In that area, the army wants to enforce its control primarily through "firepower and observation posts," the paper said.

Netanyahu announced buffer zone

When announcing the 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army should remain in a "reinforced security zone" in southern Lebanon.

This stretches from the Mediterranean to the Syrian border and is around 10 kilometres wide. It is intended to protect towns in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.

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In Lebanon, there are concerns about a permanent Israeli occupation of the south.

After the first Lebanon war in 1982, Israel established a so-called security zone in southern Lebanon. The last Israeli soldiers withdrew from the area only in 2000 after sustained losses.

The 1982 invasion and the subsequent occupation, which also aimed to prevent shelling of northern Israel, contributed significantly to the emergence of Hezbollah.
The post The Rise and Fall of Colombias Infamous Cocaine Hippos appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Colombia is currently between a hippo and a hard place as the region prepares to cull its most notable invasive species. Widely known as cocaine hippos due to their original introduction to the country by the infamous Pablo Escobar, these massive animals are causing trouble for locals and native wildlife. The hippos continue to reproduce unhindered, with populations growing beyond manageable levels. And now, the species poses significant threats to the ecosystem.

In April 2026, Colombian authorities officially approved a plan to euthanize hippos as the only realistic option for population control. However, animal rights activists are actively fighting the decision. In a nation that has seen its share of tragedy, some say this will be yet another traumatic event on a long list.

The Rise of Colombias Cocaine Hippos

Drug lord Pablo Escobar was notorious for his odd practice of importing illegal animals, one of which was the hippopotamus. In the 1980s, Escobar imported four hippos to keep at his personal zoo. They thrived at Hacienda Napoles for more than a decade. But when Escobar died in 1993, no one was tasked with caring for the animals. As a result, they escaped and roamed the Magdalena River Valley, where they reproduced in Colombias favorable climate, leading to a surge in the invasive hippo population.

Hippos remain partially submerged, which makes them challenging to spot right away. Memo Ossa/Shutterstock.com

Over the last three decades, the hippos have done irreparable damage. Experts predict that, left unchecked, the invasive hippo population may soar into the thousands. To stop this from happening, Colombian wildlife experts have tried everything from contraception to zoo transfers. In a dire effort to keep the animals from reproducing in 2021, officials used darts loaded with GonaCon, a wildlife contraceptive vaccine. The problem is that three doses are necessary for effectiveness, and only a fraction of the population was treated. It seems that no matter how many hippos are left infertile or shipped off to zoos in Mexico or India, the population continues to rise. With few options left, euthanizing the animals is the only recourse available, according to officials.

The Damage Done

Hippos are not small creatures. Theyre capable of causing significant damage, from trampling crop fields to disrupting ecosystem balance, and now, their numbers have grown so much that theyre a threat to other native species. For the locals, the hippos are more than a nuisance. Theyve become dangerous animals to contend with, especially in small villages. Few things can deter them from farmland, and there are even fewer ways to predict their aggression. As fields become overrun, locals also worry about defecation. Feces end up in rivers and aqueduct systems, spreading bacteria that could sicken humans.

Hippos defecating in riverways pose a major water safety issue in Colombia. Memo Ossa/Shutterstock.com

Since the hippos primarily inhabit rivers, locals must also be cautious when boating. For the native species inhabiting the river, the hippos become their biggest enemy. Hippos compete for food sources such as fish and can kill smaller mammals, including manatees, otters, and turtles. With no natural enemies of their own, the hippos continue to thrive. At this point, they sit at the top of an unnatural food chain in Colombia. Their population within the nation is an ironic, cruel twist of fate, as the common species is vulnerable in many other parts of the world, such as Africa. This adds another ethical layer to the proposal to euthanize.

But Is It Ethical?

Though the decision involves only euthanizing 80 of the estimated 200 hippos roaming Colombia, the government is being challenged by animal rights activists, who claim the authorized killing of any hippos is unethical. Their belief is that the current issue is a result of human negligence. As a result, the hippos themselves are innocent, with no blame for anything other than acting in their nature. The hippos have also become a tourist attraction in the villages near Hacienda Napoles, which further compounds the issue. Some residents offer hippo tours and hippo-themed souvenirs, which supplements their income.

Animal rights activists are fighting to protect Colombias invasive hippo population. Guillermo Ossa/Shutterstock.com

Not every government official is on board with the decision, either. Senator Andrea Padilla also described the mass euthanization as cruel, saying that killings and massacres will never be acceptable. Animal rights activists supported this sentiment, stating that for a country that has already seen so much violence, more of it is not a solution. Unfortunately, there are few options left. For example, the cost to transfer 70 hippos out of Colombia is a hefty $3.5 million, and all other management methods have failed.

The post The Rise and Fall of Colombias Infamous Cocaine Hippos appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that the United States will recover from the 2026 Iran war far faster than the United Kingdom and Europe, calling America "the indispensable nation."

Sunak argued that structural advantages give the US a larger buffer against geopolitical shocks. As a net energy exporter, America is shielded from the oil price spikes that have hammered import-dependent economies since the conflict began on February 28.

Why Europe Faces Greater Risk

In his column, the former prime minister pointed to a sharp asymmetry between the US and European economies.

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Trade accounts for roughly 25% of US GDP, compared to 60-70% for the UK. That gap means disrupted supply chains and higher energy costs hit European economies harder.

Since the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted in early March, Brent crude surged past $119 per barrel, levels last seen in June 2022. A fragile two-week ceasefire brokered in early April brought temporary relief, but oil still trades above $90.

Brent Crude Oil Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Sunak also warned that post-WWII security arrangements are fraying. NATO allies have long underinvested in defense while relying on US commitments.

A more transactional American foreign policy, regardless of which administration holds power, accelerates that reckoning.

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Sunak, who championed the UK's ambition to become a global crypto hub during his time in office, framed his warning as a call for Europe to invest in energy independence, defense autonomy, and economic resilience rather than hoping the old transatlantic order returns intact.

Whatever mis-steps this president is making, the United States itself will recover relatively rapidly from this war.



The same cannot be said for the UK and Europe. I fear we will soon find out why America is the indispensable nation https://t.co/qFHuLJslAG  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 19, 2026

The coming weeks will test whether the fragile ceasefire holds or whether a fresh escalation deepens Europe's economic exposure.

Read the Original story Rishi Sunak Warns Europe Faces Deeper Iran War Fallout Than the US by Lockridge Okoth at beincrypto.com
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  When Alina Dotsenko returned to her museum after Ukrainian forces retook the southern city of Kherson from Russian forces in late 2022, she found thousands of artworks had vanished.

I walked in and saw empty storage rooms, empty shelves. My legs gave way, and I just sat down by the wall, like a child, the Kherson Art Museum director said.

Before Russias full-scale invasion in early 2022, the museum held more than 14,000 works in a collection ranging from America to Japan. As the Russians retreated, they loaded much of it onto trucks and took it to Russian-annexed Crimea, according to Dotsenko and video filmed by residents.

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The fate of nearly 10,000 pieces remains unknown.

Ukraine is again raising its voice over the looting as Russia seeks to return to the world's cultural stage. Next month's Venice Biennale plans to allow Russian representatives to take part for the first time since 2022. Ukraine has said the event must not become a stage for whitewashing the war crimes that Russia commits daily against the Ukrainian people and our cultural heritage.

A rare documented case of looting

The Kherson case stands out because Ukraine knows exactly what was lost.

Years before the war, Dotsenko began photographing every item in the museums holdings, creating a digital archive. When Russian forces occupied Kherson, she hid the hard drives containing it. After Ukrainian troops returned, she retrieved them.

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Today, that archive forms the most detailed record of looted cultural property during the war, allowing prosecutors to work with Interpol to trace missing works and pursue those responsible.

Across much of Ukraine, however, such documentation does not exist. And cultural losses can only be pursued in court if they can be proved, item by item.

The Russian Culture Ministry did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment on the alleged removal of items from Ukrainian museums. In the past, Russian-appointed officials in occupied territories described the removal as protective measures.

Kirill Stremousov, the former Russia-installed deputy administrator in Kherson who died shortly before Ukrainian forces liberated the city, said removed statues would definitely return once fighting stopped.

Carrying catalogs through checkpoints

Halyna Chumak, former director of the Donetsk Regional Art Museum, fled Russian-controlled Donetsk in 2014, carrying what she could: catalogs documenting a fraction of the museums roughly 15,000 artworks.

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She spent a year transporting the catalogs through checkpoints into Ukrainian-controlled territory, leaving most behind as she tried not to draw attention from pro-Russian forces who searched her at each crossing.

Those catalogs covering just over 1,000 items are the only surviving evidence. More than a decade later, Ukrainian entrepreneur Oleksandr Velychko is digitizing them.

It took his team over three painstaking months to process about 400 works. Once completed, the database will be given to Ukrainian authorities, providing a partial legal basis to claim ownership of missing items.

Prosecutors turn to open-source intelligence

Officials say many cases across Ukraine resemble Donetsk more than Kherson.

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Anna Sosonska, deputy head of a war crimes unit at Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office, said her department is handling 23 criminal proceedings involving cultural crimes, covering 174 episodes of looting, damage and destruction.

The Kherson museum case is among the priorities, she said, largely because of Dotsenkos digital archive.

Sosonska said Russian forces often remove inventory books and other documentation from museums, making it harder to establish what was taken.

Prosecutors sometimes rely on open-source intelligence, tracking artworks through photos, auction records and other online traces  a labor-intensive process that cannot reconstruct entire collections.

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It takes time, but Sosonska noted that cultural crimes fall under international law and have no statute of limitations.

The scale of looting remains unknown

Ukrainian officials say the scale of looting far exceeds what can be documented.

According to Ukraines Culture Ministry, Russia as of March had destroyed or damaged 1,707 cultural heritage sites and 2,503 cultural infrastructure facilities including events spaces and galleries, notably the Mariupol Drama Theatre.

The ministry said over 2.1 million museum objects remain in Russian-occupied territories. Of the territories Ukraine has retaken since 2022, over 35,000 museum items are confirmed to have been looted.

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Large parts of Ukraine have been under Russian occupation since 2014, and much original documentation has been lost, destroyed or removed.

Russia has moved to formalize control over seized collections. In 2023, it amended legislation to incorporate 77 Ukrainian museums in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions into its national catalog, a step critics say effectively prohibits the return of looted works.

Appointed as Ukraine's culture minister in October 2025, Tetiana Berezhna said digitalization will be a key priority for her office to preserve collections.

If we had digitalized them beforehand, then we would know how many objects were stolen and what they look like, she said.

One case of accountability

A recent case in Europe has drawn attention to the possibility of accountability.

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In March, a Polish court ruled that Oleksandr Butiahin, a Russian national, can be extradited to Ukraine over allegations he conducted illegal excavations in Crimea, removing artifacts from a site Ukraine considers its cultural heritage.

Butiahin was detained in Poland last year at Ukraines request. The court's decision remains subject to appeal.

Sosonska described the case as the first time a Russian national could face prosecution for crimes against Ukraines cultural heritage linked to occupied territory.

For museum workers like Dotsenko, the issue remains deeply personal.

She spoke with The Associated Press at an exhibition in Kyiv featuring reproductions of the paintings taken from the Kherson museum.

While these works are still in captivity, we all hope the situation will be resolved in favor of the Kherson Art Museum. I didnt dedicate 50 years of my life to this museum for nothing, she said.  AP journalist Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report
Sandalwood High Schools band has been invited to perform in the National Memorial Day Parade, a major event commemorating the nations 250th anniversary.

School officials say the invitation recognizes the bands performance excellence and offers students a chance to represent Jacksonville on a national stage.

Due to a shortened timeline and the costs associated with travel, lodging and participation, the band is now working to raise funds to ensure all students can attend.

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Organizers say the group has already made progress toward its fundraising goal but is seeking additional community support. That includes raising awareness, sharing fundraising efforts and connecting with potential sponsors or partners.

The National Memorial Day Parade is held annually in Washington, D.C., and honors members of the U.S. military who died in service.

To access the fundraiser, click here.

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The Education Ministry announces the full reopening of schools nationwide, including northern communities, following updated security guidelines amid the ceasefires with Lebanon and Iran.

The educational system will fully reopen nationwide from Sunday morning, the Education Ministry announced on Saturday night.

This includes all northern communities near the Lebanon border.

The ministry's announcement comes after the IDF's Home Front Command updated its security guidelines amid the ceasefire with Lebanon and after the ceasefire with Iran, both of which came into effect.

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"The system has been prepared in advance for this scenario, and the ministry will provide and continue to provide all necessary resources to ensure the immediate and full opening of all frameworks," the ministry said.

Unlike previous decisions where local authorities were given control and flexibility, the ministry's decision is all-encompassing and non-negotiable.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch visits a school in Rishon LeZion as children return to classes following a ceasefire in the war with Iran, April 9, 2026. (credit: Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)

"The system is returning to full operation due to early preparation and out of the responsibility for the reality on the ground," Education Minister Yoav Kisch said.

Kisch: 'Important moment for students, staff'

"The return to learning in the school framework is an important moment for the students and the staff," he added.

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"We must all work towards an optimal and swift return to close learning gaps and strengthen social resilience," he continued.

"The ministry is providing all the necessary tools to ensure a quality and immediate return for every student," he concluded.

Schools across Israel have been disrupted since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion on February 28.
What happened to American exceptionalism?

Conservatives, and the MAGA cult in particular, embrace the ideology of American exceptionalism. It is the belief that the United States is inherently unique, superior, or distinct from other nations and has a providential mission to lead the world.

During this time of Trumpian chaos, how does American exceptionalism address housing, healthcare, and countless other needs of everyday Americans? Does winning the culture wars, imagining God is our military ally, or denigrating immigrants make America a better country?

In January 2025, Donald Trump proclaimed a new "golden age" of American prosperity. How is that working out for you? Trump is certainly more prosperous since he was elected. He can declare mission accomplished for himself and his wealthy enablers.

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We are currently witnessing the sad, self-inflicted decline of a nation with so much potential. American exceptionalism should be a challenge to enhance freedom, equality, and democracy. If we forget that idea, we cease to be Americans.

Sam Miller, Eugene

Why I'm glad Barofsky is running for council

I have been active in our community for 35 years, and I watch local government closely.

We are very fortunate to have John Barofsky running for Eugene City Council, Ward 3.

John has proven his deep commitment both to his Ward and the whole city, with two decades of volunteering on his neighborhood association, city budget committee, Eugene Planning Commission, the EWEB (public utility) board, and more. He is incredibly qualified to help lead our city.

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John is a lifelong Democrat, and will stand up against the federal attacks on our laws and our rights. Moreover, he is what we really need in city government  a leader who will tackle our local problems.

John listens thoughtfully to all sides; issues aren't simple, or we'd have them solved overnight! John has shown that with hard work we can address even our toughest problems.

He helped create hundred of units of affordable housing, helped lead land restoration after the Holiday Farm Fire, and brought stakeholders together to improve community public safety, including creating summer programs for youth and overnight shelter for vulnerable people.

John is a leader, a listener, a doer. He is endorsed by Peter DeFazio, Kaarin Knudson, City Councilors Evans and Groves, community organizers like me, and many more.

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We need John Barofsky on City Council.

Joy Marshall, Eugene

Stand up for democracy during this semiquincentennial

In the 2018 writing of How Democracies Die, authors Steve Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt researched democracies around the world that have indeed, died.

In their research they determined common themes and personalities. They studied folks like Mussolini, Hitler, Hugo Chavez, and Juan Peron just to name a few. The following is the four-litmus test to determine if we are in peril of losing our democracy:

Weak commitment to democracy rules, including freedom of speech and the electoral process.

Denial of opponents legitimacy. The politician describes rivals as criminal, subversive, unpatriotic or a threat to national security.

Toleration or encouragement of violence. The politician refuses to condemn political violence, encourages supporters to engage in violence and has ties to armed supporters.

Readiness to curtail civil liberties. The politician threatens to take legal action against or restrict the civil liberties of critics, including the media, political opponents and condemnation of the judiciary.

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Do these four things sound familiar? They are simultaneously happening in our country at this very point in history. We are faced now, more then ever before, with a choice. Stand up for your country and democracy, or be left scratching your head wondering, How the heck did this all happen."

Write your congresspeople and senators. Tell them they are not on the winning side if they do not stand up to the demolition of our country. It is the best 250th birthday present you can give our great nation.

Chris Masters, Springfield

Backing VanGordon for county commissioner

I strongly support Sean VanGordon for the Lane County Board of Commissioner because I worked with him when he was a Springfield city councilor, mayor, and a member of the Lane County Housing Policy Board. In all those roles he demonstrated he is there to serve others and not himself.

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As a former city councilor myself, its easy to spot people who want to do whats right for the community and care about others no matter who they are. Sean doesnt pick and choose who he will serve or who he will listen to. He understands a strong quality of life and a strong quality of livelihood are equally important. Hes someone who will treat every person with respect and consider every decision fairly.

We need leaders who are thoughtful and deliberate. People who act with respect and dignity. Sean is someone Springfield will be proud to call its own. Hes already earned that support as mayor. I urge voters to support him as county commissioner.

Chris Pryor, Eugene

Kori Rodley is a problem solver

I urge Springfield residents to support Kori Rodley for state representative. She is endorsed by our U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, the Oregon Labor Federation, and the Working Families Party. She also has the support of local firefighters and nurses.

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I have watched Kori Rodley serve the people of Springfield on our city council, where she has worked hard to represent all of us. She has experience working collaboratively across the political spectrum, and she sticks to her progressive values while doing so. She is a problem solver. She helped complete the affordable Alma Apartments at 16th and Q Street and is committed to building more affordable housing. She helped establish the drug treatment court in Springfield, and won funding for Willamalane childcare.

I trust Kori Rodley to continue solving problems in Salem, just as she has done in Springfield.

Jenny Potter, Springfield

Barofsky will represent Ward 3 well

I am voting for John Barofsky for City Council Ward Three. I support John for three reasons:

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He is experienced in municipal government. He has served on the Eugene Budget Committee, the Eugene Planning Committee, and as an elected commissioner on the EWEB Board. This kind of deep experience shows real commitment to the city, and is critically important right now, as Eugene faces challenges on many fronts. Leaning on this experience, John will be able to bring a critical voice to council discussions and lead in crafting solutions.

He has been a member of Ward 3 for 20 years, and has run a business (Beppe and Giannis Trattoria) in the heart of the ward for years. He knows the neighborhood and what makes it unique.

He is friendly, open to conversations (even during the busy dinner hour at the restaurant), polite and thoughtful if he disagrees. He has a personality that will work well with fellow council members, city staff and his neighbors.

That is why I am voting for John Barofsky for City Council Ward Three. I hope you do, too.

Derek Johnson, Eugene

How to participate on this page

How to submit a letter to the editor: Send your letter via email to letters@registerguard.com or by mail to 388 Pearl St. Eugene, OR 97401. Letters must include your first and last name, phone number, and city and state of residence.

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Elections letters: The Register-Guard will make every effort to print election-related letters presenting a variety of viewpoints and endorsing different candidates before ballots are mailed April 29. The last day to submit an election-related letter is May 11. Election day is May 19.

Local op-eds now accepted: Have more to say than a 300-word letter accommodates? Want to present a well reasoned, well researched idea for your community to digest? You can submit your op-ed for consideration to jbond@registerguard.com. Op-eds must deal with local issues, be authored by local people, and present factual information that can be verified.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Endorsements and democracy in letters to the editor
A sitting US senator just put four AI voice-cloning companies on notice. The numbers behind the letters are the reason it matters.

On April 16, Senator Maggie Hassan, ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, sent formal requests to ElevenLabs, LOVO, Speechify and VEED, asking how each company prevents scammers from turning their tools into engines of impersonation fraud. The same week, the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that AI-related scams accounted for $893 million in losses in 2025, across more than 22,000 complaints.

What Senator Hassan Is Asking Voice-Cloning Companies

Hassans letters want specifics. How do the four companies monitor for scam misuse. How do they confirm a person has consented before their voice is cloned. How do they catch attempts to imitate public figures or minors. Whether they watermark AI-generated audio and keep provenance data.

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These are the questions a prosecutor or a forensic examiner would ask when a scam call ends up in a case file. They are also the ones Consumer Reports flagged in March 2025, when its investigators tested six voice-cloning products and found four erected no meaningful barriers to cloning someones voice without their consent.

Hassan quoted that finding in her letters. She also cited the AI Fraud Accountability Act, a bipartisan Senate bill introduced by Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and Senator Tim Sheehy, which would make digital impersonation to defraud a federal crime carrying up to three years in prison.

ElevenLabs told Axios, which first broke the letters, that it has an extensive array of safeguards, including blocking the cloning of celebrity and public-figure voices and using automated and human review of flagged content. The other three companies had not responded publicly as of the release.

The New Hampshire Grandparent Scam Case Hassan Cited

Hassan did not cite the $893 million in the abstract. She pointed to a specific case. In June 2025, a New York man was sentenced to prison for his role in what prosecutors called an elaborate grandparent scam that stole roughly $20,000 from three New Hampshire families. The victims told the Union Leader that the callers used AI to mimic a loved ones voice and convince family members to send bail money. One victim described hearing her sons voice on the call, full of terror.

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That is what a voice clone does when it lands in the wrong hands. It turns an audio sample, sometimes three seconds of a voicemail or a podcast clip, into a synthetic version of someone a victim trusts. By the time the family calls to verify, the money is gone.

Why AI Voice Detection Alone Cannot Close The Gap

Detection is the first thing people think of when voice clones come up. Detection work matters. It narrows down what is suspicious. But detection produces probability scores. A tool can tell you a clip is likely synthetic. It cannot tell you, to the standard a court expects, where the clip came from, what device produced it or whether the person on the caller ID actually spoke. That second set of questions is device-level digital forensics. It is what happens after a detection score raises a flag.

On a grandparent-scam call, the forensic chain runs through the callers number and routing records, any recorded audio from the victims voicemail or call app, the device the victim used to receive the call and the financial records that show where the money went. None of that is visible to a detection tool looking at the audio alone. All of it is the evidentiary substrate a prosecution or civil claim eventually has to stand on. I covered why live deepfake audio pushes the evidentiary problem past what detection can solve in a recent column on audio evidence.

Hassans letters sit at the front of that chain. They ask whether the companies that generated the synthetic voice kept records an investigator could use. Provenance tags. Watermarks. Account logs. Whether the firms know who the user was, and whether they can produce that information when a fraud is documented.

The FBIs $893 Million AI Scam Breakdown

The $893 million figure breaks down inside the IC3 report. Investment fraud with an AI nexus accounted for about $632 million. Business email compromise with AI, about $30 million. Romance and confidence scams with a likely AI element, about $19 million. Tech and customer support scams, about $19 million. The rest is split across smaller categories.

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Elder fraud complaints with an AI component totaled about $352 million in 2025 on their own. That category includes grandparent scams, impersonation of law enforcement and fake calls from utility companies demanding immediate payment. McAfee has publicly estimated that three seconds of someones voice is enough to build a clone. Podcast audio, voicemail greetings, social media videos and recorded webinars all clear that bar.

What To Expect Next On AI Voice-Clone Legislation

Hassan set a deadline for the companies to respond. Whatever comes back will become the record Congress uses to decide whether voluntary safeguards are working. The FBIs 2025 numbers are the baseline. The 2026 numbers will tell the rest of the story.

Families asked to wire bail money should hang up and call the relative at a known number, not the one on caller ID. Banks should treat any urgent wire request tied to a phone call as a high-risk transaction and require a callback channel that does not route through a phone that could already be compromised. Attorneys handling a case where a voice call is part of the evidence should preserve the original recording, the carriers call records and the devices involved. An audio file alone is a starting point for a forensic examination, not the end of one.

The senator has names on the table now. Four of them. The scammers using these tools already had names for the voices they cloned. The rest of us are about to find out how much of that chain was traceable, and how much was not.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Gunfire erupted at Iowa City's bustling Pedestrian Mall near the University of Iowa early Sunday, leaving multiple people, including students, wounded and sending police scrambling to secure the area as the suspect remains at large.

Police responded around 1:46 a.m. Sunday to reports of a brawl in the 100 block of East College Street, a busy nightlife area near the university, Iowa City Public Safety said. As officers arrived, they heard gunshots.

Multiple victims were rushed to area hospitals to be treated for wounds suffered in the shooting, police said.

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Five shooting victims have been identified, police said, adding that one victim is in critical condition, while four others are stable.

Watch: Tybee Island Teen Takeover Erupts In Panic After Police Say Gunfire Broke Out Along The Pie

Five persons of interest in the shooting in Iowa City, Iowa, are seen walking, police said. (Fox News)

Students at the University of Iowa were among the wounded, the school said in a statement.

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"While the investigation is in its early stages, there are no indications any university students were the intended victims," it added.

Four persons of interest in the Iowa City, Iowa, shooting are seen walking.

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Police later released photos of five persons of interest in connection with the shooting.

University of Iowa spring campus scene in Iowa City including the Iowa Hawkeye mascot.

Authorities asked anyone with information or video footage of the shooting to contact Detective Cade Burma at cburma@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5275.

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Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers online at iccrimestoppers.org, or by phone at 319-358-TIPS (8477).

Original article source: Several University of Iowa students wounded in downtown shooting after fight erupts near campus
In 2027, there will be a new sheriff in Elkhart County. Current Elkhart County Sheriff Jeff Siegel is on his second and final term.

Michael D. Culp and Brian K. Holloman are the two Republicans seeking their partys nomination.

Michael Culp

Age: 45

Education: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology

Employment: Elkhart County Sheriffs Office

Family, hobbies, etc.: I have been married to my wife, Angela, for almost 25 years. We have three children: Phillip, who is an active-duty corporal in the United States Army; Makayla, U.S. Army ROTC at Ball State University School of Nursing; and Madelyn, U.S. Army ROTC at Ball State University, pursuing a degree in nursing. We attend Nappanee Missionary Church.

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Brian Holloman

Age: 52

Education: Master of Criminal Justice from Boston University; Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice & Criminology from Ball State University; graduated from Fairfield High School from Goshen

Employment: Elkhart County Sheriffs Office

Family, hobbies, etc.: I am married to my wife Sally who works at Beacon-Middlebury. We have three adult children, all residents of Elkhart County. We attend Faith Lutheran Church in Goshen. I sit on the Elkhart County Drug Free Partnership Board; Goshen Salvation Army Advisory Board; Indiana Alliance on Prenatal Substance Exposure executive board; Local Emergency Planning Committee; Community Organizations Active in Disaster; Elkhart County School & Club Safety Coalition; member of Dunlap Lions Club; member of St. Joseph Valley Rifle & Pistol Club; and a member Indiana Farm Bureau.

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Please tell us, why do you want to serve as Elkhart County Sheriff?

Holloman: I chose to run for sheriff for several reasons. Although I did not initially envision pursuing this role, colleagues throughout the agency encouraged me to consider it. Now in my 32nd year with the sheriffs office, my perspective has evolved because of the diverse responsibilities I have been trusted with by multiple sheriffs who recognized my potential. My personal and professional commitment to improving our community also aligns naturally with the demands of the position.

As my experience expanded through numerous certifications and hands-on work across the agency, I came to recognize that my approachable, people-focused leadership style and practical understanding of every division fit well with the responsibilities of sheriff. My willingness to address issues honestly and directly further reinforced that realization.

I believe meaningful change is needed, both internally and externally, and I am committed to working toward improvements that strengthen the entire community.

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Culp: I have a servants heart and want to improve the quality of life for the residents of our county. Strong servant leaders are needed to ensure our citizens and their constitutional rights are protected. This means finding ways to improve how law enforcement works with our community and adapting to societys ever-changing needs. The majority of our county residents rely on the sheriffs office as their primary police agency. The office of sheriff is one rooted in the ideals of duty to our country and dedication to service. It is not one to take lightly. I know that I have the experience, knowledge and the energy to take on this very important elected office.

What are your qualifications for this position? Why do you feel you would be the best person for the job?

Culp: During my more than two decades of service with the Elkhart County Sheriffs Office, I have a proven record of leadership roles within the agency as a dedicated law enforcement professional. (Ranks held include patrol officer, corporal, sergeant and captain.) This includes more than 15 years as a division commander with the rank of captain over both the Patrol and Administrative Services divisions. My internal experience ranges from handling human resources to serving as a SWAT operator.

I have served as the senior division commander for more than seven years and am the ranking officer in charge of agency in the absence of the sheriff and chief deputy.

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I understand the needs of our community and agency and will continue to work toward improving both as your elected sheriff.

Holloman: I have more than three decades of hands-on experience and a comprehensive understanding of the sheriffs office that no other candidate can match. I am the only candidate who has worked in three of our four divisions: Jail, Patrol and Investigations. I have led two of those divisions as captain.

Because of my broad, hands-on experience, I am best suited to take over the roles and responsibilities of the sheriff. My career includes service as an expert witness in crash investigations and impaired driving enforcement. I worked undercover drug investigations and hold certifications as a crime analyst, homicide investigator and crash reconstructionist. I helped establish the agencys crash investigation team and previously coordinated the Elkhart County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, a multi-agency unit. I have investigated and supervised investigations involving homicides, sexual assaults, robberies and crimes against children. Additionally, I taught criminal justice at the college level for 15 years.

If (re)elected for this position, what would some of your top goals be when it comes to the position?

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Holloman: The sheriffs office, and our community as a whole, faces several important challenges. Internally, we do not have a hiring problem; we have a retention problem. As a practitioner of deliberate leadership, I am prepared to address this issue directly. Improving retention is not only the right thing to do, but a significant cost saving measure. When we retain our most valuable assets across all divisions, we preserve experience, stability and the ability to better meet the needs of the community we serve.

Our community faces real challenges related to substance misuse and gang activity. These issues have existed for some time, yet they have often gone unacknowledged by elected officials. Meaningful change begins with an honest recognition of the problem. My willingness to identify issues, seek solutions, build partnerships and implement programs, supported by my hands on experience, places me in a strong position to make a meaningful impact.

Although Holloman did not provide an election website, in fairness since Culp included his, we will include Hollomans: holloman4sheriff.com/

Culp: My primary goals include: maintaining and enhancing the safety of our communities, keeping the roads safe for all residents, continuing professional service rooted in serving you with honor and dignity, strengthening the sheriffs office through comprehensive officer support and development, developing successful solutions to reduce recidivism and break the cycle of repeat offenses, and maintaining agency fiscal discipline in the face of budgetary issues in local government. I go further in-depth on my website, mikeculpforsheriff.com.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have refused Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico overflight permission to travel to Russia for World War II commemorations in May.

"Fico will once again not receive permission to use Estonian airspace for a flight to Moscow to attend the 9 May parade," Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced on Sunday, calling the commemorations "an event aimed at glorifying the aggressor."

In a video posted to Facebook on Saturday, Fico said Latvia and Lithuania had refused him permission to use their airspace. No official confirmation from Riga or Vilnius was initially available.

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Each year on May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

The Baltic states bordering Russia also closed their airspace last year to leaders travelling to Moscow for the commemorations last year, including Fico - who along with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was one of the only European guests.

Fico had already announced his intention to travel to the commemorative event in Moscow again this year. In a Facebook post two weeks ago, he said he planned to attend three international events, as well as the customary wreath-laying at the Slavin war memorial in Bratislava.

The first of these would be the concentration camp memorial in Dachau, for which he has not yet given a date. Moscow is to follow on May 9, then Normandy in June to commemorate D-Day, the Allied landing on the French coast in June 1944.

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He wanted "to pay his respects to all those who fought against fascism, and to those who fell victim to it and had to endure incredible suffering," Fico said in the video.

--- LEAD FROM HERE: Adds last five grafs ---

The Slovak leader has repeatedly criticized Western states in the past for not participating in the commemorations in Moscow and called for a separation between current conflicts and joint remembrance.

No overflight for Moscow's friends

Tsahkna said no country should be allowed to use Estonian airspace to strengthen relations with Russia as long as Moscow continues to flout international norms and persists with its aggression against Ukraine.

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Estonia and the other two Baltic states are close partners of Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than four years.

During World War II, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were occupied alternately by the Soviet Union and Germany.

After the war ended, they remained part of the Soviet Union until 1991. Most Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians do not therefore view May 9 as a day of victory over Nazi Germany, but as the beginning of the renewed occupation of their homelands by the Soviet Union.
SEATTLE  City advocates say they are struggling to find solutions as homelessness and open-air drug use spread across Seattles streets, amid growing concerns about the direction of socialist Mayor Katie Wilsons new administration.

"You can just see the foil is like blowing down the sidewalks like autumn leaves," Andrea Suarez, founder and executive director of We Heart Seattle, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

"Very common to see property damage of our parks and shared spaces. You can see Narcan is used to reverse an overdose, so you'll see cartridges. But at least we're remodeling the bathroom to be gender-neutral. I'm not [kidding] you, that's where our priorities are."

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Scenic Southern Cities Tarnished By Homeless Crime Scourge Must Hold Feet To The Fire, Gop Lawmaker Warns

Andrea Suarez, founder and executive director of We Heart Seattle.

Suarez, who founded We Heart Seattle in the fall of 2020 to clean up her city and public spaces, and offer resources to people in need, says her city has been overtaken by homelessness and open-air drug use, and she said it isnt getting any better.

"In this park alone, which is Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Lewis Park, and Sturgus Park, there's three connected parks here. In one afternoon, we picked up several hundred pieces of foil in the off-leash dog park, near the children's playgrounds, and the memorials, and the pagoda that's over here as well."

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"You can just see every one of these foils was a pill. It could have been a potential overdose," Suarez said. "So pretty jarring when you think about this being in our parks, at our bus stops, you can see the straws. You can see there's needles as well. And oftentimes we'll find that the drugs are still rolled up in the foil, and they get dropped. And we've had several hundred cases of overdoses and poisoning of infants and dogs."

Suarez said that King County Behavioral Health in downtown Seattle now provides information on how to reverse an overdose in dogs.

"That's how bad it is," Suarez said. "It's how prevalent this is in our shared spaces."

She said area stores will sell a "bubble," also called an oil burner, pizzo, or pilo, a type of glass pipe used to smoke substances including fentanyl for $6, and that King County gives them out for free "in the name of harm reduction."

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One Of America's Prettiest Cities Scrambles To Reclaim Storybook Streets From Homeless Camps, Drug Dens

Needles lie on the ground near Daejeon Park in Seattle.

King County also offers "harm-reduction vending machines," which give free naloxone, fentanyl test strips, as well as condoms, Plan B and "safer sex kits."

Suarez said that addicts will spend anywhere from $100 up to $300 a day on drugs, "if you have it."

"And if you don't, you might get a little sick, but if you can use more, you will," Suarez said. "And so, everything from retail theft, boosting, fencing, prostitution, men and women, huh? Yeah, men, and women. People don't hear that very often that men are preyed on, frankly, by perverts. And they will do anything to not get sick."

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Local conservative radio host Ari Hoffman told Fox News Digital in an interview that he believes the city is making its problems worse.

"Seattle and Washington and King County have spent a ton of money on what I call Homeless, Inc., which is fueling this problem," Hoffman said. So, they don't actually get you into treatment. They say, Here, let's give you foil, let us give you a pipe, let's give you a spoon, let's give you whatever drug paraphernalia you want and maybe a pair of socks and some condoms also on top of that."

Portland Da Cracks Down On Drug Crimes As Seattle Pulls Back On Enforcement

Homeless setup in Seattle's Daejeon Park.

"And because they are constantly fueling the people who are running Homeless, Inc. and these nonprofit organizations are making an excess of six-figure salaries, these massive huge salaries, there's no incentive for it to end," Hoffman added.

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According to Seattle.gov , in 2024, the city of Seattle spent $153.8 million on homelessness services through its Human Services Department.

Compounding the drug crisis is homelessness, which Suarez said has worsened under current policies.

"What I say in Seattle is we've actually removed rock bottom by services, by free housing for life, tiny houses, hotels, allowing tenting in parks," Suarez said.

According to local reporting, homelessness in Washington State is increasing.

When Even Obama Calls Your Homeless Situation An Atrocity, Its Time For New Solutions

Homeless encampment on city sidewalk.

The Washington State Standard reported in August that the total number of individuals counted as homeless is a 4.4% increase from 2024 and a 25% increase overall from 2022. Additionally, the year-over-year increase was approximately consistent with the 4.07% rise from 2023 to 2024, but below the 14.8% jump between 2022 and 2023.

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On her campaign website, Wilson said she wants to end "unsheltered homelessness."

"We cant afford four more years of inaction, with empty tiny homes sitting in storage lots," Wilson said on her campaign website. "We can end unsheltered homelessness. We can reduce public disorder and misery by providing the care that people need, in dignified settings  not leaving people in the streets or moving them around endlessly. We know what works. Whats lacking is the political will to bring solutions to scale."

Local outlet KOMO News reported April 8 that Wilson spoke with members of the Shelter Expansion Community Action Team about opening 1,000 new shelter units and emergency housing this year.

The Seattle City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed two ordinances related to Wilsons campaign promise to increase the number of shelters in the city. The council approved $5 million in funding and expanded Wilson's authority to scale up the number of "tiny homes" in existing city-run villages. The funding is tied to Wilson's larger $17.5 million plan to create 500 new tiny homes by June. She hopes to double that number by the end of 2026.

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"We have to aspire to something higher than pushing an encampment around the corner so its a problem for a different block," Wilson said.

As Socialist Mayor Battles Ice, Seattle Police And Crime Victims Say Repeat Offenders Are Terrorizing The City

A Seattle city street with a homeless encampment.

According to Suarez, results may be far from ideal if housing does not come with conditions.

"The permanent supportive housing that we fund in Seattle, since there's no requirement to get clean, you're essentially housing somebody with a permanent drug addict's neighbor and likely their dealer," Suarez said.

"And you'll read in my Seattle Times article , how are you supposed to get better when the fox is guarding the hen house," she asked. "I mean, that's just like, Oh, I just need them to get stabilized, and then they can think about moving on with their life and getting help and reaching self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, the entire house is using. So there's absolutely no free, clean and sober housing in Seattle. There's like, you can't find it."

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In a new interview on "On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti," Wilson was asked about the services Seattle provides to fix the homelessness problem. She acknowledged there was a problem with the way they were dispensed.

"Seattle provides a lot of services, not enough, but I think part of the problem is not just the amount, but also the way that those services are provided. And for example, mobile treatment vans that are going around trying to provide drug treatment to like people living in encampments," she said.

"Then you lose track of that person, and they're still living unsheltered, nothing against mobile treatment vans, actually. They have a very important place in the ecosystem. But the point I'm trying to make is that we create this system of dead ends where you're starting to provide a service, but then you don't have all of the pieces that are needed to make that really successful."

In the same interview, Wilson discussed her "socialist" label, saying "we need a really fundamental restructuring of our society and our economy."

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Seattle's Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is a low-barrier housing provider, meaning that they are made for individuals who are homeless who may not be accepted into traditional, high-barrier shelters.

In March, Suarez posted a video on X showing a resident of the Interbay Village Tiny Home Community in Seattle, which is part of LIHI , showing Suarez around the property, and an empty tiny home with a few chairs inside.

Seattle Mayor Pushes Local Police To Track, Investigate Ice Agents' Enforcement Activities

Homeless in Seattle's Lewis Park.

In the video, the resident told Suarez that the space is used by others to take drugs, including fentanyl.

But Suarez said there is no clear plan for people who refuse to use housing options provided by the city.

"We're asking our leadership, what is your plan for people who will never take a tiny house, who will never even take an apartment because they don't even want to ever have to get ID," Suarez said. "These are people that want to be off the grid, do their drugs, be left alone, and they're doing it in plain sight on a sidewalk."

However, state Rep. Shaun Scott of Seattle, a member of the Seattle Democratic Socialists of America , said he believes state-provided services and "compassion" are the answer.

"Understand that somebody who's struggling with either addiction or with houselessness or the overlap between the two, we need to have a compassionate response," Scott said.

Fatal Drug Combination Sparks Alert As 'Rhino Tranq Spreads Across Us

"And so I believe that we are successful to the extent that we go in that direction. And I'm not asking you to believe me on this question," he added. "I'm asking you to actually believe the Chamber of Commerce-funded study that indicated in 2018 that in order for the King County area to effectively address houselessness in our state and in our county, we would have to spend something like $400 million annually for about a decade. That is the business community's own response to how it is that we would make our state, make our county in King County, make the city of Seattle, one that's a lot more friendly to people who are experiencing houselessness. And I believe that that is true. I believe we need to go in the direction of fully funding those kinds of services, housing services, social services, we would see a dramatic reduction."

Scott also criticized encampment sweeps, suggesting that "criminalizing" homelessness has done little to reduce the number of encampments and the levels of open-air drug use in the city.

On Wednesday, an encampment at the Rotary Viewpoint Park in West Seattle was swept  a move that critics and advocates say contradicts Wilson's previously proposed strategies.

Leading up to her election, Wilson signaled that the city should prioritize long-term housing solutions instead of displacing the homeless.

"I think this is the opposite of an out of sight, out of mind approach, right? Like we're really doing this work intentionally so that we don't have to just sweep people into other neighborhoods," Wilson previously stated, regarding her approach to homelessness.

Hector, an addict to whom We Heart Seattle has offered treatment many times, told Fox News Digital that he has been having a "hard time."

The number one drug people are using in the area is "Fetty," according to Hector. He cautioned young people to stay away from it.

"The younger people, don't waste their lives on drugs," Hector said. "It's a waste of time, waste of money, waste of life."

Hector and Andrea Suarez, founder of We Heart Seattle. (Fox News)

Tanya Woo, a former appointed City Council member whose family immigrated to Seattle in 1887, told Fox News Digital she is concerned for the future of her city.

"I grew up in this community, I'm a fifth-generation Seattleite, and I've seen a lot of changes in the last couple of years, recent changes that kind of have made me really sad about this neighborhood. It used to be a vibrant community where people from all over the state would come and go shopping and eat and visit," Woo said. "And now it's really empty, and it's tough because a lot of the people who come here are afraid, because we do have a negative public safety reputation in this area."

While some, like Scott, say compassion is the goal, Suarez said the approach is falling short.

"Anybody that is in recovery and has been clean and sober for at least a year or years will tell you, You know, I had to go to jail and sweat it out. I had to be on parole. I had to [urinate] in a cup once a week. I had to show up somewhere to someone. My peer support specialist, my AA sponsor, my parole officer," Suarez said. "Without accountability, we are prolonging human suffering, and there's nothing compassionate about trapping a person in their cycle of addiction."

A spokesperson for public health in Seattle and King County told Fox News Digital in a statement, "King County has invested in a wide variety of actions to address opioid overdoses, including increasing access to treatment, providing medications, distributing overdose reversal drugs, and establishing places to go for care  you can read more in this blog post . Weve seen promising results  over the past two years, fatal overdoses in King County have decreased 32%."

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A discarded shoe left at an abandoned homeless camp near Daejeon Park.

The spokesperson added, "Were not distributing flyers about how to reverse an overdose in a dog. If clients ask our staff for this information, we have a flyer from an outside organization that we offer. We dont collect data on overdoses in dogs, but we dont have any indication its an issue locally."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Wilson for comment.





Original article source: Will socialism save Seattle? City advocates struggle to find solutions as homeless, drug addicts flood streets
The grieving son of a 78-year-old innocent bystander shot in the Bronx said his fathers death and the recent stray bullet slay of a Brooklyn infant should be a wake-up call to the city.

Theres a crisis with Black and brown young people  and theyre just having access to guns and unfortunately nobodys speaking about the crisis, said Darryl Spence, whose father, Edgar Spence, was shot Thursday night.

The 7-month-old baby, not long ago. A 78-year-old man  Who else do we need to lose before we realize this is a crisis?

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At the time of Edgar Spences slaying, the city was still reeling from the April 1 shooting death of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore, allegedly by a 21-year-old gunman riding on the back of a moped in East Williamsburg.

Both the accused shooter and the 18-year-old moped operator have since been arrested on murder charges, while Edgar Spences slaying remains unsolved.

On Thursday, another horrific crime rattled the city 15-year-old Jaden Pierre was beaten and fatally shot at point-blank range in a Queens playground.

Video shows at least three teenagers repeatedly punch and kick Jaden inside the Nautilus Playground at Roy Wilkins Park near Baisley and Merrick Blvds. in South Jamaica before hes shot in the chest. Police have made no arrests.

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In the days after little Kaoris shooting, Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez announced a gang takedown in Brownsville, and announced hes expanding a restorative justice program aimed at identifying at-risk young people and getting them therapy and other resources before they turn to a gun.

I hope that we make the investments we need to make so that men know how to solve their personal beefs with each other without resorting to senseless gun violence, he said to reporters April 7

These men are shooting in broad daylight with many, many children in the forefront or the background of these shootings. We have to prevent this.

Brooklyn has seen a decline in gun violence but these cases shake us, he added.

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Despite the recent case of high profile indiscriminate violence, the murder rate continues to drop across the five boroughs, with 65 slayings citywide this year through April 12, a 22% drop from the 84 slayings by that time last year.

The NYPD has boasted that the city has seen the lowest number of murders and shootings in the first three months of the year in recorded history.

Edgar Spence was sitting on the scooter playing cards with friends when he was struck by gunfire near Alexander Ave. and E. 135th St. outside his home in NYCHAs Mitchel Houses in Mott Haven, his son said.

Nobody deserves to die in their scooter just trying to enjoy their last stage of life, outside, Darryl Spence said. He liked to go in the park. It was people his age there and he felt comfortable with those people. They would sit out there and play their oldies and just kind of enjoy life.

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Neighbor Karen Ware, 61, who affectionately calls the victim Grandpa though they are not related, was with Edgar Spence just before he was killed.

Grandpa was a good person. He would help anybody, she said, wiping away tears. That day we was all sit out. We was listening to music. I said, All right, Grandpa, Im going upstairs.'

He was sitting right there with a couple of guys, his buddies, because they always sit together, she added. Joking, laughing.

Darryl Spence described his dad as fun and generous, but a stern parent who always looked out for his six children.

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Some things you dont understand as a child. But he prepared us for what we needed to do in life and become productive citizens, he said. Thats what the legacy is, what people say after youre gone.

Edgar Spence grew up in Harlem and worked as a plumber for most of his life. His family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.

His body just was breaking down and he needed a hip replacement, the son said. Thats why he was in a scooter. But he had a 100% clean bill of health.

I hope the police officers use all their resources to find justice for my father, he added.
A class action settlement over the 2022 Tangoe US data breach is now paying up to $5,750 per person to people whose Social Security numbers, medical information and financial account data were exposed. Claims must be filed by June 3, 2026. The final approval hearing is set for June 11, 2026 at 11 a.m. Eastern in Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis, according to the court-approved settlement notice.

The case is Kevin McLinden v. Tangoe US, Inc., Case No. 49D06-2312-PL-048384. Most consumers have never heard of Tangoe. That is part of why this one matters.

What Happened In The November 2022 Tangoe Breach

Tangoe is a business-to-business company that manages telecom, mobile and cloud expenses for large enterprises. Its clients sit across finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing and hospitality. When a vendor like that is breached, the people exposed are not the vendors customers. They are the customers' employees and dependents.

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According to Tangoes data breach notice filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General, an unknown third party accessed certain Tangoe computer systems between November 15 and November 17, 2022. Tangoe discovered the activity on November 17, 2022. A later review, conducted between July 27 and September 19, 2023, determined that the impacted systems contained documents with protected health information tied to former employees and dependents of Tangoe's corporate clients. Tangoe began notifying affected people on November 1, 2023, about a year after the intrusion.

What Data The Tangoe Breach Exposed

The categories of information that may have been compromised: names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical information, health insurance information, medication information, medical billing and claims information and financial account information.

That combination is about as bad as a consumer breach gets. A Social Security number alone is enough to open fraudulent credit. Medical information plus health insurance details enable medical identity theft, which is harder to unwind than financial fraud because it can corrupt a victims medical record. Financial account data rounds out the set.

The B2B-vendor angle is the reason most people in the class will miss this. You did not sign up for Tangoe. Your former employer did. If you worked at a company that used Tangoe between roughly 2020 and 2022 and you got a notice letter in late 2023 you barely remember, you are in the class.

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This pattern is not new. I covered a similar case in December when a credit-check vendor exposed 5.6 million Social Security numbers of recent car buyers. Same structure, different industry. The consumer never heard of the vendor, but their SSN was still on its servers.

How Much You Can Claim From The Tangoe Settlement

The Tangoe settlement is structured so real money goes to people who actually file. Class counsel is asking the court to approve $195,000 in attorneys fees and costs plus a $2,500 service award for the class representative. Both are paid by Tangoe, not out of a fund for victims.

Class members can file for any of the following:

Up to $750 for documented ordinary losses, which can include out-of-pocket costs tied to the breach plus lost time at $25 per hour, capped at four hours or $100.

Up to $5,000 for documented extraordinary losses, meaning actual identity theft or fraud that the claimant can tie back to the breach.

A $50 flat alternative cash payment for class members who cannot or prefer not to document losses.

Two years of three-bureau credit monitoring with $1 million in identity theft insurance.

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The maximum per-person cash recovery is $5,750 for claimants who can document both ordinary and extraordinary losses. There is no fixed total fund being divided among the class, so claim amounts will not be pro-rated down if many people file.

Who Qualifies For The Tangoe Settlement

The class is defined as all U.S. residents, or their successors or assigns, whose private information was impacted by the November 2022 Tangoe security incident. In practical terms that means former employees of any company that used Tangoe for telecom expense management or managed mobility services, along with their dependents, whose data sat on the systems that were breached.

If you received a notice letter in late 2023 from Tangoe US, you are in the class. The settlement notice you received in 2026 includes a unique ID and PIN for the online claim portal.

How To File A Tangoe Claim Before June 3

The official settlement website hosts the online claim form and a PDF version that can be printed and mailed. Mailed claims go to Tangoe Security Incident Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958. The administrators email is info@TangoeUSDataSettlement.com.

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Key dates to track, all confirmed on the official site and in the court notice:

Opt-out deadline: May 4, 2026

Objection deadline: May 4, 2026

Claim deadline: June 3, 2026

Final approval hearing: June 11, 2026 at 11 a.m. Eastern

Documented-loss claims require receipts, account statements, police reports or similar evidence. The $50 alternative payment requires no documentation but still requires a submitted claim.

What To Watch For After The Tangoe Settlement

Settlement announcements draw scammers. Expect phishing emails, texts and robocalls that claim to help file your Tangoe claim in exchange for a fee, your Social Security number or your bank information. The real settlement administrator does not charge claimants. The real website is tangoeusdatasettlement.com. No one legitimate will call asking for your full Social Security number to process your claim.

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Assume the exposed data is in the hands of criminals who will eventually use it. Place a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Freezes are free and can be lifted temporarily when you apply for credit. For medical identity theft specifically, request an accounting of disclosures from any insurer listed on the Tangoe notice and watch explanation-of-benefits statements for charges tied to care you did not receive.

File before June 3. The pay-per-claim structure means the money is there. It just has to be asked for.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
EDITORS NOTE: This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive its biggest stories as soon as theyre published.

The Texas Medical Board has disciplined three doctors ProPublica previously investigated whose patients died after receiving delayed or inappropriate pregnancy care under the states strict abortion ban.

Two of the doctors failed to properly intervene as a pregnant teenager repeatedly sought care for life-threatening complications, the board found. The third did not provide a dilation and curettage procedure to empty a miscarrying patients uterus, and she ultimately bled to death.

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As ProPublica investigated those preventable deaths and five others across three states in the past few years, reporters found that abortion bans have influenced how doctors and hospitals respond to pregnancy complications. Facing risks of prison time and professional ruin, doctors have delayed key interventions until they can document that a fetus heart is no longer beating or that a case meets a narrow legal exception. Some physicians say their colleagues are discharging or transferring pregnant patients instead of taking responsibility for their care.

Doctors and lawyers have questioned why medical boards, which oversee physician licensing and investigate substandard care, have not played a more active role in guiding doctors on how to uphold medical standards within the constraints of the law. When asked by ProPublica in 2024 what recourse miscarrying patients had when a doctor denied them necessary treatment, the president of the Texas Medical Board said it had no say over criminal law but that patients could file a complaint and vote with their feet to seek care from another doctor.

Since then, the Texas board has taken more steps than those in other states, publishing guidance this year that provides case studies on how doctors can legally provide abortions to patients with certain medical complications. The state Legislature ordered the board to create the training materials as part of the Life of the Mother Act, which was passed after ProPublicas reporting and made modest adjustments to the states abortion restrictions in an attempt to prevent additional maternal deaths.

Georgia, where Amber Thurman died after doctors did not try to empty her septic uterus for 20 hours, has not revisited its ban or disciplined key doctors involved.

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Maternal care experts say health care providers will continue to hesitate to offer standard care as long as bans carry serious criminal consequences  Texas law can put a physician behind bars for 99 years. But those who spoke to ProPublica say that medical board sanctions are one of the few levers that can provide a counterweight, pushing hospitals and doctors to provide standard care despite uncertainty over vaguely written laws.

Michelle Maloney, who is representing the families of both Texas patients in malpractice lawsuits, said she was pleasantly surprised by the boards recent actions. Over the course of my career, Ive had many horrific, horrific death cases. For someone to get disciplined by the medical board, especially while theres ongoing litigation, is just extraordinarily rare, she said.

In 2024, ProPublica reported on the case of 18-year-old Nevaeh Crain, who began experiencing severe pregnancy complications when she was six months pregnant in 2023. Although she exhibited clear signs of an infection, doctors at two hospitals sent her home. On her third visit, as Crains condition deteriorated, a doctor did not send Crain to the intensive care unit until he could confirm fetal demise with two ultrasounds. Texas law requires doctors to create extra documentation before performing procedures that could end a pregnancy. By the time the doctor had logged there was no fetal heartbeat, the medical record shows, Crain was too unstable for surgery. She died with her fetus still in her womb.

Dr. Ali Mohamed Osman, an emergency medicine doctor who saw Crain at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas during her first emergency room visit, sent her home with a prescription for antibiotics for strep throat without investigating her stomach cramps, ProPublica reported. The medical board cited him for failing to appropriately treat her infection or check the health of the fetus.

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Dr. William Noel Hawkins, an OB-GYN who saw Crain at Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth hospital during her second ER visit hours later, was cited for discharging Crain even though she had a 103-degree fever, screened positive for sepsis and had a fetus with an abnormally high heart rate.

For both Osman and Hawkins, the board wrote, this delay in care ultimately resulted in the death of both the patient and her unborn child due to complications of pregnancy.

A board spokesperson would not say whether it investigated Dr. Marcelo Totorica, who saw Crain at her third visit to an ER, at Christus, and required two fetal ultrasounds, 90 minutes apart, before wheeling Crain into the ICU for an operation. The board does not disclose open investigations or cases when a doctor has been cleared of wrongdoing. Totorica did not respond to a request for comment.

ProPublica also investigated the case of Porsha Ngumezi, who died at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in 2023 after bleeding heavily during a miscarriage at 11 weeks. An OB-GYN overseeing her care, Dr. Andrew Ryan Davis, gave her misoprostol, a medication that can be used to complete low-risk miscarriages. More than a dozen experts who reviewed the case for ProPublica, however, said that this was a high-risk case and she should have immediately been given a D&C  a procedure that has become fraught in states with abortion bans. Clearing the uterus is standard care to stop hemorrhaging; misoprostol would only make the bleeding worse, they said.

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The board investigation confirmed those findings, citing Davis for failing to quantify the volume of blood loss and choosing to monitor Ngumezis condition instead of immediately taking her for a D&C procedure. The board wrote, This delay in care led to the patients death. It added that it could not determine if Ngumezi would have survived if she received an emergency D&C.

The board has the power to levy fines up to $5,000 and, in the most extreme cases, suspend or revoke doctors licenses. In these cases, however, each doctor was ordered to take eight hours of continuing education courses within a year. While under the terms of the order, all must notify any employers of the boards findings against them. Davis and Hawkins were disciplined in October, and Osman was disciplined in March. None of the doctors or hospitals responded to requests for comment. In the medical board orders, the doctors neither admit nor deny the boards findings and agree to comply with the discipline.

Hope Ngumezi, Porsha Ngumezis husband, said the boards order felt like a slap in the face.

What kind of justice is this for Porsha? he said. I feel like the doctor shouldnt be practicing anymore.

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Hawkins, who failed to meet the standard of care in Crains case, according to the board, had previously been disciplined by the board for improper care in several other cases, including failing to provide a tubal ligation and failing to diagnose a syphilis infection. The board issued an order to have Hawkins medical practice monitored in 2015; it was lifted two years later.

Reproductive rights advocates welcomed the Texas boards recent actions but said that it and medical boards in other states should do more. None of the Texas discipline orders, for example, directly sanction a doctor for failing to offer or provide an abortion for a high-risk medical condition.

The board has disciplined some doctors in recent years for failing to provide D&Cs to patients after a confirmed miscarriage or for substandard care of pregnant patients experiencing emergencies, and the orders are typically released quietly. The board could be making public statements and sharing more robust guidance to remind doctors of the consequences, said Molly Duane, the litigation director of Amplify Legal, which is part of the reproductive rights advocacy group Abortion in America.

They should be saying loudly: This is what can happen if you dont provide care in these circumstances, Duane said. At the Center for Reproductive Rights, Duane represented 20 Texas women in a case against the state who alleged doctors inappropriately denied them abortions during medical emergencies. The Texas Supreme Court sided with the state and blamed doctors for misinterpreting the law. Duane is not aware of any doctors in those cases who received discipline from the board.

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ProPublica reported on the deaths of other Texas women, including Josseli Barnica and Tierra Walker, which experts said could have been prevented had the women been offered abortions for their high-risk medical conditions. And data analyses by ProPublica showed that sepsis rates and blood transfusions spiked among miscarrying women after the ban went into effect  an indicator of dangerous delays in care across the state.

The board would not say whether it has opened investigations into doctors involved in those cases or any others in which pregnant patients may have received substandard care due to abortion restrictions.

Cassandra Jaramillo contributed reporting. Misty Harris contributed research.

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Catholic schools in New York City have long served working- and middle-class families, including Black and Latino families. This week on Tiempo, we highlight The Mary Louis Academy, a Catholic school in Jamaica, Queens, that focuses on empowering young Latina women.

The Mary Louis Academy is described on the program as a premier, all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school. The school dates back to 1936 and serves a diverse student body drawn from a wide range of socioeconomic, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

"LATINAS" make up 23-percent of the student population.

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The spotlight comes amid broader challenges facing Catholic education in the city. This year, the Diocese of Brooklyn announced that seven Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens would close because of declining enrollment and fiscal challenges.

Joe Torres talks to Livia Angiolillo, president of The Mary Louis Academy, along with Jaylin Reyes, a senior at the school, to discuss the academy and its mission.

Also this week, Tiempo previews Casa Belongo, a new performance space and music education community center planned for East Harlem. The cultural hub aims to celebrate and preserve Afro-Latino music traditions and will also serve as the home of the Afro-Latin Jazz Academy of Music. The founder, Arturo O'Farrill, a multi-Grammy-winning jazz musician, joins the show to discuss it further.

Tiempo airs Sunday mornings at 11:30 on Channel 7, WABC-TV in New York City.

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Tiempo airs Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 7.
FBI Director Kash Patel promised Sunday that the Justice Department will soon make arrests related to the 2020 election as the DOJ continues escalating its efforts to relitigate past presidential elections.

"We've got all the information we need, we're working with our prosecutors at the Department of Justice under [acting] Attorney General Todd Blanche, and we are going to be making arrests, and it's coming, and I promise you, it's coming soon, Patel told host Maria Bartiromo during an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures.

The threat came just days after the Justice Department renewed efforts to put the screws on state elections officials, with the departments civil rights division demanding in a letter publicly released Sunday that a Michigan elections official hand over county records from the 2024 election to the Trump administration.

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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson rebuffed the demand, writing in a Sunday opinion piece that the request is about a weaponized DOJ trying to please a president who doesnt want to be held accountable at the ballot box by voters tired of the chaos of his administration, in their view.

The FBI and the DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Justice Department has also sued more than two dozen states in recent months demanding access to their unredacted voter rolls, drawing pushback from election officials in both parties. The department has also sought records related to the 2020 election from two counties in Arizona and Georgia that were at the heart of debunked conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud.

Meanwhile, speculation is swirling about who Trump will pick to succeed former Attorney General Pam Bondi following her ouster last month. While acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently said only Trump knows why he decided to fire Bondi, her ouster was widely seen as a culmination of the presidents frustrations with her failure to more forcefully prosecute his political enemies, including those hes targeted with accusations of facilitating election fraud.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who signed the letter to the Wayne County clerk, is a favorite of the online right to lead DOJ. Others viewed as possible successors include Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Blanche, who was Bondis deputy before becoming the acting attorney general.
President Trump was met with an at times a roaring ovation from a crowd at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona on Friday during several opportunities where he detailed his policies on Iran.

It marked a window into how some young conservatives are receiving Trumps message on the international conflict.

Would anybody like to hear about Iran a little bit? he said to the crowd.

Well remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100 percent complete and fully signed and this process, were getting along well. But who knows? he said. Who knows with anyone? But who knows with Iran in particular.

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This process should go very quickly and that most of the points are already negotiated and agreed to, he said. Youll be very happy.

He reiterated that the United States would go in with Iran to get the nuclear dust and bring it back, and that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. Nuclear dust is a nontechnical term that refers to enriched uranium.

The Build the Red Wall event was aimed to get voters riled up ahead of midterms, and Trump hit key talking points like blowing up Irans nuclear facilities, winning all seven swing states in the 2024 election, tax cuts and immigration, among other topics.

However, as Trump spoke to the crowd, Irans parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf said in a post on X that the Strait of Hormuz would close again hours after the foreign minister and Trump said it would open. But only Trump insisted that a U.S. blockade on ships going to and from Iranian ports would remain.

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With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open, Qalibaf wrote in a post on X, adding that passage through the strait will be conducted based on the designated route and with Iranian authorization.

Whether the strait is open or closed and the regulations governing it will be determined by the field, not by social media, he continued.

Trump said hours earlier that Iran had said the Strait of Hormuz was open for business but that the U.S. blockade would remain in effect.

The presidents announcement followed Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announcing that the Strait of Hormuz was open for all commercial vessels for the remaining period of ceasefire.

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In another notable turn of events on Friday, the Fars News Agency, an Iranian state news outlet, questioned Araghchis post, characterizing it as an unexpected tweet about the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz, and following Trumps subsequent nervous saber-rattling, Iranian society has been plunged into an atmosphere of confusion.

The stock market rallied in response to the news, while oil prices dropped 12 percent following the news.

The Iranian leaders post on Friday came well after global markets closed for the weekend.

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.
Since President Donald Trump retook the Oval Office, the Justice Department has been plagued by accusations that it wasn't transparent about its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and that it has become a weapon for Trump to target his political opponents and critics.

A third major theme at the department in the past 15 months has gotten much less attention but is no less dramatic: the exodus of thousands of lawyers, including many who had decades of experience at the DOJ.

More than 3,300 attorneys left the Justice Department between Trump's first day back in office and February 2026, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Meanwhile, only about 800 attorneys have been hired.

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The impact of those exits could turn out to be the most lasting, potentially weakening the Justice Department for many years to come, several former longterm DOJ lawyers who worked across areas told USA TODAY.

"When political leaders come into the department and immediately begin acting like tyrants, and purging the people who know how to run things, that's going to have a really destabilizing effect, and it absolutely has," said Stacey Young, who was a senior attorney in the Civil Division and later in the Civil Rights Division over 18 years.

Workers on an aerial lift install a new banner featuring US President Donald Trump on the facade of the US Department of Justice headquarters, Washington, DC, February 19, 2026 Workers on an aerial lift unfurl a new banner featuring US President Donald Trump as it is installed on the facade of the US Department of Justice headquarters, Washington, DC, February 19, 2026. Pedestrians walk past a new banner featuring an image of US President Donald Trump installed on the facade of the US Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington, DC, on February 19, 2026. A banner of U.S. President Donald Trump is hung on the Department of Justice on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The banner reads "Make America Safe Again." A banner of U.S. President Donald Trump is hung on the Department of Justice on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The banner reads "Make America Safe Again." A new banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump is put up on the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 20, 2026. A new banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump is put up on the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 20, 2026. Pedestrians walk past a new banner featuring an image of US President Donald Trump installed on the facade of the US Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington, DC, on February 19, 2026. A banner of U.S. President Donald Trump is hung on the Department of Justice on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The banner reads "Make America Safe Again." Huge banner of Trump unveiled on Justice Department HQ 1 of 9 Workers on an aerial lift install a new banner featuring US President Donald Trump on the facade of the US Department of Justice headquarters, Washington, DC, February 19, 2026

Young left the DOJ a few days into the new administration and has since founded Justice Connection, which supports those who have left and combats what it sees as threats to the rule of law under the Trump administration.

Though the Trump administration has beefed up DOJ immigration enforcement, the stream of attorney exits has weakened the department's ability to enforce the law across a range of traditional priorities, including tax enforcement, anti-narcotics efforts, white collar crime, national security, environmental enforcement and civil rights, former officials told USA TODAY.

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DOJ spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre told USA TODAY in a statement that the department has more than 10,000 lawyers committed to restoring public safety and upholding the rule of law and is now "the most efficient Department of Justice in American history."

"Our country has the lowest murder rate in 125 years, weve arrested more than 90 key cartel leaders, and removed millions of deadly doses of fentanyl from our streets  all on top of achieving a record 24 successful rulings at the Supreme Court," Baldassarre said.

"President Trump will not waver when lawfully implementing the agenda he was elected on," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told USA TODAY in a statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and then-Attorney General Pam Bondi applaud as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable on public safety at Memphis Air National Guard Base in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., March 23, 2026.

'Holy moly': Mass exodus from attorney ranks

Even the net loss of about 2,500 lawyers doesn't tell the full story, which also includes a massive loss of legal experience in government. Former FBI senior intelligence analyst Philip Fields developed an online tool that breaks down OPM's data from January 2025 to January 2026, showing that lawyers who left spent, on average, about 14 years at the department, and about 740 held leadership positions.

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Lawyers who have been hired are unlikely to have the same type of experience, Fields said. The data published by OPM shows that new hires generally weren't transfers from another part of the government, he noted.

"That doesn't mean that these people are all fresh out of law school," Fields told USA TODAY. "But ... the assumption is that they're going to have far less experience and qualifications for these types of roles."

Some of the departures from the department have been firings.

In Trump's first month back in office, the DOJ fired dozens of prosecutors who worked on cases arising from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters, Politico reported. That same month, it also fired prosecutors who worked on investigations into Trump.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 7, 2026.

Some have departed the administration after interference with their work or out of concern they may be asked to do something unethical.

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Several prosecutors resigned after the Trump administration ordered them to drop a bribery case against then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Several other prosecutors resigned over the DOJ's reluctance to investigate a federal immigration agent who shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Good and its desire to instead investigate Good's widow, The Minnesota Star Tribune and The New York Times reported.

Many of the departures have been voluntary, if under pressure. Some officials left after the administration tried to reassign them to different roles, such as working on immigration. Many left under the Trump administration's deferred resignation program, which offered several months of pay-without-work to those who opted to leave and left uncertainty for those who remained about whether their jobs were secure.

Gilbert Rothenberg, a former longtime official at the Tax Division  which the Trump administration dissolved in late 2025, shifting tax lawyers to other divisions  said younger lawyers' sense of job security weakened after watching career lawyers be forced out.

"The rank and file saw that, and they go: 'Holy moly! Is my job at risk?'" Rothenberg, who retired from the DOJ in 2019, told USA TODAY.

Demonstrators march through downtown calling for an end to ICE operations in Minnesota on January 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protests have sparked up around the Twin Cities area following the deaths of Renee Good on January 7, and Alex Pretti on January 24 by federal immigration agents.

Low morale after the departures, which have increased the workload for those who remain, has also been a driving force for exits, according to some former DOJ officials.

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"The job is just overwhelming, and it's become untenable for some people," Young said.

Baldassarre of the DOJ said the administration offered deferred resignations to allow employees a chance to leave if they "did not want to aggressively and faithfully tackle crime to protect the American people."

"This has allowed DOJ to run more efficiently and hire new employees who wholeheartedly believe in the mission," she said.

'Cartel leaders are probably laughing at us'

One area is receiving more resources from the Justice Department: immigration. A January, 2025 memo directed DOJ anti-terrorism investigators to assist with Trump's initiatives related to illegal immigration. That same month, career officials in the criminal and national security divisions were reassigned to roles advancing Trump's immigration agenda.

Protesters yell as federal agents drag away a man amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Federal Building in Eugene, Oregon on Jan. 27, 2026.

The DOJ prosecuted 32,000 new immigration cases in its first six months, which was nearly triple the number that Biden's administration prosecuted in the same time, according to ProPublica, a nonprofit news site that analyzed data from the Justice Department and from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which gets data through Freedom of Information Act requests.

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But that may have come at the cost of other areas of law enforcement.

ProPublica found a drop in prosecutions of nearly every other type of crime compared with the Biden administration's first six months.

Baldassarre noted the drop partly reflects that the DOJ updated records on cases that were already closed and said the department can't vouch for the clearinghouse's data.

"This Department of Justice remains committed to investigating and prosecuting all types of crime, and the number of declinations is a direct result of our efforts to run the agency in a more efficient manner," she said.

A woman holds her dog while addressing protesters outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on September 1, 2025. Demonstrators rallied against ICE, demanding the abolition of the agency and the release of detainees.

The Justice Department brings civil cases, in addition to criminal prosecutions, and there has also been a drop in certain civil enforcement.

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In Trump's first year back in office, at least 140 lawyers from the DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division  one-third of its lawyers  left, according to E&E News, a Politico publication.

In that same time, environmental enforcement actions have collapsed. A December analysis from Earthjustice, an environmental law nonprofit, found that the division's environmental enforcement section imposed only $15.1 million in civil penalties during the first 11 months of Trump's return to office. The year before, it brought in $1.88 billion in civil fines.

Andrew Mergen, a former official in the DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Section, said the department has shifted lawyers from working on environmental enforcement to defending the administration against lawsuits that accuse it of not enforcing or following environmental laws and rules.

"If your agenda is 'drill, baby, drill' or 'mine, baby, mine,' there are going to be groups who are going to sue, and you're going to need to throw bodies at that," he said.

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The Trump administration also got rid of the Tax Division, which was created in 1934, in late 2025, shifting its remaining lawyers into the DOJ's existing Civil Division and Criminal Division. In February, an official wrote in a court filing that more than 40% of the lawyers who handle appeals in tax cases had retired, resigned or been temporarily transferred over the previous year.

In this image, piggy banks rest on top of tax return papers.

Rothenberg said that when he was writing budget proposals, he would highlight evidence that for every dollar spent on the Justice Department's Tax Division, it brought in several times more.

"I've never understood an administration that doesn't want to bulk up the tax group at both IRS and DOJ to raise more money," Rothenberg said. "From a public policy point of view, it's foolish."

The DOJ's Criminal Division has also seen a stream of exits since Trump returned to office.

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Joseph Gerbasi, who spent decades in the division, retired in March 2025 from his role as acting deputy chief for policy in the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, a group that has now been merged into the division's section on money laundering. Only one person is left from what was a five-lawyer policy unit, he told USA TODAY.

"The cartel leaders are probably laughing at us," Gerbasi said. "It's just going to result in fewer prosecutions, fewer extraditions, fewer successful damaging blows to the cartels."

During a joint federal, state, and local drug trafficking investigation, 42.61 kilograms of cocaine, 23.8 grams of crack cocaine, 4.41 kilograms of marijuana, 3.6 grams of MDMA, 36 Fentanyl pills, 8.1 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 1.9 grams of heroin, five suboxone strips, and 11 firearms were seized.

Baldassarre said fighting drug trafficking is one of several top priorities for the DOJ.

"The Department of Justice is acutely focused on protecting our national security, eliminating transnational drug cartels and traffickers, prosecuting criminals, and safeguarding Americans from violent crime," Baldassarre said. "Assisting our partners with immigration enforcement has not deterred our ability to successfully investigate and prosecute other types of crime to keep American citizens safe."

Three-quarters of civil rights lawyers gone

The Trump administration has also wiped out most of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. The division's new head, Harmeet Dhillon, said on a Breitbart News podcast in August that about 75% of its lawyers  about 300 out of 400  had left in the first seven months of the new administration.

Dhillon intended this statement as a boast, because the Trump administration wants to redirect the division's efforts.

Under Trump, the Justice Department dropped lawsuits brought under President Joe Biden that accused police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis of violating civil rights. It also abandoned agreements that governed policing practices in those departments going forward.

Instead, the Civil Rights Division is investigating potential racial preferences in employment and university admissions, religious liberty issues, and local limitations on gun ownership.

Gerald Jacobs reacts while standing in solidarity as speakers talked about the Louisville Consent Decree and the Department of Justice regarding the Breonna Taylor case during Breewayy Day Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. In front is Bianca Austin, aunt of Breonna Taylor.

Conservative supporters say these shifts are legitimate policy changes.

"The changes and re-allocation of resources at the Justice Department reflect the prosecutorial priorities of this Administration, as they do in any administration," Zach Smith, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "For example, the Civil Rights Division has made clear that it will prioritize enforcing the Constitutions guarantee of colorblind treatment for all Americans."

Patrick Kent, a former DOJ Civil Rights Division lawyer who exited the department in 2025, said the massive loss of personnel will make it hard for a new administration to pivot back.

"Even when there is ultimately a change in administration, you're not going to replace three quarters of lawyers who had served years, if not decades," Kent told USA TODAY. "The trust by the communities where we simply stopped enforcing our investigations is lost."

'Unfathomable': Judges question Trump administration's compliance and honesty

Amid the drastic changes, judges are increasingly expressing frustration at Justice Department attorneys who have failed to meet deadlines or failed to ensure the administration complies with court orders. Some judges have even questioned DOJ lawyers' honesty.

Minnesota federal Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, a President George W. Bush appointee, wrote in a Feb. 26 court order that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated 210 orders across 143 separate cases.

"Increasingly, this Court has had to resort to using the threat of civil contempt to force ICE to comply with orders," Schiltz wrote. "The Court is not aware of another occasion in the history of the United States in which a federal court has had to threaten contempt  again and again and again  to force the United States government to comply with court orders."

Individuals walk through the hallway at U.S. immigration court in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., January 15, 2026.

Just Security, a law and policy publication based at New York University's law school, identified 34 separate cases in which courts expressed concerns about noncompliance with judicial orders and 90 cases in which courts expressed distrust of government information and representations during the first year of the current administration.

Young said DOJ lawyers are also increasingly requesting deadline extensions or otherwise missing deadlines, as the pressures of understaffing mount.

Just this week, California federal judge Troy L. Nunley, a President Barack Obama appointee, sanctioned a DOJ lawyer in an immigration case for multiple failures to meet deadlines and follow orders.

"While the Court recognizes that mistakes can occur, repeated violations of court orders cannot be excused as mere oversight," Nunley wrote in the April 15 order, which imposed a $250 fine.

The Trump administration says the judges who have criticized it are the ones who need more scrutiny.

"The only group losing credibility are the radical, left-wing lower court judges issuing unlawful rulings to advance their own agenda," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told USA TODAY in a statement.

Former Department of Justice senior trial attorney Stacey Young testifies during a hearing organized by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate about the Trump administration's treatment of the Justice Department and law firms who act in cases disliked by the president, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 7, 2025.

Jackson said many district court rulings that went against the administration were later overturned on appeal, and "President Trumps entire Administration is lawfully implementing the America First agenda he was elected to enact."

The administration "will continue to comply with lawful court rulings and appeal those lawless opinions of radical left-wing district court judges," she said.

The DOJ's Baldassarre said the administration "complies with court orders and is committed to enforcing our nations immigration laws."

Despite the administration's defenses, some fear the Justice Department's reputation is taking a hit in the courts that will be hard to win back.

"You have judges today questioning whether they can adhere to what a DOJ attorney tells them in court, and that's just unfathomable to me," Rothenberg said.

'Overwhelmed': DOJ hiring struggles

Activists protest outside the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia's Bryan Courthouse during the arraignment of former FBI Director James Comey on October 08, 2025 in Alexandria, Virginia.

The DOJ has traditionally attracted the cream of the crop when hiring for attorney openings. Yet now it's struggling to attract nearly so many top candidates, former officials said.

"It used to be that you'd get hundreds or thousands of applications for one attorney opening. And now we're seeing offices in some cases beg former lawyers, lawyers who left the offices, to come back," Young said.

Mergen said recruitment to the DOJ had become harder over his decades there as government shutdowns created anxiety about working at the department and as nonprofits became more competitive in their salaries. When he left the department at the end of 2022 to take up an environmental law teaching position at Harvard, he planned to recruit talented young litigators into the DOJ. Now, he worries that young lawyers who join the department could be caught up in ethically questionable episodes that could damage their careers.

"I came here to be an evangelist for federal government work, and I'm now in a position where I am extremely cautious about how I talk about sending people to work in the federal government," Mergen told USA TODAY.

Rothenberg fears that politicization at the Justice Department is affecting recruitment even in areas that have been traditionally regarded as the most nonpolitical, such as tax litigation.

Former FBI Director James Comey is sworn in prior to testifying before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 8, 2017.

The Justice Department has pursued prosecutions against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after the president publicly called for it. Both cases were dismissed. The department has also opened investigations into other Trump opponents, including Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and six members of Congress who urged military service members not to obey illegal orders without saying what those might be.

The department has also erected a banner of Trump on the side of its main building in Washington.

"The DOJ used to have a lot of institutional importance, and it was not the president's law firm, it was the people's law firm. And people were attracted to that," Rothenberg said.

Gerbasi said potential attorneys for the DOJ's Criminal Division might be worried they could be asked to do something unethical, such as indicting someone without sufficient evidence.

"It's the fear, the uncertainty, the lack of professionalism at the highest levels of the department, and it's people being unwilling to go to work for a political machine," Gerbasi said.

A banner of U.S. President Donald Trump hangs from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., April 6, 2026.

In the last administration, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed special counsels  DOJ lawyers with heightened independence  to investigate allegations against Trump, then-President Joe Biden, and Biden's son, Hunter. Special counsels brought criminal charges against Trump and Hunter Biden. The cases against Trump were dropped after he won the 2024 election.

DOJ officials and Trump himself sometimes point to the charges he faced as a reason for targeting his political opponents now.

"Unlike the previous Administration that baselessly targeted political opponents, this Department of Justice is restoring law and order and will hold accountable any individual or group that commits a crime," the DOJ's Baldassarre said.

'Years and years to repair'

Restoring the Justice Department's reputation in court and attractiveness to the best lawyers in the country may be a much slower process, if it happens at all.

Part of the problem is there is diminished confidence that the DOJ will be somewhat stable across future presidential administrations, Kent said.

"How do you have that talent come back if they just know in four years there might be another administration change and we go right through the cycle again?" Kent wondered.

No other president has openly told his attorney general to target specific critics in the way Trump has, Rothenberg said. Yet when Trump did so, his attorney general at the time, Pam Bondi, obliged.

Building back an institutional culture of independence from the White House in the wake of those actions won't be quick, Rothenberg said.

"When the culture has changed to that degree, it's going to take many years for the culture to change and go back to where it was, where DOJ was independent from the president in terms of day-to-day operations," he said.

Young said she expects the consequences she is seeing  cratered morale, understaffing, diminished job security, weakened job satisfaction  to extend far beyond the current administration, making it harder to effectively enforce the nation's laws.

"All of that will take years and years to repair, if it can be repaired at all."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Make America Safe Again? DOJ sees mass exodus of lawyers under Trump
President Trump is skipping the National Rifle Associations (NRA) annual convention this weekend, his second snub in as many years of an organization long seen as a key political ally for Republicans.

The move marks his second consecutive absence from the NRAs annual meeting  held this year on April 16-19 in Houston, Texas  after attending every convention since 2015.

While the prominent gun rights group has largely brushed off Trumps decision to skip the event as a scheduling issue, some critics say it underscores the NRAs waning influence in Washington after years of financial and legal turmoil.

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NRA Director of Public Affairs Justin Davis said in a Thursday interview that hes not at all concerned that Trumps absence reflects the groups declining influence in GOP politics.

The president is obviously incredibly busy with worldwide affairs right now, and were incredibly close to the administration. We work hand-in-glove with them on all kinds of two-way issues, Davis said, calling the president an incredible ally of the NRA.

Hes incredibly helpful in everything were trying to do here, but we understand that he has very important things to do as well, he added.

Davis said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, will be speaking at the convention, adding, So the administration will be here with us.

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The Justice Department did not respond to The Hills request for confirmation.

While some reporting indicated that Texas lawmakers would attend this weekend, it was not immediately clear whether any would be speaking. Neither the Texas lawmakers nor the two DOJ officials were listed among session speakers on the event website.

In past years, the NRA invited big-name speakers to its NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, which the group canceled last year after Trump decided to skip the convention. The group did not appear to advertise any politicians speaking at headline events ahead of the conference this year.

GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown  who leads the gun violence prevention group started by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) after she was shot in a politically motivated attack  told The Hill that she sees Trumps absence from the event as embarrassing for the NRA and a sign of its declining influence.

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It really represents the radical decline in influence that weve seen from the NRA in the last five to 10 years, Brown told The Hill in an interview Friday. They are hemorrhaging money. They are certainly hemorrhaging political support.

It is very unusual for a sitting Republican president to skip the NRA convention, and Trump is now skipping it for the second time in two years, she added. So the NRA doing their very best to cozy up to this administration is certainly not doing them any favors.

Questions about the NRAs influence come after the group faced a series of scandals that led longtime leader Wayne LaPierre to resign in 2024. He had faced accusations of financial impropriety, including that he spent more than $11 million on private flights and approved $135 million in contracts in exchange for yacht access and free vacations.

The scandal coincided with reports of declining membership and lower dues revenue. A decade ago, the NRA took in $200 million from membership dues, but just $61 million in 2023, according to an independent audit published by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

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The decline in the NRAs political spending also suggests a waning of influence in Washington. When Trump ran for president in 2016, the NRA spent $54 million on his campaign, but, in 2024, it spent just over $10 million.

But Davis said the group, which expects 70,000 people in Houston this weekend, is committed to reforming and has done an incredible job trying to win back members trust. He said new processes are in place to make sure that every member dollar is spent judiciously.

The folks who were around or played a major role in those wrongdoings of the past are all gone, he said. This is a new board, a new leadership team. Our CEO, Doug Hamlin is laser-focused on making sure the NRA gets back on track, and thats exactly what were doing.

Davis said people had been rightfully upset with the wrongdoings that were happening but are becoming more optimistic.

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So, its going to take time, Davis said. Its our job to prove it to members and our folks who were upset with the wrongdoings of certain individuals, to show them those folks are gone and that theres good actors taking care of their beloved organization now.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Bhargav Acharya and Katharine Jackson

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the United States has barred Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, striking an unusually harsh tone with the longtime U.S. ally while stressing that any U.S. deal with Iran is not linked to the Lebanon conflict.

"Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!" Trump said in a social media post.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to Trumps remarks, but Netanyahu said in a statement earlier that Israeli forces remained stationed in southern Lebanon to defend against "the near threat."

"There are things we plan to do regarding the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat, which I will not detail here," Netanyahu said.

A U.S.-backed Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire took effect at 2100 GMT on Thursday, halting fighting that flared on March 2 when Hezbollah fired on northern Israel in support of Iran's fight with the U.S. and Israel, drawing an Israeli offensive that Lebanese authorities say has killed 2,000 people.

U.S. NAVAL BLOCKADE ON IRAN REMAINS IN PLACE

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In a series of social media posts after Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, Trump emphasized that any deal the United States reaches with Iran "is in no way subject to Lebanon" and said the U.S. will handle the militant group Hezbollah in an appropriate manner.

"Again! This deal is not tied, in any way, to Lebanon, but we will, MAKE LEBANON GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote in a later post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi specified the Strait of Hormuz was open for the remainder of the 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon.

However, Trump later posted: "Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!"

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The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which started on February 28, had effectively closed the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually transits.

After 38 days of fighting, a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war came into effect on April 8. The United States then began enforcing a blockade on vessels entering and departing Iran on Monday.

"The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete," Trump wrote in an all capital letters.

TRUMP SAYS HE REBUFFED NATO OFFER OF HELP

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Trump said he believed a deal to end the Iran war would come "soon" because most of the points are already negotiated, although the timing remains unclear. Trump reiterated that the U.S. will get nuclear material from Iran, adding: "No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form."

Trump, who in 2018 pulled the U.S. out of a 2015 nuclear accord curtailing Iran's nuclear work, has said a primary reason for the war was to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Iran says its enrichment of uranium  a process that produces fuel for power plants and nuclear warheads depending on its duration  is strictly for peaceful civilian use.

The U.S. president said on Friday that he had rebuffed an offer from NATO to help and told them to stay away unless they want to load up ships with oil.

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"They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!" Trump wrote on Truth Social before turning his attention to thanking Gulf allies Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

NATO allies said on Monday they would not get involved in Trump's plan to blockade Iranian ports, proposing to intervene only once fighting ends.

The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal does not require Israel to withdraw from south Lebanon. Israeli defense officials say troops are holding positions inside Lebanon as part of a "buffer zone" to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Bhargav Acharya, writing by Doina Chiacu, editing by Michelle Nichols and Howard Goller)
Donald Trumps depiction of himself as Jesus Christ and recent spat with Pope Leo XIV could come back to bite him and the Republican party in the midterm elections, according to experts, with some newly aggrieved Christian groups set to play an outsized role in key races across the US.

The presidents Trump-as-the-Messiah Truth Social post sparked immediate criticism among some Christians, including some on the right. Trump, 79, said he thought the AI image of him administering an ethereal light to a stricken mans head as translucent figures descended from the heavens represented him as a doctor.

Blasphemous, was the verdict of Douglas Wilson, a self-described Christian nationalist who believes women should not be able to vote, and a confidant of Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary.

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This should be deleted immediately. Theres no context where this is acceptable, Sean Feucht, a Christian activist who is partnering with the Trump administration on a Worship Tour, posted on social media.

Trumps post was ultimately taken down, although the level of his apology was brought into question when he then posted an AI image of what appeared to be Jesus Christ cuddling him.

He did seem to cross a line for some of his Christian supporters, said Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a professor at Calvin University and an expert on white American evangelicals. She noted that Trumps supporters have been prepared to put up with plenty of other things.

Really, from day one, with him bragging on camera that he assaulted women in the Access Hollywood tape to, even just very recently, threatening to annihilate an entire civilization. He is also detaining children, and there are allegations right now related to the Epstein files.

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There is a lot out there that arguably should concern Christian supporters, and the fact that it was this AI-generated image that sparked this outcry is worth pondering. I think it felt like it crossed the line for some because it was just so blatant.

Yet Du Mez said not all the outrage may have been sincere.

I sense that there was this kind of performative aspect that enough Christian leaders knew that they needed to be on record saying: We dont approve of this. But again, thats something very different from them actually withdrawing their support from him, she said.

Feucht, the Worship Tour guru, certainly got over it quickly. Within hours he had uncritically reposted Trumps doctor explanation. Riley Gaines, a Christian, anti-trans activist, initially responded to the Trump image: A little humility would serve him well. Later that day, Gaines wrote on social media: I love the President and Im so grateful hes in the Oval Office.

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Robert Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), said Trumps support among white evangelicals and Christian nationalists would probably endure.

Theyre just more conservative than Catholics are. Theyre heavily concentrated in the south, so they come out of this kind of southern US history, and theyre frankly more motivated by racism. So the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam drumbeat is kind of fuelling the Maga movement. And the flip side of that anti-Islam, anti-immigrant drumbeat is [the right wings] positive vision of a white Christian America.

Trumps attacks on Pope Leo  the president has called him wrong on the issues and, bizarrely, weak on crime  also may not be important to that white evangelical base: some have even backed Trumps attacks on the pontiff. But those Christians are likely to be less important than others in this years elections.

White evangelicals, except for maybe in Georgia and North Carolina, arent actually going to help the Republican party in the midterms that much, because most theyre mostly concentrated in fairly safe, red states and red districts. Theyre heavily concentrated in the south, where Republicans are going to win anyway, Jones said.

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If you ask, though, who are the biggest religious groups in the more competitive states and districts, the answer is Catholics.

White Catholics, in particular, could have a big say in the midterms, PRRI data shows. A majority of them voted for Trump in 2024  Hispanic Catholics tended to support Harris  meaning a loss in their support could influence competitive races.

And unfortunately for the Republican party, white Catholics are overrepresented in several swing states, where there are seats which fluctuate between Republican and Democrat. White Catholics make up 12% of the nation as a whole, according to PRRI, but in Pennsylvania they make up 18% of the population; in Wisconsin 22%, and they overindex in Michigan, too.

In these more competitive districts and swing states, if he loses 10 points among white evangelicals, he and Republicans might be able to weather that. If they lose 10 points among white Catholics, thats going to be game over in many elections in the midterms, Jones said.
For many Catholic supporters of President Donald Trump, its been a rocky April.

Two days after Easter Sunday, the president threatened Iran with annihilation. Days later, Trump dissed Pope Leo XIV as WEAK on Crime  on the same day he posted an inflammatory image depicting himself as Jesus on social media.

With the Trump administration trading barbs with the Vatican in whats become the most contentious relationship between a secular leader and the papacy since medieval times, some suggest the moment could be a flashpoint for Catholic conservatives torn between political and religious allegiances.

Conservative Catholics who have supported Trump may now feel the need to decide between him and the pope, said Landon Schnabel, an associate professor of sociology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

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The clash has escalated beyond mere president versus pontiff: Some of Trumps Catholic allies, notably Vice President JD Vance, have entered the fray, while the nations Catholic bishops have rallied around the pope, the entire affair amplified via social media.

Its almost like you can see this debate play out between two titans in real time, said Frank Lacopo, an assistant professor of history at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. This is unprecedented in American history.

Nearly 60% of Catholics backed Trump in the 2024 election, but Mathew Schmalz, founding editor of the Journal of Global Catholicism, said up to a third of that support may have since withered as the president and the pope have clashed over U.S. deportation policies and the Iran war. The spat threatens to scuttle a key constituency heading into the 2026 midterms.

President Donald Trump continued his feud with Pope Leo in a Truth Social post, saying it's "absolutely unacceptable" for Iran to have a nuclear bomb.

Obviously Catholics in America are an important political constituency and regardless of whether theyre Republican or Democrat, presidents have been careful not to alienate them, he said. Trump is really charting out new political territory.

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Nicholas Hayes-Mota, a social ethicist and public theologian at Santa Clara University in California, said the cumulative effects of the last two weeks, capped by Trumps since-deleted AI image on Truth Social, has already pushed some to break with the president.

For some its clearly a bridge too far, Hayes-Mota said.

Though the president dubiously attempted to explain it away, the Trump-as-Jesus image drew sharp rebuke from conservative Catholics such as podcaster Michael Knowles, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly and CatholicVote.org, a group founded by Trumps Ambassador to the Holy See.

Schnabel, of Cornell, said for many religious Americans, faith leads while politics follows. In other words, their beliefs and values shape their political positions.

This photo illustration shows President Donald Trump on a screen and an AI-generated image he posted on his Truth Social platform depicting himself as Jesus Christ after criticizing Pope Leo XIV.

But when the president posts an image of himself as Christ, he said, he asks believers to start with political loyalty and backfill the theology. That creates tension between religious conviction and political allegiance.

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When people hold two conflicting commitments, Schnabel said, something has to give.

A pope-president clash for the ages

While Washington and the Vatican have sparred over policy before, the ongoing back-and-forth has been uniquely public and personal.

Youd have to go back to the Middle Ages or the Protestant Reformation to see this kind of dispute between the pope and a secular leader, said Schmalz, a professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

A combination picture shows Pope Leo XIV, left, and President Donald Trump, on April 12, 2026.

For instance, in the 11th century, a dispute erupted between Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV over who had the right to select bishops  the pope or the king. A similar battle, Lacopo said, flared up in 1303 between Pope Boniface VIII and King Philip IV of France over taxation authority, eventually leading to violence.

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Some of the kings goons went to the popes residence and beat him up, he said.

In modern times, conflicts between the pope and U.S. presidents have proven tamer and less direct in comparison, largely limited to criticism of American war activities. In 1965, Pope Paul VI famously addressed the United Nations and implored, No more war, never again war!

He refrained from naming names, but a lot of observers took it as being directed at Lyndon Johnson and the Vietnam War, Lacopo said.

A 2015 article in America magazine recalled Time correspondent Wilton Wynnes account of a tense meeting between President Johnson and Pope Paul in December 1968 as the war dragged on, with Wynne saying the pope slammed his hand on the desk and shouted at the president. But the meeting ended with the two men exchanging Christmas gifts.

Undated picture of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, with late former Pope John Paul II.

Hayes-Mota, of Santa Clara, said the pope is obligated to speak on behalf of the church and its mission. Pope John Paul II, he noted, was actively critical of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq under President George Bush, so its not as if Leo is going out on a limb. But I cant recall a president ever attacking a pope in this way.

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Stephen Schneck, former director of the Institute of Policy Research & Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., said both Johnson and Bush were "deferential and diplomatic" in their engagement with the pope, "so those president-pope tiffs were ho-hum compared with what we've seen this last week."

Trump has been anything but subtle in his remarks about Pope Leo, a Chicagoan who became the first North American pope when he was selected to succeed Pope Francis in May 2025 and has been vocal in his opposition to the Iran war.

In his April 12 Truth Social post, Trump called the pope not just weak on crime but terrible for Foreign Policy, adding that "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.

The pope responded by saying he had no fear of the Trump administration and would continue to preach the Catholic Gospel.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Pope Leo XVI spoke on April 3, 2026 with the presidents of Israel and Ukraine, discussing the ongoing wars and the need for peace. The American-born pontiff spoke by telephone with Israel's Isaac Herzog and, separately, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the humanitarian situation in each war zone was discussed, the Vatican said.

The presidents belittling of the leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics once again drew criticism from prominent Catholic conservatives. Kelsey Reinhardt, president and CEO of CatholicVote.org, said President Trumps post insulting Pope Leo crossed, again, a line of decorum that plays an important part in diplomacy.

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Such attacks, Hayes-Mota said, wont help Trump among Catholic voters, nor will attempts to politicize the popes articulation of the churchs moral values.

His attack treated the pope as just another political opponent, Hayes-Mota said. The pope is very popular among Catholics in the U.S. and worldwide. If Trump really wants to make this a contest, I dont think it will go well for him.

Vance 'could be a bridge builder'

Political observers say the person who may be most affected by the imbroglio is JD Vance, who has made faith part of his political persona. A Catholic convert who describes himself as deeply religious, Vance will be called to account, Schmalz said, with his upcoming memoir  Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith  set to publish in June.

Vance has positioned himself in a way that he will have to respond to questions about religious faith and how it relates to policy positions, Schmalz said. He needs to be very careful about the way in which he responds and not to echo the kinds of criticisms that Trump has directed against the pope.

Pope Leo XIV meets Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican on May 19, 2025.

This week, the vice president joined the rumble by publicly quarreling with Pope Leos April 10 assertion on X that those who follow Christ are never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.

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Addressing a Turning Point USA rally audience in Georgia on April 14, Vance said Leos position would have meant opposing the American liberation of France and concentration camps during World War II. He suggested the pope be careful when talking about matters of theology.

The next day, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops rushed to Pope Leos defense with a statement emphasizing that the Catholic Churchs centuries-old tradition of just war theory teaches that nations can only legitimately take up the sword in self-defense after peace efforts have failed.

To be a just war, it must be a defense against another who actively wages war, which is what the Holy Father actually said, the groups statement said, continuing: When Pope Leo XIV speaks as supreme pastor of the universal Church, he is not merely offering opinions on theology. He is preaching the Gospel.

Some noted that Vances statement about the churchs just war doctrine, rooted in the teachings of St. Augustine, came as Pope Leo XIV  who for 12 years presided over the global religious order instituted by St. Augustine  visited the North African site where the ancient Roman city of Hippo once stood under Augustines governance as bishop.

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For a lot of people that came across as hubristic, Hayes-Mota said of Vances remarks. It was not a good look for the vice president. For many Catholics, war is a morally urgent issue.

As a Catholic and the second-highest ranking person in the administration, Hayes-Mota said Vance could help foster the kind of deescalation and dialogue that some Catholic conservatives have called for.

He could be a bridge builder, but his initial reactions havent conveyed that, he said.

Will Trump tone down his religious posturing?

Schmalz emphasized that the Catholic Right isnt monolithic. Some hardcore MAGA supporters, he said, have welcomed Trumps criticism of Pope Leo because they perceive him as a liberal There is a hardcore Catholic MAGA constituency that really does believe that Donald Trump has been chosen by God in this historical moment.

Pastor Paula White-Cain, a spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump, likened Trump's experiences to those of Jesus Christ at an Easter event.

On the other hand, he said, conservative podcasters and influencers may be more cautious about how they frame their support of the administration going forward.

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While observers say it might behoove Trump to tone down his religious grandstanding, the president has proved hes unpredictable. Days after the backlash to his controversial AI image post, Trump reshared another image that showed him being embraced by Jesus and wrote, God might be playing his Trump card!

If he doesnt want a disaster, Trump absolutely needs to tone down his religious posturing, said Schneck, the former Catholic University institute director. Hes already got the hard-core Evangelical right in his pocket. Why continue to antagonize mainstream Catholics and religious moderates?

While he thinks it would be political malpractice for Vance and other Trump administration Catholics like Marco Rubio and Karoline Leavitt to continue to double-down on such messaging, Schneck said the president has shown a knack for being able to squirm out of tricky political positions.

Trumps secret sauce is his uncanny ability to erase current outrage by shifting attention to some new spectacle, he said. Expect this to be his formula for winning back much of the Catholic right before the midterms.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's feud with Pope Leo XIV divides Catholics
The United Arab Emirates minister of state said Sunday the country had been hit with over 2,800 missiles and drones in the first 40 days of the U.S. and Israels war with Iran, adding that more than 90% of the targets were civilian infrastructure.

Reem Al Hashimy, the UAEs minister of state for international cooperation, said during a Sunday morning appearance on ABCs This Week that Iran was seeking to destroy the UAEs model of prosperity and tolerance.

We used our oil wealth to build an economic powerhouse. They used their wealth for nuclear programs that are nefarious, for missiles, drones, proxies, etc., she told host Jonathan Karl. So whereas we tried to become and have become an international, global, responsible player, they are a pariah state. And they wanted to break that model, but they underestimated our resolve.

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The UAE has faced a barrage of attacks from Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran in late February. While the Gulf state  like many of its neighbors  initially opposed the war, it has since shifted its tone as it considers how to avoid the breakout of a larger regional war.

Asked if she agreed with President Donald Trumps assessment that there had been regime change in Iran, Al Hashimy expressed skepticism that Irans leadership had changed meaningfully.

I know that personalities have changed. You have different characters that are currently in place, she said But how has that changed the character of the Revolutionary Guard? That's yet to see  doesn't seem very hopeful, though. Right now.

Trump said Sunday morning that the U.S. would resume peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan on Monday after an initial round of negotiations failed to yield meaningful progress. Trump initially told Karl that Vice President JD Vance would not attend the second round of talks, but the White House later walked that back.

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The president previously threatened to decimate Iranian civilian infrastructure and eliminate a whole civilization if Iran did not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz, sparking sharp recriminations from Democrats and human rights experts. Speaking to Karl on Sunday morning, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz insisted that all options are on the table.

Asked if she harbored concerns about Trumps threats, Al Hashimy said the UAE believes that maximum pressure is necessary to move forward, while cautioning against civilian attacks.

Ultimately, we don't want to hurt the Iranian people. That's very important to mention. But at the same time, it's the Revolutionary Guard that have taken forward a military stance and a posture not against the U.S. and Israel alone, but against the very neighborhood that they operate in through the Gulf states.
Dan Farah thinks the world is at a "turning point in human history" as it pertains to extraterrestrial life.

"The truth is finally coming out that humanity is not the only intelligent life in the universe," the director and producer of "The Age of Disclosure" told "Special Report" anchor Bret Baier.

Farahs 2024 documentary featured 34 different US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The film focuses on an alleged government cover-up of non-human life and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs).

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly been in talks with Iranian regime, along with Vice President JD Vance. (AP Images)

In February, President Donald Trump posted that he would order various government agencies to "begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life."

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The pledge came after former President Barack Obama went viral for saying that aliens are "real, but I havent seen them" on a podcast.

Jd Vance Says He Was 'Obsessed' With Ufos, Believes Aliens Are Actually 'Demons'

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Obama later amended his remarks, clarifying that "the universe is so vast that the odds are good theres life out there," but he had never received evidence of contact with extraterrestrials during his presidency.

Farah contends his documentary has led to Trumps attention on the issue and the national conversation about extraterrestrial life.

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"I think that were entering this age in which the U.S. government will start to reveal all it has learned over the last 80 years about this," he said.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., urged President Trump to release all government files related to UFOs and aliens.

"Peel back the layers of that onion, let America decide if we can handle it. I think we can handle it," Burchett told "The Big Weekend Show" earlier this month.

Congressman Tim Burchett speaks to reporters following a House Republicans conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 23, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

Government Withholding Information On Ufos From The Public, Gop Rep Says

The information hes been briefed on, Burchett said, is "pretty wild."

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Many senior members of the military, intelligence community and government have been "extremely definitive" in saying that the evidence that we are not alone in the universe exists, Farah said.

He also cited the alleged identification of UAP, detected over the years around the world. The discoveries from this technology, a clip from the documentary shows, could have an impact on clean energy and be a breakthrough for interstellar travel and teleportation.

"These UAP are displaying flight performance characteristics that we dont have the ability to do currently," Farah said. "The technology being displayed could completely revolutionize the way we live."

"This is the biggest issue of our time."





Original article source: UFO documentary director says US is at a 'turning point' for extraterrestrial exploration
Artillery remains the center of the Russian formation, with the Russian military deploying thousands of systems across its 600-mile front with Ukraine. These systems range from older howitzers pulled from storage to the most modern artillery platforms in service. Given the width and depth of the battlefield, it is impractical for Ukraine to hunt down all of these systems. As such, open-source analysts have reported that Ukraine has adopted a new strategy, targeting the resupply convoys carrying the large volumes of shells required by each artillery piece. In doing so, Ukraine is disrupting the core of Russian military operations.

The Employment Of Russian Artillery

Russian military units, such as the Battalion Tactical Group, have historically been organized around artillery as the primary combat arm, with maneuver forces supporting its effects. Operations typically begin with concentrated artillery fires to suppress and destroy a target area. Infantry and mechanized units then advance to seize and secure that area. Artillery then moves forward into the newly secured area under the protection of those forces, and the cycle repeats.

While Ukraine has replaced much of its artillery with strike drones, Russia uses its drones primarily to complement its artillery, employing strike drones more selectively. Forward-deployed drone teams search for Ukrainian defensive positions and relay those locations to artillery units, which then engage these targets. The drones often remain on station to conduct battle damage assessment. The Russian Ministry of Defense frequently posts this footage on Telegram, showing drone teams working in concert with artillery units to strike Ukrainian positions across the full battlefront.

An image captured from a video posted on Telegram by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 17, 2026. The video shows a Russian self-propelled howitzer firing from the right bank of the Volchya River in Kharkov region to clear Ukrainian positions prior to a ground assault. Social Media Capture

Over the course of the war, Russia has lost a large amount of its artillery to Ukrainian drone strikes. Ukraine has claimed to have destroyed over 40,000 artillery systems, with Oryxspioenkop providing visual confirmation of approximately 3,100 artillery pieces. Regardless, Russias guns keep firing, supported by a defense industry set up to repair the damaged equipment. Additionally, Russia has pulled older systems, such as the D-20 152mm gun-howitzer, back into service to complement its newer self-propelled howitzers. While some systems may only have a range of 20 km, others can reach 40 km or more with rocket-assisted projectiles. Meanwhile, rocket artillery systems, such as the BM-30 Smerch, can strike targets at 70 km or beyond. This creates a layered network of fires along the battlefront.

Ammunition Resupply Is The Critical Vulnerability Of Russian Artillery

Despite the large number of reported losses, Russian artillery remains difficult to identify. Many systems are heavily camouflaged and defiladed, making them hard to spot unless they fire. After they fire, the howitzers relocate quickly to avoid counter-battery systems from identifying their position. These systems are either tracked or towed by tactical vehicles, allowing them to move off-road across varied terrain and avoid predictable routes. Furthermore, given the wide range of systems, they can be dispersed throughout Russian-controlled territory while still remaining within range of Ukrainian lines.

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Given the sheer width and depth of the battlefield, this creates a fundamentally difficult search problem, with Ukrainian drones scanning a vast two-dimensional space to locate relatively small, well-concealed targets that frequently change positions. Even when detected, many Russian artillery positions are protected by counter-drone nets, soldiers with shotguns, or other defensive measures.

However, for these howitzers to sustain fire, they require a constant stream of ammunition. Russia is expending ammunition at a high rate, reportedly firing between 10,000 and 15,000 artillery rounds per day. This ammunition is delivered by supply trucks, such as the KamAZ-5350 or Ural-4320. These heavily laden vehicles are constrained to road networks as they move toward artillery positions, where the ammunition is then transferred to the gun crews.

Image captured from a video posted on social media by the 413th RAID Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The left image is footage from an FPV strike drone chasing a Russian resupply truck. The right image is footage from an overwatch drone showing the aftermath of the strike, as the truck catches fire. Social Media Capture

Attacking these resupply trucks is much simpler for Ukraine than finding the artillery units themselves. Rather than searching a two-dimensional space, Ukrainian drones can focus on patrolling roads. As such, Ukraine has increasingly targeted the artillery resupply vehicles, striking them as far as 60 km beyond their defensive lines as they move along these routes. In some cases, drones can even wait along roadsides, conserving battery power until a resupply vehicle passes. The drone then takes off, pursues the vehicle, and strikes it, typically targeting its fuel tank.

In addition to following predictable paths, these ammunition trucks are relatively easy targets. Given their weight and wheeled design, they cannot easily maneuver off-road to evade drones. These heavily loaded vehicles also lack the capacity to carry extensive counter-drone protections, such as hedgehog or turtle-style defenses. As a result, a single strike drone is often sufficient to detonate the carried ammunition, destroying the vehicle in the process.

Ukraine Is Extending Its Kill Zones As Russia Adapts

Ukraines current defensive scheme consists of entrenched positions set behind a layered obstacle belt. In front of this belt is a kill zone, where any Russian personnel or equipment entering has a high likelihood of being detected and destroyed by Ukrainian drones. Russian drone operators typically push forward into these kill zones, but their artillery systems remain well outside them while still within range of Ukrainian defensive positions. By monitoring roads for ammunition resupply, Ukraine is effectively extending the reach of these kill zones deeper into Russian-controlled territory. Areas that were previously usable for artillery become difficult to sustain, as resupply vehicles are targeted before they can reach firing units. In effect, this creates a broader zone where Russian forces can physically operate but cannot be effectively resupplied, limiting their ability to fight.

Image captured from video posted on Telegram by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 16, 2026. The video shows the crew of a Msta-S self-propelled howitzer firing Krasnopol guided shells at targets identified by an Orlan-10 drone. The crew is part of the 268th Artillery Regiment operating in the Dobropolye direction. Social Media Capture

This strategy aligns with Ukraines goal of maximizing the effectiveness of its weapon systems while conserving resources. In a prolonged war of attrition, success depends on the ability to sustain operations by using limited resources efficiently. Targeting resupply vehicles requires fewer drones and less time than hunting dispersed and concealed units, while often producing greater operational effects. A single strike can destroy large quantities of ammunition and disrupt multiple artillery systems at once, compared to the multiple drones often needed to destroy a single howitzer.

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Ukraines targeting of Russian artillery resupply will have an immediate effect on the battlefield, as Russian units face increasing difficulty sustaining fire. Over the longer term, Russia will adapt, potentially increasing its reliance on strike and bomber drones as these systems become more prevalent in its arsenal. However, in the near term, Ukraines current approach provides a clear advantage, limiting the effectiveness of Russian artillery and constraining offensive operations.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
United Airlines said a flight that took off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport was forced to land in Pittsburgh on Saturday due to a "potential security concern."

The FBI is involved in the investigation.

United flight 2092 departed from O'Hare airport and was headed to New York LaGuardia airport Saturday morning.

The flight was diverted to Pittsburgh "to address a potential security concern," United said.

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The pilots reported hearing a "sequential beeping" onboard, ABC News reported.

Passengers evacuated the plane on slides.

No injuries were reported. There were six crew members and 159 passengers on board.

Alleghany County police said they completed their search of the plane, and did not find anything.

The flight was able to take back off for New York.

ABC News contributed to this report.
A UPS cargo jet aborted its landing Tuesday at a Kentucky airport to avoid another aircraft on the runway, according to reports about a close call at the same airport where a deadly crash occurred months earlier.

An air traffic controller could be heard shouting, "What are you doing?" in audio of the incident, according to Fox 43.

The Boeing 767, identified as UPS flight 1303, was arriving from Atlanta when it was ordered to perform a go-around at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport early Tuesday morning while a smaller aircraft was on the runway, the outlet reported.

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Southwest Pilot Aborts Hollywood Burbank Landing Because Runway 'Wasn't Quite Clear': Report

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said air traffic control instructed the UPS jet to perform a go-around after another aircraft turned onto the runway without authorization. The agency said required separation between the aircraft was maintained.

Audio of the exchange captures the controller urgently instructing the smaller aircraft, identified as Skylab 25, to stop before directing the UPS jet to go around.

Read On The Fox News App

A UPS Boeing 767 cargo plane approaches for landing. A similar aircraft was involved in a near-miss incident at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, according to reports. (Getty Images)

"Two-Five, stop!" the controller yelled, according to FOX 43. "SkyLab Two-Five, what are you doing?"

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A UPS spokesperson told Whas11 the aircraft "safely conducted a go around" during its approach and that there was no operational impact or injuries.

UPS spokesperson Michelle Polk said the maneuver, in which a plane discontinues its descent and circles back for another landing attempt, was carried out in line with standard procedure.

"Following standard procedures, a UPS aircraft safely conducted a go-around during its approach at the direction of air traffic control. There was no operational impact," UPS said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the aircraft descending to around 500 feet before climbing back to approximately 1,500 feet within a short span, FOX 43 reported.

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Louisville's UPS Worldport is the company's largest package handling center in the world. The 5.2 million-square-foot hub serves as the center of UPS global air network.

New Images Show Fire On Doomed Ups Plane During Takeoff; Ntsb Report Reveals How Engine Ripped Off

UPS jets are parked at the Worldport package sorting complex at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Nov. 6, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.

The close call comes just months after a UPS cargo crash at the same airport that killed 15 people.

In November 2025, a UPS MD-11 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all three crew members and 12 people on the ground. National Transportation Safety Board investigators said the planes left engine separated shortly after takeoff and caught fire. The aircraft reached only about 30 feet above ground before crashing.

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Surveillance footage showed the engine detaching from the wing before impact. Investigators found structural cracks in the engine mount that likely led to failure.

UPS grounded its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft after the crash, while the FAA ordered inspections and repairs for the model.

In a separate incident Thursday near Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, a small propeller plane landed in a field. Both people aboard were uninjured, according to Wkyt.





Original article source: UPS plane aborts landing in near miss at same airport where November crash killed 15
In a city that has been targeted for aggressive immigration enforcement, it was a compelling story.

A US citizen of Pakistani descent, Sundas Naqvi, said she was returning to the US from an overseas work trip when she and five coworkers were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Chicago OHare International Airport. Her story got the attention of a family friend, Cook County commissioner Kevin Morrison.

It sounds like they are trying to create a cover-up. They are seeking not to have any accountability whatsoever. And I think this is terrifying and concerning to us all, Morrison said in a news conference on March 8.

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Morrison showed what appeared to be screenshots of time-stamped location maps with Naqvis phone showing her at Broadview Detention Center in Chicago and later at the Dodge County detention center in Wisconsin, where Naqvi said she was taken before being tossed out on the street without transportation after a 43-hour ordeal.

The story relayed through Naqvis friends and family, alleging more than 150 miles of travel in federal custody, effectively incommunicado, was astonishing enough. But there were many more twists to come over the course of a month of new revelations.

The Department of Homeland Security quickly denied Naqvi was taken into custody at the airport. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt went further, saying not only part of Naqvis story is false, but all of it.

Sundas Naqvi was not detained by ICE at any time. She was not transported to Broadview detention facility. She was not transported across state lines to Dodge County by law enforcement She was not in the custody of the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, Schmidt said in his own news conference on April 10.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt holds a press conference April 10, releasing evidence that he says disproves Sundas Naqvi's initial account. - Sophie Carson/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

The questions about Naqvis story started when her then-boyfriend, suspicious after her claims of ICE detention started going viral, called law enforcement, Schmidt said, resulting in a cascade of private text messages and surveillance videos obtained by his office showing a very different timeline.

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Naqvi, who is 28 and also goes by Sunny and Summer, according to public records, is not being charged with any crime, but the sheriff says she defamed him by claiming his office kept her behind bars, and now hes suing her and the politician who illuminated her story in a million-dollar defamation case.

This is a serious accusation, and when it is not true, it does real damage, said Schmidt.

DHS says Naqvi was pulled aside at airport, but briefly

The Department of Homeland Security confirms Naqvi was pulled aside for a secondary screening on March 5 after returning from a trip to Turkey based on law enforcement checks. But the story diverges dramatically from Naqvis account after that.

Surveillance footage from OHare CLEARLY shows her entering secondary inspection at 10:46 a.m., and leaving secondary to the public area at 11:42 a.m., DHS wrote in an X post six days later. Her claims of spending 43 hours in DHS custody are FALSE.

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Morrison initially accused the DHS of falsifying the post.

Instead of releasing a clearly doctored photo, I call on DHS to release all of the relevant video at OHare Airport at the days and times in question, Morrison said in a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The commissioner  who was also a candidate for Congress at the time  said he considered the cell phone location maps conclusive.

I spoke with her around 1:30 on Friday (March 6), and then about an hour later, her phone started pinging right behind me at the Broadview ICE detention facility, Morrison said in his news conference outside the building on March 8.

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At Morrisons request, local law enforcement searched the building, which has been the focal point of anti-ICE protests and allegations of detainee mistreatment for months.

We can confirm that Sheriffs Police looked for that individual at the Broadview ICE facility, but she was not there, a spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriffs office told CNN.

That did not persuade the family either.

A van exits the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Chicago on October 2, 2025. - Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images

The cops were lying to our faces, Naqvis sister, Sarah Afzal, said at the news conference.

Afzal and Morrison say Naqvi told them she and coworkers on the same trip who had been detained were later transferred to Dodge County and released without charge. After nearly two full days in custody, Naqvi claimed, she had to hitchhike to a local Holiday Inn Express where her family picked her up.

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Schmidt said in a statement they had no record of Naqvi  or anyone else in ICE custody  being booked into the jail during the timeframe she gave. He initially asked Naqvi to contact him to try to straighten things out.

Someone else called Schmidt instead, he said. A boyfriend with information who said Naqvi was the one who had been taking him for a ride.

Sheriff calls disappearance part of a romantic scam

Naqvi said she had been in Turkey on a trip for work, but her then-boyfriend  who Schmidt says he cant identify due to Wisconsins victims rights law  told them he actually paid for it with $12,000 from his own tax refund, part of $25,000 he allegedly spent on Naqvi, the sheriff said, because he thought there was a very long-term relationship in their future.

The now ex-boyfriend told law enforcement that after her return to the US he also paid for Naqvi to check into a Hampton Inn about three miles from OHare shortly after she was released from secondary screening.

Text messages Sheriff Dale Schmidt says were between Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi and her then-boyfriend. The sheriff's office added the red arrow highlighting a message requesting money for a spa treatment. - Dodge County Sheriff

A folio obtained from the hotel showed Naqvi checked in at 1:17 p.m. Text messages Schmidt says were provided by the victim showed she also asked him for permission to use his credit card to order food and pay for a spa treatment while she was claiming to be in federal custody.

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Naqvis ex-boyfriend told investigators she convinced him to drive her from the suburban Chicago hotel to another hotel in Dodge County, Wisconsin  a Holiday Inn Express  on March 7, where her family said they had picked her up after Naqvi said she was forced to hitchhike from the jail.

Her first shower was actually today, and she was able to eat some food, Afzal said on March 8.

The mans testimony contradicting Naqvis account was corroborated, Schmidt said, by license plate reading cameras along the route and surveillance footage from a convenience store more than 20 miles away from the Dodge County Jail, showing Naqvi in the store at around the same time she said she was being released from jail.

In response to the images showing pings from Naqvis phone from Broadview and Dodge County, Schmidt said he believes those were falsified.

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Im here to tell you that in the world of AI, that in the world of technology that we live in, things like this can be spoofed very easy, the sheriff said. The evidence strongly suggests these location images were manipulated and are unreliable.

Video obtained by the sheriffs office from the Holiday Inn Express where Naqvis family picked her up shows the woman who appears to be Naqvi  wearing the same clothes seen in a photo posted by Morrison with her family  walking to the hotel only 15 minutes before being picked up by her family. Shortly after arriving, she is seen posing for a thumbs-up selfie in the hotel lobby.

The timeline being claimed is not physically possible based on the evidence we have, said Schmidt, and that matters.

The sheriff said Naqvis boyfriend was also encouraged to pose to the media as one of the unnamed coworkers she had claimed were detained with her, but he refused.

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Naqvi has never identified the other alleged coworkers, and no one has come forward claiming to have been detained with her. SAP was listed as Naqvis employer on her LinkedIn page, according to CNN affiliate WBBM. Her profile has since been taken down.

Sunny (Sundas) Naqvi is not and was never an SAP employee, the company told CNN.

Morrison  who has since lost the congressional primary in his district  declined to respond to the sheriffs statement this week. I cannot comment on pending litigation at this time, he told CNN by email.

Naqvi has not responded to requests for comment from CNN and other journalists. Afzal did not return CNNs messages requesting a response to the sheriffs allegations. She told CNN affiliate WISN, What reason would we have to lie about this and get a target on our backs as brown women?

Naqvi has spotty history on serious allegations

This is not the first time Sundas Naqvi has been accused of making up a serious allegation.

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In 2019, Naqvi accused a then-University of Illinois professor, Joe Petry, of sexual misconduct and offering sex in exchange for an A+ in his class, the News-Gazette of Champaign, Illinois, reported.

Petry acknowledged a relationship with a former student but said it was consensual and denied doing anything wrong.

I am far from a perfect individual, but this does not justify the Universitys utter disregard for its contractual obligations, and the guilty until proven innocent approach taken against me, Petry said in a statement from his attorneys announcing a $7.9 million lawsuit against the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, saying the school reneged on a promise to fully investigate Naqvis claims in exchange for his resignation.

Student Center at University of Illinois Springfield Tuesday, March 31, 2026. - Thomas J. Turney/State Journal-Register/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

The universitys investigative report later obtained by CNN affiliate WISN found that Naqvis sexual misconduct allegations were not credible.

A judge issued an order in 2020 requiring Naqvi to have no contact with Petry, saying Petry is a victim of two or more acts of following: monitoring, observing, surveilling, threatening, communication, or interfering or damaging property or pets by Respondent, according to records from Champaign County Circuit Court.

CNNs requests for comment to the attorneys who represented Petry in his lawsuit were not returned. University of Illinois spokesperson Pat Wade told CNN they cannot comment on disciplinary records of students but confirmed that Petrys lawsuit against the board is still pending.

In 2019, Naqvi was convicted of filing a false police report in Skokie, WISN reports, saying a claim she made that she was sexually assaulted by a man she knew was not reasonably possible based on cell phone data, traffic cameras and toll records. CNN was unable to independently confirm her conviction.

She faced criminal charges in 2020 alleging she had damaged the property of one former boyfriend and lied about another, but those cases were dismissed by the local prosecutor, the News-Gazette reported.

Naqvi also faced two cases of allegedly filing a false police report in Champaign County. She was acquitted in one, and charges were dropped in the other, court records show.

Sheriffs lawsuit now in federal court

Despite the evidence Schmidt has presented suggesting the whole thing was a hoax, the sheriffs lawsuit  filed in his personal capacity  may not have an easy time in court. A defamation lawsuit against a public figure must show that false statements were made with actual malice and damaged the reputation of the victim.

In the case of Dodge County, the sheriff has previously acknowledged his jail accepts ICE detainees under a contract with the federal government dating back to the Obama administration.

Schmidt argues the claim that he was part of a cover-up with the Department of Homeland Security, that the damage of this story goes beyond just him personally.

I take it personally when my staff are called liars, he said while noting some of the angry comments his department received after Morrisons news conference.

Schmidt was successful in his first hurdle of the case, as a judge agreed to allow him to serve the subpoenas for the hotel surveillance video he used to argue Naqvi was lying.

The statements made caused reputational harm and damages to Schmidt, particularly as he prepared for a re-election campaign, Judge Brett Ludwig agreed.

Naqvi and Morrison have not yet filed responses to the complaint in court. An attorney who spoke for Naqvi at last months press conference told CNN he is not representing her in this case.

Schmidt acknowledges a civil suit is not his first choice for a response but says even if Naqvis story was entirely made up, she didnt violate any laws in Wisconsin.

I dont have any charges here in Dodge County to bring against her. My only recourse is to make sure that the public knows that she cant do this, Schmidt said.

CNNs David Williams contributed to this report.

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The US struck and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship trying to evade a blockade in the Gulf of Oman, President Donald Trump said Sunday, as Tehran reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident  the first in which the US used force to impose its blockade  came after Trump said Washington and Tehran would hold a new round of peace talks in Pakistan on Monday, but Iranian state media said no such meeting had been confirmed.

The back-and-forth capped a chaotic weekend in the strait: Iranian officials said Friday the waterway was completely open but later reimposed strict control, citing the US blockade.

Two Indian ships reportedly came under fire and were forced to turn back.
A Cambodian national convicted of aggravated robbery in 1993. A stateless Palestinian man who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and drug crimes in 2018. A Ukrainian man who fled the war with Russia in 2022 only to lose lawful status last year when he accidentally drove his UberEats delivery across the Mexican border. A Cuban man convicted of child abuse in 2020.

All four had previously been ordered deported from the U.S. and were arrested by ICE in recent months. But all four were ordered released by federal judges appointed by President Donald Trump who concluded that their detentions violated constitutional limits. They are among hundreds of immigrants targeted amid the Trump administrations mass deportation drive with murky histories  and sometimes sordid criminal records  who nevertheless have been found by federal courts to be illegally detained.

ICEs drive to lock up thousands of undocumented immigrants with no criminal records and yearslong ties to the U.S. has ignited a political and legal backlash to the Trump administrations unprecedented policy of mass detention. But federal judges have routinely found that this second population  immigrants, including some with criminal records, who have been issued final deportation orders yet remain in the country  have faced similar abuses of due process and violations of constitutional rights.

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A POLITICO analysis of immigration detention cases has found that federal judges have ordered bond hearings and, more often, outright release for more than 400 people detained under these circumstances. And the rebukes have come from judges appointed by every president since Ronald Reagan.

President Trump always prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of the American people. Certain activist judges, however, have purposefully sought to promote the interests of dangerous criminal aliens whom they have ordered released into American communities to victimize the public with impunity, said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson. This Administration will stop at nothing to uphold the rule of law, and protect our country from these dangerous illegal aliens.

At issue is a complex aspect of immigration law that governs the treatment of people issued final orders of removal by immigration courts. In some cases, those final orders were issued decades ago but could not be carried out because the country on the other end of the order  China, Russia, Cuba, Syria, Iran  has strained relations with the U.S. or generally resists accepting deportees. In other cases, the immigrants are stateless, born in a now-obsolete Soviet Union or lacking ties to any country. And in yet another category, immigration judges have credited deportees fears of persecution or torture and granted them protections from being sent to their home countries.

U.S. District Judge John Hinderaker, a Trump appointee in Arizona, ordered the release of a Cameroonian woman who was ordered deported but protected from being sent to her home country over concerns about torture. U.S. District Judge Dominic Lanza, another Arizona-based Trump appointee, recently ordered the release of a Honduran woman, convicted of sex crimes in 2006 and incarcerated until 2022, who received similar protections from torture in her home country.

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The Supreme Court has agreed that people in this category can be detained for roughly six months without constitutional concerns  a period in which ICE is expected to arrange their deportations by securing travel documents and scheduling flights. But once that period elapses, a constitutional presumption for liberty kicks in.

In some cases, the Justice Department claims in court that the administration has renewed efforts to arrange long-stalled deportations, reigniting conversations with reluctant countries or finding alternate third countries willing to accept deportees. The Trump administration has partnered with African countries to receive some deportees who cant be sent to their home countries, for example. But here, too, judges say the administration is often supplying wishful thinking rather than concrete evidence of progress.

The Government offers no documents, no diplomatic agreements, and no concrete evidence.  Instead, the Government extends hope and a placeholder, U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek, a Trump appointee, said in a recent order releasing a Cuban man from immigration custody, despite the administrations efforts to send him to Mexico. A mere representation from an agency to its lawyers  unbacked by a shred of evidence  cannot justify keeping a man locked in a cell.

The constitutional principles at stake mean that people deemed by the government and courts to be deportable  even if they have committed crimes ranging from drug trafficking to burglary to rape to murder  may be released from federal custody so long as theyve served their criminal sentences.

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Judges have often wrestled with this issue, noting that immigration detention is merely a step in a civil process ending in deportations, not a punishment akin to criminal incarceration. One judge, an Obama appointee in Louisiana, recently underscored that point in a decision releasing several ICE detainees.

ICE officials, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles noted, assert that [n]o matter how Petitioners color it, each of them was a criminal. That is exactly right  each was convicted of a crime, and each served his sentence. And then ICE itself determined that each should be released into regular, free civilian life. Petitioners criminal histories are not at issue here.

Adding to the complexity, many of the people targeted in recent months by ICE hit the six-month detention mark years or even decades ago and were released on orders of supervision. Yet the Trump administration has been rearresting them, holding them for months before judges have intervened.

The administration has argued that the six-month limit on detention restarts each time ICE detains someone with a final deportation order, a position that has provoked a dispute among judges. In December, U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge, a Texas-based Trump appointee, rejected that contention in the case of a man ordered deported to Qatar in 2009. But last month, U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger, a Trump appointee in Florida, said a rigid six-month limit would present a perpetual get-out-of-jail-free card to any detainee whose cumulative prior detention exceeds six months.

The cases also open a window into the federal governments diplomatic relationships around the globe. Vietnam, for example, has been historically reluctant to repatriate people who fled to the U.S. prior to 1995  a vestige of the Vietnam War. And Mexico has at times declined to accept people over 60 years old.
Former Virginia Lt. Gov Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before killing himself in their home, according to law enforcement reports released Thursday, prompting reactions from public officials and commentators as details of the incident emerged.

Authorities said the incident occurred at the couples home, where officers responded to reports of gunfire and later confirmed both deaths. Officials have not indicated there additional suspects and described the case as a murder-suicide.

Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., reacted publicly to the deaths in a post on X, receiving criticism for omitting any reference to Fairfax as the perpetrator.

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"Today is a tragic day for the Commonwealth," Vindman said in the post. "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the news involving former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax and Cerina Fairfax.

Fairfax County coroners prepare to leave the home of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax in Annandale, Va., with two bodies in a van on April 16, 2026. (AP Images)

Two Democratic Reps Call For Swalwell To Exit Congress As Controversy Swirls Around His Bid For Ca Governor

"Cindy and I are holding their loved ones close in our hearts, especially their two children, as they endure this unimaginable loss."

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Public reaction on social media followed, with some users criticizing how Vindman framed the situation.

Commentator Matt Van Swol questioned the wording used in Vindmans post, writing, "What is the news Vindman?????

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"Anyone reading this has no idea that Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax MURDERED HIS WIFE AND THEN SHOT HIMSELF."

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, attend Gov. Ralph Northam's inauguration at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 13, 2018. Fairfax fatally shot his wife before taking his own life on Thursday amid a contentious divorce, authorities said.

Video Shows Ex-'american Idol' Contestant's Emotional Outburst After He Allegedly Killed His Wife

Another user, posting under the name "Golden Poppy," also responded to the framing of the incident.

"What happened to you using the term gun violence and being concerned about child safety?" the user continued. "Why not dance on these graves to push your anti-civil rights, anti-gun agenda?"

"If you read just this tweet by Eugene Vindman, you would have no idea that Justin Fairfax ***murdered his wife***," one reporter wrote.

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"A tad passive for what actually happened," XX-XY's Jennifer Sey wrote.

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia, gestures during a debate at Virginia Sate University in Petersburg, Va., April 6, 2021.

Rhode Island Ice Rink Shooting Victims Confirmed As Shooter's Daughter Alleges 'Vendetta' Against Family

Attorney Nancy Erika Smith, who previously represented Meredith Watson in sexual assault allegations against Fairfax, pointed to what she described as a pattern of behavior.

"There were decades of signs of his anger and mistreatment of women, and he used the court system to intimidate his victims and news outlets," Smith said.

"Society must be more responsive when women report these crimes."

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An acquaintance of Fairfax, speaking anonymously, described the former lieutenant governor's personal and financial struggles in the years following the allegations.

"He couldnt find a job really," the source said. "When he couldnt get clients, he couldnt get work. I think thats what started the downhill of the marriage itself.

"That whole scandal, its been sort of downhill for Justin Fairfax ever since."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Vindman's office for comment.





Original article source: Virginia Democrat sparks backlash for omitting murder-suicide in post on Justin Fairfax
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz slammed President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at a conference for progressives in Spain on Saturday, accusing Trump of being a "feeble-minded, trigger-happy president" who has "no exit plan" for the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Walz delivered the criticism after a crowd at the inaugural Global Progressive Mobilization event in Barcelona heard video messages from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani about affordability and from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., about the "illegal and dangerous wars being waged by Netanyahu and Trump in Iran and Lebanon."

"We've got a feeble-minded, trigger-happy president who plunged us into a war where no threat was present, with no clear objectives and no exit plan. We need to call that what it is. That's fascism. Or at least it's fascist curious as they would be," Walz said.

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"Look, it'd be easy to stand up here and just bash Donald Trump. He's an easy target. And if you know me, we don't get along very well," Walz added. "But we've got a lot of bigger fish and bigger problems to fry in this room, because the truth is, authoritarianism is not just confined to the United States. It's everywhere."

Jd Vance Tells Pope Leo Xiv To 'Stick To Matters Of Morality' And Stay Out Of Us Public Policy

Gov. Tim Walz gestures while speaking at the Global Progressive Mobilization conference in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Reuters)

Walz also said, "Many of you might know me as the guy who isn't currently the vice president of the United States, and all I have to say about that is I'm very sorry about that.

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"But unlike our current vice president, I'm not here to arrogantly lecture or scold you. I'm not here to pick up a fight with the Pope, and I'm not here to host a rally for some local wannabe dictator. Instead, I'm here to say thank you and to share some thoughts on what we can do to be part of a progressive movement that moves all of our countries forward."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for a response.

Gov. Tim Walz Says Hed 'Beat The S--- Out Of' Jd Vance In A Debate Rematch

Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19, 2026.

Walz told the crowd at one point in his speech, "Please don't give up on the American people."

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"Go ahead and give up and condemn that monstrosity that sits in our White House," he added in reference to Trump. "Keep the pressure on. Keep calling it out. Keep standing up to it. Keep naming it. But know there are more good people that stand on the right side of history. There are more good people that care about equality, that understand it's not America First, it's humanity first. It's all of us together."

The two-day Global Progressive Mobilization conference described itself on its website as a "necessary alternative to conservative and far-right forces."

Prior to Walzs remarks, Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Spain.

"Has anybody looked at how badly the country of Spain is doing. Their financial numbers, despite contributing almost nothing to NATO and their military defense, are absolutely horrendous. Sad to watch!!!" Trump wrote Saturday.

Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance (Getty Images)

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Begona Gomez, the wife of liberal Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, also was formally charged this week with corruption after a years-long probe into charges she and her husband deny, according to Deutsche Welle.





Original article source: Walz rips Trump and Vance in Europe, says 'feeble-minded, trigger-happy president' has no exit plan for Iran
Warning: This story contains distressing content

Beaming into a small Sydney courtroom on Friday via video link, Ben Roberts-Smith sat silently as he appeared on war crimes charges for the first time.

The country's most-decorated living soldier was earlier this month charged with five counts of murder - allegedly committed while the former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal was deployed to Afghanistan.

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Fresh court documents seen by the BBC reveal  in detail  allegations that the 47-year-old murdered a disabled Afghan detainee, kicked a handcuffed prisoner off a cliff, ordered rookie soldiers to execute others in an initiation practice called "blooding", and planted items on the alleged victims to cover up misconduct.

Roberts-Smith vehemently denies the claims. "I always acted within my values, within my training and within the rules of engagement," he said in a statement after being charged.

The criminal case follows a 2023 civil defamation case, in which a judge found - on the balance of probabilities - there was "substantial truth" to some of the murder claims against Roberts-Smith.

Australia has never held a war crimes trial for one of its own.

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So what are the allegations - and what happens next?

'Whiskey 108' Compound - 12 April 2009

Roberts-Smith joined the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, and did two tours in East Timor before joining the SAS in 2003.

By the time he was sent to a compound dubbed "Whiskey 108" on 12 April 2009, he had more than a decade of service and a Medal of Gallantry under his belt.

Australian troops had been battling Taliban insurgents at the site near Tarin Kowt, in central Afghanistan, and Roberts-Smith's SAS crew were called in to clear it after an airstrike, the court documents state.

They discovered a tunnel from which they pulled and handcuffed two men  identified by prosecutors as father and son, Mohammad Essa and Ahmadullah.

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Ahmadullah, who wore a prosthetic leg, was allegedly carried by Roberts-Smith outside the wall of the compound, thrown to the ground, and shot multiple times using a belt-fed machine gun, the court documents say.

"That action was witnessed by several ADF members, including those who were providing a protective cordon outside the compound," the documents continue.

A convoy of Australian troops near Tarin Kowt [The Age/Getty Images]

Back inside the compound, Roberts-Smith turned his attention to the senior Essa, the prosecutors' submission continues.

Grabbing a trooper referred to as "The Rookie"  anonymised in the court documents as Person Four  Roberts-Smith borrowed a firearm suppressor from another man before placing the detainee on his knees.

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"Shoot that [expletive]," the court documents allege he said to Person Four  who understood it to be an order and complied.

"At the conclusion of the mission, both Roberts-Smith and his patrol leader claimed that they had 'blooded the Rookie'," the court documents say.

Darwan Village - 11 September 2012

In late August 2012, an Afghan National Army soldier working with Australian soldiers turned on them, killing three and injuring two others, sparking a massive manhunt. The search for Sgt Hekmatullah became the highest priority for the ADF.

Roberts-Smith - who the year before had been awarded the Commonwealth's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross - went looking for him in a village called Darwan two weeks later.

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Arriving by helicopter on 11 September, his team searched a series of compounds near a dry creek bed, capturing three detainees, the court documents say. One of them was a man called Ali Jan.

The prisoners were "tactically questioned" by Roberts-Smith, prosecutors allege, which involved him punching and physically assaulting the handcuffed men.

Roberts-Smith then allegedly pulled Ali Jan, who was taken to the edge of a cliff by a colleague given the pseudonym Person 11.

"Whilst [Ali Jan] was still cuffed and physically restrained, Roberts-Smith kicked him causing him to fall approximately 10 metres and causing injuries including the loss of teeth," the court documents claim, adding that Person Four and local villagers say they witnessed the fall.

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Roberts-Smith and Person 11 then climbed down the slope to where Ali Jan lay, hurt and still handcuffed.

Person Four told prosecutors he saw Roberts-Smith and Person 11  both carrying rifles  have a short chat.

Several shots rang out when Person Four's back was turned, and when he looked over, Person 11 had his rifle up on his shoulder. The prosecution alleges that Person 11 shot Ali Jan.

The court documents claim that a hand-held radio - one that Roberts-Smith had taken from the body of a man he had earlier killed - was placed near Ali Jan and photographed to support the killing.

Roberts-Smith, during the defamation trial, denied any men had been detained, or that the cliff existed.

Roberts-Smith, pictured outside Federal Court in 2021 during his defamation trial [Getty Images]

Syahchow - 20 October 2012

On 20 October 2012, Roberts-Smith  by then a patrol commander  was sent into Syachow village to look for an insurgent dubbed "Objective Pine".

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The reports from that mission say that two people were killed during fighting in a compound. Another two were killed shortly after, shots and a grenade sent into a cornfield where they were refusing to surrender.

That was a lie, prosecutors allege. A junior soldier  called Person 66  says the two men in the field were detainees murdered on Roberts-Smith's command.

Person 66 says the pair were detained in the compound, and then questioned by Roberts-Smith, who punched one of them in the stomach.

The two men were later lined up at the end of the cornfield, the court documents allege.

A senior soldier shot dead one man, before Roberts-Smith allegedly removed handcuffs and a blindfold from the second and ordered that Person 66 do the same.

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The man had been pushed to the ground, his hands up in front of his face, the prosecutors claim. Person 66  who was on his first operational mission  paused for a moment, then shot the man two to three times in the chest, the documents say.

He then watched as Roberts-Smith threw a grenade towards the dead detainees, described by investigators as an act to support the "false claim" they were killed during legitimate fighting.

Forensic pathologists identified marks consistent with ligatures in photographs of at least one of the men. Less discernible linear marks were also found on the other.

Trial could be 'years away'

Roberts-Smith's medals, which remain on display at the AWM [Getty Images]

Roberts-Smith stepped back from active duties at the end of 2012, and formally left the ADF in 2015, shortly after receiving a commendation for Distinguished Service.

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About a year later, top military brass began an inquiry into rumours of war crimes committed in Afghanistan, and media reports detailing allegations began circulating.

Roberts-Smith was by 2018 identified as the alleged perpetrator in several incidents  something he vehemently denied and launched a landmark defamation case over. He lost.

In sworn evidence given at that civil trial, transcripts of which were included in the court documents tendered in the criminal case, Roberts-Smith denied he had ever broken the rules of war, underpinned by the Geneva Convention.

He also said he knew killing a "person under control" - or detainee - would never be permissible, and denied ever using "throwdowns", jargon to describe items like a radio or weapon planted at the scene of lethal engagements to justify them.

"Roberts-Smith exercised his right to decline the opportunity to add, amend or comment upon his previous sworn evidence," the court documents say.

However prosecutors have outlined other evidence they want to use to make their case at trial.

There were "common themes" to the alleged murders, the court documents concluded: every single alleged victim was handcuffed, detained for a period, and questioned prior to their execution, and each was killed in a situation where the ADF had control of the situation and there were no active engagements with enemy forces.

There was also at least one direct or eyewitness account to each of the alleged killings. The court documents reveal that list includes three witnesses who testify that they were involved in the execution of one or more detainees  either at the direction of, or with the complicity of, Roberts-Smith, who was their military superior.

Roberts-Smith's legal team has not yet responded to the detailed allegations put in the documents, nor has the veteran entered a plea, and any trial is still a long way off.

Granting Roberts-Smith strict, conditional bail on Friday, Judge Greg Grogin said it would be "not weeks or months, but years - possibly years and years" before Roberts-Smith appears in the dock.
The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Israel says soldier hitting Jesus statue image authentic -

The Israeli army said Monday that it had determined an image circulating on social media that shows a soldier in south Lebanon hitting a statue of Jesus Christ is authentic and depicts one of its troops.

The image appears to show an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen off of a cross.

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The Israel army said it viewed the incident with "great severity", adding that the "soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops", in a post to its official X account on Monday.

The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being "addressed through the chain of command", the military added.

- Oil prices bounce back on Iran war escalation -

Oil prices surged Monday on a re-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, just a day after reopening it, citing the United States' blockade of its ports.

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However, lingering hopes that a deal to end the seven-week crisis continued to support equities, even as Tehran said it was not currently planning to attend peace talks.

- US seizes Iranian ship -

President Donald Trump said Sunday that USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, fired on and seized Touska, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, in the Gulf of Oman and US Marines were "seeing what's on board!"

Iran says it retaliated with drones in the direction of US military ships after one of its vessels was seized, Tasnim news agency reported.

The incident comes as the US and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, which was virtually closed for weeks under pressure from the Islamic republic.

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Tehran briefly reopened the strait Friday in recognition of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, but closed it again Saturday in response to the ongoing US blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports.

- Peace talks in limbo -

Iranian state media reported Sunday that Tehran was not planning to take part in talks with the United States, hours after Trump said he was dispatching negotiators to Islamabad.

"There are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks," state broadcaster IRIB said, citing Iranian sources.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian -- which he described as "a warm and constructive conversation" -- and reaffirmed his government's readiness to mediate the conflict.

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- Syria foiled Hezbollah attack -

Syria's interior ministry said Sunday that security forces had thwarted a cross-border attack in the southern Quneitra province by a cell linked to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which denied the accusation.

In a statement, Syrian officials said they foiled a "sabotage plot" with hidden rocket launching equipment in a civilian vehicle, which was linked to Hezbollah and "aimed to destabilise the region".

The area borders the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

- US negotiators going to Pakistan -

Trump said US negotiators will be in Pakistan Monday to resume talks on ending the war with Iran, as he again threatened to destroy its power plants and bridges if no deal is reached.

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Trump did not say who would lead the delegation, but a White House official said it was Vice President JD Vance, who led the last set of talks that failed to reach an accord.

Trump said in a social media post he was offering Iran "a reasonable deal" but if Tehran refuses, "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

- Lebanon PM to Paris -

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris, his office announced, a day after a French peacekeeper was killed in Lebanon and amid a fragile 10-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

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- Israel warns 'full force' -

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said his military will use "full force" in Lebanon -- even during the ongoing ceasefire -- should Israeli troops face any threat from Hezbollah.

Lebanon's military said meanwhile it has reopened a road and bridge between the city of Nabatieh and Khardali that was damaged by Israeli strikes in the south.

- Iranian airport reopens -

Iran will resume international flights on Monday from Mashhad airport in the country's northeast, its civil aviation authority said.

- Turkey hopes for extension -

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday he was "optimistic" that a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States that expires on Wednesday, would be extended, allowing more time for talks between the sides.

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The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Israeli soldier killed -

Israel's military said a soldier died during combat in southern Lebanon, where fighting has not stopped despite a temporary ceasefire.

It was the second death of a soldier announced by Israel since the start of a 10-day truce announced by the United States began on Friday -- part of wider efforts to bring a permanent end to the Middle East war.

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The total Israeli army death toll in the six-week war between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon is now 15, according to an AFP tally based on military figures.

- Hormuz closed -

The strategic Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday, a day after Iran's central military command announced a new closure in response to a US blockade of Iranian ports.

On Friday, Iran had declared the strait -- where around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually transits -- open after the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announcement. Oil oil prices plunged amid elation in global markets.

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But President Donald Trump insisted the US naval blockade would continue until a deal to end the wider war was concluded, leading Tehran to again close the strait -- a measure Trump called "blackmail".

- Iran says negotiations far from final -

Progress had been made in negotiations with the United States to end the war, Iran's parliamentary speaker said on Saturday, but the two sides remain far from an agreement.

"We are still far from the final discussion," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of Iran's negotiators, said in a televised address. "We made progress in the negotiations, but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain."

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- Iran's death toll -

Iran's state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying the war with the United States and Israel had left 3,468 people dead in the country.

- UN chief condemns peacekeeper death -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned an attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon that left a French soldier dead and three wounded.

France blamed the attack on Hezbollah and Guterres said, in a statement issued by his spokesman, that an initial assessment by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was that it was carried out by the Iran-backed group.

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Hezbollah has denied accusations that it was involved.

- Israel hits Lebanon -

The Israeli military said Saturday its air force had eliminated a "terrorist cell" operating near its troops in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire there.

Israeli forces also carried out demolitions in Lebanese towns near the border, including Bint Jbeil, the scene of intense fighting with Hezbollah prior to the ceasefire, Lebanese state media reported.

- Iran navy warning -

"We warn that no ship, of any kind, should leave its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman," Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy said in a statement on its official Sepah News website.

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"Any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted."

- No one-sided truce -

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Saturday the 10-day truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, vowing that his fighters would respond to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger, and they will respond to violations accordingly," Qassem said in a statement read out on TV.

"There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only, it must be from both sides."

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Sunday will stay warm with high temperatures around 90 degrees. The big change will be the clouds building throughout the entire day.

These conditions will be short-lived since a cold front is approaching the area and will arrive on Monday.

Morning: Sunday, April 19, 2026

The cold front arriving Monday will not be a big rainmaker. Some spots could see around a quarter of an inch of rain at most.

The area most likely to see that rain will be the southern half of Brevard County.

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A few small thunderstorms are possible, but severe weather is not expected.

Morning: Sunday, April 19, 2026

Winds will also increase around central Florida thanks to this cold front. We could see gusts up to 20 mph today.

Monday will feature gusts up to 30 mph.

The bigger impact throughout all of central Florida will be the change in our temperatures.

Afternoon highs will fall back to the low to mid 80s to start off this upcoming work week.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Chaotic video shows the moment hordes of young street racers descended upon a Georgia intersection in the middle of the night last weekend, wreaking havoc and disturbing neighbors in the latest illegal "takeover" plaguing communities across the country.

Officers with the Atlanta Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of James Jackson Parkway and Bolton Road around 1:30 a.m. Sunday over reports of street racers "driving recklessly, blocking the roadway from citizen motorists, laying drag and performing illegal drifting maneuvers, also known as donuts," authorities said in a statement .

Upon arriving on scene, officers discovered a "large gathering" of approximately 200 individuals gathered in the intersection.

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Video Shows Aftermath Of Violent Neighborhood Street Takeover That Left Couple Battered In 'Planned Attack'

Surveillance video shared by the department shows various cars speeding by as the massive crowd gathered in the street to record the chaos on their cellphones.

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As officers attempted to break up the event, several individuals fled the scene on foot and in vehicles.

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Body camera video revealed the moment officers pursued one individual on foot, as additional officers conducted traffic stops involving two vehicles nearby, the department said.

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"You better stop before I Tase you," the officer can be heard yelling as the suspect ran into a neighboring residential area.

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The individual was subsequently detained and taken into custody.

Following the incident, 18 individuals between the ages of 17 and 25 were arrested, according to authorities. A 15-year-old juvenile was also issued multiple citations stemming from the alleged street racing.

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Authorities also recovered multiple firearms in the search, and both vehicles involved in the traffic stop were impounded.

"The Atlanta Police Department extends its appreciation to the Georgia State Patrol for their continued partnership and assistance," the department said in a statement.

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"Illegal street racing will not be tolerated in the City of Atlanta; Individuals engaging in this activity will be arrested, charged, and have their vehicles impounded."

The Atlanta Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment.





Original article source: WATCH: Illegal street racing 'takeover' explodes as hundreds swarm streets and suspects bolt
President Trump is headlining Turning Point USAs event Friday afternoon in Arizona, as Republicans seek to bolster support ahead of November.

The Build the Red Wall event comes at a time when Trumps backing among young voters is slipping as the conflict in Iran persists and as affordability concerns continue to mount. A recent Yale Youth Poll shows that 68 percent of voters aged 18-22 disapprove of his job as president, along with 72 percent of those aged 23-29.

His remarks come less than a week after Vice President Vance spoke at a separate Turning Point event in Athens, Ga., where he acknowledged young voters criticism of Trumps Middle East policy.

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The event in Phoenix is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

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.
As construction on the new $947 million Western State Hospital Facility continues in Lakewood, the state Department of Social and Health Services gave an update to the Lakewood City Council on April 13, which included renderings of the building and an update on security protocols in light of a recent escape from the current facility.

The new 350-bed forensic hospital will serve patients who need mental health restoration treatment as part of their criminal-court orders. Although 13 buildings at the 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW campus were demolished to make way for the new hospital facility, a majority of the existing hospital structures will remain, according to DSHS. The new hospital is expected to open by August 2028.

David Chipchase, quality manager of Western State Hospital, told the Lakewood City Council that not only is this the single largest construction project in the history of Lakewood, its the largest project in all the state of Washington monetarily, minus road construction.

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Design renderings showed a sprawling interconnected campus with flowering courtyards for staff and patients surrounded by buildings (as opposed to tall, barbed wire fences). The exterior will have a basket-weave style facade that we believe ties in nicely to the Pacific Northwest, Chipchase said.

Renderings of the visitor entrance, cafe and exercise rooms depict modern, open, well-lit rooms. Chipchase said each of the 350 patients housed there would have their own rooms, with their own bathroom, shower and toilet.

The design is intentional, he said. Western State Hospital chose an architect firm that has experience building forensic hospitals that dont look like jails, so patients will not be triggered and be in more of a mindset to be able to heal, Chipchase said.

A design rendering of the new Western State Hospital facility in Lakewood, Wash. shows a staff courtyard with green space. (Washington Department of Social and Health Services)

Safety and security update amid recent escape

On March 31, 45-year-old Joshua Dylan Rice escaped from Western State Hospital, and police found that hospital staff did not follow protocol to prevent his escape, as previously reported by The News Tribune.

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Some patients, particularly those who are found not guilty by reason of insanity, have privileges they can earn, like escorted outings in the community or unescorted opportunities to walk the grounds, said Mark Thompson, the CEO of the Western State Hospital Bruce Gage Center of Forensic Excellence. The new enclosed courtyards are designed to prevent escapes, he said.

Whenever there is an issue that impacts the greater community, like an unauthorized leave or escape, Thompson said staff have a list of agencies to contact, including local law enforcement, the Prosecuting Attorneys Office, defense attorneys and victims or witnesses to their crimes.

In the case of Rices escape, Lakewood Mayor Paul Bocchi said Monday, Everyone seems to agree, at a number of levels here locally, that we were not given timely notification.

Could you go through the timeframe as to when he was in the hospital, when you believe he left, and who was notified and when, and explain to us why it apparently took several days before we were notified? he asked.

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Thompson said there is not an automated system in place, like a text alert or an app, to inform the community when there is an escape. Phone calls to local agencies are often the fastest way to relay information, he said. Most of the time the public learns of an escape through the press, Thompson said.

Within five minutes of Rices escape, the Lakewood Police Department was notified, Thompson said. There is an investigation underway into how Rice escaped, he said.

If we ever note that someone is missing, theyre not where theyre supposed to be, we will initially implement a lockdown of the wards. We will conduct a census check, a head count, assure that weve accounted for everyone, Thompson said. At the moment that we account for everyone, and we cannot find an individual, then we will begin that notification process.
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.

A few years back, a groundswell of Brooklyn parents in District 13 wanted to ditch gifted and talented classes, concerned about sorting and segregating children starting in kindergarten.

Then-Superintendent Kamar Samuels, now chancellor of New York City schools, wanted to find an alternative that offered rigorous academics for all students in a school rather than a select few. He settled on the International Baccalaureate, or IB, program and encouraged schools in District 13, which spans from Brooklyn Heights to Bedford-Stuyvesant, to pursue the yearslong authorization process, using a grant to support the shift.

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The IB approach embraces inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning that allows students to go deep into a specific topic across classes, connecting global issues to their own experiences. Educators are trained to facilitate these connections and foster ways for students to become independent thinkers and leaders.

It means something for a teacher to be an IB teacher. It means youve gone through a process, Samuels said in 2021, when introducing the initiative, and youre really pushing the envelope as you think about all your students.

The district now has five elementary schools and two middle schools in the program, representing New York Citys first IB pathway designed to serve children from 3-K through eighth grade. (The district also hopes that students continue on to the handful of public IB high schools in the city, including those in neighboring districts.)

The IB model might soon gain in popularity as schools grapple with the states graduation requirement overhaul, as the Portrait of a Graduate framework replaces Regents exams for diplomas starting in the 2027-28 school year. The approach closely aligns with the states six key qualities students must demonstrate (such as being creative innovators, effective communicators, and global citizens). And as schools await the states guidance on how to assess students under the new framework, IB schools already have a well-developed system of project-based assessments.

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The schools also boast strong post-secondary outcomes: 71% of IB students in the U.S. enrolled in college compared to the average of 56%, the IB Schools and Colleges Association found.

On a recent Monday at P.S. 56, in Clinton Hill, second graders hummed as they worked on a project for a unit on self-expression. The kids were creating shapes to use for fabric construction, incorporating math, writing, and social-emotional learning as they jotted down the way the colors they used made them feel.

In a fifth grade room down the hall, students  also doing a unit on self-expression  tackled a poem about technology, as they discussed the effect technology is having on education. Another fifth grade class read a poem about bullying, and students were asked to write their own poem about a problem they wanted to change.

Jayda, a fifth grader, wrote about concerns with the increase in immigration enforcement across the nation. She recently participated in an anti-ICE protest that Lucy, another fifth grader, organized. They and their peers talked about how they struggled with writing when they were younger but have since blossomed as writers, especially as theyve been able to work on more creative writing.

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Now its my passion, fifth grader Noah said. I couldnt imagine life without it.

Tracey Scronic, the instruction lead and coordinator for District 13s IB schools, sees the shift to the IB model as an equity tool to ensure all of a schools students are exposed to enrichment. She said it de-prioritizes traditional testings emphasis on regurgitation of information.

Leaning on IB to tackle enrollment declines

The IB program at P.S. 56 has helped prop up enrollment, its principal, Eric Grande, said.

Just before Grande became principal of P.S. 56 a decade ago, the Clinton Hill elementary school tried to bolster enrollment, then hovering below 200 students, by adding a gifted and talented program. Grande added a world language program, focusing on Spanish, hoping that would attract more families. But the school didnt feel cohesive.

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Even though we had a relatively small school, there was almost like schools within the school, Grande said. You had your world language Spanish program, your gifted and talented program, you had your special education classes and your gen ed classes, and it just started to feel a little bit off.

Students within the school, which is more racially diverse than most New York City elementary schools, were not integrated within the different programs, he said. (Last year, about 36% of its students were Black, 36% were white, 17% were Latino, and 1% were Asian American; roughly 47% of children came from low-income families.)

Grande began looking for a model to bring everyone  and all of their different programs  together, appeasing families who wanted a foreign language and those who wanted a project-based approach to teaching. IB offered the perfect synergy of all things that we were doing.

The school is now in its second year as an authorized IB school following three years as a candidate school. Enrollment has increased, with about 230 students last year.

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And while Grande said his school has never been too focused on test prep, he was proud to see a shift in state test scores since his teachers transitioned to the IB framework, from about 35% proficiency on reading in 2019, the year before the pandemic, to more than 60% last year.

The move to IB can be challenging

The buy-in from teachers on IB takes some time, said Scronic. They needed training to shift practices and must do more in-depth planning around the new units. They also needed to figure out how to meld the IB framework with the mandated literacy curriculum for their district, EL Education.

It is a bit more cognitively intense for the teachers, Scronic said. But after a while, she said teachers feel like theyre being respected again for their craft and facilitating connections between the curriculum and students own lives. I feel like the passion that a brand-new teacher brings to the profession then kind of gets squashed sometimes, IB has brought that back.

Becoming an authorized IB school is not easy. Schools have to pay the Switzerland-based nonprofit that oversees the IB program about $9,000 a year to start the training and candidacy process. Its about $10,000 each year once a school is authorized to support the implementation and maintenance of IB programs, according to the organizations website. District 13 used a grant to cover the costs for the initial training for the schools, though the schools have had to foot the bill for new teachers.

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Though Scronic leads District 13s IB initiative, shes started holding monthly Zoom meetings for about 40 IB elementary and middle schools in the city, a grassroots effort to provide support and create a community to share best practices and resources.

Samuels continued to promote IB schools when he left his Brooklyn district to become superintendent of Manhattans District 3. He encouraged schools in Harlem to adopt the IB model as a way to tackle declining enrollment in a part of the district facing heavy competition from charter schools. (District 3 used a grant to cover the costs as well.)

But Samuels acknowledged the challenges in pursuing IB authorization.

I do believe in a lot of the work of IB, but it really takes a big investment, he recently told K-12 Dive. It takes principals being onboard. It takes teachers being onboard and willing to go and get a lot of background and content knowledge, and to be able to personalize for young people and the kids in your school.

A middle school IB program helps students find their voice

Sanai Gary, an eighth grader at Bedford-Stuyvesants Restoration Academy  which is in its first full year as an authorized IB school after its yearslong candidacy  said the IB approach has helped her deepen her learning.

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I like how the topics transmit over to other classes. I feel like it helps me learn better, said Sanai. It gives me more time to focus on it.

Last year, she and her peers became clean water advocates after diving into a unit on global sustainability.

It started after they read a novel in English class, A Long Walk to Water, about the struggle in South Sudan for clean water. In their Individuals and Societies class (akin to social studies), a student brought up questions about the water crisis that started in 2014 in Flint, Michigan, that got the students wondering about the water quality in their own school. So, in science class, they tested their schools water fountains and created makeshift filtration devices.

Concerned about the color and clarity of their schools water, back in English class, the students mounted a letter-writing campaign to city officials demanding changes.

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Restoration Academy has struggled with enrollment and has long served marginalized students. The middle school currently has roughly 80 middle schoolers; about 80% are Black and Latino, and more than 90% are from low-income families. Pre-pandemic, about 20% of its students were considered proficient in reading. Since transitioning to IB, the scores have improved, rising to about 30% last year.

But more importantly, Principal Adele Simon said, students are increasingly linking whats happening around the world to their own lives and finding their voices to advocate for change based on what theyre learning in school.

Its the connection between what theyre reading, Simon said, and not just reading it for the purpose of reading it, but reading it for the purpose of, Okay, what am I going to do with this?  Whos in power and who is not in power? And how can I make sure that the people in power represent me and my community?

Their school is getting new water fountains with filtration devices this spring.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
President Donald Trump is turning on Mayor Zohran Mamdani (again.)

The pair, who come from different sides of the aisle, have shocked many with their ability to work together despite ideological differences.

But Trump is seemingly having a change of heart when it comes to the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor. In particular, with Mamdanis newly revealed tax targeting some of the richest in the world.

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Here's what to know.

Why is Trump mad at Mamdani?

This week, Mamdani announced plans for one of his key campaign promises: taxing the rich. Alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul, the mayor unveiled a new pied-a-terre tax - a first for the state.

The new tax "will levy an annual surcharge on one to three family homes, condominiums and co-ops valued above $5 million when owners have a separate primary residence outside of New York City," the city says.

Both Mamdani and Trump have disagreed on a multitude of policies affecting the city and nation, but have continued to reach agreements, particularly when the politicians meet in person. But the tax seemingly struck a nerve with the president.

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"Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure," Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday.

"It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS 'STUFF' JUST DOESNT WORK."

In the past, Trump has threatened federal funding to NYC - the biggest city in the country by population.

Before Mamdani won the race, the president endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and said that he would withhold federal funding if the socialist had won. The city receives billions of dollars every year from the federal government.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) listens as New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two political opponents met to discuss policies for New York City, including affordability, public safety, and immigration enforcement. NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani meets with President Trump for first time 1 of 7 President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.

"If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home," Trump posted to Truth Social last year.

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"Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!"

What has Mamdani said about Trump?

On CBS Mornings yesterday before Trump's post, Mamdani said that the two of them "are in touch."

"We've had a number of meetings now in the Oval Office, and we are honest, direct about the fact that we have many disagreements. There is one place of agreement that we have, which is that we both love New York City. And that's, I think, something that is at the heart of every conversation we have is how can we make this city better?"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Trump angry with Mamdani? Inside the latest feud
A weather forecast with the word snow would create anticipation. Maybe, students and parents thought, there wouldnt be school tomorrow.

But with expanded access to technology for students to work remotely, rugged weather doesnt necessarily mean a day devoid of learning.

We dont pause learning completely unless we absolutely have to, said Kipp Rogers, Chief Academic Officer of Newport News schools. We dont add days to the end of the school year unless we absolutely have to.

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Per state requirements, Virginia schools must complete 180 days of classroom instruction time, or an equivalent number of instructional hours, in a school year. It wasnt that long ago, Rogers said, when some schools required Saturday classes to make up for time lost to weather events.

Much of what school officials have learned about what works and what doesnt when it comes to remote learning stems from the pandemic, he said most remote learning procedures for snow days are designed to be short-term solutions that arent centered on teaching new concepts. The focus is placed on retention of already learned concepts.

The question is no longer Can we go virtual?  Rogers said. Its how well can we go virtual? Its whats the impact of what were able to do.

Experts have described the 2025-26 winter as harsher than average for Virginia, with much of commonwealths coastal regions experiencing historic amounts of snowfall. Despite this, Hampton Roads school districts report minimal interference to their calendars. For most, there were about a weeks worth of delayed starts, early dismissals and remote learning days spread from December to March.

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The type of work assigned to students for remote learning on snow days is determined by their grade level, said Chief Academic Officer of Portsmouth schools Nicole DeVries. She said elementary students are usually assigned activities while middle and high school students are given assignments on school-issued technology. Teachers set aside times where they can assist students.

The intent of work assigned to students is not to be terribly difficult or to take especially long, especially for younger children, she said. As long as some basic requirements are being fulfilled and students arent falling behind, the remote work is doing its job. The more time educators have to prepare plans for working through a snow day, the better. But plans can be acted upon with only a few hours notice, depending on the situation.

Were not asking them to sit and work all day long, DeVries said. We try to balance that for them. We know theyre still kids, even the high schoolers. Everybody wants to be out in the snow.

You dont want to rob todays kids of that experience, just because you have the ability to make them continue learning at home.

John Buzbee, 757-879=7421, john.buzbee@virginiamedia.com
A Wisconsin woman died in a boating accident on Lake Geneva on Thursday, April 16. Officials said the victim fell into a boat propeller while the craft was docking.

About 8 p.m. on April 16, the Fontana Police Department received a water rescue call near Gordy's Marine, 320 Lake Street, Fontana.

Upon arrival, officials reported a 57-year-old woman had fallen off a motorized watercraft during a docking attempt and was entangled in the craft's propeller.

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Emergency responders said they were able to free the victim, who has not yet been identified, but she was pronounced dead at the scene soon after.

Fontana Police Department officials said the operator of the watercraft was cooperating with the investigation.

Criminal charges have not been filed and police do not believe alcohol to be a factor in the victim's death.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fontana Police Department and Walworth County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin woman fell into propellor, died in Lake Geneva boat accident
Officials have identified three people who were killed in a quadruple shooting near West Side businesses on Friday afternoon.

Chicago police have not said what motivated the attack where two gunmen pulled up and opened fire on group of people, leaving three people dead and another person critically wounded.

The search continued Saturday for at least two offenders wanted in the brazen daytime shooting.

It happened just before 5 p.m. Friday near North Pulaski Road and West Maypole Avenue.

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Witnesses told police that four people were standing near a sidewalk when a car pulled up and at least two armed people opened fire on the group, killing a 32-year-old woman, a 36-year-old man and a 27-year-old man.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the woman as Rickia Williams, of Chicago. The two other victims were later identified as Kenneth M. Bell Jr., 27, and Lavell Lee, 36.

A fourth victim, a 35-year-old man, was rushed to the hospital, initially reported to be in critical condition.

Witnesses say the shooting happened near an alley behind a number of businesses and homes on the block.

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"Just pray, because it don't need to be violence out here," Christian Temple Church minister William Harris said. "Just pray more."

Cook County Crime Stoppers is also now stepping up to offer up to $10,000 for any information that leads to an arrest.

"I'm sure they have family members that love them, so what we're trying to do is bring some closure bring some justice to the families and offer up to 10k cash reward," said Paul Rutherford, Cook County Crime Stoppers executive director.

There are a number of surveillance cameras here near the area, which Cook County Crime Stoppers and CPD investigators are hoping will produce some evidence as they urge the public to come forward with information.

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"We've been in that area many times, and we know people are reluctant to talk to police and provide information, which is very disturbing," Rutherford said.

Rutherford says those who submit any information to Cook County Crime Stoppers will remain completely anonymous.

Chicago police say no is in custody as the investigation continues.
A woman has been sentenced in the 2020 murder of a mother in south suburban Harvey, court records show.

Analisa Whiteside pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of second degree murder of a suburban mother.

Ryan Reed, 32, was found shot to death near 154th and Hoyne Avenue in September of 2020.

Ryan Reed was shot and killed on September 11, 2020 in the area 154th Street and Hoyne Avenue.

Whiteside was arrested and charged in December 2022.

She was sentenced to serve 16 years at Illinois Department of Corrections, to be served at 50%. She'll receive credit for 1214 days.

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The video in the player above is from a previous report.

Reed was a nursing student who had been recently laid off from her job at a medical supply company.

"She had hundreds and hundreds of friends, and always smiling, and laughing," her father said. "Never had anything bad to say about nobody, but somebody decided to take her life."

Investigators have not releasing details about the case.

$16K reward offered in Harvey mother Ryan Reed's murder


Amid a hot streak of overperformances across the country and President Donald Trumps slipping approval rating, New York Democrats are wondering: Why not try to flip a seat that Trump won by 20 points?

Unpopular moves from the Trump administration now have Democrats in the Empire State putting their political capital into a race in deep-red terrain  the latest indicator of how bullish they feel heading into the midterms, which will determine control of the House.

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently touted how optimistic she is about flipping outgoing Rep. Elise Stefaniks seat in the North Country, where dairy farmer Blake Gendebien has emerged as the top contender for the Democratic nod. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, who campaigned with Gendebien, transferred $9,000 to him last month through his joint fundraising committee. And the two Republicans vying for the GOP nomination to replace Stefanik  sticker company executive Anthony Constantino and state Assemblymember Robert Smullen  are locked in whats promising to be a bloody primary.

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The legal threats and personal barbs coloring the GOP primary arent the only reasons the seat is intriguing for Democrats. Hochul pointed to conversations she had with conservative farmers in the district who expressed frustration about tariffs and immigration raids.

I heard a lot of anger, she said. I was reflecting on that as a place that people would not expect us to have an opportunity to win, where I believe we do, because people are rejecting the policies that are driving up costs and making their lives miserable.

Its a seat that is by all means a reach  a conundrum that hovers over Democratic dreams in other GOP-held districts in the state too.

For one, its a costly gamble  especially when Democrats have a trio of vulnerable incumbents to protect and an expensive Republican-held district in New York Citys suburbs theyre trying to win. Significant national investment is also unlikely to pour into a seat that Democrats havent held in over a decade; Stefanik overperformed Trump in 2024, winning by a 24-point margin.

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But recent Democratic performances, including a 25-point swing in a ruby red corner of Georgia and a state legislative win in Trump's hometown Florida district, have some contending it warrants a closer look.

Take Raskin. He said hes been looking to support candidates who are outside the strict red to blue column  and placed Gendebien squarely in that category.

Im somebody who doesnt use public opinion polls; I dont believe what the pundits have to say, Raskin said. I'm not criticizing the DCCC about this, because they obviously want to zero in on districts where the numbers are there. But when you're in that frame of mind, it's easy to be governed just by the objective statistics and numbers you see. Politics isn't just a science  its an art, too, and we cannot ignore the subjectivity of these candidates, because there are some remarkable candidates out there.

Gendebien posted a strong fundraising haul in the first quarter of the year, raising around $600,000 and entering April with $2.5 million in the bank  one of the highest cash-on-hand amounts for a non-incumbent across the state. That money will be critical, especially if hes facing off against Constantino, who has already spent millions of his own money in the primary. Smullen has the support of the state GOP, but last quarter reported raising $660,000  thanks to a $500,000 personal loan  with only $960,000 on hand. (Another Democrat, Stuart Amoriell, is also in the running, but is largely self-funding his campaign and had less than $20,000 on hand.)

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Republicans were quick to pour cold water on Democrats hopes.

Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen and Josh Riley wont be happy to hear that resources will be diverted from their races for whatever Democrat fantasy this is, Lydia Hall, a spokesperson for the House leadership-backed Congressional Leadership Fund, said in a statement.

Suozzi, whom national Republicans are targeting on Long Island, gave $4,000 to Gendebien through his leadership PAC last month, on top of a $1,000 contribution last year.

Stefaniks seat, though, isnt the only district that has Democrats mulling the map in deep-blue New York more closely.



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Some see opportunity in other reach seats like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis district, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn  and which Democrats unsuccessfully tried to get redrawn. And theyre keeping an eye on Rep. Nick LaLota, who occupies a Long Island district that has proven to be a consistently elusive target for Democrats. But, like Stefaniks seat, nonpartisan election analysts currently rate LaLota and Malliotakis as safe bets for Republicans.

While LaLota is not currently on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees target list  like he was at this time during the last election cycle  there are indications that Republicans are bracing for a competitive race: American Action Network, the nonprofit aligned with House GOP leadership, recently boosted LaLota with an ad campaign praising him for stopp[ing] the Democrats tax hike. The incumbent also ran taxpayer-funded advertisements touting tax cuts he said he helped enact.

With really great candidates, in a really good Democratic year, with Republican fundraising suppressed by people not feeling good about where Republicans are, it's possible that these races all become things where they emerge, said Andrew Grossman of Battleground New York, a coalition of labor unions and progressive groups targeting LaLotas seat. Historically, the investment that people make comes in the fall in races like that, because opportunity shows up in odd places.

Those Democratic candidates have a long way to go to prove their viability, though. Army veteran Chris Gallant, a political newcomer looking to challenge LaLota, raised about $120,000 with $72,000 on hand in the first quarter of the year  compared to the incumbents $3 million in the bank. Union electrician Allison Ziogas, a Democrat who entered the race against Malliotakis in March, has raised $85,000 and had $64,000 on hand. Malliotakis has raked in $580,000 with $2.6 million in her coffers. Other Democrats in the running for both seats raised even less.

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But Ziogas has also attracted interest from outside the district, earning boosts from both New York Rep. Pat Ryan, a former battleground Democrat whom Republicans arent making a concerted effort against this year, and Illinois Rep. Nikki Budzinski. Ryan and Budzinski donated $1,000 and $4,000, respectively, from their affiliated committees.

For their part, Republicans are downplaying the significance of special elections across the country and argue that voters will attribute economic pain in the state to local Democrats rather than Trump. Theyre also hopeful that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whos running against Hochul for governor, will prop up their down-ballot incumbents, especially on the crucial battleground of Long Island.

I get the idea of wanting to expand the map, but its not gonna happen, said GOP strategist Dave Catalfamo, a former adviser to ex-Gov. George Pataki. Theres a large amount of unhappiness with whats going on overseas and how thats affecting gas prices.  By the time election season rolls around, that will have corrected itself.

Maureen OToole, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, put it more bluntly: Democrats have no shot.

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As of now, national Democratic groups are working from a much smaller electoral map of New York after flipping four seats two years ago. Theyre just targeting Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, one of only a few Republicans in the country to win a seat that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 presidential election. With more than $4 million at his disposal, Democrats will have to spend heavily to flip the seat, which could be a make-or-break for taking the majority.

But national groups arent completely ruling out expanding the map either.

With plenty of time for races to develop, House Republicans shouldnt assume their seats are safe anywhere  even in deep-red districts across the Empire State, House Majority PAC spokesperson Katarina Flicker said in a statement. DCCC spokesperson Riya Vashi said that Democrats are on offense and Republicans across the Empire State know theyre in deep trouble come November.

Scoff all you like, but the political environment at the time is a very powerful thing, New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said. It could be a firm breeze or a full-on hurricane, and I think this year the Republicans are headed into a hurricane.

Jason Beeferman contributed to this report.
Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz back down Saturday, blaming the United States for keeping its naval blockade in place and saying the ceasefire terms had been broken.

Two Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker in the waterway shortly after the announcement, according to the British military. The ship's captain reported the crew was safe. Iranian forces also forced two other vessels to turn back, according to TankerTrackers.com. A container ship was also struck by an "unknown projectile" in the strait later Saturday, the British military said.

"Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is now under strict management and control of the armed forces," a spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command said. "Until America allows full freedom of navigation for vessels traveling from Iran to destinations and vice versa, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control."

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Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Saturday, President Trump brushed aside Iran's threats. "They can't blackmail us," he said. "They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years."

India summoned Iran's ambassador in New Delhi on Saturday, the New York Times reported. Both tankers fired on were Indian-flagged.

The reversal came just 24 hours after Iran's foreign minister declared the strait "completely open," following a 10-day ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. President Trump called it a major breakthrough, and oil prices fell sharply. But Iran immediately clarified the opening would only last through the ceasefire period, and Trump said the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would stay in place until a permanent deal was reached. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the blockade "a violation of the ceasefire."

Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One earlier on Saturday, said the blockade would remain regardless. "Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade is going to remain," he said, while signaling he was open to extending the ceasefire beyond its April 22 expiration.

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Ship-tracking firm Kpler said vessels moving through the strait were still limited to lanes requiring Iranian clearance, and even those numbers were a fraction of normal. Before the war, between 100 and 138 ships passed through daily. Since hostilities began Feb. 28, only 279 vessels have crossed in total. The U.S. military said Saturday it had turned back 23 Iran-linked ships since its blockade began Monday.

Roughly 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the narrow waterway, and its closure has sent global energy prices surging roughly 50% since the war began in late February. Prices fell nearly 12% Friday on hopes the strait was reopening before Iran's Saturday reversal threatened to erase those gains.

The U.S. military is readying plans to intercept and seize Iran-linked tankers in international waters over the next several days, part of an escalating economic pressure campaign the Trump administration is calling "Economic Fury," The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

Despite the escalation, Pakistani officials said the U.S. and Iran are still moving toward a deal ahead of the April 22 ceasefire deadline. A second round of talks is expected in Islamabad as early as Monday, with delegations from both sides set to begin arriving Sunday.
President Trump threatened Sunday to wipe out "every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran" if Tehran walks away from a U.S. nuclear deal, days before a two-week cease-fire expires.

"NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!" Trump wrote.

"They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years, he added.

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He closed the post with one more line: "IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!"

Hours after the post, the White House said special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner would land in Islamabad on Monday evening for the next round of talks. Whether Vice President JD Vance will join them is unclear. Axios reported Vance will again lead the U.S. delegation, citing two U.S. officials, while Fox News reported Vance will not make the trip and that Witkoff and Kushner will lead on their own. The White House has not publicly confirmed the roster. It's the second face-to-face round in as many weeks. The first, held April 11-12, ended without a breakthrough.

Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions, listen as Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad. (Pool via Getty Images)

A two-week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel and Iran is set to expire Wednesday, giving negotiators a narrow window.

Trump also accused Iran of blowing up the truce a day early. On Saturday, Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, and a container ship was hit by an "unknown projectile," according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations. Trump claimed the gunfire was "aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom."

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India's foreign ministry said both vessels were Indian-flagged and summoned Iran's ambassador in New Delhi over the attacks. One of the ships was operated by French shipping giant CMA CGM.

"That wasn't nice, was it?" Trump wrote.

The president also mocked Iran's weekend announcement that it was closing the strait, saying the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports had already shut the waterway down.

"They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day!" he wrote. "The United States loses nothing." The $500 million figure appears to have come from a Foundation for Defense of Democracies estimate, cited by Fox News on Saturday, that put Iran's daily cost from the U.S. naval blockade at roughly $435 million.

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Iran sees it differently. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the lead Iranian negotiator and speaker of Iran's Parliament, said Saturday that any deal would need to move "step-by-step" with reciprocal actions, and that the U.S. had "failed to pressure Iran through ultimatums." He said talks were "far from a final agreement."

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei went further, calling the continued U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf a war crime and saying Washington, not Tehran, was the party pushing the ceasefire toward collapse.

The United States so-called blockade of Irans ports or coastline is not only a violation of Pakistani-mediated ceasefire but also both unlawful and criminal. It violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter; it constitutes an act of aggression under Article 3(c) of the UN General  Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 19, 2026

Roughly 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude settled around $90 a barrel Friday, down sharply on hopes the waterway was reopening, but the war has knocked out an estimated 10% of global oil supply and damaged more than 80 energy facilities across the region, according to the International Energy Agency.
U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz defended President Trump's threat to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants Sunday, telling ABC's This Week that such strikes wouldn't amount to a war crime.

"All options are on the table, absolutely," Waltz told anchor Jonathan Karl. "We could take that infrastructure out relatively easily. The Iranian air defenses have been absolutely decimated."

KARL: Is the president really prepared to go back to full-on war? Is he prepared to destroy every power plant and bridge in Iran?



MIKE WALTZ: Well, all options are on the table, absolutely. That's not a war crime.



KARL: He's saying every bridge in the country. That's not a war pic.twitter.com/WXX84pO6DL  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2026

Waltz went further, preempting the criticism: "Just to get ahead of a lot of the critics and hand-wringing, throwing out irresponsible terms like 'war crimes,' attacking, destroying infrastructure that has clearly and historically been used for dual military purposes is not a war crime."

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Karl pressed him. "The president today said that he would knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran. He's not just talking about those that are supporting the military infrastructure. He's saying every bridge."

"That would be an escalatory ladder," Waltz said, comparing it to World War II. "Of course, we bombed and took down bridges, other infrastructure, power plants."

Waltz made similar comments on CBS, calling the war crime framing "a false, fake, and ridiculous notion." "Bridges, power plants that are run by the IRGC are absolute legitimate military targets, not only now, but have been historically," he said, referring to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, asked the same question by CNN's Jake Tapper on State of the Union, said: "The president is looking for maximum leverage. No, I'm not worried about that."

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Waltz's comments came hours after Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei went further in the other direction, calling the continued U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports "unlawful and criminal" and a "war crime and crime against humanity." Baqaei said it was the blockade, not Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz, that was violating the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire.

The pushback isn't only coming from Iran. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson made headlines earlier this month when he called the idea of striking Iran's civilian infrastructure "vile on every level." "It begins with a promise to use the U.S. military, our military, to destroy civilian infrastructure in another country, which is to say, to commit a war crime, a moral crime against the people of the country," Carlson said in a video on April 7.

Under Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, "civilian objects shall not be the object of attack," and strikes are prohibited if they "may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated."

Trump threatened on Truth Social earlier Sunday to "knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran" if a deal isn't reached. The two-week ceasefire expires Wednesday.
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.
For more than 25 years, I built physician extension systems. In rural family medicine, if you want your clinical judgment to reach more patients than your two hands can touch in a single day, you build systems. You hire nurses who triage, educate, and even scribe. You bring on a medical assistant who keeps the workflow moving. You eventually collaborate with a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) who handles the straightforward visits under your governance while you concentrate on the complexity. You write protocols and standing orders. You standardize what can be standardized so that your reasoning radiates outward.

That is physician extension. It is as old as modern medicine. For a long time, it worked. I am no longer sure it can carry us much further.

What we built and why it is no longer enough

The traditional extension model rested on a reliable assumption: there would always be enough trained health workers willing to work in communities like mine. That assumption is not holding. Physician shortages are documented and worsening. Primary care is in a slow collapse as fewer graduates choose it and retirees go unreplaced. The nursing shortage has stopped being a headline because it has become structural background noise. Rural hospitals are not just struggling to recruit specialists; they are struggling to stay open. Urgent care centers list wait times past two hours for conditions that resolve in 10 minutes with the right treatment. Emergency departments are packed with progressively complex systems to try to uncongest them.

The midlevel workforce, often positioned as the scalable answer, faces its own ceiling. NPs and PAs are increasingly concentrated in urban and suburban markets. Adding one, in most states, still requires physician oversight, credentialing, supervision infrastructure, and a compliance framework that adds real overhead to every hire. Even if the pipeline held, we would still be running a model that scales by adding people. And people are expensive, geographically constrained, finite in their daily capacity, and increasingly unwilling to locate their lives in the communities that need them most.

We cannot solve a distributed access crisis with a labor strategy that requires people to choose to be distributed.

A different kind of extension

I spent nearly three decades of my career making human extension systems work as well as they possibly could. Then I started watching something emerge that changed how I understood the problem. Properly governed, physician-led artificial intelligence does something human extension cannot do cleanly: it scales physician reasoning without scaling headcount. It embeds clinical logic into a digital infrastructure that evaluates defined conditions, applies evidence-based protocols consistently, flags cases that exceed its scope, and routes patients appropriately. No additional hire. No geography problem. No supervision overhead.

That is not a replacement for human care. It is a different category of extension entirely. Instead of distributing my knowledge through trained people, it distributes my knowledge through a governed digital system designed around my clinical judgment. The physician-governed asynchronous telemedicine platform I have spent the past several years building, which manages 39 defined acute infection categories, is my attempt to translate 30 years of extension thinking into this new medium. I mention it not as a commercial offering but as a proof of concept for a design principle: physician clinical reasoning can be embedded into governed digital infrastructure and deployed at scale, safely and consistently, without a new hire at every new access point. This innovative platform exists because I first spent 25 years learning what any extension system must preserve in order to be trustworthy.

What the architecture must preserve

Human extension systems work because the people involved are trained, accountable, supervised, and operating within a framework of professional ethics and legal responsibility. A protocol is only trustworthy because a physician designed it and a licensed clinician executes it within a defined scope. Digital physician extension requires the same architecture translated into a different medium. Condition-specific logic must be as rigorous as a standing order.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria must be explicit.

Red flag triggers must be embedded and non-negotiable.

Escalation pathways must function reliably.

Physician governance must sit at the structural center, not added as a compliance afterthought.

When those elements are present, a digital extension system is not less safe than a human one. In measurable ways, it may be safer. It does not get tired. It does not skip a protocol step when the waiting room is full. It applies the same standard to the fifth patient at midnight that it applied to the first patient at 8 a.m.

What it cannot do is what human caregivers do in the spaces between decisions. It cannot build a relationship across years. It cannot interpret ambiguous suffering. It cannot sit with someone who is afraid and help them feel less alone. Those functions remain irreplaceably human, and any honest discussion of digital extension must say that clearly. The model only works when it is honest about its scope.

The argument that matters

The health care system cannot scale with humans alone. That is not pessimism. It is a design reality that a workforce crisis, a rural access emergency, and a decade of unsustainable physician burnout have made undeniable. The system needs more capacity than the labor pipeline can supply. That capacity must come from somewhere, and the only place it can come from without abandoning accountability is a governed digital infrastructure built by people who understand medicine from the inside.

Physicians are the ones who know what that infrastructure must preserve. We know where the risks concentrate. We know what questions must be asked and what answers must trigger immediate escalation. We know, from decades at the bedside, exactly where a poorly designed system will fail. No technology firm, however well-funded, has that knowledge. No payer has it. No venture fund has it.

If physicians do not lead this transition, it will proceed without us. The access crisis is too acute and the economic pressure too relentless for the status quo to hold. The question is not whether digital physician extension will become a meaningful component of care delivery. The question is whether the systems that emerge will be governed by physician judgment or optimized around someone elses priorities. I spent most of my career learning how to extend my care through protocols, trained teams, and disciplined delegation. That work taught me everything I needed to build what comes next.

The patients who cannot access care today are not waiting for us to finish the theoretical debate. The new system is being built right now. The only question is whether it gets built by physicians who know where the gaps are, or by people who have only read about them.

Tod Stillson is a board-certified family physician, medical device inventor, and health care entrepreneur focused on redesigning how care is delivered in the digital age. He is the founder and CEO of ChatRx, a national asynchronous telemedicine company providing safe, efficient, direct-to-consumer care for common acute conditions. Through ChatRx, Dr. Stillson developed an FDA-listed software medical device that combines structured clinical pathways with AI-supported decision tools to preserve physician judgment while reducing friction for patients.

Dr. Stillson holds an academic affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine and a hospital affiliation with McPherson Center for Health. After nearly three decades practicing rural family medicine, he shifted from traditional employment to building physician-led digital systems that expand access, efficiency, and professional autonomy.

He is the author of Doctor Incorporated: Stop the Insanity of Traditional Employment and Preserve Your Professional Autonomy and has published more than 400 essays on physician entrepreneurship, micro-business, digital health, and the future of medical practice. He contributes nationally to conversations on AI-enabled care delivery and physician leadership in digital transformation.

Dr. Stillson shares ongoing insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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14:57 RAF, Multi-District Police Deployed In Violence-Hit Chirang File image The Rapid Action Force has been deployed along with police personnel drawn from four districts to restore order in Assam's Chirang district after violence broke out during an eviction drive on Friday.Officials said the clashes erupted in the Runikhata area near the India-Bhutan border when forest... Read more >

14:41 Astronaut performs Bihu aboard ISS, Himanta says Assamese culture going global File image An American astronaut performed Bihu aboard the International Space Station (ISS), drawing applause from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the state celebrates Rongali Bihu, marking the Assamese New Year.A video went viral on social media in which Mike Fincke, who is married to an... Read more >

14:29 CPI alleges Modi's address violated poll code, seeks probe Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Sunday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) through his recent address to the nation and sought an inquiry into the matter.In his letter,... Read more >

14:22 Ilaiyaraaja to compose for Bhavna Talwar's 'Valmiki Ramayana' Celebrated music composer Ilaiyaraaja has joined Bhavna Talwar's upcoming film Valmiki Ramayana.Ilaiyaraaja, whose acclaimed work includes compositions such as Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu and Sundari Kannal, will compose the music for the theatrical retelling of the ancient Hindu epic.The makers shared... Read more >

14:18 Chaos at Maha railway station as man climbs overhead equipment; services hit File image High drama unfolded at Manmad railway station in Maharashtra's Nashik district after a mentally challenged man climbed onto a gantry and dangled from high-tension overhead wires, forcing a power shutdown and disrupting train services, officials said on Sunday.A video of the... Read more >

13:42 Snowfall, rain bring down temperatures in Kashmir Fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir and rain in the plains of the valley brought down temperatures on Sunday, officials said.Snowfall was reported in Tulail area of Gurez valley in Bandipora district, on either side of Zojila pass in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district, and along the... Read more >

13:14 Objectionable material found at temple's gate in Delhi; one arrested The Delhi police arrested a person for allegedly placing objectionable material at the gate of a temple in northeast Delhi's Dayalpur area, an official said on Sunday.According to police, information regarding the incident was received on April 15, after which a team from the local police station... Read more >

13:01 Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Bhooth Bangla' earns Rs 47.25 cr at box office 'Bhooth Bangla', featuring Akshay Kumar, has collected over Rs 40 crore gross at the domestic box office. The film, which released in theatres on Friday, is directed by Priyadarshan and also features Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal and Tabu in pivotal roles. It is presented by... Read more >

12:46 Lenskart apologises after backlash, issues new style guide Following massive online backlash over a purported internal grooming document, eyewear retailer Lenskart has issued a public apology and released a standardised 'In-Store Style Guide' that allows employees to wear religious and cultural symbols at work.In a statement on X, the... Read more >

12:43 India LPG consumption slides 13 pc amid West Asia conflict India's cooking gas LPG consumption fell by a steep 13 percent in March as supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict hit availability for both household kitchens and commercial users, according to latest official data.LPG consumption was at 2.379 million tonne in March, 12.8 percent... Read more >

12:01 Soldier found hanging in Jammu camp, investigation underway A soldier posted in an army dog unit was found dead inside a military camp here on Sunday, officials said.The soldier was found hanging with a rope from the ceiling of his room in the family quarters area of the camp at Nagrota in the early hours of the day, they said.The body of the deceased was... Read more >

11:45 Two Indian men shot dead in Italy while leaving gurdwara Two Indian men have been shot dead in Italy's Covo in Bergamo province just as they were leaving a warehouse used as a place of worship during a gathering for Vaisakhi festival, local media reported on Sunday.The attack occurred on Friday, a few minutes before midnight in the square in front of... Read more >

11:42 Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh announce second pregnancy File image/Courtesy Deepika Padukone/Instagram Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have announced that they are expecting their second child. On Sunday, the couple shared the news on Instagram with a photograph of their daughter Dua holding a pregnancy test kit showing a positive result. Read more >

11:36 Four dead in highway pile-up in Karnataka At least four people are feared dead and some others were injured in a pile-up involving a bus, a garlic-laden lorry, a car and multiple two-wheelers near Danapur in Hospet taluk of Vijayanagara district on National Highway 50 on Saturday morning, police said.According to police sources, the... Read more >

11:35 Senior BJP leader Balbir Punj passes away Author, journalist, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP, Balbir Punj, passed away on Saturday at the age of 76. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief at the death of Punj, calling him a prolific writer, thinker and public intellectual who worked tirelessly to... Read more >

11:18 Govt fixes Arunachal town shown as China territory The Registrar General of India on Saturday said that the issue related to a self-enumeration map showing Pasighat in the East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh as a Chinese town 'Medog' has been resolved. The issue was flagged by an X user, Mohonto Panging Pao (@MontyPanging), who posted... Read more >

11:06 Pawan Kalyan undergoes surgery; Modi speaks to him Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and enquired about his well being.The actor-politician has been unwell for the past few months, a press release from his Jana Sena Party said.Spoke to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri... Read more >

10:39 India to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism at exhibition on Capitol Hill The Indian embassy in the US will host an exhibition at Capitol Hill on Tuesday to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and also mark the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack that culminated in Operation Sindoor.India's Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra will inaugurate The... Read more >

09:59 Oppn plans to move fresh notice seeking removal of CEC Undeterred by the rejection of their earlier notices, opposition parties are planning a fresh move to seek the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Saturday.According to highly placed sources, leaders from several opposition parties are in talks, and at least five... Read more >

09:53 Modi to address 4 rallies in Bengal on Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four public meetings across West Bengal on Sunday as the BJP intensifies its campaign ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.Modi is scheduled to begin his tour with a rally in Bishnupur in Bankura district before heading to Purulia, Jhargram and then... Read more >

09:33 Pakistan returns $2 bn to UAE Karachi, Apr 18 (PTI) Pakistan has returned USD 2 billion it owed in debt to the United Arab Emirates, the country's central bank said Saturday.The announcement by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) comes two days after Saudi Arabia deposited USD 2 billion, part of the USD 3 billion aid, with the... Read more >

09:29 Modi should dissolve Lok Sabha and call for fresh elections: Gehlot Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha and seek a fresh mandate from people if he was confident that women across the country would teach a lesson to opposition parties for voting against the Women's Reservation... Read more >

09:22 Rajnath Singh chairs key meet over US-Iran war Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasised the need for India to remain prepared for any sudden escalation in the West Asia conflict, describing the current situation in the region as volatile.Singh made the comments while chairing a high-level meeting of the Informal Group of... Read more >

09:04 EC adds around 7 lakh new voters ahead of Bengal poll Around seven lakh new voters have been added to West Bengal electoral rolls ahead of the assembly elections, with the Election Commission yet to disclose the age or gender break-up of this additional electorate, officials said on Saturday.Around 3.22 lakh of these new voters will vote in the... Read more >
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany officially launched their Educating Linda program in Kenya in partnership with The First Lady of Kenya & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother at the Kenya State House.

The program was chaired by Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej and The First Lady of Kenya, H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H..

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation and President of More Than a Mother Campaign said,  I am very happy to meet my dear sister, H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., First Lady of Kenya & Ambassador of  Merck Foundation More Than a Mother , and officially launch our Educating Linda program in the country, to support girl education.

As a part of Educating Linda, we are providing annual scholarships to 47 deserving, high performing, yet underprivileged Kenyan schoolgirls, till they finish their education. This will ensure they are not forced to abandon their education due to financial hardship. We truly believe that an educated girl transforms the entire community.

H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., First Lady of Kenya & Ambassador of  Merck Foundation More Than a Mother , expressed,

 I deeply appreciate all the programs of Merck Foundation including the Educating Linda program, through which we are providing annual scholarships to our 47 deserving schoolgirls to support their education until they graduate. We believe that every girl in Kenya, and across Africa, deserves the opportunity to pursue her dreams. Every barrier that prevents a girl from going to school must be dismantled, and this program is one powerful means of doing exactly that. I am confident these young girls will reach their full potential and go on to inspire many others.

During the program, the Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, together with the First Lady of Kenya, took the opportunity to meet and encourage the Kenyan schoolgirls who are the beneficiaries of the Educating Linda program, and to hear directly from them and their parents about the impact the scholarships have had on their lives.

The Educating Linda program by Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies, is providing annual scholarships to more than 1,250 schoolgirls across 21 African countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others. The program also ensures that thousands of schoolgirls across Africa receive essential school supplies, removing further practical obstacles to their education.

 When a girl is educated, entire nation is empowered. Educated girls grow into empowered women, who drive prosperity, strengthen families, and advance nations. That is the vision behind everything we do: Girl Education today for Women Empowerment tomorrow,  said Dr. Kelej.

Merck Foundation together has provided 328 scholarships for Kenyan healthcare providers in 44 critical and underserved specialties; including Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Gastroenterology, Psychiatry, Neurology, and many more. During the visit, Merck Foundation also conducted their Alumni Summit 2026, to acknowledge and meet their Alumni. Moreover, they also met and recognized the Merck Foundation Awards Winners of 2024 and 2025.

Merck Foundation in partnership with the First Lady of Kenya is also launching childrens storybooks:  More Than a Mother ,  Educating Linda ,  Jacklines Rescue ,  Not Who You Are ,  Ride into the Future ,  Sugar Free Jude  and  Marks Pressure . These storybooks address critical social and health issues and will be available in both English and Swahili. Thousands of copies of these storybooks will be distributed to schoolchildren across Kenya.

Merck Foundation and the First Lady of Kenya also annually launch their 8 important awards for best media, film, fashion designs and songs. Together they have also conducted several editions of Merck Foundation Health Media Training Program, enabling Kenyan journalists to be equipped to be the voice of the voiceless and report responsibly and effectively on sensitive subjects including infertility, child marriage, gender-based violence, diabetes, and hypertension.
Even as Nashik police Special Investigation Team (SIT) units continue their search for absconding accused Nida Khan in the alleged conversion and sexual harassment case, investigators have found that she allegedly visited multiple doctors and obtained a medical certificate while on the run.



Sources said that after her name surfaced in the case, Nida visited at least three doctors  two in Mumbra and one elsewhere in Mumbai  in an apparent attempt to secure a medical certificate. She eventually obtained the document from a Mumbra-based doctor on April 13.



The certificate, citing early pregnancy and recommending rest, has raised questions as it was issued days after she had already been terminated from her job on April 9, suggesting it may not have been intended for employment purposes. Investigators suspect it may have been procured for use in legal proceedings.



Police sources said the document is now under scrutiny, with officials examining whether it was obtained to support an anticipatory bail application that Nida reportedly filed in a Nashik court.



Certificate and legal defence



Dr Shamayla Azmi confirmed that Nida had visited her clinic twice, with the last visit on April 13. She complained of abdominal pain and discomfort while travelling. She was in early pregnancy and had brought her reports. Based on her condition, I advised rest and issued a medical note recommending one weeks leave, she said, adding that the patient had requested a longer leave period.



Advocate Baba Sayyed, appearing for Nida, said an anticipatory bail application has been filed, citing her pregnancy as a key ground. There is nothing unusual about visiting a doctor during pregnancy, he said.



Sources familiar with the probe said the certificate itself may be routine. Still, its timing  after termination and during a period when she was untraceable  has become a key focus of the investigation.



Absconding despite movement



Investigators said Nida had been residing in Mumbra with her husband for nearly two months, even as she remained officially absconding for over 20 days. If she was moving around, visiting clinics and staying at a fixed location, how she evaded detection is something we are examining, an officer said.



Her husband, Moin Navid Iqbal Khan (27), who works as a logistics officer with a private firm in Mumbra, was earlier detained and questioned by the Nashik Crime Branch before being released. During questioning, he claimed that Nida had been taken to Nashik by a relative, but police said this version is being verified.



Police teams have also searched the residences of her relatives, but found them locked. Investigators said the mobile phones of Nida and her close contacts remain switched off, complicating efforts to trace her. So far, eight persons have been booked in the case, of whom seven have been arrested, while Nida remains the only absconding accused. Multiple teams are tracking her movements across Mumbai, Pune and Nashik, analysing digital footprints and local inputs.



Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has stepped in, with a four-member team reaching Nashik to review the case and interact with victims and officials. The development has added a new dimension to the probe, with investigators examining whether Nida was actively moving between locations while evading arrest and using medical documentation to strengthen her legal defence.



When contacted, Nashik Police ACP Sandeep Mitke did not respond to requests for comment.




The government on Sunday said it is ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply and closely monitoring maritime safety amid the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, even as an Indian-flagged crude tanker safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. "Domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal against bookings with more than 53.5 lakh domestic LPG cylinders delivered yesterday," the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said, underlining that there is no disruption in household supply. The update comes as tensions in West Asia continue to impact global energy routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for oil shipments. Reassuring citizens, the Ministry said, "Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG as the Govt is making all efforts to ensure availability of petrol, diesel and LPG." The government added that it has ensured "100% supply is being made to Domestic LPG, Domestic PNG and CNG (Transport)," even as it undertakes supply rationalisation and demand management measures. Highlighting changing consumption patterns, the Ministry noted that "more than 39,000 PNG consumers surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in," indicating a shift towards piped natural gas. It also pointed to a sharp rise in auto LPG consumption, stating that "avg. Auto LPG sale by PSU OMCs in the month of April-26 (till 17.04.26) is around 305 MT/day against the avg. of 177 MT/day during Feb-26." On maritime developments, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said, "Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 18 April 2026," adding that the vessel, carrying 31 Indian seafarers, is "expected to arrive at Mumbai on 22 April 2026." However, it also flagged recent security concerns in the region, noting that "two Indian vessels... reported a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz," though "there has been no injury to any crew reported." The government said it is in constant touch with stakeholders to ensure safety. "All Indian seafarers are safe. The situation continues to be closely monitored," the Shipping Ministry added. On the supply side, the Petroleum Ministry said refineries are operating at high capacity and "sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained," while retail outlets across the country are functioning normally. To stabilise domestic availability, the government has also taken pricing and policy measures. "The Middle East crisis has led to an abnormal increase in crude prices; however, to protect consumers, the Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by 10 per litre," it said. The Ministry further emphasised enforcement efforts, stating that "more than 2400 raids were conducted across the country" on April 18 to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. Reiterating its preparedness, the government said coordinated action with states, industry and agencies is ongoing to ensure energy security and uninterrupted supplies during the current situation. (ANI)
Sharing the joyful news on Instagram, the couple described their newborn as "our little Goddess Laxmi" and called her arrival "a blessing in its purest form."

Shivaleeka Oberoi shared the announcement with a caption that read, "Our little Goddess Laxmi has arrived on an auspicious day. A blessing in its purest form."

The announcement also included a note that said, "In a moment, our hearts found a whole new meaning! With immense love and gratitude, we welcome our precious. Baby Girl! 19th April 2026. Blessed parents Shivaleeka & Abhishek."

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXTWavdCBjL/

In December 2025, the couple announced the pregnancy news amid the Christmas festivities. "Our love story has found its sweetest verse -- a tiny blessing is joining our universe," they wrote on social media.

Shivaleeka Oberoi and Abhishek Pathak tied the knot on February 9, 2023, in Goa after dating for several years. Their wedding reception was attended by several film personalities, including the cast of Pyaar Ka Punchnama, including Kartik Aaryan, Sunny Singh, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Ishita Raj Sharma, while actor Ajay Devgn also attended the celebration.

They had a dreamy proposal in Turkey, where Abhishek Pathak popped the question to Shivaleeka Oberoi under the hot air balloons. The grand proposal video also did the rounds on social media.

On the work front, Shivaleeka is known for 'Yeh Saali Aashiqui' and 'Khuda Haafiz'. Abhishek has directed films such as 'Drishyam 2' and 'Ujda Chaman'. He has also produced films such as 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama', 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2', 'Section 375' and 'Khuda Haafiz'. (ANI)
Don Mancini, the creator of the popular 'Child's Play' franchise, is ready to bring the murderous Chucky back from the grave! According to a Deadline report, Mancini recently announced the news at Pennsylvania's Steel City Con about a new Chucky film in the works. It is said to be a continuation of both 2017's 'Cult of Chucky' and the 2021-24 series. "I'm writing a new Chucky movie," Mancini told the crowd, further suggesting that he also plans to return to the director's chair for the upcoming sequel. Jennifer Tilly, who plays murderous doll Tiffany in the franchise, had also teased the same despite the end of the show. "I know for a fact there is more Chucky and Tiffany in the works. The gruesome twosome," she said, as quoted by Deadline. On the other hand, Mancini has been consistently teasing the killer doll's onscreen future amid reports of its cancellation. "HE'LL BE BACK. I have so much love for our amazing fans. Your #RenewChucky campaign meant the world to me during a very difficult time. Chucky says to tell all of you, quoting himself: 'See ya real soon,'" Mancini wrote on X, in response to fan campaigns. Premiering in 2021, 'Chucky' follows the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll, shown crossing paths with his archenemies, old allies, and new prey. The show was executive produced by Mancini, Alex Hedlund, Nick Antosca, David Kirschner, and Jeff Renfroe. Mancini kicked off the slasher franchise with 'Child's Play', which he co-wrote with John Lafia and director Tom Holland. He also wrote 'Child's Play 2 (1990)', 'Child's Play 3 (1991)', 'Bride of Chucky (1998)', 'Seed of Chucky (2004)', 'Curse of Chucky (2013)', and 'Cult of Chucky (2017)'. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and prayed for his good health after the Janasena Party chief underwent surgery. "Spoke to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan Garu and enquired about his well-being. He is remarkably courageous, and I am sure he will recover very soon. Praying for his good health," PM Modi wrote on X. On Saturday, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu also wished a speedy recovery to his deputy. "Sending my best wishes to Pawan Kalyan Garu for a speedy recovery following his surgery. May he regain his strength quickly and come back healthier than ever," the Chief Minister posted. "I wish Sri Pawan Kalyan, Dy Chief Minister, a speedy recovery following his surgery. May Almighty bestow the strength on him for his fast recovery and good health," Governor S Abdul Nazeer posted on X. According to a statement by Pawan Kalyan's Political Secretary, P Hariprasad, the party chief underwent surgery on Saturday evening after health-related issues for the past few months. Doctors have indicated that full recovery may take a long, however, he can resume his official duties after a 10-day rest. P Hariprasad said, "Janasena Party Chief, Deputy CM Sri Pawan Kalyan underwent surgery on Saturday evening. While discussing administrative matters with his officials on Friday morning, he experienced severe discomfort. He has been facing health-related issues for the past few months. Following the advice of his personal physicians, he cancelled Friday's official engagements and visited the hospital." "At the hospital, doctors conducted medical examinations, including an MRI. After reviewing the reports, the medical team decided that surgery was necessary and performed the procedure. Doctors have advised that he may resume official duties after a week to ten days of rest. However, they have also indicated that long-term precautions will be necessary, and that full recovery may take a longer period," the statement read. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was confident that the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which linked women's reservation to delimitation, would pass in Parliament. He also accused the opposition of blocking its implementation and delaying women's empowerment. Speaking on the issue, Manoj Tiwari said, "When this bill was introduced in Parliament, I was only looking at PM Modi's face. It took him a while to get up from his seat. He was confident that this bill would pass because all of them (opposition MPs) supported it in 2023." He said the earlier version of the bill had received wide support. "When the Women's Reservation in 2023 was passed, we did not have a two-thirds majority even then, but all these people supported it," he said. On the timeline for implementation and the delimitation process, he said, "Delimitation in this country could only take place after 2026. This was a decision made 30 years ago. After delimitation begins, it will take another two to two-and-a-half years, and only then, in 2029, will we be able to implement it." Targeting the opposition, he said, "There is ill intent in the opposition, especially the Congress. Congress imposed its ideology on its allied parties." He also spoke about increasing parliamentary seats, saying, "Most MPs on that side also feel that it would be very good if there were 850 seats, so that everyone is relieved of the heavy burden of voters." Reiterating his support for women's reservation, he said, "All this was to come along with the women's reservation. But those who do not want to give women their rights have defeated it again." Concluding his remarks, he said, "If not today, then tomorrow it will happen, and the obstacles in the way of giving women their rights will be resolved." The proposed Bill aimed to introduce a 33 per cent reservation within the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats and extend similar provisions to State Assemblies, Delhi, and Union Territories, including Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir. Another member, Wilson, said the reservation should be permanent and not dependent on future exercises. The Constitution Amendment Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on Friday. It received 298 votes in favour and 230 against. After the Bill was defeated, the government said it would not pursue the two other linked bills. (ANI)
The annual pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham began on Sunday with the ceremonial departure of the Panchmukhi palanquin of Lord Kedarnath from its winter seat at Omkareshwar Temple. The occasion was marked by elaborate rituals, chants, and a large gathering of devotees, signalling the beginning of the revered Char Dham Yatra. The palanquin was dispatched in the morning following traditional Vedic rites and temple customs. Officials, priests, and devotees participated in the ceremony, including Kedarnath Rawal Bhimashankar Ling. The procession will undertake a multi-day journey before reaching the shrine, with scheduled halts along the route. CEO of the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee and District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Vishal Mishra, confirmed that all preparations are in place for the yatra. "The palanquin of Baba Kedarnath has departed from Omkareshwar Temple today. Three halts have been scheduled, and the temple doors will open on April 22. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed that all arrangements be ensured by the administration and BKTC, with the safety of pilgrims being the top priority," he told ANI. According to the schedule, the doli will reach Phata on April 19, proceed to Gaurikund on April 20, and finally arrive at Kedarnath Dham on April 21. The temple doors will open for devotees on April 22 at 8 AM amid traditional rituals. The commencement of the Kedarnath pilgrimage coincides with the start of the Char Dham Yatra, which also includes Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, and Badrinath Dham. Earlier in the day, the palanquins of Goddess Yamuna and Goddess Ganga were ceremonially dispatched from Kharsali and Bhairavghati, respectively, marking the simultaneous beginning of the pilgrimage circuit. A festive atmosphere prevails across Uttarakhand, with temples decorated and devotees gathering in large numbers. On Saturday, Chief Minister Dhami inaugurated the Char Dham Yatra 2026 in Rishikesh and extended his wishes for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey. (ANI)
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Sunday slammed the Opposition for opposing the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, accusing them of "snatching away women's rights". Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill on Friday. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. Vijender Gupta told ANI, "Snatching away women's rights, denying them their due, constantly acting with malice towards half of the population, and harassing and criticising those who come forward to support their work. I completely condemn this trend. This should not happen. The country was moving forward with one resolution after another, giving the country a new direction with equality and rights. Stopping this, derailing it, preventing women's participation from being ensured, and then engaging in conspiracy afterwards is not right." Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak accused the Opposition parties of obstructing India from being a developed nation. "The opposition did not let the Amendment Bill pass. PM Narendra Modi was going to give the rights to half of the population of India, i.e., women, which was dismissed by the opposition parties. They are obstructing India from becoming Viksit Bharat," Pathak said. Earlier on Saturday, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on reservation for women legislators, calling it a "campaign speech" and questioning the timing and intent behind the legislative process. Speaking to ANI, the Congress MP noted that the support for the amendment to operationalise Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam fell as it was linked to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, "I want to clearly state that the Prime Minister was well aware that when the Women's Reservation Bill was passed in 2023, 500 members of Parliament participated at that time, and 498 MPs supported it. This time, with the new delimitation bill they brought, support dropped from 498 to 298 members, so 200 members of Parliament went against it. Why did this happen? It happened because of the amendment. No one was opposed to women's reservation. At that time, too, all parties had said it should be implemented immediately, but then it was linked with delimitation." Questioning the timing of the proposed legislation, the Congress leader said that the Bills could be brought after the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. "If there were no politics in their minds, then why did the President sign this bill at 10 pm at night? You could have brought it even after the elections. His address to the nation was like a campaign speech. Rahul Gandhi wouldn't get such a platform. When two states are bound for polls, what is the meaning of an address to the nation?" he added. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Opposition for blocking the Women's Reservation Bill, saying that they "crushed" their dreams despite the government's sincere efforts. PM Modi pointed out that the defeat of this bill is a direct blow to the self-respect of women, an insult that the female electorate will permanently engrave in their memories. "Women may forget everything else, but they never forget an insult to their pride," PM Modi said in his address to the nation on Saturday. PM Modi said "the sin committed by the opposition" will bring them punishment from the people. (ANI)
Ahead of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay's campaign in the Tiruchirappalli East Assembly constituency, TVK General Secretary, N. Anand, offered special prayers on Sunday seeking victory for party chief Joseph Vijay. Vijay is scheduled to canvass for votes later in the day in several areas of the constituency, including Wireless Road, KK Nagar, Thendral Nagar, Kajamalai, Kozhi Pannai and Kottapattu as part of his campaign outreach. Prior to the campaign, Anand offered special prayers at St Antony's Church on Wireless Road, where he offered prayers and met priests, seeking their blessings and support for Vijay's electoral success. He later visited a nearby Mariamman temple, where he offered prayers and performed special rituals in Vijay's name, praying for his success in the elections. The prayer visits were part of the party's efforts to mobilise support ahead of Vijay's campaign programmes in the constituency. According to official sources, Vijay will arrive in Tiruchirappalli from Chennai by a special flight. He will then campaign in an open vehicle, addressing the public at key locations, including Wireless Road near the airport, KK Nagar Bus Stand, and Kottapattu. Vijay has sought permission to campaign from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Election Commission and the Tiruchirappalli City Police have approved the campaign with 27 conditions in place to ensure law and order. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight. Vijay is contesting two seats against DMK's incumbent MLAs RD Sekar and Inigo S Irudavarai, respectively. Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh on Sunday criticised the Opposition following the Women's Reservation Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha, asserting that the bill has "exposed the true face of many parties" who used to talk about women's empowerment. BJP candidate from West Bengal's Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency Ghosh claimed that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was a "very necessary step" to bring women forward. Speaking to reporters ahead of the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly election, the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency candidate said, "The Women's Reservation Bill has exposed the true face of many parties, who used to talk about women's empowerment and women's welfare. They (the opposition) did not support this bill, which revealed that they merely do politics in the name of women and nothing else." He further added that the Congress party did not support the bill, which revealed that they merely do politics in the name of women. He said, "Prime Minister Modi has taken many steps for women's empowerment. This too was a very necessary step to bring women forward, but it did not receive the opposition's support." His remarks come after the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill to implement women's reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc refused to vote in favour of the delimitation process. On April 17, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. With the Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills. The bills aimed to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816, with 33 per cent reservation for women. The delimitation was to be carried out based on the 2011 census. The government said there will be a proportionate increase in seats for all states. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday slammed the Tamil Nadu government over the Thiruparankundram Deepam case, asserting that DMK and its allies were "not implementing the order" and had tried to suppress it. Ahead of the April 23 state Assembly election, Singh urged the Tamil Nadu people to vote for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, and the party would ensure that the sacred tradition of lighting the Karthigai Deepam is restarted. Addressing the public here, the Defence Minister said, "I know how faithful the people of our Tamil Nadu are. If anyone tries to eliminate Sanatan Dharma, they will automatically fall from the public's sight." His remarks come on the issue related to the traditional lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon (lamp pillar) located on Thiruparankundram Hill in Tamil Nadu, as the state government objected to the lamp lighting, citing security concerns, but the Madras High Court later directed that the ritual be allowed to proceed, rejecting the state government's objections. Launching a frontal attack on the MK Stalin-led DMK government and its allies, he added that the state government had deprived the devotees of the Subramanya Swamy Temple of their right to worship. "The Tamil Nadu government is depriving the devotees of the Subramanya Swamy Temple of their right to worship. The Tamil Nadu police stopped and arrested devotees who were going to light the Karthigai Deepam, even though the court had clearly ordered that the tradition of lighting the lamp at Thiruparankundram be allowed," Singh added. The Defence Minister further said, "Even after this, the DMK government and its allies are not implementing the order and have tried to suppress it. I assure you that after the formation of the NDA government here, we will ensure that the sacred tradition of lighting the Karthigai Deepam is restarted here again. This is your right, and this is the guarantee of the BJP." The Defence Minister today holds a roadshow in support of the BJP candidate Ananthan Ayyasamy from the Vasudevanallur Assembly Constituency. Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. In the Vasudevanallur constituency, E Raja is the candidate representing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Anandhan Ayyasamy is contesting from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and R Amudha Rani is the candidate for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), while Esai Mathivanan is representing Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). Vasudevanallur is an important legislative assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu's Tenkasi district. According to the 2026 electoral rolls, it has approximately 227,369 registered voters, including around 110,960 men, 116,396 women, and 13 third-gender electors. The constituency is known for closely fought elections, often witnessing strong competition among major parties. This time, the race is shaping up to be a high-stakes triangular contest, with DMK's Raja facing BJP's Anandhan Ayyasamy and TVK's R Amudha Rani. In the 2021 assembly elections, the seat was won by MDMK's Sathan Tirumalaikumar, who defeated AIADMK candidate Manoharan by a very small margin. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the NDA led by AIADMK, with the BJP and PMK as allies. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an official visit to Germany from April 21 to 23 to further strengthen the strategic defence partnership between the two countries, the Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday. During the three-day visit, Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, and other senior leaders of the government. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), discussions will focus on enhancing defence industrial collaboration, strengthening military-to-military engagements, and exploring opportunities in emerging domains such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, and drones. A Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and implementing arrangement for cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations Training are likely to be signed in the presence of both Defence Ministers. The visit will provide an opportunity to review the ongoing defence cooperation initiatives and identify new avenues for collaboration between the defence industries of both countries. Rajnath Singh is also expected to interact with key representatives of the German defence industry, with a view to promoting joint development and co-production under the Make-in-India initiative. This visit of Defence Minister, as per the MoD, comes after a gap of seven years. The last visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Germany was by Nirmala Sitharaman in February 2019. Boris Pistorius had visited India in June 2023 and held extensive talks with Rajnath Singh. India and Germany share a strong and multifaceted strategic partnership, anchored in democratic values, the rule of law, and a shared commitment to a rule-based international order. Defence and security cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of this partnership in recent years. Further, as per MoD, the objective of the visit is to further deepen bilateral ties and contribute to regional & global peace, stability, and prosperity. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the reservation of women legislators, claiming that the party has championed higher political representation for women. PM Modi accused the Opposition of blocking the Women's Reservation Bill, saying that they "crushed" their dreams despite the government's sincere efforts. In an X post, Mamata Banerjee clarified that the TMC did not oppose the women's reservation, but the Delimitation Bill linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. She accused PM Modi of misleading the nation. She termed PM Modi's address to the nation a "cowardly, hypocritical and fork-tongued" speech. The TMC supremo wrote, "It is deeply unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation rather than address it honestly. Let me put this on record. Trinamool Congress has always championed higher political representation for women. We have the highest proportion of female elected representatives in both Parliament and the State Legislature. In the Lok Sabha, 37.9 per cent of our elected members are women. In the Rajya Sabha, we have nominated 46 per cent women members. The question of opposing Women's Reservation does not arise and never has." She called the delimitation to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha an "assault on federal democracy", claiming that the BJP wanted greater representation of the states ruled by the party through gerrymandering. "What we are fundamentally opposed to is the Delimitation exercise that the Modi Government was plotting to push through by using women as a shield for its vested political agenda. What we are fundamentally opposed to is the altering of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, the division of this nation and the usurpation of power through gerrymandering, by redrawing political contours to hand greater representation to BJP-ruled states at the expense of others. This is an assault on federal democracy. And we will not watch it happen in silence," she wrote. She asked why the government waited three years to bring amendments to the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam, 2023, and why it coupled women's reservation with delimitation. "If this government was genuinely serious about this noble cause, why did it wait nearly three years after the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill on September 28, 2023? Why rush it through when several states are in an election? And why couple it with delimitation? Trinamool Congress has stood for women for decades. We will continue to. But we will not be lectured on a subject that the ruling dispensation neither understands nor respects," CM Mamata Banerjee said. Further, she asked PM Modi to address the nation from the floor of the Parliament, where the MPs can seek accountability. "And Mr Prime Minister, the next time you address the nation, have the courage to do so from the Floor of Parliament, where you are subject to scrutiny, challenge and accountability. What you did yesterday was cowardly, hypocritical and fork-tongued. You can feel power slipping through your fingers. And you are prepared to go to any extent to hold on for just a little while longer. That is all this was," the X post read. Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill on Friday. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. PM Modi pointed out that the defeat of this bill is a direct blow to the self-respect of women, an insult that the female electorate will permanently engrave in their memories. "Women may forget everything else, but they never forget an insult to their pride," PM Modi said in his address to the nation on Saturday. PM Modi said "the sin committed by the opposition" will bring them punishment from the people. Earlier, in an election rally in West Bengal, PM Modi accused the TMC of betraying women by opposing the representation of women in politics. (ANI)
Ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Kashmiri activist Javed Beigh delivered a sharp condemnation of terrorism while squarely blaming Pakistan's establishment for perpetuating violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Beigh described the assault as a "barbaric, heinous and cowardly act" that was deeply condemned by the local population, asserting that such violence does not represent the values or aspirations of the people of Kashmir. He described it as the "second darkest chapter" in the region's history after the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, asserting that Kashmiris across communities unequivocally rejected the violence. Beigh argued that the Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists after identifying their religion, exposed what he called the "terror industry" backed by Pakistan. According to him, such incidents damage Kashmir's image and undermine its social fabric. "Every Kashmiri condemned it. There were protests across the Valley, cutting across political and religious lines," he said, emphasising widespread public outrage. He further accused Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment of sponsoring militancy in the region for decades. "For nearly 40 years, they have brought gun culture, hatred, and destruction to Kashmir," Beigh said, claiming that thousands of lives have been lost and generations of youth deprived of opportunities. Referring to India's counter-terror response, Beigh praised security forces for striking militant infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed during "Operation Sindoor." On the international stage, Beigh called for greater accountability, urging global institutions like the United Nations to act against Pakistan for alleged support of terrorism and human rights violations. He cited incidents involving minorities and ethnic groups within Pakistan to question what he termed the global community's "silence." Looking ahead, Beigh advocated decisive measures to prevent future attacks, including stronger political will and intensified efforts against terror networks. He reiterated that Kashmiris, particularly the youth, have increasingly distanced themselves from militancy and aspire for peace and development. "Kashmiris have rejected terrorism," he said, appealing for national unity to restore lasting peace and enable the return of displaced communities. (ANI)
Arriving at the Dabhoda helipad in Mehsana district's Kheralu taluka this morning, the couple was received by members of the Jain community before they went up to the hill shrine, one of the region's significant Jain religious sites. Devotees had begun gathering early, marking a day regarded as especially sacred across traditions.

The temple, dedicated to Lord Ajitnath, the second Tirthankara in Jainism, dates to the 12th century and is associated with the Solanki ruler King Kumarpal. It remains an important pilgrimage site for the Jain community.

Adani offered prayers inside the sanctum before spending time within the temple complex. The couple also briefly visited the canteen, where pilgrims gather during their visit.

During the visit, Adani met temple trustee Sachin Ashokbhai Shah to discuss plans aimed at improving facilities for pilgrims, with a focus on enhancing access and amenities while preserving the temple's architectural and spiritual integrity.

The Adani Group is also supporting afforestation efforts in the Taranga hills, contributing to the ecological restoration and preservation of the region surrounding the sacred site.

Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu and Jain calendars, associated with prosperity, new beginnings and acts of charity. In Jain tradition,

It marks the day when Rishabhanatha received his first alms after a prolonged fast, establishing the practice of offering food to ascetics.

The visit follows a series of recent religious engagements.

Earlier this month, on Hanuman Jayanti, Adani and his family offered prayers at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, one of India's most prominent Hindu shrines. (ANI)
Congress leaders on Sunday staged a protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation following the defeat of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Congress leader Alka Lamba was also present at the protest site. The demonstration comes after PM Modi on Saturday addressed the nation on the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at implementing women's reservation, which failed to pass in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc refused to support the associated delimitation framework. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Ragini Nayak raised a question to PM Modi, asking about the integrity of the country being attacked by taking advantage of women's reservations and using "delimitation as a weapon". "The biggest aim of today's protest is why PM Modi didn't take proactive steps on women's reservation. Why is the Women's Reservation Bill, which was passed in 2023, hanging on the crutches of delimitation and census? Why is it being postponed till 2034? Why is the integrity and unity of the country being attacked by taking advantage of women's reservations and using delimitation as a weapon? PM Modi's address to the nation was funny... it was a conspiracy against Congress..." she said. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda also criticised the BJP, alleging that the party's approach reflected "anti-women intentions" and that women were being misled on the issue. Congress MP Hooda told ANI, "The way the BJP has tried to fool women reveals their anti-women intentions... Their real intention was to impose delimitation in the name of women's reservation... The Congress Party will not rest until women's reservation is implemented in the country..." Speaking during the protest, Congress MP Jebi Mather further alleged that the ruling party was attempting to build a false narrative on women's empowerment. "Since 2014, PM Modi has been heading the nation... many years have passed from 2014 to 2026. Women of India have been cheated... this government is not serious about women's reservation. BJP and Narendra Modi are only trying to create a narrative that they are for women. They are not actually for women. They are against women..." she said. On April 17, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill. During the three-day Special Session from April 16 to April 18, multiple leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed the bill. Multiple Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Congress leader KC Venugopal, also participated in the discussion. The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill to implement women's reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc refused to vote in favour of the delimitation process. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. With the Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills. The bills aimed to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816, with 33 per cent reservation for women. The delimitation was to be carried out based on the 2011 census. The government said there will be a proportionate increase in seats for all states. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, accusing them of being "anti-women" and intentionally stopping the progress of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Asserting that those who ruled for 60 years failed to secure women's rights, Dhami credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the passage of the 33% reservation bill while claiming the opposition is now creating hurdles to block its 2029 implementation. Speaking to reporters, Dhami said, "Those who ruled the country for six decades after independence never did anything for the rights of women. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for 33% reservation for women, was passed by the Parliament. When it was about to be implemented from 2029 with an amendment, they created hurdles and stalled women's rights and representation. They are anti-women and they stand exposed before the country." The remarks come in the backdrop of the Constitution Amendment Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha, triggering sharp reactions from leaders across the political spectrum. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against it. With the Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills. The bills aimed to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816, with 33% reservation for women. The delimitation was to be carried out based on the 2011 census. The government said there will be a proportionate increase in seats for all states. Opposition parties said that they are strongly in favour of women's reservation but were against the Delimitation Bill. They called upon the government to implement the women's reservation in the existing strength of the Lok Sabha. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) government in centre for holding discussions with the opposition party before introducing the Constitution 131st Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha. He said that India was a democracy and not "Hitler's rule" while attacking the Centre for bringing the Constitution Amendment Bill, which sought to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850, amid Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The Bill was also meant to advance the implementation of women's reservation legislation. The Deputy CM also said that women's reservation was the "baby of the Congress". "Regarding the women's reservation bill, it is the baby of the Congress. Now this was not the time. They (the ruling party, BJP) should have discussed with the opposition party. This is democracy and not Hitler's rule. They can't bring the bill in the middle of the elections and just alter the entire constituencies. They have to take everyone into confidence," Shivakumar told reporters here. Backing the Opposition's stance, he added, "That is why the opposition party did a good job. It is a victory of the INDIA alliance. I congratulate all the parliament members of the INDIA group who opposed it and let them discuss it in detail." On April 17, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill. During the three-day Special Session from April 16 to April 18, multiple leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed the bill. Multiple Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Congress leader KC Venugopal, also participated in the discussion. The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill to implement women's reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc refused to vote in favour of the delimitation process. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. With the Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills since they were interrelated. (ANI)
Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday expressed disappointment over the Opposition's stance during recent proceedings in the Lok Sabha, alleging that their actions could adversely impact southern states. Speaking on the issue, Kumaraswamy said, "The day before yesterday's incident on the floor of the House, the way in which Opposition leaders happily rejected the bills, I'm really disappointed as a southern state representative in the Lok Sabha... the southern part of India is going to lose in a big way because of DMK's attitude." He further accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin of misleading the public regarding discussions on delimitation and the Women's Reservation Bill. "Last month, our Home Minister invited them to discuss the process of the delimitation and how to implement the Women's Reservation Bill... They agreed and were satisfied. But after that meeting, Stalin tried to mislead the people of not only Tamil Nadu, but the entire country by saying we are not getting our equal rights. The way in which they behaved on the floor of the House to defeat the bill, in the future, will affect the southern part," Kumaraswamy said. Earlier, Stalin alleged that the failure of the Constitutional Amendment Bill forced clarity on "who stands with Tamil Nadu's interests," and criticised Palaniswami and his party AIADMK, accusing them of acting in line with directions from Delhi. Describing it as only a "half-victory," Stalin urged the Centre to introduce a constitutional amendment to postpone constituency delimitation for another 25 years, until 2051. On April 17, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill. During the three-day Special Session from April 16 to April 18, multiple leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed the bill. Multiple Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Congress leader KC Venugopal, also participated in the discussion. The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill to implement women's reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc refused to vote in favour of the delimitation process. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. With the Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills. (ANI)
Delhi Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh inaugurated a new water pipeline project in Prahlad Vihar, developed at an approximate cost of Rs 45 lakh and dedicated it to the residents of the area. According to a press release, after a gap of nearly 15 years, a water pipeline has been laid in the area for the first time, ensuring access to a clean, regular and uninterrupted water supply for local residents. This development provides a permanent solution to the long-persisting issue of drinking water shortage and brings significant relief to the community. With the commencement of this pipeline, thousands of residents will now benefit from improved access to a basic daily necessity. Women, elderly citizens and children who earlier faced difficulties in arranging water will particularly benefit from this initiative. The project not only strengthens water supply infrastructure but also contributes to the overall development of the area. Improved basic amenities will enhance the quality of life and support the transformation of the region into a more organised and developed locality, the release said. Local residents welcomed the initiative and expressed their gratitude towards the government and Ravinder Indraj Singh. They stated that the resolution of this long-pending issue has brought them immense relief and made daily life significantly more convenient, the release said. Addressing the gathering, the Delhi Minister stated that the development of village, rural and semi-urban areas remains a key priority. He emphasised that the government is consistently working to ensure equitable access to basic amenities across all regions. He further stated that strengthening essential services such as water supply is a core responsibility of the government, and continuous efforts will be made in this direction. He also assured that several new development projects will be undertaken in the coming time for the benefit of the area. The Delhi government is committed to strengthening infrastructure in rural areas with a focus on balanced development, ensuring better living conditions for every citizen and advancing the vision of "Viksit Delhi, Harit Delhi". (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday drew parallels between the Congress party and the antagonists of the Mahabharata, criticising the opposition's role in the wake of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha. Speaking to reporters in Rohtak on Sunday, Saini accused the opposition of actively working to "disrobe" women's empowerment within the "temple of democracy." The Chief Minister did not mince words, comparing the parliamentary standoff over the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026 to one of the most infamous episodes in Indian epic history. "The behaviour of the opposition in Parliament is like disrobing women's empowerment in the temple of democracy," Saini stated. "Just what Duryodhana and Dushasan did, the Congress Party has done in the Parliament." In contrast, Saini cast Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a protective figure, asserting that the BJP remains committed to the cause despite legislative hurdles. "No matter how much they tried to stop the reservation, Narendra Modi, in the form of Krishna, will work to empower women. If not today, then tomorrow, women will get these rights." Reaffirming his confidence in the central government's vision, he declared, "If not today, then tomorrow, women will get these rights. The opposition has no policy, no intention, and no leadership". The Chief Minister's remarks follow recent political friction over the Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill being linked to delimitation. The Bill's failure has reignited a fierce ideological battle over the implementation of women's reservations and the legislative path toward gender parity in Indian politics. In the division that took place following the debate on the three bills, the Delimitation Bill, 2026; the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, 298 members supported the Constitution Amendment Bill while 230 voted against it. With the Bill failing to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha yesterday, the ruling government leaders have accused the INDIA bloc of being "anti-women" while the opposition has maintained that they suport the women's quota but opposes linking it with delimitation and census processes, claiming that the Union Government brought forth the Amendment Bill as a political ploy to "rejig" the electoral map under the guise of women reservation. With the Bill stalled, the government is expected to take this narrative to the grassroots level, turning the legislative defeat into a major campaign talking point. Meanwhile, the Opposition continues to argue that the Bill's current form--linked to the census and delimitation--is a tactical delay by the government, rather than a genuine attempt at immediate empowerment. (ANI)
In a formal statement released from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President extended her sympathies to the families affected by the sudden blast.

"The loss of lives in a tragic accident at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, is deeply distressing," President Murmu stated. "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery."

Meanwhile, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also extended his condolences and prayed for the recovery of all the injured individuals.

"The most heartbreaking accident that occurred in a fireworks factory near Virudhunagar causes immense sorrow. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. I pray that all the injured recover fully soon," said the Vice President.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his condolences on X post and said that, "I have requested the Ministers K K S S R Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to rush to the scene immediately to expedite and monitor the rescue operations and to offer solace to the affected families. Upon learning of this, I contacted the District Collector and instructed them to coordinate all necessary assistance".

Nearly 16 workers were killed in a massive blast reported in a fireworks unit situated in Kattanarpatti in the Virudunagar district.

Senior police officials said that at around 3 pm on Sunday, a firework unit near Kattanarpatti reportedly blasted. On receiving information from the public, police and fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and started dousing the fire.

Further, rescue efforts are underway. Rescued individuals were shifted to a nearby government hospital.

So far, 16 have died, and preliminary information says it's a licensed firework unit named "Vanaja Fireworks" that added the official.

Vachakarapatti police are conducting an investigation into the incident. (ANI)
With the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly elections just days away, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee escalated her attack against the BJP-led government in centre, accusing it of scaring polling officers through the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Addressing a massive rally here, the TMC supremo alleged that the ED was being used to intimidate her party's polling machinery and support staff, questioning the timing of such raids ahead of polls. "We are facing ED raids every day. Why did you suddenly remember this during elections? You are telling our agencies, the ones who work for our party, to leave Bengal. Why? You have fifty (agencies/resources), we don't have that kind of power--we have just one," CM Banerjee said. She further claimed that the ultimate goal of the BJP was the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "This is your conspiracy. How much more oppression will you carry out? How much more injustice? How many more votes will you try to cut? After this, you will bring NRC," she alleged. "If you try to intimidate them, they will join my party, and we will give them jobs, we will take care of them," she declared, adding that she had already discussed the matter with TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Her remarks come at a boiling point in West Bengal politics as the state prepares for two phases of polling on April 23 and 29. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took out four rallies in West Bengal today, where he slammed the TMC government on multiple fronts, accusing it of "loot, corruption", vowing that strict action would be taken once the BJP is in power in the state. The Prime Minister launched a scathing offensive against the TMC, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of institutionalising corruption and "Maha Jungle Raj." Addressing a massive Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Medinipur, the Prime Minister said, "In 15 years, they have earned a PhD in looting." "Under the TMC's ruthless government, there's loot in recruiting school teachers. Loot in children's mid-day meals. Loot in MNREGA work. Loot in money meant for the poor's homes. Loot in village roads. Loot in cyclone relief funds. In 15 years, they've earned a PhD in looting," he said. Escalating his attack, PM Modi termed the TMC's 15-year tenure as "maha jungle raj", plagued with "riots, political murders, increased infiltrators and atrocities against women". "Maa, Maati and Maanush none was spared by the TMC. This time, I am seeing that Bengal's election is not being fought by BJP people, not by BJP candidates and workers... this election is being fought by the people of my Bengal... That is why today, the TMC goons are trembling in fear," he said. Chief Minister Banerjee is aiming for a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP, which secured 77 seats in the previous election, is making a renewed push to form the government in the state. (ANI)
Amid a standoff between the opposition and the Centre over non-passage of the Constitutional (131st Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the women's reservation issue to advance the delimitation process. She also said that only 12.9 per cent of the BJP's MPs in the Lok Sabha are women. Speaking to ANI, Shrinate stated that the PM's address to the nation mentioned the opposition 58 times. She said that PM Modi was avoiding the immediate implementation of women's quota to protect male-dominated seats in the lower house of Parliament. "Prime Minister Modi mentioned Congress 58 times. Out of 543 seats, one-third should be reserved immediately, giving 181 seats to women. Instead, he resists because he does not want men's seats reduced. The BJP's record is poor: only 12.9 per cent of its MPs in the Lok Sabha are women, and less than 10 per cent of its MLAs nationwide," she said. Furthermore, she claimed that PM Modi has remained silent on violence against women. "Modi's track record on women's respect is weak - whether in Hathras, Manipur, or other cases, he remained silent. India's women see through this," he said. Furthermore, she argued that the strategy of linking the bill to future delimitation is a stalling tactic, stating that "India's women see through this" and claimed the Prime Minister's public connection has weakened. "Behind talk of women's rights, he sought delimitation and avoided the caste census. That plan has been exposed. His public connection is broken, and those around him lack the courage to tell him his strategy is backfiring," she added. Her remarks follow recent political friction over the implementation of the women's quota being linked to the delimitation process. The non-passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill has reignited a fierce ideological battle over the implementation of women's reservation and the legislative path toward gender parity in Indian politics. In the division that took place following the debate on the three bills, the Delimitation Bill, 2026; the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, 298 members supported the Constitution Amendment Bill while 230 voted against it. With the Bill failing to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha, the ruling government leaders have accused the INDIA bloc of being "anti-women" while the opposition has maintained that they suport the women's quota but opposes linking it with delimitation, claiming that the Union Government brought forth the Amendment Bill as a political ploy to "rejig" the electoral map under the guise of women reservation. With the Bill stalled, the government is expected to take this narrative to the grassroots level, turning the legislative defeat into a major campaign talking point. Meanwhile, the Opposition continues to argue that the Bill's current form--linked to the census and delimitation--is a tactical delay by the government, rather than a genuine attempt at immediate empowerment. (ANI)
The Prestige Educational Trust, which manages Anjarakkandy Dental College in Kannur, on Sunday rejected allegations that caste-based discrimination and harassment led to the death of first-year BDS student R L Nithin Raj. In a detailed statement, the management termed all such claims "completely baseless" and maintained that the incident was linked to a personal loan taken by the student, according to a release. According to the Trust, Nithin jumped from the top of the medical college building on April 10, shortly after discussions in the principal's office regarding harassment faced by a faculty member from a loan app. The staff member was receiving repeated calls and messages as her number was listed as a reference for Nithin's loan. When questioned, Nithin initially told the authorities that the loan had been taken on behalf of his relative, Ashokan. "However, he later denied providing the faculty member's number as a reference. Efforts by the principal to contact Ashokan were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off," the management said in the statement. "As the harassment continued, the faculty member decided to approach the cyber cell. While a complaint was being drafted, Nithin left the room and later fell from the building," it added. A native of Uzhamalackal in Thiruvananthapuram, Nithin was found critically injured near the medical college block and later succumbed to his injuries, the release noted. Earlier, the police had registered a case against two faculty members -- Dr M K Ram and KT Sangeetha Nambiar -- on charges of abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following allegations of caste- and colour-based harassment. The management, however, denied any institutional role in the incident, stating that no complaints had been raised by Nithin against any teacher, staff member or the college during his time on campus. It also dismissed claims of caste discrimination as baseless. The Trust said neither family members nor classmates had raised such concerns with the institution so far. Referring to allegations against a faculty member, the statement noted that an audio clip suggests Nithin had confronted the teacher earlier and had chosen to stop attending the class nearly a month before the incident. Feedback from students, it added, indicated that the teacher had treated all students equally over the years, with no prior complaints through official channels. The management further said Nithin had faced certain personal issues earlier, during which the institution extended support, including calling his parents and recommending counselling. "His father had given written assurance that counselling would be arranged. Faculty members later stayed in touch and facilitated his return to campus," the statement read. All relevant materials, including CCTV footage, previous statements, academic records and documents, have been handed over to the police, the Trust said, adding that it is fully cooperating with the investigation. Footage covering the period from when Nithin was called to the office to the moments before the incident has also been submitted. Meanwhile, the Chakkarakkal police have registered a separate case against the loan app 'Insta Pay' for allegedly charging exorbitant interest and harassing Nithin. Three people from Uttar Pradesh were arrested in connection with the case. The Trust also refuted reports claiming that the institution operates on illegally acquired land, stating that no court or authority has issued any such orders. It said such reports were causing unnecessary concern among students, parents and staff. The management added that it has faced intense scrutiny following the incident and claimed that misunderstandings among Nithin's family members had prevented it from visiting his home, the release stated. Appealing for restraint, the Trust urged the public not to spread what it termed as unfounded allegations, warning that such claims could create division in society. (ANI)
Ahmedabad Rural Police on Sunday arrested two accused in connection with the violence in Dhandhuka, which was triggered by a fight between two individuals following a motorcycle accident on Saturday. According to Police Inspector Raghu Karmatiya of the Local Crime Branch, the victim, identified as Dharmesh Gamara, was allegedly killed by the accused, Samir Mohammadbhai and Rizwan Nizambhai Manyar. Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused Rizwan allegedly inflicted fatal knife wounds on the victim. Both suspects, Rizwan and Samir, are currently in police custody. "On 18 April, under the jurisdiction of Dhandhuka Police Station, a murder occurred in which Dharmesh Gamara was killed by two accused, Samir Mohammadbhai and Rizwan Nizambhai Manyar. Samir restrained the victim while Rizwan inflicted fatal knife wounds. Both have been apprehended by the Ahmedabad Rural Police. The case has been registered at Dhandhuka Police Station, and legal proceedings, including remand, are underway. A special investigation team, comprising a Deputy Inspector, two Police Inspectors, and a Police Sub-Inspector, is monitoring the case daily under the supervision of the Senior Police Inspector," said Karmatiya. Earlier, a fight broke out between two individuals following a motorcycle accident in Dhandhuka town. The victim, Dharmesh Gamara, was stabbed during the altercation and later succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a hospital on Saturday. Govind Bhai, brother of the deceased Dharmesh Gamara, alleged that the accused stabbed his brother with a knife and demanded action against the perpetrators. "My younger brother had gone to the village, and there was a fight over a motorcycle accident. He (accused) stabbed my brother with a knife. He later died. We have received good support from the Police. Their investigation is going on well. I appeal to everyone to not vitiate the atmosphere. But action should be taken," Govind told reporters. Following the incident, police detained 15 to 20 others involved in subsequent acts of arson. Superintendent of Police (SP) Om Prakash Jat confirmed that the situation in Dhandhuka is peaceful now and remains fully under control. "I met the victim's family, and they are satisfied with the Police action. They had demanded a Special Public Prosecutor and a detailed investigation be done. So, after consulting our senior officers and the Govt, we will form an SIT. We will also recommend appointing a Special Public Prosecutor. All shops in the area have opened, and it is peaceful here. Yesterday's incident was an ordinary one; never did two groups come face to face. There was no stone pelting after that. Bikes of two people had collided with each other, following which they had a quarrel, and one of them had 'chharri', which caused an injury in his leg, and it led to bleeding, which caused the death. The other person has a fracture," SP Jat said. "A 200-person team did night combing yesterday. We went from door-to-door for checking. The combing process will continue until we check all houses and all suspicious people," he added. (ANI)
US Vice President JD Vance on Friday (local time) expressed support for Pope Leo XIV, saying differences between the Pontiff and President Donald Trump are often more "complicated" than portrayed. In a post shared on X, Vance said, "I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict-and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen-the reality is often much more complicated." He added that the Pope's role is distinct from that of political leadership. "Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President-and the entire administration-work to apply those moral principles in a messy world," Vance said. Expressing goodwill, he further stated, "He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his." https://x.com/jdvance/status/2045639745259159594 Vance's remarks come after Pope Leo XIV dismissed suggestions that his recent comments were aimed at President Trump, asserting that he has "no interest at all" in engaging in a political debate with the US leader. Speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Angola, the Pontiff said, "There has been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all its aspects." He added that much of the reporting had misinterpreted his earlier remarks, saying, "Because of the political situation created when on the first day of the trip the President of the United States made some comments about myself, much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said." Clarifying further, the Pope noted that his speech at a recent prayer meeting for peace had been prepared before Trump's comments. "Just one little example: the talk that I gave at the prayer meeting for peace a couple of days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting. And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all," he said. The exchange follows a series of sharp remarks from President Trump on Iran and nuclear policy. Trump has insisted that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, stating, "I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," and warning that such a development would put "the whole world" at risk. He had also criticised the Pope, saying, "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable." Trump further refused to apologise, saying, "I won't apologise to Pope Leo. I think he's very weak on crime and other things," and suggested the Pontiff would be "unhappy with the result" of his administration's policies. Earlier, responding to the criticism, Pope Leo XIV said, "I think that the people who read will be able to draw their own conclusions: I am not a politician, I have no intention of entering into a debate with Donald Trump." He reiterated his focus on peace, adding, "Rather, let us always seek peace and put an end to wars. I am not afraid of the Trump administration." The Pope has also cautioned against the misuse of religion for political or military purposes, saying, "Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth." (ANI)
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sunday visited the Guru Nanak Sikh Sangat Gurdwara in Otahuhu, Auckland, where he held a special meeting with Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib. During the meeting, both leaders discussed ways to promote mutual harmony, understanding, and inclusivity among the Sikh community and other communities residing in New Zealand. They also deliberated on the significant contributions made by Sikhs towards the country's development and strengthening the community here. Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj thanked Prime Minister Luxon for acknowledging and honouring the services rendered by the Sikh community in New Zealand. The Jathedar also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, which he gladly accepted. During the meeting, Jathedar Gargajj presented a model as a gift to the Prime Minister, while Prime Minister Luxon gifted a watch to the Jathedar in return. On the occasion, several dignitaries were present, including Takanini MP Rima Nakhle, Central Sikh Association President and Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand spokesperson S. Daljit Singh, Youth Akali Dal President S Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer, and Media Advisor S Jaskaran Singh, among others. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday (local time) visited 'Gurdwara Sahib Ottawa' and joined the Sikh community in community service, marking Sikh Heritage Month 2026. In a post on X, the Canadian PM said that Canada has the second-largest Sikh community in the world. He added that during the current occasion of 'Sikh Heritage Month', his administration is celebrating the contribution of the Sikh population towards the country.He said, "Canada has the second-largest Sikh community in the world. During this Sikh Heritage Month, we celebrate the generations of Canadian Sikh women and men who have contributed to our shared prosperity, strengthened our communities, and helped build a stronger Canada." Earlier on April 13, the Indian Consulate in Toronto, in association with Virasat-e-Khalsa, celebrated the Vaisakhi festival alongside Sikh Heritage Month. The event brought together an esteemed gathering of leaders and the Indian diaspora in a moment that spoke to the enduring bonds between India and Canada and to the remarkable contribution of the Sikh community. Sikh Heritage Month 2026 is being celebrated in Canada with the launch of the exhibition Baaghi ja Badshah, the official website of Sikh Heritage Month said. The exhibition explores the historical phases in Sikh life in which the community has stood as both baaghi (rebels) and badshah (leaders) as they worked towards Halemi Raj, a vision of fair and ethical rule. (ANI)
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted on Saturday that the current 10-day truce with Israel cannot be a unilateral arrangement. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Qassem vowed that his fighters are prepared to retaliate against any Israeli strikes targeting Lebanese territory. In his initial response on Saturday to the ceasefire brokered by the United States, Qassem characterised the diplomatic process as "an insult to our country and our homeland, Lebanon, that America dictates its text and speaks on behalf of the Lebanese government." These remarks follow a significant diplomatic development in Washington, where ambassadors from Lebanon and Israel held meetings ahead of anticipated direct negotiations, the first such talks between the two nations in decades. Speaking in a televised statement, the Hezbollah chief clarified his group's stance on the cessation of hostilities. Al Jazeera quoted Qassem as stating, "A ceasefire means a complete cessation of all hostilities. Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger, and they will respond to violations accordingly." He further emphasised that the truce must be mutual to remain valid. "There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only, it must be from both sides," Qassem added, according to Al Jazeera. The Hezbollah leader also voiced strong opposition to the recent diplomatic engagement in the United States. "Enough of subjecting Lebanon to these humiliations by negotiating directly with the Israeli enemy and listening to its dictates, and by the shameful spectacle in Washington," he remarked. This rare direct engagement in Washington earlier this week culminated in an announcement by US President Donald Trump, who stated that both Israeli and Lebanese leadership had consented to a 10-day ceasefire. Under the specific terms of the agreement, Israel maintains its "right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks." Conversely, Lebanon is required to take "meaningful steps" to block Hezbollah and other "rogue non-state armed groups" from launching operations against Israeli targets. While President Trump has issued a public warning to Hezbollah to "act nicely" throughout the duration of the truce, the group has countered with its own warning, stating their operatives have kept "hands on trigger." The ceasefire landscape remains complex due to conflicting narratives regarding its scope. When the truce was initially announced on April 7, Iran claimed the US President had endorsed a 10-point proposal that included an "end of hostilities" against Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, the official US statement lacked any mention of Lebanon, a discrepancy that became prominent when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the deal "did not cover Lebanon". Following the Israeli stance, President Trump cautioned Tehran to respect the "real agreement" as tensions persist over the geographical limits of the truce. (ANI)
The Iranian Embassy in South Africa has launched a biting social media attack on US President Donald Trump, using a viral maritime audio clip to label him an "idiot". The diplomatic row erupted following the circulation of a video purportedly capturing radio communications from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy. In the recording, a voice is heard using the term "idiot", a remark that some social media accounts claimed was directed at Iran's own Foreign Minister. However, the Iranian mission in Pretoria moved quickly to dismiss these claims, asserting that the insult was intended for the American President. Taking to X, the embassy stated, "You idiot, he meant your Idiot President, Trump. Just google 'idiot'--you'll understand who it is." https://x.com/IraninSA/status/2045578758023778461?s=20 The underlying audio, attributed to the IRGC Navy, issued a stern warning to all vessels attempting to navigate the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The radio message, broadcast on maritime Channel 16, declared that the waterway remains under Tehran's strict control. "This is Iranian Sepah Navy calling on channel 16, Strait of Hormuz is still closed, we will open it by the order of our Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiot," the radio communication announced. The broadcast further warned of military consequences for any ships defying the closure. "If you want to pass through the Strait, you must ask for the permission from the Iranian Sepah navy. All vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be targeted if they try to pass the Strait of Hormuz," the message added. Providing further context to this escalation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has officially announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian state media outlet Press TV, the move follows the United States' decision to uphold a blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran claims this blockade is a direct "violation of the conditions of the ongoing ceasefire". In a formal communication issued on Saturday, the IRGC Navy clarified that, following the initial ceasefire declaration, the Islamic Republic had opted to permit the passage of non-military ships through the vital waterway via a "specific corridor designated by Tehran". However, this policy has been abruptly rescinded due to perceived American aggression. "Due to the violation of the ceasefire conditions, and as the American adversary has not lifted the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed as of this evening until this blockade is removed," the Corps stated. Press TV noted that the move marks a significant escalation in the maritime standoff between the two nations. Following this closure, the IRGC issued a stern directive to all maritime traffic in the region, warning that no ship should attempt to leave its "anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman" to navigate towards the waterway. The IRGC further cautioned that any such maritime activity would be viewed as "cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted", according to the statement. This warning places international shipping on high alert as the IRGC asserts total control over the region's primary energy transit route. Reiterating its command over the area, the statement insisted that the IRGC's Navy is the "only official authority" regarding the management and regulations of the waterway. The Iranian military also dismissed recent rhetoric from Washington, declaring that "statements made by the terrorist US president regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf have no validity". The strategic importance of the "Strait of Hormuz" remains a focal point of international concern, as it serves as one of the most vital conduits for the global oil trade. Any operational interference within this waterway carries instant consequences for international energy distribution and the stability of maritime logistics. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected the presence of two sorties of Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels and one ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Wednesday. Of the two sorties, both entered Taiwan's eastern part, the ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties entered Taiwan's eastern part ADIZ. ROCArmed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2045668710715732207 Earlier on Saturday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected the presence of five sorties of Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels and 1 official ship. In a post on X, the MND said, "5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 5 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern part ADIZ. ROCArmed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." China's claim over Taiwan is a complex issue rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a viewpoint embedded in national policy and upheld by domestic laws and international statements. Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its government, military, and economy. Taiwan's status remains a significant point of international debate, testing the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law, as per the United Service Institution of India. China's claim to Taiwan originates from the Qing Dynasty's annexation of the island in 1683 after defeating Ming loyalist Koxinga. However, Taiwan remained a peripheral region under limited Qing control. The key shift came in 1895, when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War, marking Taiwan as a Japanese colony for 50 years. After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned under 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. (ANI)
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit, marking his first foreign visit since assuming office. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the visit is expected to strengthen civilisational ties and reinforce the long-standing people-to-people connection between India and Sri Lanka. In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Colombo as part of a two-day visit to Sri Lanka. This is the first official bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. The visit will strengthen the civilisational ties between and and reinforce the strong people-to-people connection." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2045724468425977929 According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit includes meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership and engagements with the Indian-origin Tamil community. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach under its Neighbourhood First policy. During the visit, the Vice President is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and the Leader of the Opposition, along with representatives of Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian-origin Tamil political groups. According to Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, the Vice President will also engage directly with communities in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's picturesque up-country tea-growing region, where a large section of the Indian-origin Tamil community resides. There, he will visit settlements developed under India's Housing Project Phase III, which has already constructed 4,000 houses, with an additional 10,000 currently underway. The visit is expected to see the Vice President interact with Indian-origin Tamil families, visit housing projects, and also tour the Seetha Temple in Nuwara Eliya. In a previous post, the MEA highlighted Sri Lanka as "India's closest maritime neighbour and civilisational twin with a relationship spanning over 2,500 years," adding that the island nation holds a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and MAHASAGAR vision. It also referred to high-level political engagements in recent years, noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four visits to Sri Lanka since 2014, including in March 2015, May 2017, June 2019 and April 2025. It further highlighted the visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka's last visit to India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. (ANI)
President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea is set to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday for a State Visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said. In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea will be shortly arriving in New Delhi for a State Visit to India." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2045754631205339170?s=20 The three-day visit from April 19 to 21 aims to deepen the "Special Strategic Partnership" between India and South Korea, with a focus on defence, high-tech manufacturing and regional security. The President's itinerary is packed with high-level engagements designed to solidify ties between Seoul and New Delhi. Upon his arrival at the Airforce Station (AFS) Palam, the South Korean leader will be greeted with the protocol befitting a close strategic ally, as per the statement from MEA. His first major engagement will be a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set the stage for the executive talks to follow. On Monday, the President will receive a formal Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The centrepiece of the visit will be a bilateral summit at Hyderabad House, where President Lee will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions are expected to culminate in the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), likely focusing on critical technologies: cooperation in semiconductors and green energy; defence production by strengthening the "Make in India" initiative through Korean engineering; and economic trade by expanding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Following the summit, the leaders will issue joint press statements to outline their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Recognising the vital role of the private sector, President Lee will participate in a Business Forum at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. This forum will bring together industry titans from both nations to explore investment opportunities and supply chain resilience. The state visit will conclude with a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, signifying the deep cultural and political respect between the two nations, the MEA statement added. President Lee and the First Lady are scheduled to depart from New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon, leaving behind a roadmap for an intensified partnership in the years to come. (ANI)
The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom held high-level talks on escalating tensions in the Gulf region, including recent Iranian missile attacks and their broader regional implications, according to an official statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Abu Dhabi, where both sides reviewed the evolving security situation in the region. "Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Yvette Cooper, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs," according to the release published on Saturday. https://x.com/OFMUAE/status/2045583249884459027 "During the meeting, they discussed overall developments in the region, as well as the unprovoked and terrorist Iranian missile attacks that targeted the United Arab Emirates and a number of brotherly and friendly countries, and their serious repercussions on regional and international security and stability, the safety of international navigation, energy supplies, and the global economy," it added. Cooper "reaffirmed her country's solidarity with the UAE in taking the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, safeguard the integrity of its territory, and ensure the security of its citizens, residents, and visitors," the statement noted. For his part, Sheikh Abdullah "expressed his appreciation for Cooper's visit, noting that it reflects the distinguished relations between the two countries and embodies the United Kingdom's full solidarity with the UAE in the aftermath of this Iranian terrorist aggression. He also confirmed the safety of all residents and visitors in the country." The meeting also addressed recent diplomatic developments, including the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran by US President Donald Trump. "Yvette Cooper reviewed the latest regional developments, particularly those related to the recent announcement by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran," the release said. They also discussed the "importance of intensifying international efforts to consolidate security and stability and enhance opportunities for sustainable peace in the region." Both sides further reviewed bilateral ties and ways to strengthen cooperation "in a manner that serves the shared interests of both countries and promotes the prosperity and well-being of their peoples. The meeting was also attended by the UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, as per the release. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that the UK Foreign Secretary's office did not issue a separate statement on the meeting. (ANI)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed speculation about a possible US withdrawal from NATO, saying he does not expect Washington to leave the alliance. As reported by DW News, Rutte said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt that the United States remains committed to the transatlantic bloc. "I don't see the US leaving NATO," Rutte asserted during an interview with the Sunday edition of Germany's Die Welt newspaper. The NATO chief further clarified that he holds no doubts concerning Washington's commitment to the nuclear defence of the continent. According to DW News, Rutte emphasised the critical nature of the American strategic deterrent. "The American nuclear umbrella is the ultimate guarantor of security here in Europe. And I am convinced that it will remain so," he remarked, seeking to quell anxieties within the 32-member alliance following critical comments from US President Donald Trump. The uncertainty regarding Washington's future role was highlighted when Trump spoke to Britain's The Telegraph. Asked if he would reassess the US' role in the alliance following the conflict with Iran, Trump stated, "Oh yes, I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin knows that too, by the way." Despite this rhetoric, DW News noted that a US president requires a two-thirds Senate majority to legally exit the alliance, a move widely viewed as improbable. Acknowledging the friction between Washington and its allies, Rutte told Germany's Die Welt newspaper that the US leader's stance stems from long-standing issues regarding military spending. "President Trump is clearly disappointed with some NATO members," Rutte stated, adding, "I understand his frustration." These comments follow a high-level meeting at the White House last week, held in the wake of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Reflecting on that encounter, Rutte told CNN that the dialogue was blunt yet constructive. "He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point," he said, describing the interaction as a "very frank, very open discussion, but also a discussion between two good friends". However, the US President's public messaging remained characteristically sharp. Writing on Truth Social after the meeting, Trump claimed, "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again." In response to these concerns, DW News reported that Rutte used their April 8 meeting to outline the mutual benefits Washington derives from the alliance. Speaking to Germany's Die Welt newspaper, the Secretary General highlighted a shift in how European nations view their own responsibilities. "Europe wants to take on a larger role in NATO. That's good news. It's a development from an unhealthy dependency to a transatlantic alliance based on true partnership," Rutte explained. He pointed to increased defence efforts from European and Canadian allies as evidence of this transition. According to the DW News report, Rutte specifically praised Berlin's current trajectory, noting that "Germany is setting an example for many allies in this regard." He maintained that a more balanced distribution of responsibility would ultimately fortify the partnership. "And a stronger NATO means a safer world for all of us," Rutte stated, according to DW News, expressing his conviction that the alliance will emerge more resilient if member states continue to bolster their individual contributions. (ANI)
External Affairs Ministry on Sunday shared glimpses of the "multifaceted and special strategic" partnership between India and South Korea ahead of the state visit of Korean President Lee Jae Myung. In a post on X, the MEA outlined key milestones and areas of cooperation, beginning with the state visit of Korean President Lee Jae Myung to India from April 19-21 and also highlighted previous interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Korean President, including meetings on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Kananaskis, Canada (June 2025), and the G20 Summit, Johannesburg (Nov 2025). https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2045754631205339170 Highlighting the evolution of ties, the MEA noted that "bilateral ties elevated to Special Strategic Partnership in 2015," alongside sustained diplomatic engagement through mechanisms such as the "6th India-ROK Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (Feb 2026)" and "12th India-ROK Consultations (Mar 2026)." Alongwith that, the MEA highlighted that a "delegation of Special Envoys from ROK visited India (Jul 2025)" and mentioned that "EAM S Jaishankar met FM (c) Cho Hyun and Vice FM Park Yoon-joo of ROK (Mar 2026)." On economic ties, the ministry said, trade and economic cooperation is "a key pillar of bilateral relationship," adding that "bilateral trade" went "upward of USD 26 bn in 2024-25" with the "target to reach USD 50 bn by 2030." It also noted that "ROK is India's 13th largest FDI investor with cumulative investments of USD 6.91 bn since 2000," and "over 650 Korean firms operate in India, including 6 major Korean banks with overall 20 branches." The MEA highlighted major business engagements, stating "Reliance Industries Limited signed a landmark USD 3 bn 15-year binding agreement with South Korea's Samsung C&T (Mar 2026)" and "Cochin Shipyard Limited signed an MoU with HD KSOE (Sept 2025)," while adding that shipbuilding "is an important area of cooperation." In defence, it noted growing naval cooperation, including "ROK Navy's Gang Gam-Chan participated in the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the Exercise MILAN 2026 in Vishakhapatnam" and "the first-ever India-ROK Navy Bilateral Exercise held at Busan Naval Base (Oct 2025)." Cultural and people-to-people ties were also underscored. The MEA said, "around 18,000 Indians live in ROK," and highlighted historical links, noting "Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya went to Korea in 48 AD and became the queen." It added that "yoga is highly popular in the Republic of Korea," with initiatives such as "Embassy of India" organising "Seoul Yoga Connect at Namsan-gol Hanok Village (Apr 2026)." The ministry also pointed to cultural exchanges, including "11th edition of Sarang held in Seoul (Oct 2025)" and "13th Indian Film Festival held in various cities of ROK (Nov 2025)." It further noted that "Rabindranath Tagore composed a poem, 'Lamp of the East', reflecting Korea's cultural legacy and its bright future." According to the MEA, tourism flows have also increased, with the MEA stating that Indian tourists in the ROK were over 187,000 in number for the year 2025, while the Korean Tourists in India were nearly 112,000 in number for the year 2024. The three-day visit of the Korean President from April 19 to 21 aims to deepen the "Special Strategic Partnership" between India and South Korea, with a focus on defence, high-tech manufacturing and regional security. The President's itinerary is packed with high-level engagements designed to solidify ties between Seoul and New Delhi. Upon his arrival at the Air Force Station (AFS) Palam, the South Korean leader will be greeted with the protocol befitting a close strategic ally, as per the statement from MEA. His first major engagement will be a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set the stage for the executive talks to follow. On Monday, the President will receive a formal Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The centrepiece of the visit will be a bilateral summit at Hyderabad House, where President Lee will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, met the country's Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Premadasa. Discussions were held on deepening the bilateral partnership, along with strengthening the people-to-people ties between the countries. In a series of posts on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya hosted the Vice President Radhakrishnan. "Recalling the shared civilizational heritage between the two countries, the leaders discussed the importance of further strengthening the bilateral ties including people-to-people bonds", he added. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2045783853923803331?s=20 In another post, the MEA spokesperson said that LoP Sajith Premadasa called on the Vice President and both leaders discussed further strengthening India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2045807096676147245?s=20 VP Radhakrishnan on Sunday also called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. Jaiswal said in a post on X that the leaders held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India -Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history and cultural values. Vice President reaffirmed India's commitment to the Neighbourhood First policy and to further strengthen our cooperation for the benefit of both nations. "The discussions also focused on various initiatives, including the Indian Housing Project and projects being implemented under the USD 450 mn package for areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka," he said. According to the MEA, the 2-day visit (April 19-20) includes meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership and engagements with the Indian-origin Tamil community. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach under its Neighbourhood First policy. According to Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, the Vice President will also engage directly with communities in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's picturesque up-country tea-growing region, where a large section of the Indian-origin Tamil community resides. There, he will visit settlements developed under India's Housing Project Phase III, which has already constructed 4,000 houses, with an additional 10,000 currently underway. The visit is expected to see the Vice President interact with Indian-origin Tamil families, visit housing projects, and also tour the Seetha Temple in Nuwara Eliya. Welcoming the visit, the President of the Lanka India Business Association, Santosh Menon, told ANI, "I consider this a significant and important moment in the history of the relationship between the two countries. As you know, in the recent past, India and Sri Lanka's relationship has been at its best." Furthermore, on VP Radhakrishnan's visit to Sri Lanka, President of the Indian CEO Forum (ICF) in Sri Lanka, Kishore Reddy, expressed happiness, saying, "We are very happy as his visit is going to strengthen people-to-people ties as well as the business and economic relationship that India already has. With his visit, the ties between India and Sri Lanka are going to get strengthened...India has always assisted Sri Lanka in all the calamities, including the recent Cyclone Ditwah and the present crisis as well." The MEA has described Sri Lanka as a key partner under India's Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR framework, noting that the visit will further reinforce centuries-old civilisational ties and deepen the enduring people-to-people relationship between the two nations. (ANI)
Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita is scheduled to undertake a visit to the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu from April 22-25, according to the details shared by the MEA in a statement on Sunday. As per the MEA, MoS Margherita will visit the Republic of Vanuatu on April 22-23, where he is expected to have bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu. The Union MoS will also visit the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology at Vanuatu, a facility set up with assistance from the Government of India. In an earlier statement, the MEA highlighted how the diplomatic relations between India and Vanuatu are characterised by goodwill and cooperation, with India providing developmental assistance to Vanuatu in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The two nations share common values in promoting democracy, multiculturalism, and addressing climate change concerns, enhancing their partnership in international forums. Despite the geographical distance between them, the bilateral relationship continues to grow, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration in various fields. MEA said in the statement on Sunday that Pabitra Margherita will then proceed to Tuvalu on April 24, "for a two-day visit, where he will engage in bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other dignitaries of the country". He will also review the ongoing developmental assistance projects being implemented under the Grants in Aid programme of India. The MEA underlined that the visit to the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu by Pabitra Margherita underscores India's commitment to strengthening political and developmental cooperation ties with Pacific Island countries and is in continuation of the historic 3rd Summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) held in May 2023 in Port Moresby. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday called on South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a State visit to India and said that the talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow will further fillip the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In a post on X, he praised President Lee Jae-myung's commitment to deepen ties and said, "Honoured to call on President @Jaemyung_Lee of the Republic of Korea as he begins his State Visit to India. Value his commitment to deepen India - Korea relations across multiple domains. Confident that his talks tomorrow with PM @narendramodi will further strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2045868209161793909?s=20 The President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, arrived in India on Sunday, marking a significant pivot in New Delhi-Seoul relations, being the first state visit by a South Korean leader in over eight years. The visit is being framed as a crucial step for South Korea's "Global South" diplomacy and a "reboot" of the Special Strategic Partnership. India and South Korea elevated their ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership" in 2015, and since then, cooperation between the two countries has broadened significantly. Both sides have focused on enhancing collaboration in areas such as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, defence production, green energy, infrastructure development, and digital innovation. South Korean companies have also played a growing role in India's industrial and consumer sectors, while Indian firms have deepened their presence in the Korean market. The arrival of the South Korean President is expected to provide fresh momentum to ongoing bilateral initiatives and open discussions on expanding trade and investment opportunities. India has been actively working to strengthen its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners, and South Korea remains a key pillar in this broader regional vision. The President's itinerary is packed with high-level engagements designed to solidify ties between Seoul and New Delhi. His first major engagement will be a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set the stage for the executive talks to follow. On Monday, the President will receive a formal Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The centrepiece of the visit will be a bilateral summit at Hyderabad House, where President Lee will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions are expected to culminate in the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), likely focusing on critical technologies: cooperation in semiconductors and green energy; defence production by strengthening the "Make in India" initiative through Korean engineering; and economic trade by expanding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Following the summit, the leaders will issue joint press statements to outline their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Recognising the vital role of the private sector, President Lee will participate in a Business Forum at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. This forum will bring together industry titans from both nations to explore investment opportunities and supply chain resilience. The state visit will conclude with a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, signifying the deep cultural and political respect between the two nations, the MEA statement added. Beyond economic and strategic ties, India and South Korea share strong cultural linkages, with growing interest in Korean culture in India and increasing visibility of Indian heritage and traditions in South Korea. These people-to-people exchanges have added depth to the bilateral relationship. The visit comes at a time when both countries are navigating a rapidly evolving global geopolitical environment, making strategic partnerships more significant than ever. (ANI)
Building on a foundation of civilizational ties and humanitarian aid, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has formally requested India's assistance to overhaul the island nation's digital infrastructure. During a high-level meeting with visiting Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday, President Dissanayake lauded India's existing capacity-building programs and expressed a keen interest in replicating that success within the Information Technology (IT) and digital sectors. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the media in Colombo, noted that the President's request follows his recent visit to New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026. Dissanayake suggested that Indian expertise in digital technology and AI would be "enormously beneficial," helping Sri Lanka unlock new economic opportunities in the global digital economy. "President Dissanayake referring to his recent visit to India for the AI Impact Summit made the point that this kind of assistance if provided in the digital technology, IT sector would be enormously beneficial to Sri Lanka and allow the country to explore new opportunities in the booming and ever growing digital sector and the Vice-President undertook to have this proposal examined by authorities back in India". Vice President Radhakrishnan undertook to have the proposal examined by Indian authorities, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "growing and going together" with neighbours. During the press briefing, Misri also noted that the Sri Lankan President also referred in this context to India's investments in various sectors in Sri Lanka, especially ports, and also the discussions that are now underway on several projects. He further elaborated on the Trincomalee energy hub, cross-border oil pipeline, and digital and physical connectivity. Misri said, "The Vice President mentioned, as I said, some initiatives that are underway from the Indian side and some proposals that have already been discussed between the two countries. Notably, the project related to the energy hub in Trincomalee and the proposal to link India and Sri Lanka through an oil pipeline. And in fact, the point was made as to the value of such energy connectivity, especially at a time like now, when the entire world and this region, especially, is facing the fallout of an energy crisis generated by the situation in West Asia." Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, met the country's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Premadasa. Discussions were held on deepening the bilateral partnership, along with strengthening the people-to-people ties between the countries. He also met leaders of the Tamil community in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka and leaders of Indian-origin Tamils met today in Colombo with the Vice President, the MEA noted. (ANI)
Marking a historic milestone in Indo-Lankan relations, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan announced a major policy shift regarding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards during a massive community event in Colombo on Sunday. Addressing the Indian Diaspora, the Vice President emphasised the "unbreakable civilizational bonds" between the two nations and delivered on several long-standing humanitarian and developmental promises. The details were provided by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a special briefing on the Vice President's visit. He said that VP Radhakrishnan participated in a community reception in Sri Lanka during which the announcement was made. "During this reception, the Vice President announced th extension of the eligibility of the Overseas Citizen of India(OCI) card. This was hitherto limited to the 4th generation of the diaspora. The Vice President announced that in the case of Sri Lanka, this will now be extended to the 5th and 6th generations of the diaspora. This will benefit the Indian-origin Tamil community." Misri added that the Vice-President also announced a significant simplification of the procedures for obtaining the OCI cards. These would now be issued based on the documents issued by Sri Lanka. "Certificates of registration issued by Sri Lankan authorities; India, Sri Lanka passports, or registration records maintained at the High Commission of India in Colombo or at the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy will also constitute acceptable and valid documents for obtaining an OCI card", he said. The Foreign Secretary highlighted how this was a longstanding request of the Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka and will benefit a large number of them. Previously, the "cut-off" for such documentation often left younger generations of the IOT community--who have deep roots in the plantation sectors--disconnected from formal ties with India. This extension fulfills a decades-old request, reinforcing India's commitment to the descendants of those who migrated over a century ago. "Stronger together! Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed the Indian Diaspora in Sri Lanka during a Community event in Colombo today. Vice President @VPIndia highlighted the strong civilisational bonds that connect India and Sri Lanka. He announced the extension of eligibility criteria for issue of OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards, a long-standing request of the Indian Diaspora in. The new changes make OCI cards accessible to 5th and 6th generation Indian Origin Tamils, reinforcing the strong bonds between the two countries," posted Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs. The Vice President also reached a significant administrative landmark by virtually handing over the final cluster of 4,000 housing units under the Indian Housing Project Phase-III. These houses are primarily located in the plantation areas of Central and Southern Sri Lanka. The project transitions families from "line rooms" (barrack-style housing) to independent, dignified living spaces. "During the event, Vice President also virtually handed over the last cluster of the 4000 housing units under Indian Housing Project Phase-III," Jaiswal posted on X. As part of the $450 million Indian Assistance Package dedicated to rebuilding after the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah, the Vice President announced the immediate resumption of train services on the Northern Railway line. India has completed the technical restoration of the Northern line to ensure vital north-south logistics. The installation of three additional Bailey bridges was announced to reconnect isolated communities where permanent infrastructure was washed away by the cyclone. "Under the Indian Assistance Package of USD 450 mn for post Ditwah rehabilitation and rebuilding, @VPIndia announced resumption of train services on Northern Railway line restored by India. He also announced installation of 3 more Bailey bridges. These will help reconnect affected communities and restore vital connectivity," added Jaiswal. During his talks with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Harini Amarasuriya, discussions were also held on cooperation in the field of education, where India will now double the number of scholarships and increase the stipend under the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust Scholarship Scheme. Notably, Amasuriya also has the education portfolio. Foreign Secretary Misri told the media, "The Vice President and the Prime Minister discussed cooperation in the field of education. During this visit, the Indian side is also announcing the enhancement of the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust Scholarship Scheme. The number of scholarships in this scheme is being doubled from 350 to 700. The monthly stipend is being increased from Lankan Rupees 2500 for A-level students and to Lankan Rupees 7500 for those pursuing higher education." Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appreciated the Indian assistance to Sri Lanka in capacity-building measures in the country and conveyed to Vice President CP Radhakrishnan an interest in India providing assistance on similar lines in the IT sector to the country. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, met the country's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Premadasa. Discussions were held on deepening the bilateral partnership, along with strengthening the people-to-people ties between the countries. He also met leaders of the Tamil community in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka and leaders of Indian-origin Tamils met today in Colombo with the Vice President, the MEA noted. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) claimed that American forces have taken full custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, TOUSKA, after it attempted to breach a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman. The US President said that a nearly 900-foot-long cargo ship was intercepted by the US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS Spruance after it refused to comply with warnings. "Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom," President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He added that US Marines are currently in control of the vessel, which he claimed is under US Treasury sanctions due to alleged prior illegal activities. "Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post further read. Trump's remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US President accusing Iran of violating an ongoing ceasefire agreement and disrupting maritime traffic in the region. In a separate statement, Trump alleged that Iran had fired upon vessels in the strategic waterway, calling it a "Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement." The US President also announced that American representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan to pursue ceasefire negotiations with Iran, even as he warned of severe consequences if Tehran fails to agree to a deal. "We're giving diplomacy one last chance... if Iran does not sign this deal... it will be my Honor to do what has to be done," Trump said. The developments come as the two-week ceasefire window is nearing its end on April 22. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country, along with the United States, is engaged in a "battle of civilisation against barbarism", referring to Iran, Al Jazeera reported. Speaking at a press conference during the visit of Argentinian President Javier Milei, Netanyahu said Israel has been "engaged with the United States in a battle against the great tyranny of Iran, which terrorises the world, which seeks our destruction and seeks to bring down the United States, seeks to bring down Western civilisation as we know it". "We have achieved enormous things. It's not over yet," he added. "Any moment could bring us new developments." Separately, the Israeli military claimed it had killed an "armed" individual who crossed the so-called "Yellow Line" in southern Lebanon, an area established by Israel as part of its ongoing military operations. The army did not provide evidence to support the claim, as reported by Al Jazeera. The "Yellow Line" refers to a military zone extending roughly 10 km north of the border inside southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have indicated they intend to maintain control over this zone while reserving the right to conduct strikes there, citing efforts to eliminate Hezbollah's presence, according to Al Jazeera. The demarcation has drawn comparisons to Gaza, where Israeli forces have divided Palestinian territory into multiple zones, including an eastern section covering around 60 percent of the enclave under Israeli military control. Meanwhile, Lebanese army said a specialised unit has begun removing an "earthen barrier" placed by Israeli forces on a road in Tyre, southern Lebanon, according to a post on X. A surveillance point has also been set up in the area. "In continuation of the rehabilitation works for the Tayr Falsiyeh-Tyre bridge, work began on establishing a cement ferry to enable vehicles to cross," Lebanon's army said. https://x.com/LebarmyOfficial/status/2045904192531833292 The Israeli military had carried out widespread destruction of infrastructure in southern Lebanon, in what has been described as an attempt to isolate the region from the rest of the country. Following a ceasefire that came into effect on Friday, Lebanese authorities have been working to restore critical infrastructure as hundreds of thousands of displaced residents begin returning to their homes, Al Jazeera reported. In Gaza, an Israeli attack killed a child amid ongoing strikes across the enclave. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Hala Salem Darwish was killed east of the al-Maghazi refugee camp. Earlier, an Israeli drone strike hit a motorcycle on Salah al-Din Street, northeast of Nuseirat camp, killing Ayman Khaled Abu Hasna, 38, and injuring several others, according to al-Awda Hospital, as per a report by Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Search for Pa. school vaccine rates

The Post-Gazette has created a portal that allows readers to search the vaccine rates of more than 3,000 public and private schools across the state  the first comprehensive database of its kind in Pennsylvania  to better inform the public about the levels of protection against diseases like measles.

The search engine also includes the percentage of students whove been exempted from vaccinations because of religious or philosophical objections to the shots.

View this school

See related story:

Immunity Lost: How Pennsylvanias falling school vaccination rates and enforcement failures put thousands of children at risk

Data last updated: 2024-2025 school year

Herd immunity

The percentages below show the immunization rates for a range of vaccines that are required by the state.

For each disease, medical experts say that a certain percentage of people need to be immune (either through vaccination or natural infection) to achieve herd immunity  the minimum threshold needed to stem the spread of the illness.

Experts say such numbers serve as general guidance, and the level of immunity needed to prevent the spread of disease can vary depending on several factors within each community.

Those variables can include population density, commuting patterns and whether children attend classes or are home-schooled. Typically, the herd immunity threshold is higher for infections that are more easily passed from person to person. A greater percentage of the population has to be immune to reduce or stop the spread of the more contagious diseases.

Herd immunity thresholds:

Disease Herd immunity threshold Measles 95% Mumps 85% - 92% Rubella* 83% - 86% Varicella** 86%  91% Polio* About 80% Diphtheria* 80%  85% Pertussis*** 90% - 94% Tetanus No herd immunity: Not contagious and cant be passed from person to person. Hepatitis B No standard threshold; not spread through regular classroom contact

*Few cases of these diseases are reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But public health experts say they can still be imported through international travel.

**Commonly known as chickenpox

***Multiple academic studies provide the herd immunity threshold for pertussis at between 90-94%. The Department of Health and Human Services set a target for 90%.

Sources

Herd immunity rates for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella are from the CDC. Polio and diphtheria rates are from the World Health Organization.

The Post-Gazette consulted the following medical experts on herd immunity rates: Dr. Lori Handy, associate director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia; Dr. Mark Roberts, former director of the Public Health Dynamics Lab at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health; and Mary Krauland, research professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and a member of the schools Public Health Dynamics Lab.

The Post-Gazette filed public records requests with the state Department of Health for vaccination rates at more than 4,500 schools. State health officials will not release records for about 1,400 schools  about one-third  in which fewer than 20 students are enrolled in classes for kindergarten, 7th grade or 12th grade, claiming such disclosure could risk identifying individual students.
A Pitt team develops computer model to track measles

In California, it was the perfect breeding ground for a public health crisis: a theme park.

Disneyland not only attracted millions every year from all over the globe, but many of the children who descended on the popular resort in late 2014 were not vaccinated against measles, one of the worlds most contagious diseases.

Within weeks, the illness raged across the state  with many hospitalized  in the largest outbreak of the disease in California in two decades.

With dozens of children sickened and mounting concerns over the states winter tourist season, then state Sen. Richard Pan moved quickly to stop the next outbreak.

The longtime pediatrician pushed a controversial bill in early 2015 that would strip away personal exemptions to the states vaccination requirements  waivers that allowed children to attend schools without getting the shots.

By then, the illness had spread to at least 125 people, mostly in California., along with six other states and Mexico and Canada in a surge that drew international attention.

At the same time, opponents of Dr. Pans bill launched intense protests to pressure state lawmakers to try to save the exemptions.

To gain support, Dr. Pan turned to a team at the University of Pittsburgh that was using a novel approach  computer simulations  to track outbreaks in lawmakers districts.

By drawing on reams of data  including vaccination rates, population density, demographics, commuting patterns  the Pitt team simulated the path of the disease in grim detail.

Known as the FRED model  Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics  the program turned out to be instrumental in convincing lawmakers to pass the rare legislation that took away the ability of residents to skip the vaccines because of religious or personal beliefs.

It was the first time in nearly 30 years that a state had removed all the exemptions, except for those set aside for medical reasons.

FRED made it real, said Dr. Pan, a Pitt medical graduate who is now running for a U.S. House district in the Sacramento area.

The bill was signed into law, and two years later, Californias vaccination rate for measles jumped more than three percentage points to 96%  putting the state above the level of immunity needed to stem the spread of the disease.

We havent had a measles outbreak that large since, said Dr. Pan.

The research team from Pitts school of public health went on to carry out modeling for measles in other major cities  including Houston, Indianapolis, New York and Miami.

For policy makers, the move to bring in the researchers was an opportunity to help plan for public health emergencies and show people how far the disease could spread.

Deadly outbreak

Three years after the Disneyland outbreak, the Pitt team was called to carry out a similar study in Texas in what would provide an alarming warning  one that signaled the largest and one of the deadliest outbreaks of measles in the United States in more than 30 years.

Over several weeks in 2018, the Pitt team ran hundreds of simulations that showed pockets across the state where school vaccination rates had fallen and where the disease was likely to surge.

Thomas Altany/University of Pittsburgh

To demonstrate the findings, the team members created short videos that showed how a single red dot on a map  one case of measles  could quickly cascade into a sea of red as the disease raced across the state.

The modeling helped convince lawmakers to stop legislation in 2019 that was aimed at making it easier for parents to avoid the shots for their children.

But the warnings were not enough to prompt school or state leaders to take action that would reverse the steady decline in rates.

In 2025, an outbreak of measles spread into nearly every corner of the state, infecting more than 800 people and leading to the deaths of two children and scores of others hospitalized.

Though the majority of the cases took place in west Texas, at least six clusters erupted in the northeast and central parts of the state  the same areas predicted by the Pitt researchers.

The team basically created a crystal ball, said Rekha Lakshmanan, then director of advocacy and public policy for The Immunization Partnership in Houston. FRED was a little more than prescient.

Dr. Mark Roberts, emeritus professor of health policy and management at Pitt who was part of the 2018 study, said there were enough signs to show the state was vulnerable.

If we presented the maps we created with a map of what happened in court, we'd be declared guilty of predicting this, said Dr. Roberts.

The measles epicenter

While modeling software like FRED has provided a tool in planning for health crises, experts caution that it also has limitations in guiding public policy.

Like any model, it relies on assumptions  who comes into contact with an infected person, where they travel and whether the vaccination rates are accurate.

When the researchers used it to try to predict the spread of Covid, those assumptions at times broke down when the modeling couldnt account for the social upheaval that took place  lockdowns, remote work, school closures and mask mandates.

Even in the Texas measles outbreak, FRED accurately predicted the states high vulnerability, but didnt detect the epicenter.

The worst of the outbreak happened in rural counties  not the more populated metro areas the study focused on.

The development of FRED  named after Pittsburghs legendary Fred Rogers  began in 2001 under the leadership of Dr. Donald Burke, the former dean of Pitts School of Public Health.

Dr. Burke and fellow FRED researcher John Grefenstette were walking through Pittsburgh International Airport when they were inspired by a Mister Rogers display  featuring the television hosts iconic red sweater and sneakers  and decided to honor one of Pittsburghs favorite sons.

It was based on the notion that we were modeling communities and neighborhoods, and who cared more about neighborhoods and kids than Mister Rogers? Dr. Burke said.

Then teaching at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Burke was searching for a way to predict what would happen if there was a smallpox outbreak caused by a terrorist attack in the wake of 9/11.

Government officials at the time believed that they would have to launch a massive vaccination program across the country to immunize everyone against the disease.

But by using the modeling system, researchers showed that an outbreak could be contained by targeting vaccinations in certain areas to cut off the spread of the illness.

We showed that we didnt need to inoculate everyone to prevent a pandemic, Dr. Burke said.

Initially funded with a $13.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the program was bolstered over the years with money from the Gates Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

As funding began to slow seven years ago, the developers formed a private company, Epistemix, to keep the program intact and expand its modeling applications.

Owned by a group of investors and employees of the company, it has yet to turn a profit, but its revenues have grown each year, said the companys CEO, John Cordier.

He said the company is negotiating to raise $20 million in funding from companies in the health care, pharmaceutical and insurance industries.

Since the formation of the new company, the FRED team has expanded its forecasting beyond viruses, such as predicting the rise of asthma cases in the wake of a large fire.

For more than a decade, the FRED modeling was sought out by public health officials who were planning for potential emergencies.

In 2015, the team created the online U.S. Measles Simulator that continues to allow anyone across the country at no charge to choose a city and then see how an outbreak could play out.

Using detailed information about the people who live in a certain area  how old they are, where they travel, the number of children in each household who go to school every day  the researchers recreate daily life inside the software.

The modeling is often run through 100 simulations  covering a spectrum from the most conservative to the worst-case scenarios  until a pattern emerges that gives researchers a clearer picture of how an outbreak could spread.

Over the years weve made [the models] more and more realistic, Dr. Burke said.

While it was designed to map the spread of a range of illnesses, including influenza, the rising threat of measles would drive national interest in what FRED was capable of showing.

After the Texas study, the Pitt team went to Florida in 2019 amid a growing national trend: Parents were opting out of vaccine requirements and lawmakers were battling over whether to tighten the rules.

Dr. Karen Liller, the director of the Activist Lab at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, said she reached out to the team because she wanted to show the public the dangerous consequences of falling vaccination rates.

The researchers pulled school immunization levels in pockets across the state and fed them into the model to see how open they were to outbreaks.

We show in the current simulation that if [the rates] drop by 10% you could get thousands of cases here  not just hundreds, said Dr. Liller, who grew up in Canonsburg.

In side-by-side windows on the FRED website, people can watch simulated measles outbreaks in the states metro areas  with red dots surfacing across the cities when the immunization rates fall.

The purpose was never to scare people, she said. It was to educate them.

A big blow up

Similar patterns emerged in Pennsylvania when the team carried out modeling of potential outbreaks at the request of the Post-Gazette, using classroom-level data provided by the reporters.

The team looked at schools in a half a dozen counties across the state, including the two largest, Philadelphia and Allegheny, and found that the schools with the lowest rates could trigger outbreaks impacting hundreds of people.

At one private school in Montgomery County where less than two-thirds of kindergarten students are vaccinated against measles, a single case could spread to 430 people within months, simulations show.

In the same school with rates safely above herd immunity, a single case would lead to just seven infections.

Because of the proximity of students to one another in the classrooms, the cases can cluster, said Mary Krauland, a research professor who carried out the analysis at Pitts Public Health Dynamics Laboratory.

Those are the places where you can still get a big blow up, Krauland said.

This is why doing it on the school vaccination level is better than doing any kind of countywide vaccinations.

In Texas, the prediction of a measles outbreak was built largely on falling rates in the schools, which can lead to dramatic increases in the probability of large outbreaks, the study noted.

Dr. Roberts said Texas leaders never acted on the Pitt teams findings, even though he briefed the staff members of state lawmakers about the study.

He said the state could have instituted a childhood vaccination campaign or found other ways to head off the outbreak that his model predicted.

What troubled him about the Texas study and other modeling that tracks measles is that some school children  up to 2%  cant get vaccinated because of medical issues.

He said another small percentage will take vaccines, but their bodies wont produce the right antibody.

As a result, when you look at kids who get sick, half of them are people who wed call innocent bystanders, he said.

I did a whole day presenting to the legislature, and nothing changed. And thats just politics, Dr. Roberts said.

I know I sound like a broken record when I say this, but our job in creating these models is to provide what we think is the best science for what happens under different policy scenarios, he said.

Based on the teams simulations of what could happen inside Pennsylvanias schools, he said hes growing more concerned about the potential for outbreaks.

The risks from decreasing vaccination rates are clear, he said. More children will be susceptible, there will be more cases, and more children will be at risk for potential serious health consequences  all of which are avoidable.

Michael D. Sallah and Mike Wereschagin contributed to this story.

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How we investigated Pennsylvanias plunging school vaccine rates and lack of state enforcement

Nearly a decade ago, Pennsylvania officials were urged by a special state commission to make school vaccination rates public so that parents could better track immunization levels and put the spotlight on schools that were not complying with the state mandates.

After years of the states inaction on that plan, the Post-Gazette has now made those rates available to help track an alarming decline in vaccine protection in hundreds of schools across the state.

An analysis of thousands of records dating back to 2017 shows for the first time the critical breakdowns  including the states own role  that led to classrooms becoming increasingly unsafe as infectious diseases like measles surged nationwide.

The investigation found that nearly two-thirds of Pittsburgh kindergarten classrooms are below herd immunity for measles, and statewide nearly one in 10 students  at least 40,000  are either not fully vaccinated or dont have the required exemptions.

The reporters found that local school officials are failing to enforce the rules despite increased warnings from public health experts about the dangers of the disease.

The Post-Gazette, in collaboration with the FRONTLINE (PBS) Local Journalism Initiative and with support from The Heinz Endowments and the Pulitzer Center, spent six months investigating the falling rates and the forces driving the historic change that has taken place since the pandemic.

The newspaper also created a searchable database for families to track their own schools and the rates of required school vaccines.

In analyzing the data from the state Department of Health  more than 4,500 public and private schools  the reporters found the rates have plummeted for every vaccine.

Those include shots that protect children from pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hepatitis B.

But the Post-Gazette focused on the measles vaccine because the disease is far more contagious than the other illnesses and is now spreading at levels the country has not seen in more than a generation.

While much has been written about vaccination rates at the county and state levels in the U.S., the Post-Gazette focused on schools, where many of the outbreaks begin before spreading into nearby communities.

To identify where those schools are located, the newspaper plotted them using geolocating software, allowing reporters to pinpoint areas that could be vulnerable to outbreaks.

Reporters traveled across the state, interviewing dozens of parents, school leaders, medical experts and lawmakers, and reviewed thousands of records including lawsuits, academic studies, campaign finance filings, legislative reports and social media posts.

Many of the changes are rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic  a period of turmoil when fights broke out over school shutdowns and mask mandates, and misinformation campaigns launched by Childrens Health Defense and other groups raised doubts about the safety of the coronavirus vaccine.

The Post-Gazette also turned to the University of Pittsburghs Public Health Dynamics Laboratory, which simulated measles outbreaks at the schools using a novel computer program known as FRED  the Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics.

Drawing on detailed information about the people in a given area  ages, travel habits and the number of school-aged children in each household  the simulations showed how a single case of measles could spark an outbreak, and potentially a public health crisis.

The Post-Gazettes goal was to obtain as much data as possible  including the most current numbers available for all the schools across Pennsylvania.

However, the state health department withheld data on hundreds of schools with fewer than 20 students in each grade, saying immunization records could be used to identify individual students in classrooms that small.

Another 152 schools were removed from the latest school year due to apparent data entry errors.

Despite those gaps, the data  which includes the most current numbers available, from the 2024-2025 school year  is far more comprehensive than anything thats publicly accessible in Pennsylvania.

In addition to the stories and a searchable database, the Post-Gazette and FRONTLINE are partnering on a documentary that will be incorporating much of the reporting for this project.

Special Note: To help carry out this project, the Post-Gazette collaborated with journalism students from Northwestern Universitys Medill Investigative Lab in Washington, D.C. Melissa Dai and Isaiah Steinberg contributed to this report.

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Just two years after a deadly outbreak of polio raged across the country, the children lined up in the basement gymnasium of a Pittsburgh elementary school for what became the largest medical experiment in America. About this report The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in collaboration with the FRONTLINE (PBS) Local Journalism Initiative and support from The Heinz Endowments and the Pulitzer Center, spent six months investigating the falling vaccine rates at schools across Pennsylvania and the potential impact. Learn more. One by one, they were led to tables draped in white cloth and covered with vials, waiting for their turn to be injected with a vaccine newly created to combat the catastrophic disease. One giggled. Others fidgeted. Some of the youngest shrieked as needles with the red liquid were inserted into their arms. In less than two hours, it was over. Dr. Jonas Salk, the creator of the vaccine, injected 137 children before they were led to an area shrouded by curtains to rest. About this report The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in collaboration with the FRONTLINE (PBS) Local Journalism Initiative and support from The Heinz Endowments and the Pulitzer Center, spent six months investigating the falling vaccine rates at schools across Pennsylvania and the potential impact. Learn more. Under the glare of news cameras, the first public trial of the vaccine at Arsenal Elementary School in 1954 was a turning point in the battle against an epidemic that had left thousands of people dead and even more sickened and paralyzed. The shots would nearly eliminate the polio cases spreading across the country and help build a broad acceptance of childhood immunizations for decades to follow. But the Pittsburgh school that helped launch one of medicines most towering achievements is now at high risk of another dangerous childhood disease: measles. Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette At a time when the disease is surging across the country, the vaccination rates reported by the historic school have plunged to levels not seen in years. Just 4 miles away, at Faison Elementary, an institution named after the citys first Black superintendent, its the same alarming trend. Find your schools vaccination rates: Search the Post-Gazettes database of school vaccination rates for more than 3,000 public and private schools  the first comprehensive database of its kind in Pennsylvania. At Pittsburgh Allegheny on the North Side and Concord Elementary near the citys southern border, the number of kindergartners who are immunized against measles and other diseases has dropped for the last six years, leaving hundreds of students without the critical protections that have been in place for generations. Statewide, thousands of children are unvaccinated against the measles, putting communities below the critical threshold of herd immunity  the level that experts say is needed to stem the spread of the disease. And it happened under the watch of principals and superintendents who are entrusted with protecting the health of students. A six-month Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found that school leaders have allowed thousands of children into schools without all the required vaccines even though they had no special exemptions that let them forgo the shots on religious or philosophical grounds  a violation of state vaccine laws. Last year alone, school officials let nearly 16,000 into classrooms, despite warnings from public health officials that students face severe risks when rates fall to unsafe levels. Combined with the students who have the legal exemptions  about 23,000  the total number who are attending classes in Pennsylvania without the shots has soared to at least 40,000, records show. Pennsylvanias state health department says all students must meet vaccine requirements or risk exclusion, and district leaders are responsible for enforcing those mandates. But the Post-Gazette found that, in the last two years, hundreds of superintendents and principals have failed to ensure that the requirements were met. CDC/NIP/Barbara Rice, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons How are you not enforcing this? said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and a scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. What are you doing? Youre creating an unsafe environment. Though the state Department of Health sets the rules for which vaccines are required and collects the immunization data from schools, state officials say they have no power to force district leaders to follow the law. Yet on its own website, the state health agencys requirement is clear: All students regardless of classroom setting must meet the immunization requirements or risk exclusion. If a student doesnt abide by the requirements, the health agency directs school leaders to undertake exclusion measures until they have all their shots. In an email to the Post-Gazette, a health department spokesperson acknowledged the state collects the data from the schools and monitors the numbers of parents opting out of the shots for their children. But when it comes to enforcing the states requirements  standards set by the health department  the agency says the responsibility falls on school directors, superintendents, principals, or other persons in charge of the schools. The increase in the number of unvaccinated students comes amid the nations largest surge of measles cases in decades  including an outbreak in Texas last year that left two children dead and dozens of others hospitalized. A burst of cases in South Carolina that spread to nearly 900 children has led to at least 19 hospitalizations and forced hundreds of others into quarantine. Pennsylvania officials argue that because the statewide immunization rate is just below herd immunity, the disease is unlikely to impact as many people. But rates in hundreds of classrooms have plunged far below that number, wiping out herd immunity in those schools and exposing entire communities to the spread of the disease. The full scope of the problem in Pennsylvania remains hidden from public view because state health officials will not release the immunization rates for a third of all schools  roughly 1,400. The reason: the classrooms are so small  fewer than 20 children  the students could be identified, say officials. But for the vast majority of schools, the data remains striking. One in every four elementary schools in Pennsylvania  654 in all  have fallen below herd immunity for measles, the investigation found. In Altoona, nearly every public school in the city has dropped below the threshold of safety. In the city of York, five of the eight public schools are in that category. And in the Cheltenham School District just outside Philadelphia, every school has dropped below the threshold of protection. A highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease, the virus can run rampant through a school and the nearby community unless at least 95% of students are vaccinated. At Arsenal, the rate is 85%, and at Faison and Concord in Pittsburgh, just 74%  levels that public health experts say are so unsafe that even a single case could ignite an outbreak. Since January, at least a dozen cases have been reported in Pennsylvania, starting in Lancaster County and spreading to other counties. Its scary to see these numbers falling, said Dr. Peter Salk, an infectious disease physician and son of the man who developed the polio vaccine. The protection that has been so solidly built over these last many years is waning. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The decline in rates has left thousands of children  especially those with compromised immune systems  at risk of diseases that were eliminated decades ago. This could be fatal, said Annette Hall, whose 9-year-old daughter, Maddie, undergoes blood infusions every week for a genetic disorder thats left her immune system badly weakened and open to infection. The third grader who suffers from primary immunodeficiency disorder attends Woolslair Elementary, a Pittsburgh public school that was safely vaccinated in 2019, but has since fallen below the threshold. What do you think is going to happen? said Ms. Hall, who injects her daughter with antibodies once a week to boost her immunity. Shes going to get sick more. Shes going to have more issues.

Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette

Its only going to get worse State officials were warned about the breakdown in enforcement a decade ago, when a government commission found that school districts, along with the departments of education and health, all share oversight of making sure that children are vaccinated. The panel urged regulators to create a clear enforcement system  one that would ensure school leaders carry out the states vaccine mandate. But that didnt happen. With no single government agency in charge of enforcing the law, the state has been left with a patchwork system of enforcement, with each district policing itself and no accountability at the state level. In an emailed response from the health department, the agency said neither the departments of health or education were empowered to change the enforcement rules. That authority belongs to state lawmakers, said Neil Ruhland, the health departments press secretary. Despite the commissions recommendation for the changes, the legislature did not implement any additional enforcement mechanisms, said Mr. Ruhland. However, the report by the government commission directly instructed the health and education departments to collaborate with the legislature to create a more clearly defined system to enforce the law. The lack of action comes amid a historic shift in public attitudes toward vaccines as parents increasingly reject key scientific research on the safety of the shots. Across Pennsylvania, parents have looked for ways to bypass the vaccines for their children through the exemptions  special provisions allowed by most states  by claiming religious or philosophical objections to the shots. In fact, in the past six years, the number of families seeking such waivers has nearly doubled  one of the steepest increases of any state in the country, federal data shows. Those numbers alone are enough to put hundreds of classrooms at risk, but the decisions by school leaders to allow children to attend class without any of the legal requirements is a key factor in putting even more schools in jeopardy. In at least 128 schools, the number of students attending classes without the legal requirements is driving the rate for measles vaccinations to dangerously low levels. At one Pittsburgh school, Concord Elementary, more than a third of the children didnt have all the required shots or the exemptions, and at Banksville Elementary, it was one in every four. As the numbers grow, the potential for outbreaks increase because the disease spreads so quickly, say medical experts. One sneeze, and the tiny droplets that linger in the air can infect a dozen or more people, even up to two hours later. Simulating the spread of measles Public health researchers at the University of Pittsburgh simulated the spread of measles at schools throughout the region. At a school like Pittsburgh Faison K-5, where less than three-quarters of kindergartners are fully vaccinated, the modeling showed that a single case of measles could lead to an outbreak impacting more than 350 people in the school and the surrounding area. At the countywide rate  97%  the virus would spread to about five people. Your browser does not support the video tag. Your browser does not support the video tag. Note: The state only collects vaccination rates for students in kindergarten, seventh grade and 12th grade. To simulate the spread of measles, researchers applied the rate for kindergarten students to the entire school body, based on student population in 2010. Source: Simulation results from the University of Pittsburgh Public Health Dynamics Laboratorys modeling software known as FRED, or the Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics. Vaccination rates from Pennsylvania Department of Health. Credits: Jimmy Cloutier/Post-Gazette (data), Ed Yozwick/Post-Gazette (graphic)

For some, the symptoms can be as mild as a sore throat, a slight fever or a rash. For others, the virus can burrow deep into the lungs, course through the bloodstream and even cause the brain to swell. Bacterial infections can set in, causing severe pneumonia and lung failure  the leading cause of death from the illness. In rare cases, the virus can linger in the brain for years and send an infected person into a coma from which they never recover. Predicting outbreaks: A crack team from Pitt has predicted with striking accuracy outbreaks in Texas, Florida and California. The Post-Gazette asked the team to predict vulnerable areas in Pa. Though the rates for all school vaccines have been dropping for years, the Post-Gazette focused on measles because the disease is one of the most contagious of all human illnesses and is spreading at levels not seen since the early 1990s. To conduct the analysis, the newspaper examined the rates of kindergartners in more than 1,800 schools  public and private  targeting the last six years as the levels began falling at the onset of the pandemic. Nowhere has the drop been more dramatic than in private schools, where some classrooms are at high risk of infections, records show. At Sequoia Christian School, just 5 miles from the state Capitol, only a third of kindergartners are vaccinated against measles. In Weavertown Mennonite School, in rural Lancaster County, its just one in four. Its hard to watch, said Dr. Paul Offit, a longtime pediatrician at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and one of the countrys leading vaccine experts. Its getting bad, and its going to only get worse. Your browser does not support the video tag. Samara McCallum/Post-Gazette Before the pandemic, Pennsylvania was among the safest in the nation for protections against the illness, with an overall rate of 96.4%. Since then, the falling rates have exposed students to outbreaks that could spread to dozens of people in just months, health experts say. Consider: one case of measles in a classroom with a 74% rate  like Faison Elementary in Homewood  can erupt into an outbreak that infects 359 people in the school and the nearby community, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburghs School of Public Health. The researchers create simulations  which draw on school vaccine data and other factors  showing the rates in the local schools are similar to the levels in other parts of the country where outbreaks have occurred, said Dr. Mark Roberts, former head of the universitys Public Health Dynamics Lab. For every 1,000 or so cases, youre going to get about one death, said Dr. Roberts, who has carried out the studies for decades. And youre going to get about 15 or 20 hospitalizations. Critics of the vaccines say that the shots  not dangerous diseases  pose the greatest threat to children, and have organized groups to fight the mandates and promote personal freedoms. Members of the Childrens Health Defense of Pennsylvania, a chapter of the nonprofit founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have launched protests and social media campaigns that said the vaccines were linked to autism and a range of other illnesses. Group members continue to promote what they call natural immunity as a more effective method to fight diseases, and say the past policies of the federal government have boosted the profits of big drug companies. We have just really trusted these institutions for too long, said Diane Soucy, a Montgomery County resident and a former treasurer of Childrens Health Defense of Pennsylvania who blames vaccines for her sons autism. Things that parents had been screaming about for decades [are] suddenly on the table for everyone. Your browser does not support the video tag. Samara McCallum/Post-Gazette The evidence over the years has been overwhelming that theres no relationship between the shots and autism. In more than 16 major, peer-reviewed studies in the past three decades involving more than a million subjects, researchers found no links to the disorder. As debunked claims about vaccines continue to spread, the falling rates of MMR immunizations have fueled the recent wave of measles cases across the country, say medical experts. Nearly 2,300 people were infected last year  compared to 191 a decade earlier. For another childhood disease  whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory illness  the cases in Pennsylvania soared to the highest level in the country in 2024 after years of falling vaccination rates. Were playing with peoples lives, said Dr. Todd Wolynn, a Pittsburgh pediatrician who counsels health care workers on how to talk about vaccine safety. As the rates drop in immunization, its just going to get worse. Your browser does not support the video tag. Samara McCallum/Post-Gazette Representatives for York city and Cheltenham schools, Sequoia Christian School, Weavertown Mennonite and Shalom Mennonite Schools did not respond to interview requests. Altoona schools superintendent Brad Hatch said his district makes every effort to ensure children get their shots, but acknowledged that more families are seeking exemptions. In the last six years, the number of elementary schools in the state falling below herd immunity for measles has soared  from 274 to 654  the majority driven by children who were granted exemptions. Few other states showed such an extraordinary decline as Pennsylvania, which was safely above herd immunity as recently as 2021, a Post-Gazette analysis shows.

Justin Guido/Post-Gazette

Critical breakdowns The growing lapse in state enforcement and the drop in rates was fueled by the pandemic as protesters clashed over mask mandates and social media campaigns were launched that attacked the safety of the coronavirus vaccines. In 2022, school immunization rates inched down from 95% to a percentage point below the threshold, as battles erupted at school board meetings across the state. Parents fought parents in bitter exchanges on social media over school shutdowns and frequently targeted district leaders who tried to impose the orders. We had both sides shooting spears, said John Bell, former superintendent of Delaware Valley School District. We were in the middle just trying to dodge it. In a packed auditorium, you had one side wearing masks and sitting in every other seat, and the other side sitting on top of each other with no masks. It was really a microcosm of how crazy America was and it was all happening right in front of us. During one meeting that overflowed with hundreds of people, police officers were called to break up shoving matches in the parking lot, he recalled. It was just freaking chaos, he said. We were such a fractured community. By 2023, as the school rates kept sliding, groups like Health Freedom Pennsylvania were pushing to remove state mandates for immunizations  including the need for any school vaccines. People had grown frustrated over public health messages that abruptly shifted  first telling them the masks were not needed, then reversing course to say that people had to wear them in public. We shuttered schools, we closed businesses, we restricted travel, we masked, isolated, quarantined, social-distanced and tested, tested, tested, said Dr. Offit, then on the CDCs vaccine policy panel. People didnt like that. The skeptics who once questioned the safety of the MMR and other shots in fringe circles were now part of the mainstream in a dispute that was roiling the country. Revenue  mostly donations  to Mr. Kennedys Childrens Health Defense nonprofit ballooned from $6.8 million in 2020 to $23.5 million two years later. No longer was the argument driven solely by critics of vaccines, but by parents who had long followed pediatric advice and had now grown confused  and fearful. In the end, the pandemic would lead to a growing distrust of all vaccines, and expose sweeping failures in the states response to the falling rates. A small number of children have to avoid the shots each year because of medical conditions  a category that has remained steady over the years. But the surge in the other exemptions, religious and philosophical, has reached levels that have never been seen.

Commonwealth Media Services

Failure to Enforce As the risks spread, hundreds of school leaders were failing to enforce the state law, records and interviews show. In Philadelphia public schools alone, at least 1,598 students were allowed into classes without the exemptions last year. Though some states like California can hold local districts accountable for failing to enforce their laws on immunization  in some cases by withholding funds  Pennsylvania leaves that enforcement power to the school leaders. With the state facing a potential public health crisis, hundreds of schools continue to carry out their own enforcement with little or no consequences if they fail, records and interviews show. Mr. Bell, the former school superintendent in Pike County, said that after years of loud protests and political battles over government mandates, district leaders who had endured the turmoil during the pandemic were no longer willing to push parents on their health decisions. People dont want to deal with it, said Mr. Bell, who left his position for a similar job in New York in 2022. They are throwing their hands up. They are taking the path of least resistance. At the start of the pandemic, district leaders and principals were strict in keeping classrooms safe by making sure children received all their vaccinations before allowing them back into school. In 2020, school leaders kept more than 1,700 students out of classrooms until they could get their shots, compared to just 310 last year, a data analysis shows. In Pittsburgh public schools, the district excluded just four students in the past five years, and allowed hundreds of children to continue their education without getting the required shots or the exemptions. Wayne Walters, the districts superintendent, said there were several reasons for students not being vaccinated, including newly arrived children in schools who lack access to healthcare. Lucy Schaly/Post-Gazette He also said the district is carrying out a plan that includes bringing in mobile vaccination units twice a month to provide the shots to the children and hosting information sessions for families. Our response cannot just necessarily always be punitive or to the letter of the law. We have to work with people, he said. Monique Braxton, a spokeswoman for Philadelphia public schools, said the district reaches out to parents whose children have not been vaccinated and that educational leaders try to provide access to the shots. But without fully enforcing the states vaccine mandate, medical experts say school leaders are taking risks at a time when measles cases in other parts of the country have erupted to the highest levels in more than 30 years. In South Carolina alone, nearly 900 children have been infected with the illness after an outbreak  currently the largest in the nation  raged through at least 30 schools since October. In Pennsylvania, at least a dozen measles cases have been reported in three counties in the states first outbreak of the year. Even more alarming to health experts are the states overall average vaccination rates, which were among the top 10 in the country less than a decade ago. Now, Pennsylvania lags behind 20 other states  and is comparable to Texas, which was hit last year with the nations first massive outbreak of measles in decades. More than half of the 762 cases  including the two deaths  swept through the Mennonite communities of Gaines County in Texas, where many of the sick children attended schools with average vaccination rates of 77%. The same low rates are now emerging in schools in Lancaster County in southeastern Pennsylvania, where the states outbreak began. Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette State health officials would not specify the precise locations where the cases started, but at least 53 schools in the county are below herd immunity. At Shalom Mennonite School in the rolling countryside, less than half the children are vaccinated and just 10 miles away at Ephrata Mennonite School, its the same. Joshua Good, a longtime educator and head of the Ephrata school, said the rates in his school and others are spurred by a growing distrust of the shots. Though he supports vaccinations  his own children are immunized  he said he believes parents have a basic right to make those decisions for their families. That overrides my concerns about mumps or chicken pox or measles or whatever, said Mr. Good. However, health experts say its not just the children who attend those schools who are vulnerable, but the larger community. Dr. Roberts, the retired University of Pittsburgh professor, helped oversee a landmark study in Texas that showed plunging classroom rates were often leading signals of future outbreaks in the school and surrounding area. The Texas study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2019, took in a range of data, including school rates and commuting patterns to identify several areas of Texas that were vulnerable  the same areas where cases later exploded in 2025. If you look at what happened in Texas over the last couple of years, its exactly what our paper predicted, he said. Dr. Roberts, who has tracked the illness for years, said hes seeing some of the same patterns playing out in Pennsylvania, especially with falling school rates. Whats not clear is just how far the levels have declined in hundreds of schools. While the vast majority of rates in the state have been released, the data for 1,428 schools remains secret  and off limits to the public, the Post-Gazette found. Citing privacy concerns, state health officials would not disclose the records because of the small size of the classrooms and the risk of identifying individual students. Health experts say that without the data, parents are left without critical information about the safety of their children. Thats part of informed consent, said Dr. Adalja. What if your kid is immunocompromised? What if your kid needs an organ transplant? Another concern is the vast majority of the schools where the rates remain secret are private, religious institutions  the category of schools with the lowest immunization rates, a Post-Gazette analysis of the state data shows. In Allegheny County, at least a quarter of the schools  nearly 100 in all  are in that category.

Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette

For Melissa Potthoff, who lives just miles from some of the Allegheny schools, the lack of disclosure could put more children in danger. A nurse whose son has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that leaves the lungs open to severe infection, Ms. Potthoff said parents have a right to know if the schools where their children are attending are below herd immunity. That should be public, so at least parents could make a choice, she said. Her son, Landon, 15, who is vaccinated against measles and other diseases, attends public school in the Pine-Richland district where most of the schools are above herd immunity. But he lives in a county where a third of the elementary schools are below the safety threshold. And with his immune-compromised condition, the risks for him are higher if theres an outbreak, say medical experts.

Hope Abrams

Clash with feds The decline in rates comes years after state officials tried to launch sweeping changes in Pennsylvanias vaccine rules that were aimed at bolstering rates and creating stronger enforcement guidelines. In addition to the joint commission urging the state in 2016 to improve its enforcement system, the panel recommended that vaccine rates for school districts be easily accessible to the public. But less than a decade later, parents still cant search for the rates in their local schools  even as the vaccination numbers continue to fall. Were definitely losing the battle, said Dr. Wolynn, the Pittsburgh pediatrician. I think its sad and I think its tragic, but its already happening. The state health department said it would be costly to create a reporting system that displays all the district rates to the public, and that the numbers are always available upon request. Expanding school vaccination rate reporting to the district level would require reallocating DOH personnel and staff time, as well as an overhaul of system reporting, the state said. With the skepticism of vaccine safety growing, the rise of national leaders who have opposed immunization policies like Mr. Kennedy, who is U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, will place more pressure on the districts that are trying to keep their rates above herd immunity. Megan Lavey-Heaton/PennLive.com Under his leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this year scaled back the vaccine regimen from 17 to 11 shots  a move that was blocked last month by a federal judge, who ruled the government was not permitted to alter the schedule of shots without consulting established scientific bodies. Mr. Kennedy also directed the CDC to change a statement on its website last year to suggest the link between vaccines and autism has not been fully ruled out, despite extensive evidence to the contrary. Some state leaders are pushing back against the latest federal policies, saying that they threaten peoples access to vaccines and endanger the health of children. Because insurance companies that pay for the shots take their guidance from the CDC, state Democratic leaders pitched legislation last year to force insurers to continue to cover the vaccines. In an executive order last year, Gov. Josh Shapiro followed up with his own directive requiring the insurers to follow the guidelines of the leading medical organizations, and for the Department of Health to create a website for residents that provides firm evidence-based recommendations about the vaccines. The actions are designed to provide access to the shots, but thats not enough to reverse the decline, said Dr. Adalja, who is also a UPMC physician. The state is failing to take basic steps to enforce its own vaccine policy, like putting more pressure on district leaders to improve their rates, he said. Because the agency collects all the vaccination data from the schools, it should take a lead role and alert parents and communities when rates fall to dangerous levels, said Dr. Adalja. Its the states responsibility, he said. I think they should be naming the schools. Parents need to know. He said the health department can target vulnerable schools by bringing in mobile units to help children get the shots, and to educate families about the need for vaccines. Reach the people that have just slipped through the cracks, he said. In response, the health department said it partners with health care providers to increase access and awareness about the importance of vaccines, including the launch of a media campaign that created television, radio, digital and outdoor ads from 2023 to the end of last year. The Department works directly with schools, health care providers, and community organizations to ensure they have the necessary information to properly educate parents about the importance of vaccinations, the state health agency said. To take more forceful action, the state could invoke its own emergency authority like it did during the pandemic, when it ordered schools and businesses to shut down, said Dr. Lori Handy, a vaccine expert at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. But she added that the state likely wouldnt take such action unless there was a significant outbreak. Dr. Adalja said the burst of measles cases in the country already constitutes a crisis. Its only a matter of time that a measles case lands in one of your schools, where, if the vaccination rate is not high enough, you have an outbreak, he said. For Annette Hall, thats one of her deepest fears. Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette Every week, she attaches two thin tubes to her daughters leg, which are hooked up to a small device the size of a paperback book. Over the course of an hour, the machine pumps life-saving antibodies from donated plasma into her 9-year-old child in a regimen designed to help her fight off disease. The morning after the treatments, the 43-year-old mother watches as Maddie boards the bus to school. Every day we live with that fear: Is she going to come home with something new that cant be treated? she said. The threat of measles scares the crap out of me. I dont know what would happen. And Maddies not the worst case. There are kids that have worse case scenarios than us. It can kill them. Just miles from her home is the office of Dr. Wolynn, who leads a group that counsels health care workers on how to talk to parents about the need for vaccines. After years of treating children, he said schools remain central to the spread of diseases, and that district leaders need to enforce the state mandate. Before he co-founded the Trusted Messenger Program, he provided care to children whose weakened immune systems made it nearly impossible to fight off infections. Theres nothing thats as horrible as watching a kid die who didnt have to die, or get really sick and be permanently harmed," Dr. Wolynn said. It tears your heart out. With rates falling in the schools, he said he fears the trend will continue until people see the kind of illnesses that he and other pediatricians have treated. Its already getting worse, he said. Were literally going to have to watch kids get infected, suffer and die. Thats the path were on until the pendulum swings the other way." Sean D. Hamill contributed to this story.

Credits Reporting Jimmy Cloutier

Michael D. Sallah

Mike Wereschagin

Hanna Webster

Sean D. Hamill Special contribution:

Medill Investigative Lab at Northwestern University

Melissa Dai

Isaiah Steinberg In collaboration with:

FRONTLINE (PBS) Local Journalism Initiative

The Heinz Endowments

Pulitzer Center

Learn more Photography Alexandra Wimley

Samara McCallum Videography Samara McCallum Graphics Ed Yozwick Development Laura Malt Schneiderman

Samara McCallum
Mar 29 (News On Japan) - Many project teams remember when work was primarily based on email chains, phone calls, and endless spreadsheets. However, digital transformation is rapidly changing the way businesses manage plans, tasks, and priorities.

Powerful project management software comes to the rescue, helping teams stay on track and maintain control.

Professionals across various fields use these smart online solutions to plan tasks, assign resources, forecast workloads, and control budgets. They choose a wide range of tools, from simple spreadsheets to powerful enterprise systems with built-in analytics.

How to make the right choice? Below you'll find a selection of the most popular online project management tools in Japan.

10 most popular project management software in Japan

Each program below has its own target audience and is built on a distinct concept. Some emphasize structure and visualization, while others focus on analytics or integration with other systems.

Its time to take a closer look at each.

1. GanttPRO

GanttPRO solves a wide range of tasks and project challenges, regardless of team size or industry. The key advantage of this project management tool is its powerful Gantt chart, created with a precision rarely found in competitors.

The program helps managers and team members quickly create tasks and break them down into smaller subtasks using a convenient work breakdown structure (WBS) system. It's easy to build dependencies between activities, highlight project milestones, set deadlines, and identify critical paths on a timeline here.

The resource workload management feature is particularly valuable as well. The program shows in real time which team members are overloaded and which have available capacity.

GanttPRO supports a baseline, allowing you to compare actual progress with the originally planned work at any stage. Built-in budget control allows for linking tasks to costs and tracking spending.

Many Japanese project teams value this tool for its ready-made templates for IT, marketing, manufacturing, construction, and other industries.

2. Microsoft Project

The next tool often chosen by project teams in Japan is Microsofts well-known work management product. For many, it is considered the standard for corporate project management.

MS Project offers basic capabilities for work planning, assigning tasks to responsible parties, managing activities using a multi-level work breakdown structure (WBS), calculating a critical path on a Gantt chart, and more.

The cloud-based version has made the tool more accessible to distributed teams.

This tool is highly appreciated, but many teams consider it outdated or overloaded with unnecessary features. Therefore, they often switch to substitutions.

Luckily, there are many Microsoft Project alternatives, as discussed in this article.

3. Kanna

Many teams plan and manage projects of any complexity in Kanna. This Japanese platform was originally developed for the construction industry. It is often chosen by distributed teams working across multiple locations.

Some of the program's key tools are a Gantt chart and communication features. Built-in reporting forms allow teams to easily collect and analyze data.

Kanna users appreciate its simple mobile app. With it, team members can track task progress, upload files, and receive instructions directly from their smartphones.

4. Bordio

The next tool in this list is for those who need to track project tasks and constantly see how they are distributed over time in relation to the team's actual work schedule.

Bordio seamlessly combines work planning with personal calendar management for each project participant.

Managers easily move tasks around based on specific days and times. This tool's user-friendly interface allows you to quickly assess your team's workload. You can add time estimates to tasks at any time.

5. Kantata

Kantata, formerly Mavenlink, is suitable for companies of all sizes and levels of expertise.

This service integrates basic project management functions, analytics, and financial reporting. It also helps with resource allocation and managing staff availability.

With Kantata, you can quickly track your team's workload.

Built-in time tracking and invoicing functionality make managers' lives significantly easier. They can monitor the profitability of any project and respond to any potential deviations.

6. TaskFord

This task management solution emphasizes AI functionality integrated into a certain workflow. This is a popular choice among businesses with remote workers. It automatically displays time according to the specific time zone.

TaskFord allows you to structure project activities based on deadlines and priorities. It analyzes workloads and suggests optimal schedules and shifts.

This program features integration with calendar services and a built-in filter and tag system for quick access to relevant tasks, even in projects with hundreds of items.

7. Scoro

Project teams choose Scoro because it combines a powerful work management system, invoicing, time tracking, and an accessible CRM. The program offers unified functionality from planning customer engagement to project closure.

Scoro users can forecast budgets and compare planned funding with actual spending.

The tool offers accessible analytics and the ability to generate useful reports. Teams appreciate the program for its transparency throughout all stages of the project lifecycle.

8. Kerika

Kerika is also quite popular in the Japanese market. This simple project management solution helps teams manage tasks and projects by integrating with Google's diverse ecosystem.

Kerika users get convenient Kandan boards, which provide easy task visualization and minimize chaos.

The program is known for its work-in-progress (WIP) limit feature, which allows you to easily manage tasks in progress. Additionally, you get collaboration tools that allow you to leave comments, tags, mentions, and attach files.

9. Planfix

Users of this program know how to use its extensive features to control all project workflows and avoid chaos and risks.

It is easy to configure. With Planfix, you can plan workflows of virtually any complexity without programming skills. It also allows you to create custom task types, fields, and statuses, adapting them to your business. A built-in CRM module and flexible access rights system make work easier.

With Planfix, you can easily send notifications, create child tasks, and analyze your activities.

10. nTask

Project managers in Japan also frequently rely on nTask. This tool helps them manage all processes at different stages of the project lifecycle.

The program offers various types of work visualization, including simple lists, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards. You can easily plan and track work time here, as well as analyze project resources and assign them to performers.

It also has a built-in module for advanced risk management. Managers can easily identify risks, assess their likelihood, and assign responsibility for their progression.

Each of the tools described above is a well-thought-out and proven solution. Testing them is just the first step. You need time to determine which one best suits your needs.

Choose wisely and plan more accurately with powerful project management solutions

Project management requires a wide range of skills and talents, from simple task monitoring to sophisticated resource, risk, and analytics management.

Modern PM software helps teams plan work from start to finish. Therefore, choosing the right solution becomes more than just a technical decision, but a strategic business advantage.

The programs described above cover a variety of needs, from small project planning to managing large campaigns. Regardless of your industry or team size, you can find the right platform.

Many project teams in Japan are actively using these tools. Now's the time to make your choice.
TOKYO, Apr 20 (News On Japan) - A 37-year-old father arrested over the alleged abandonment of his son's body in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture may have contacted associates to say the child had gone missing before the boy's school informed the family, investigators said.

Yuki Adachi, a company employee from Sonobecho in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, has been arrested on suspicion of abandoning the body of his 11-year-old son, Yuki, an elementary school student, in a mountain forest area in the city.

Police said Adachi has admitted to the allegation.

According to investigative sources, Adachi told authorities voluntarily before his arrest that he drove his son toward school by car on March 23, but then took him to another location and killed him.

He has also reportedly said that after leaving the body at the initial site, he later moved the remains to a different location.

Adachi initially explained that he dropped the boy off near the school at around 8 a.m. on March 23.

The school realized the child was missing and contacted the boy's mother by telephone at around 11:45 a.m. However, investigators now say Adachi had already called related parties before that, saying, 'My child has gone missing.'

He later contacted police himself, saying he had taken the child to school but was told the boy had never arrived when he went to pick him up.

Police seized a vehicle from Adachi's home on April 17 and are examining whether it was used to transport the child and move the body.

The boy was reported missing after failing to arrive at school. Security camera footage near the school did not capture him, and no witnesses reported seeing him that day.

His body was discovered on April 13 in a lightly traveled forested mountain area in Nantan, about 2 kilometers southwest of his elementary school and roughly 8 kilometers from his home.

Investigators believe the body was moved several times before being found, possibly in an attempt to avoid detection.

The boy's school bag was found on March 29, followed by shoes believed to be his on April 12. Each discovery site was several kilometers apart.

An autopsy confirmed the body's identity. Police said no clear external injuries, including stab wounds, were found, and determining the exact cause of death may take several months.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the killing, the movement of the body and a possible motive.

Source: TBS
The restructuring of global trade flows triggered by escalating US tariff policy is generating a strategic opening for Morocco, but economists warn that geography alone will not be enough to capitalize on it. According to the World Trade Organization, global merchandise trade growth is projected to slow sharply to 0.5 percent in 2026, compared to 2.4 percent in 2025. This is not a cyclical dip but the beginning of a structural recomposition of international exchange, driven by the proliferation of trade barriers and the unraveling of the hyperglobalization model that shaped the previous three decades.

The central dynamic is the shift from Global Sourcing to Friend-shoring  a transition in which supply chain security is increasingly prioritized over pure cost optimization. US tariffs on Chinese goods have now reached 35 percent, making Chinese production significantly less competitive for companies serving American and European markets. Morocco, by contrast, has been assigned the 10 percent minimum tariff rate by the Trump administration  a relative advantage compared to regional competitors such as Tunisia at 28 percent and Algeria at 30 percent, and a far more favourable position than Asian manufacturing hubs facing tariffs of 30 to 49 percent.

In this environment, Moroccos combination of proximity to European markets, political stability and improving logistics infrastructure  led by Tanger Med as one of the worlds top container ports  creates a genuine nearshoring opportunity. Companies seeking to shorten supply chains and reduce geopolitical risk exposure have a logical candidate in the Kingdom for relocating or diversifying production closer to their end markets. Younes Ait Hmadouch, professor of financial economics at Ibn Tofail University, describes this, in a statement to news outlet leseco.ma, as a real and time-bound window that Morocco must treat with urgency.

However, Ait Hmadouch is clear that physical infrastructure is a necessary but insufficient condition. Morocco cannot content itself with a transit or processing function. The country must convert its geographical advantage into productive capacity  and specifically into decarbonized, high-value production that European buyers increasingly require as part of their own supply chain sustainability commitments. Without this upgrade, the nearshoring opportunity risks being captured by competitors or remaining structurally shallow.

The challenge is therefore one of anchoring value on Moroccan territory. This means addressing the persistent gap between the skills produced by Moroccos education and vocational training systems and the requirements of advanced industrial sectors  a gap identified repeatedly in the World Banks recent $500 million employment program as a core structural constraint. Morocco is well-positioned by geography and macro-stability, but the window for transforming global disorder into lasting industrial growth will not remain open indefinitely.
Polands cooper producer KGHM is planning to invest in mines in Europe and Morocco to secure supplies closer to its smelting base in Poland, reduce transport cost and carbon footprint.

The Companys investment plans and interest in Morocco have been disclosed by CEO Remigiusz Paszkiewicz. As KGHM is looking for raw material nearer to its domestic processing operations, Morocco emerged among its top priorities.

KGHM, which operates the Robinson mine in the U.S. and holds 55% in Sierra Gorda in Chile on top of its Polish assets, signed last month a MoU with Moroccos National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines and Moroccan mining firm Managem Group on cooperation in raw materials.

Morocco is positioning itself as a hub for strategic minerals, particularly for the global battery supply chain. The government has recently launched a national digital mining registry to streamline licensing and attract major international investors like KGHM.

The major copper deposits in Morocco are located in the Anti-Atlas mountain belt, with the Tizert Project set to become one of the countrys largest site with estimated 100 million tons of resources. It is expected to produce 120,000 tons of copper concentrate annually.

The other major Moroccan copper projects and mines include the Bouskour mine (Ouarzazate), with estimated reserves of 9 million tons of high grade of 1.61% copper, Bleida mine (copper-cobalt), Bel NZourk Deposit (cobalt, with ore concentrations reaching up to 3.44% copper and Kharrouba Copper mine in Marrakech, currently processing 800 tons of ore per day.
In April 2026, a new 500 MW sodium-cooled reactor in Kalpakkam, India, attained criticality. The reactor maintained a nuclear chain reactionwhich is a pretty big step for any new nuclear plant. There are a number of things that struck us about this news. The haters and skeptics will point out that this unit began construction in 2004 with a 2010 expected completion date. No cost escalation figures were provided by the Indian government. But the real question here is why a molten salt reactor? Its not a new technology. President Jimmy Carter canceled construction of one, the Clinch River Project, in 1973. And at least twelve countries have built variants of this design. The US version was built and operated in Oak Ridge, TN.

The answer to the why is thorium. In terms of natural resources, India is uranium-poor but abundant in thorium resources. And the government said as much in the press release discussing the new reactor. So we see this choice of nuclear technology as being in large measure motivated by ready access to domestically sourced thorium. In terms of the energy trilemma, a thorium-based nuclear cycle is 1) sustainable (no carbon emissions), 2) affords security of supply, 3) well punt on affordability. So, two out of three aint bad. But it was also the way the Indian government went about it. The design is entirely domestic, coming from the Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, which is funded by the governments Department of Atomic Energy. More broadly, the Indian nuclear program resembles that of Korea or France in terms of its policy thoroughness and application of government expertise. There are six discrete steps or functions in every nuclear program: mining, refining, project design, construction, operations, and waste remediation, and the Indians seem to be taking all of them seriously. By way of contrast, the US abandoned all federal efforts to create a nuclear waste repository early in the Obama administration, and our energy administrators havent thought about it seriously since. Although, in all fairness, the Indians havent picked a site for long-term geological storage of nuclear waste either.

Related: Strait of Hormuz Faces Full Shutdown as Iran Escalates Standoff

The other thing that is so unusual, at least to Americans, is that the Indian government actually has a long-term energy plan. It plans to build 18 standard design reactors, a decent sized fleet. So the relatively high cost of the first unit is fairly meaningless. The key is the average cost of the fleet. But also the plan involves a huge commitment of capital 18 new reactors on top of 8 currently under construction. This implies spending hundreds of billions of dollars and that spending properly belongs on the governments balance sheet. Only the USians would build two new reactors in Georgia, on a private utilitys balance sheet, at very high cost and with the highest cost of capital possible, and then abandon the nuclear effort because it was too expensive. (But at least the shareholders of the Southern Company did well, bless their hearts.)

The government clearly has a well thought out long term plan. India recognized at the outset that it needed three different reactor designs for the program. First, a uranium - fueled pressurized heavy water reactor to produce plutonium. Second, to take the plutonium to create a thorium-plutonium fuel for fast, breeder reactors. And finally, reprocess breeder reactor fuels for a thorium-uranium fuel cycle for the countries fleet of next-generation reactors. And this is all so that India can utilize plentiful thorium. Here we call these HALEU fuels, high assay, low enriched uranium which blends thorium and uranium.

In a stark contrast with the US, India celebrated this feat of engineering expertise publicly at the highest levels. Prime Minister Modi stated that this facility reflects the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering enterprise". This is the way politicians in the US used to speak about grand public accomplishments like the space program. But for all this build-out, nuclear power will still account for less than five percent of Indias power generation mix. To us, that sounds about right. Nuclear power, in our view, has always been a ward of the state, and any attempt to privatize it has just resulted in various convoluted subsidy schemes such as insurance relief and loan guarantees. Its also interesting to see long-term state planning applied in India. We dont do much of that in the US. And it shows.

By Leonard Hyman and William Tilles for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
By now, a familiar narrative has returned to Europes energy debate. The transition, we are told, went too far, too fast, and too blindly. Politicians chased climate headlines, imposed unrealistic targets, burdened households with costs, and pushed industry toward the exit.

It is a compelling story. It is also the wrong one.

Europes real mistake was not moving too quickly on clean energy. It was moving halfway. We invested in renewable generation, but underinvested in the grids, storage, flexibility, and electrification required to make the system work efficiently at scale. In short: Europe built the engine, then forgot the gearbox.

The Fossil Fuel Model Was Always More Fragile Than It Looked

For decades, Europe benefited from an energy model based on imported fossil fuels, domestic legacy assets, and relatively stable global trade. Cheap pipeline gas, predictable LNG flows, and manageable geopolitical tensions created the illusion of energy security.

That illusion shattered in 2022 and again in 2026 with Hormuz.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine exposed what should have been obvious all along: dependence on imported fossil fuels means dependence on suppliers, markets, and crises you do not control. Europe paid the bill through price spikes, emergency subsidies, and weakened industrial competitiveness. A similar pattern we are seeing now with the Hormuz strait closure.

Yet some commentators now argue that the solution is to slow the transition and lean back into fossil fuels. That is like responding to a house fire by reinstalling the same faulty wiring. Europe does not possess enough low-cost domestic oil and gas to restore a fossil competitive advantage. North Sea output is mature. Groningen is politically toxic and geologically almost depleted, Norway is at its max. Even if additional domestic supply emerged, prices would still be linked to international markets. Fossil fuels are globally priced commodities, not patriotic utilities.

Why Electrification Is an Economic Strategy

Renewables are often framed purely as climate policy. That misses the bigger point. Electrification is industrial policy. It is geopolitical policy. It is cost-control policy.

Every euro invested in grids, heat pumps, storage, demand response, local renewables, and cross-border interconnections builds productive assets inside Europe. Those assets reduce import dependency, improve resilience, and keep value circulating locally.

By contrast, most of every euro spent importing fossil fuels largely leaves the continent. Wind turbines do not threaten embargoes. Solar panels do not form cartels. Batteries do not blockade shipping lanes. This is why the energy transition is not anti-business. Properly executed, it is one of the most pro-competitiveness strategies available to Europe.

Grid Congestion Is a Success Problem

Critics often cite grid congestion and curtailment as evidence that renewables have failed. That interpretation is backwards.

Grid congestion exists because demand for electrification is arriving faster than infrastructure is being built. Households want heat pumps. Drivers want EV charging. Data centers need power. Industry wants cleaner and often cheaper electricity where available. That is not collapse. It is adoption.

No one would argue airports are a bad idea because terminals became crowded after passenger demand surged. Yet that is effectively how some now discuss Europes power grids. The answer to congestion is not less electrification. It is more cables, more transformers, faster permitting, better markets, and smarter flexibility.

Industry Is Not Leaving Only Because of Energy Prices

Another oversimplified claim is that Europes industry is fleeing because of green policies and expensive power. Energy prices matter, especially for chemicals, steel, fertilizers, glass, refining, and other energy-intensive sectors. But they are far from the whole story.

Low-margin manufacturing has been migrating for decades toward regions with lower labor costs, cheaper land, lighter regulation, and larger growth markets. That trend predates the Green Deal by many years.

Even if Europe delivered near-free electricity tomorrow, parts of commodity manufacturing would still face relocation pressure. Competing against structurally lower-cost economies is not solved solely through cheaper electrons.

Europe must separate two debates:

Energy competitiveness  lower structural power costs through renewables, grids, storage, and flexible demand. Industrial strategy  decide which sectors are strategically worth retaining and support them accordingly.

Those are related debates. They are not identical debates.

Europes Real Strength Lies Higher Up the Value Chain

The more interesting question is not how to preserve every aging industrial asset. It is how to win the next industrial cycle. Europe remains world-class in precision machinery, industrial systems, chemicals innovation, offshore engineering, advanced materials, semiconductors equipment, automation, and process know-how.

Europe still builds many of the tools the world uses to build everything else. That is where future competitiveness lies: high-value manufacturing, technology systems, clean industrial equipment, batteries, hydrogen technologies, smart grids, and industrial software.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is not waiting. China continues scaling grids, batteries, EVs, and renewables at extraordinary speed. India is combining rapid demand growth with massive clean power deployment. Emerging economies increasingly understand that electrification means resilience and lower import exposure. If Europe responds by slowing down, it will not preserve leadership. It will surrender it.

What Europe Should Actually Do Next

The policy agenda is not mysterious.

Build transmission and distribution networks faster.

Scale storage where it makes economic sense.

Reward demand flexibility.

Accelerate permitting for strategic infrastructure.

Deepen EU power market integration.

Pair climate targets with industrial policy.

Support strategic sectors rather than every sunset sector.

Most importantly, Europe must stop treating the transition as a communications exercise. Targets alone do not lower bills. Slogans do not stabilize grids. Cynicism does not create competitiveness.

The Cost of Stopping Halfway

The transition was never supposed to be effortless. Replacing a century-old fossil system with an electrified, digital, distributed one was always going to create bottlenecks, politics, and friction. That does not mean the direction is wrong.

It means Europe underestimated the scale of the job. Europes energy problem is not that the transition went too far. It is that Europe climbed halfway up the hill, sat down, and is now complaining about the view.

By Leon Stille for Oilprice.com

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The United Kingdom has been rapidly increasing its deployment of new renewable energy capacity in recent years, to the point that it now has some to spare during peak production hours. While the U.K. gradually increases its battery storage, the government is encouraging consumers to use more electricity during certain times of the day to help shift reliance away from fossil fuels to green alternatives.

Consumers are being asked by the government to use high-consumption appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, as well as electric vehicle (EV) chargers, during peak renewable energy production hours this summer, when more solar and wind power is being delivered to the grid. Energy suppliers will support the government's efforts by offering free or discounted electricity during certain hours of the day when there is a surplus of electricity. The scheme is also expected to be extended to businesses and manufacturers.

The scheme expands upon the many initiatives already in place, with energy providers already offering over 2 million households the chance to pay lower electricity rates during off-peak times, to reduce the burden on the grid. However, it is the first time that a scheme will be rolled out to manage the surplus of clean electricity.

The National Energy System Operator (Neso) hopes that the move will encourage consumers to change their energy use to stop the need to turn off wind and solar farms when electricity demand is low, which could be extremely costly. The initiative is expected to be extremely attractive to consumers battling with rising bills, due to the energy price increases driven by the United States-Israeli war on Iran.

The summer season in the U.K. is expected to help the country achieve new clean energy production records, with the potential of powering the grid entirely with net-zero carbon electricity. In the spring, the U.K. set a double solar-power record. Solar farms in England, Wales, and Scotland generated 14.1 GW of low-carbon electricity on 6th April, surpassing the previous high of 14 GW in July last year. That record was quickly broken just one day later when solar power generation rose to 14.4 GW.

The U.K. also achieved record-high wind energy production earlier in the month, resulting in gas-fired power generation falling to a two-year low. The country is also set to import electricity, produced using nuclear power and renewable energy, from continental Europe, thereby further driving down its reliance on fossil fuels.

This is extremely promising at a time when fossil fuel prices are rising ever higher, with greater global volatility, which has led both the International Energy Agency and China to urge governments to diversify their energy mix at an accelerated pace.

However, if too much renewable energy is sent to the grid, it could cause it to become overloaded, increasing the risk of an unexpected blackout, owing to bottlenecks in the countrys transmission network. In the coming years, the U.K. expects to reduce the number of bottlenecks in the system to allow for new renewable energy capacity to be connected to the grid, as well as expand the reach of U.K. transmission to more rural areas, in line with rising electricity demand.

In addition to more renewable energy flowing to the U.K. grid from commercial projects, a record number of homes have also installed domestic renewable energy equipment to combat rising energy bills. Consumer interest in solar panels, EVs, and heat pumps has risen sharply since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran commenced in February, which has driven up global energy prices, according to data from the countrys leading energy suppliers.

Energy bills are expected to increase by 18 percent from July, as the next energy price cap takes effect. This equates to around 1,929 for the typical annual dual-fuel tariff, driven by higher gas prices.

The biggest GB energy supplier, Octopus Energy, reported that orders for heat pumps have more than doubled in March, compared to February, while sales of solar power systems increased by around 80 percent, and new EV leases went up by over 85 percent. The U.K.s second biggest supplier, British Gas, also recorded a 250 percent increase in solar panel installation inquiries since 28 February.

British families are tired of being held hostage by global fossil fuel prices, the chief product officer at Octopus, Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, explained. Were seeing a massive shift as people take matters into their own hands  switching to solar, heat pumps and EVs, locking in low running costs and shielding themselves from future price shocks.

As the U.K. continues to accelerate the deployment of new renewable energy capacity, it is quickly becoming a green energy generation powerhouse, helping drive down reliance on fossil fuels. While the country invests in improving the grid and adding battery storage, the government is encouraging consumers to change their energy habits to take advantage of peak green energy production in the summer and decrease the U.K.s dependence on gas.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Accelerated refinery closures in the past decade and increased dependence on kerosene from the Middle East have exposed Europes energy supply vulnerability once again.

For years, European consumers have had to contend with last-minute strikes of ground personnel and cabin crew during peak summer travel. This year, strikes may be viewed as a minor nuisance compared to whats coming within weeksa jet fuel supply crisis that could ground flights and hike fares.

The war in Iran has cut most of Europes imports of jet fuel, while local output has been falling for nearly two decades due to dozens of refineries closing permanently or being converted to biofuel production.

The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely constrained Europes jet fuel supply, while jet fuel prices have spiked to over $200 per barrel. The last imports from the Middle East on tankers that had passed Hormuz before the war began have arrived, and there is only one alternative to source jet fuelfrom the United States. These supplies are not only insufficient to replace the loss of Middle Eastern jet fuel. Europe faces increasingly fierce competition from Asia for these cargoes as the crisis first hit Asia with crude supply from the Middle East collapsing, Asian refiners cutting refinery runs, and countries imposing fuel export restrictions to preserve domestic supply. Related: Oil Slides but the Real Test Comes This Weekend

Back in 2009, nearly 100 refineries were operating in Europe. Of these, 28 refineries  more than 25% of the number of refineries and 16% of refining capacity  have been either shut or transformed since 2009, according to data from the European Fuel Manufacturers Association.

As refineries were closing, due to declining fuel demand in Europe and emission-reduction policies, the European dependence on imported supply has grown. The hit to supply from the Middle East caught Europe off guard regarding the security of energy supply for the second time in just four years, after natural gas deliveries from Russia crashed in 2022.

This time, the jet fuel crisis could be imminent, analysts and forecasters warn.

Last year, Europe imported about a third of the jet fuel it consumed, with 75% of imports coming from the Middle East, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

Its executive director, Fatih Birol, this week warned that Europe has maybe six weeks or so of remaining jet fuel supply.

If we are not able to open the Strait of Hormuz ... I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel, Birol told Associated Press in an interview.

Northwest Europe is one of the regions most exposed to the jet fuel crisis, as imports have dropped from historical norms this month, and the import decline is set to accelerate in the coming weeks as more U.S. jet fuel cargoes would go to Asia instead of Europe, Ernest Censier, market analyst at Vortexa, said in an analysis on Thursday.

The 15% drop in European jet fuel imports so far in April reflects structural dependence on Middle Eastern supply: approximately half of NWEs jet fuel imports typically transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Censier said.

In addition, relatively short voyage times of about 21 days from Mina Abdulla in Kuwait to Rotterdam mean that supply disruptions are transmitted quickly into regional imports, the analyst added.

The U.S. has emerged as the key source of substitution for lost Middle Eastern supply, but this is unlikely to be sustained as U.S. jet/kerosene exports are increasingly being redirected toward the Pacific Basin, reaching a seven-year high this month, and now accounting for over 30% of total U.S. jet fuel exports.

This reallocation reflects a broader shift in US product exports toward the Pacific Basin, Vortexas Censier noted.

This leaves Europe highly exposed to the turbulence in the jet fuel markets.

Lufthansa, Europes biggest airline, on Thursday said it is accelerating plans to reduce its flight program and retire some aircraft earlier In view of significantly increased kerosene prices, which have more than doubled compared to the period before the Iran war, as well as rising additional burdens from labor disputes.

The package for accelerated implementation of fleet and capacity measures is unavoidable in light of the sharply increased kerosene costs and geopolitical instability, said Till Streichert, Chief Financial Officer of Lufthansa Group.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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As technology continues to improve, many renewable energy developers are increasingly using automation to develop commercial-scale projects, such as solar and wind farms. Tech companies have made significant improvements to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic equipment in recent years, with different types of robots now available to perform a wide variety of tasks. This is reducing the burden on humans in the development phase of new renewable energy projects, with robots now capable of conducting tasks that may be dangerous for people to carry out, while reducing the operational cost.

In Californias Mojave Desert, AES has used a fleet of 3.0 robots from the firm Maximo to install 100 MW of solar capacity at its Bellefield solar complex, thereby reducing the need for manual labour. The Maximo robots, operated by humans, can install solar panels at a much faster rate than human teams, fitting 24 photovoltaic modules per hour per person on average, while the machines that assemble the solar panels take around one minute per panel to do so. That is around double the pace of traditional installation in the region.

Reaching 100 MW is an important milestone for Maximo and for the role robotics can play in solar construction, stated Maximos president, Chris Shelton. It demonstrates that field robotics can move beyond experimentation and deliver consistent results at utility scale.

The rising demand for electricity and rapid expansion of the energy market in the United States and other countries around the globe have led to a shortage of skilled labour, making automation key to completing new renewable energy projects. Many energy companies turned their attention to robotics during the Covid-19 pandemic, led by the oil and gas industry, when movement restrictions meant the companies increasingly needed to rely on automation.

It is not just the installation process in which robots can be useful, but in all phases of the project. Companies are using robotics for activities such as surveying, building and installation, and monitoring and evaluation. Also in California, Civ Robotics has developed a four-wheeled CivDot robot that can mark up to 3,000 layout points per day and is accurate within 8 millimetres, a task that would otherwise require huge teams of people working long hours to achieve. CivDot can traverse rugged terrain and work in all weather conditions. The company has over 100 CivDots in the field, most of which are being used by renewable energy firms.

Our secret sauce and our core technology is actually in the navigation and the geospatial -- being able to literally mark coordinates within less than a quarter inch, which is very, very difficult in an uneven terrain, outdoor surfaces, and out in the desert, explains Civ Robotics CEO Tom Yeshurun. The manual surveying equipment, if you use that in the field and you have three crews, they will need three land surveying handheld receivers. That alone is already equal to how much we lease our machines in the field, and all the labour savings are just another benefit, Yeshurun added.

Greater automation is also being seen in wind farms, as companies invest in turbine maintenance robots. LEBO ROBOTICS, a Japanese startup established in 2018, developed the worlds first commercial wind turbine maintenance robots to inspect and repair turbines. The capacity of wind turbine generation can fall by between 3 and 10 percent in just three to five years due to accumulated damage, making the robots work invaluable.

Particularly in Japan, the United States, and Europe, where personnel costs are high, maintenance staffing and costs are a challenge Using robots for maintenance enables a swifter response to the causes of generation capacity loss, keeping the equipment in an optimal state and delivering great benefits to the operating businesses, explained LEBO ROBOTICS CEO Hamamura Keitaro.



The firm offers three services using robotics: blade inspection and maintenance, AI analysis of images taken by ground-based cameras and drones, and the development and deployment of chemical products like paint and adhesives. These activities all support wind turbine maintenance, ensuring that turbines can retain the best possible capacity through their lifespan.



Robotics are also increasingly being used for electricity grids. Companies, such as Spains Iberdrola, have been using AI for years to make predictions, optimise processes, and detect patterns to improve their operations. In 2025, Iberdrola announced that it was partnering with Levatas and Boston Dynamics to deploy a robot dog to improve substation inspections. The dog, known as Spot, is equipped with sophisticated imaging and thermal technology and uses AI technology to detect damaged equipment, allowing for automated inspections.

Robots are being rolled out for a wide array of uses in renewable energy projects around the globe, a trend that is set to get even bigger as the technology improves. The use of robots is allowing companies to rely less on workers, as the industry faces labour shortages. However, the long-term impact of robotics and automation on the energy workforce is still uncertain.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Former girlfriend primary line of investigation into Chetumal parking lot murder

Chetumal, Q.R.  Local authorities have started an investigation into the broad daylight shooting that left a Chetumal man dead. The man was shot in a shopping mall parking lot Saturday afternoon by a man disguised as a food delivery driver.

The victim was taken to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. He has been identified as 35 year old Cristopher N.

The shooting happened shortly before 2:00 p.m. while the man was walking to his parked vehicle. According to eye witnesses, a man on a motorcycle disguised as food delivery shot him in a targeted attack.

The victim was hit in the chest and fell to the ground between other parked cars. Police responding to the 9-1-1 reports transported the victim to the nearest hospital. Doctors at the naval hospital confirmed he had already died.

The victim was shot in the chest and pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. April 18, 2026.

Authorities have confirmed that the deceased is not a marine or in any way related to the Navy, only that he was taken to the navy hospital since it was the closed medical facility to the shooting.

Police say their primary line of investigation is mariticide by the victims former girlfriend, however, they are also investigating other motives into the mans murder.

In a statement Saturday, authorities said the Quintana Roo Attorney Generals Office (FGE Quintana Roo) reports the opening of an investigation into the events that occurred this afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center located in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco, where a man died as a result of gunshot wounds.

According to initial inquiries, the main line of investigation points to a possible crime of passion, however, the FGE is pursuing several other lines of inquiry in order to fully clarify the facts.

The State Attorney Generals Office reiterates its commitment to legality, the administration of justice and the zero impunity policy, to ensure that whoever is responsible is brought before the competent authorities.
Hungarian criminal listed as one of Europes Most Wanted fugitives captured in Cancun

Cancun, Q.R.  A European criminal local authorities have identified as Janos Balla has been captured living in Cancun. Mexican authorities say Janos Balla is considered one of Europes most wanted fugitives.

Omar Garcia Harfuch, the Secretary of Security of the Government of Mexico, identified Hungarian fugitive Janos Balla, alias Daniel Takacs, as being on Europes Top 10 list.

Derived from an exchange of information with Hungarian authorities, Janos Balla, alias Daniel Takacs, considered one of the 10 most wanted in Europe, was detained.

The FGR (General Attorney of the Republic) announced the arrest of Janos Balla Saturday. April 18, 2026.

He has a red notice from Interpol and an arrest warrant issued by Europol, Harfuch reported Saturday.

According to available information, Janos Balla was wanted by Hungarian authorities on drug trafficking charges. He was arrested Saturday during a targeted operation from Politecnico Avenue in the city of Cancun.

Police did not provide details surrounding his capture, nor did they say how long he is believed to have been living in Cancun.

As a result of information sharing with Hungarian authorities, Janos Balla, alias Daniel Takacs considered one of Europes 10 most wanted fugitives, was arrested. He is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and an arrest warrant issued by Europol, said the Secretary of Citizen Security (SSC) of Quintana Roo.

This arrest was a coordinated operation involving elements of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, the Attorney Generals Office, the Mexican Army, the Mexican Navy, the National Guard, the National Migration Institute and the Quintana Roo Secretariat of Citizen Security, the SSC added.

Janos Balla was captured while living in the city of Cancun, Quintana Roo as a fugitive from Hungarian authorities.

Following his arrest, Janos Balla was handed over to immigration authorities at the National Migration Institute (INM) for follow up on his controlled deportation back to Europe.
On the afternoon of April 15, 2026, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of Viet Nam To Lam in Beijing.

Zhao Leji noted that General Secretary and President Xi Jinping held sincere, friendly and fruitful talks and exchanges with you, charting the course for the development of China-Viet Nam relations. The two sides should implement the important common understandings reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, consolidate strategic mutual trust, accelerate the alignment of development strategies, and promote the steady and substantive building of the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future. Zhao Leji also briefed on the legislative progress of the Ecological and Environmental Code of the Peoples Republic of China and the National Development Planning Law of the Peoples Republic of China, among others, stating that the NPC of China stands ready to deepen exchanges and mutual learning on legislative experience with the National Assembly of Viet Nam, so as to facilitate practical cooperation between the two countries and their respective efforts to advance the rule of law.

To Lam said that Viet Nam warmly congratulates China on its tremendous development achievements under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Viet Nam is willing to deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance practical cooperation in various fields, and advance legislative exchanges with China.

Wang Dongming and Peng Qinghua were present at the meeting.
On the afternoon of April 15, 2026, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of Viet Nam To Lam, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Li Qiang stated that this morning, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping held talks with General Secretary and President To Lam, steering the course for further deepening the building of the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. As the global landscape is undergoing complex and evolving changes with rising instability and uncertainty, China and Viet Nam, as traditional neighbors and friends, should work together more closely in solidarity and cooperation. China stands ready to follow the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, firmly support each other, and deepen practical cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and make new contributions to promoting stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Li Qiang noted that China is ready to further align development strategies with Viet Nam, accelerate the connectivity of infrastructures such as standard-gauge railways, expressways and smart ports, expand and upgrade two-way trade and investment, jointly build secure and stable industrial and supply chains, create more cooperation highlights in fields such as artificial intelligence, new energy and critical minerals, jointly foster and strengthen new drivers of development, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes at a higher level. China stands ready to work with Viet Nam to design a series of activities for the China-Viet Nam Tourism Cooperation Year, further expand people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate and pass on the time-honored friendship between the two peoples. China and Viet Nam share similar views on the international order and extensive common interests. The two sides should further coordinate their positions within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), East Asia cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and work with all parties to jointly oppose unilateralism and power politics, uphold fairness and justice, and promote openness and win-win outcomes.

To Lam congratulated China on its major achievements in economic and social development, and stated that Viet Nam attaches great importance to and takes its relations with China as the top priority in its foreign policy. Viet Nam stands ready to work with China to promote sustainable economic links, especially railway cooperation, enhance trade, economic and investment cooperation, advance scientific, technological and educational training, strengthen international communication and coordination, resolve issues in bilateral cooperation, maintain maritime security and stability, enhance resilience against global security risks, bring the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries to a new height, and provide a solid material foundation for the continued development of the relations between the two Parties and two countries in the new stage.

Wu Zhenglong was present at the meeting.
On April 15, 2026, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang met with National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat.

Ding Xuexiang first conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of President Xi Jinping. He noted that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Chairman Berdimuhamedov, China-Turkmenistan relations have maintained rapid and sound development, achieving a leap forward from a friendly cooperative partnership to a strategic partnership, and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership. China stands ready to work with Turkmenistan to implement the important common understandings reached by the heads of state of the two countries, give full play to the role of the Chinese-Turkmen intergovernmental cooperation committee, and accelerate the development of bilateral cooperation across the board.

Ding Xuexiang stated that natural gas cooperation is a vivid example of win-win results in China-Turkmenistan relations. It has enjoyed steady growth and yielded fruitful results in recent years, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. Both sides should view natural gas cooperation from a higher strategic and long-term perspective, build on the positive momentum and seize the window of opportunity for cooperation, move toward each other, accelerate the implementation of major projects, expand the scale of natural gas cooperation, and continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of energy cooperation. At the same time, efforts should be made to further elevate cooperation in non-resource sectors such as connectivity, economy and trade, and investment, and expand cooperation in photovoltaic power, wind power, new energy vehicles, and artificial intelligence. China stands ready to continue to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Turkmenistan under the framework of the China-Central Asia mechanism, and support Turkmenistan, a permanently neutral country, in playing a greater role on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations.

Berdimuhamedov asked Ding Xuexiang to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, noting that his visit to China last month achieved practical outcomes and left warm memories. Turkmenistan abides by the one-China principle and supports Chinas territorial integrity and national reunification. China-Turkmenistan cooperation enjoys a solid political foundation. Turkmenistan stands ready to work with China to jointly implement the consensus reached, strengthen strategic alignment, actively expand energy cooperation, and continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges in connectivity, trade and investment, agriculture, people-to-people exchanges and other fields to benefit the two peoples. Turkmenistan appreciates Chinas support for its permanent neutrality policy and stands ready to strengthen coordination and collaboration with China in international affairs, and jointly safeguard regional prosperity and development as well as world peace and stability.
On the morning of April 19, 1995, Imad Enchassi drove to work at a shopping mall in Oklahoma City. Enchassi was the general manager of a buffet restaurant. As soon as he got in, he counted the money from the night before, then got ready to go to the bank and make a deposit.

Before he left, Enchassi looked out the window to make sure it was safe to take all that cash outside. Just then, he heard and felt a huge explosion. At first, he thought someone might be shooting at him, to try to steal the money. But when he opened the door and saw the sky filling with smoke, he knew it was a bombspecifically, a car bomb.

Enchassi had grown up in Lebanon, in a family of Palestinian refugees. As a child, he lived through a brutal civil war and survived a civilian massacre in his refugee camp. When we were little, we played name the caliber of this bomb,  he told me. It sounds odd, but when you grow up in a war-torn zone, those are your games that you play as a kid.

With the worst memories of his childhood flashing through his mind, Enchassi got behind the wheel of his pickup truckhe still had to go to the bank to make that deposit. On the radio, he heard early reports that the side of the federal building in downtown Oklahoma City had been blown away, that debris was everywhere, and that dozens of people were missing. It also seemed like the attack might not be over. The local news reported that a second bomb had been found, and then a third, and that both of them were larger than the first.

The truth was, there was just one bomb, and it had exploded in a truck parked outside of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. But on the morning of April 19, no one knew muchabout who had attacked Oklahoma City, or how, or why. And Enchassi, whod survived years of warfare in Lebanon, was scared. It was just deja vu, he said. This is what I ran away from.

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Several miles away, a friend of Enchassis experienced the blast very differently. Ibrahim Ahmad was getting ready to go to the airport when his wife heard a sound that she couldnt place. I remember I was on the phone when she said, There is a noise,  Ahmad said. She opened the door to see if somebody hit the car or something. And she said, Its nothing. 

Like Enchassi, Ahmad was in his early 30s and had grown up in the Middle East as a Palestinian refugee. On April 19, he was headed off to Jordan to see his family. He was traveling alone; his wife, Martina, was staying behind with their two young daughters. Ahmad was in a hurry that morning, hunting around for his socks before he kissed the kids goodbye. A relative drove him to the airport, and he got there in time to make his 10:40 a.m. connection to Chicago. That was the first leg on an itinerary that would take him to Rome and then his final destination, Amman.

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Ahmads plane landed at OHare in the early afternoon. As he walked into the terminal, he didnt know anything about what had happened back at home. What he did see, as he found the gate for his flight to Rome, was a chyron on a faraway TV: Breaking News: Oklahoma.

His first thought was that there mightve been an earthquake, and he worried that something mightve happened to his wife and kids. But Ahmad didnt get the chance to call them. A minute or two later, it was the Customs or the Immigration, he told me. They politely came and just told me, just, Would you come with us? 

That simple question was only the beginning of an unrelenting nightmare. Ahmad would be detained and interrogated. The media would connect his name to one of the most horrific crimes in American history. It would take him days to fully understand what had happened in Oklahoma, and what was happening to him. Now, more than three decades later, those days are a terrifying testament to what can follow a rush to judgment in Americaand how stereotypes can obscure the real dangers hiding in plain sight.

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This story was adapted from an episode of the One Year podcast. Evan Chung was the lead producer, Madeline Ducharme was the assistant producer, and there was additional production from Cheyna Roth. Listen to the full version:

When Ahmad got pulled aside at Chicagos OHare Airport, hed been living in the United States for 13 years. He first came to America on a student visa. His first stop in 1982 was Long Island, where he stayed with a friends uncle. When that man brought him to a fast-food restaurant and ordered hamburgers, Ahmad remembered, I told him, I dont eat pork. And then  they explained to me whats ham and whats hamburger.

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Ahmad wasnt in New York for long. A Jordanian company had gotten him admitted to a junior college in a tiny town in Oklahoma. At school, he made friends with a small group of Muslim students. They hung out, studied, and prayed together. They also aroused the suspicion of their white neighbors. One night, he was preparing for a calculus test when he heard a knock on the door. When he opened it, around 15, 20 guys push the door in my face and start beating me, beating me, beating me.

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After that attack, the colleges dean of international students advised Ahmad that hed be safer somewhere else. He ended up at a school outside Oklahoma City. It was there that he fell in love with his new home state, and started wearing boots and cowboy hats. Ahmad studied computer science, and in 1990 he became a U.S. citizen. Ahmad, his wife, and his two daughters eventually settled in uptown Oklahoma City, four miles northwest of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. You could make it in America, he told me. You could have a good job, and you can afford to save money and buy your own house.

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After all that, Ahmad didnt get rattled easily. So on April 19, 1995, when Customs and Immigration officials pulled him aside at the airport and started asking him questions, he felt confused but not scared. He suspected that they thought he might be carrying a phony passport, but he was happy to clear up any confusion.

Customs and Immigration were done with him after a couple of hours, but Ahmad wasnt free to go. A team of FBI agents came in with a new batch of questions. They wanted to know about the Arab and Muslim communities in Oklahoma, and whether he prayed at a mosque. He said that he did go to the mosque every Friday, and that he prayed and fasted and raised his children to be good Muslims. He told me that at this point, he wasnt worried at all. For me, I see it as an opportunity to explain to those people who may be ignorant, he said. Maybe they dont know enough about the Arab culture or the Muslim culture.

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The agents kept going, wanting to know about the vehicles he owned and how he paid for his plane ticket. They also asked Ahmad if hed ever been a part of any group that discussed violent activity against the United States. I, of course, told them Id never been part of any organization whatsoever, he said. When the agents asked specifically what he knew about the destruction of the federal office building in Oklahoma City, he said that he didnt know anything. All hed seen on that airport TV was that something bad had happened in Oklahoma.

Ahmad was in custody for five or six hours. He told me that when it was all over, the agents said they were sorry for keeping him. Since hed missed his connection to Rome, they rebooked him on a flight to London, so he could get to Jordan at roughly the same time as hed originally planned.

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When he got to Heathrow Airport, though, he learned that hed arrived too late to catch his next flight and there wouldnt be another one available for two more days. On his way out of the airport, Ahmad handed his documents to an immigration officer. And when he looked at my name, he asked me to wait, he said. A few minutes later, he came with I dont remember how many guys with guns.

These guys with guns told Ahmad to come with ushis second come with us in less than a day. But this one felt different. In London, he was taken to a small room, where he saw his photograph printed out on a piece of paper. Then the officershe didnt know which agency they were fromasked him to take off all his clothes. He told them that disrobing was a violation of his religious beliefs, but they insisted: He needed to take off everything, even his underwear.

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This is a total humiliation. You know, you become very angry from the inside, he told me. Were not in the jungle here. Youre treating me just like an animal now.

The strip search didnt turn up anything. Ahmad was allowed to put his clothes back on. And then he sat and waited in a locked room for what felt like forever, with no one telling him anything. Finally, after five hours, Ahmad got handcuffed and told he was under arrest. He was paraded through Heathrow Airport with his wrists in shackles, and escorted onto a plane by two FBI agents. Those agents sat behind him for the whole flight. He could feel every passenger in the cabin staring at him.

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Ahmad likely knew less about the bombing in Oklahoma City than anyone on that plane. The people detaining him werent sharing any information, and he still hadnt heard a news report. What he didnt realize was that millions of people around the world had been hearing all about him.

Ibrahim Ahmad and his friend Imad Enchassi were part of a small Muslim community in Oklahoma City. They worshipped in a two-bedroom apartment while the group raised money to build a more permanent mosquea spiritual home that would deepen their roots in their hometown.

On April 19, Enchassi felt shaken by the bomb that had just exploded in Oklahoma City, and by the memories it dredged up of his childhood in Lebanon. But that morning, he didnt have time to dwell on the attack. The buffet restaurant he managed opened at 11 a.m., less than two hours after the bombing.

One of his customers that day was a man Enchassi considered a friend, someone whod been to his house and sat at his dinner table. But on April 19, this man wasnt feeling friendly. He looked Enchassi in the eye and said, loudly, You people better have not done this.

After that interaction, Enchassi called his district manager and got permission to take the rest of the day off. Back at home, he stayed glued to the radio and TV. What he heard on the news wasnt any more comforting than what hed gone through at work. On the CBS Evening News, Connie Chung said that the attack was similar to the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and similar to attacks on U.S. forces in Beirut in the 1980s. Those supposed connections, she said, had investigators looking for a possible link to Middle East terrorists right here in the American Midwest.

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Chung was right: Federal investigators were looking for a link to Middle Eastern terrorism. Earlier that year, intelligence agencies had heard chatter that foreign extremists were planning a strike on the U.S. But early media reports after the bombing suggested something different: that Oklahoma itself was a hotbed of radical Islam. A former Oklahoma congressman named Dave McCurdy said that Muslim fundamentalists had been convening in the area. His source, he said, was a 1994 PBS documentary called Jihad in America.

The host of that documentary, Steven Emerson, was a former CNN reporter who left the network to devote his career to researching Islamic terrorism. In Jihad in America, Emerson used hidden-camera footage to try to build a case that jihadists were infiltrating Middle America. The documentary won a Polk Award, but it was also widely criticized for taking material out of context and making unsupported allegations. One critic said the documentary was creating mass hysteria against American Arabs.

Emerson and many others saw the attack on Oklahoma City as proof that hed been right. On April 19, as search-and-rescue teams dug through the rubble for survivors, Emerson became a sought-after TV pundit. On CBS, he said that the bombing was done with the attempt to inflict as many casualties as possible. That is a Middle Eastern trait.

Enchassi knew that his community was in the crosshairs. As he watched the news on the afternoon of the bombing, his fear became more intense. There were reports that police were looking for Middle Eastern men traveling in a pickup truck. Two Pakistani brothers were taken in for questioning in Dallas and Oklahoma City. And then, on April 20, word got out about an Arab American man whod flown out of Oklahoma City just after the attack, whod gotten detained in London, and was now being flown back to the United States.

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Although Ibrahim Ahmads story was all over the news, he hadnt yet been identified by name. CNN stationed a reporter at Dulles Airport in northern Virginia to send live updates from the runway where his flight was scheduled to land. While the network was careful to note that he had not been named a suspect, its minute-by-minute coverage suggested that this could be a major breakthrough. CNN described him as a man who may hold crucial clues to the bombing. They also said that his neighbors saw him leaving home with a large suitcase.

That evening, the story also got big play on ABC. That network revealed Ahmads name and reported that hed been traveling with three suitcases. His luggage had been searched, ABC said, and the contents sounded alarming: electric wires, silicone, pliers, and various other equipment that officials say could have been useful in building a bomb.

The stories kept on coming. The New York Times reported that Ahmads luggage also held a photograph album with pictures of military weapons, including missiles and armored vehicles. And CBS had an update from a senior law enforcement official: Ahmad fit the description of a man seen outside the federal building in Oklahoma City shortly before the blast.

On the night of April 20, both CBS and CNN showed a zoomed-in image of one of Ahmads luggage tags. It showed his name, address, and phone number. Nothing was blurred out.

Ahmads wife, Martina Ahmad, hadnt heard from him since hed left home for the airport. She did hear from the FBI. Agents questioned her for hours, asking about how theyd met and what her husband was up to in the days before the bombing. Now, major television networks had broadcast their address on prime-time television. Camera crews and angry Oklahomans showed up at their door.

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Martina was home with their 5- and 2-year-old daughters. When she poked her head outside to see what was going on, someone hissed at her to get out of town. That night, Martina and the children fled to Imad Enchassis house for safety. He told me that when he saw her, she was not scaredshe was terrified.

The Oklahoma City bombing had the whole country on edge. The attack had killed federal workers and people applying for Social Security cards. There was a day care center in the building; 15 of the 21 children there died in the blast. One of them had just had her first birthday the day before.

In the hours after the explosion, Oklahoma City and the nation were looking for reassurance. They were also hungry for a villain.

That anxiety and anger werent just directed toward Ibrahim Ahmad and his family. Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Royko wrote that Middle Easterners were likely to blame for the bombing. He wrote, President Clinton says we should be cautious about placing blame or taking action. OK. But when the time comes for punishment, it wouldnt be an eye for eye. Thats just a swap. We should take both eyes, ears, nose, the entire anatomy. Radio host Bob Grant told a Muslim caller hed like to put him up against a wall with the killers and execute you with them.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations recorded 222 incidents of harassment and violence against Muslims in the immediate aftermath of the bombing. Someone threw a fake bomb into the playground of a Muslim day care center in Dallas. A mosque in Stillwater, Oklahoma, got shot at two days in a row. And on April 20 in Oklahoma City, a group of assailants terrorized a pregnant Iraqi refugee, breaking windows at her home and shouting anti-Muslim insults. She had a miscarriage the next day.

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Ibrahim Ahmads family found their way to safety, with the help of Imad Enchassi. They had no idea what might happen to their husband and father, and when this was all going to end.

As Enchassi waited to learn his friends fate, a thought kept nagging at himan impulse he felt ashamed of, but found impossible to ignore.

When they said they found bomb-making material in his luggage, they were very convincing, he told me. The media has been so perceivably thorough in their investigation that I really suspected my own friend.

Ibrahim Ahmads return flight touched down at Dulles Airport around 8 p.m. on April 20. For the third time in a little more than a day, hed be placed inside a closed-off room. Before the FBI interrogated him, they asked him to sign a piece of paper. It said that he was waiving his right to an attorney, and that he hadnt been coerced.

Ahmad agreed to sign, so long as he was allowed to write down everything that had been done to him in Chicago and London. When he finished that account, he got driven to another location. There, he was given permission to make one phone call. He asked to be connected to his sister in Jordan, so he could tell her hed decided to reschedule his visit.

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On that call, Ahmad was making up a story to protect his family from worry. He didnt know that his sister and everyone else in Jordan had heard about him on the news. Besides, Ahmads sister told him later that his voice had betrayed his fear. You try to be calm as much as you can, but there are some things that you cannot help, he told me.

After Ahmad got off the phone, the interrogation began. This time, all the questions were about his three pieces of checked luggage. Ahmads bags had gone on without him to Rome, one of the cities on his original itinerary. News outlets around the world reported what Italian officials had found inside his bags: electronics, tools, and tubes of silicone. According to media reports, those were possible bomb-making materials.

I asked Ahmad to tell me what he remembered about those bags, and what hed stuffed inside them. Typical person coming from Third World and come to a Western country, he said. You buy, like, the maximum, because everything you buy in the United States is really, really good quality.

Among the items he packed were two or three wireless phones, multiple car stereos, and a bunch of Craftsman tools. (A lifetime warranty on those things, he told me.) The tubes of silicone, he said, were for his father, who was having problems with a leaky sink. He keeps buying cheap stuff because thats the thing available in Jordan, Ahmad told me. So he said, Since you are coming, why dont you get me that good silicone from the United States? 

It wasnt just the silicone that media outlets had branded suspicious and sinister. There was also that New York Times report about him carrying pictures of military weapons. Ahmad said that those were photos from a trip to see his brother-in-law, who was training at a U.S. military base. This was in Aberdeen, Maryland. I went to visit him. And so they had, I think, tanks and rockets, maybe from World War II, he said. And those pictures happened to [be] in the album and the album was in the luggage.

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All these things inside Ahmads luggage were likely the main reason he got strip-searched in London and sent back to the U.S. in handcuffs. Its what the media seized on, in reports that made it sound like he could be a terrorist. Its also what caused Enchassi to suspect that his friend might have something to do with the bombing.

Ahmad explained everything to the federal agents: the photographs, the electronics, the tools, and the stuff hed bought to try and solve his fathers plumbing problems. They asked me, Do you know anything about silicone? I said, The only thing about silicone, its good to use around the sink. Thats the only thing I know. 

The agents questioning Ahmad believed he was telling the truththat these were not bomb-making materials. Everything else that he said checked out, too. He was not, as CBS had suggested, seen outside the federal building shortly before the blast. He was just a family man from Oklahoma City whod been on his way to visit relatives in the Middle East.

Ahmad said the agents told him, You are innocent. They bought him a ticket to go back home to Oklahoma City, and told him hed be traveling under a pseudonym because his name had been leaked to the media. When he asked where that leak had come from, they didnt give him an answer.

This time, Ahmads itinerary was D.C. to Nashville to Oklahoma City. In the Nashville airport, he found himself alongside a group of firemen heading to Oklahoma to help with the rescue. He overheard them talking about a Middle Eastern man whod been brought back from London for questioning in the U.S. But they didnt knowthis is the person! he told me. I am listening to a story about myself.

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It was there, in Nashville, 48 hours after the bombing, that he first began to piece together what had happened in Oklahoma. A bomb had destroyed a federal building. Scores of people were killed. The nation was in mourning.

Ahmad finally made it back to Oklahoma City on Friday, April 21. When he got to his house, his wife wasnt there, but her brother was. He told me she went into hiding. I said, Hiding from what? 

Martinas brother told Ahmad that shed been interrogated by the FBI, that their address had been broadcast on the news, and that Martina had taken their girls to a safe place. Ahmads wife and daughters had stayed with Enchassi, then moved on to the house of another friend. Around midnight, Ahmad went there to reunite with his family.

When they opened the door and she saw me, she really dropped, like unconscious, he said. I think what she went through is much harder than what I went through. For her the uncertainty was the biggest thing.

Ahmads 5-year-old daughter couldnt stop crying, even after he returned home. She said that she didnt understand why all those angry people had been outside their house. Ahmad told her that those people had thought he was a killer, and that he didnt know why. But he told her not to worry. He said: Im safe now, youre safe, and Ive got nothing to do with all this stuff.

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Ahmad and his family finally made it back to their house early on Saturday, April 22. When he turned on the news, he learned that the real Oklahoma City bomber had been publicly identified.

Timothy McVeigh had been pulled over for a traffic violation less than an hour and a half after the bombingjust a few minutes before Ahmads flight to Chicago. Police took McVeigh into custody when they found he was carrying an illegal gun. In the meantime, the FBI traced the truck used in the bombing to a rental facility in Kansas. A sketch artist made drawings of the two white men who rented it. McVeigh was hours away from potentially making bail when a lawyer recognized him from one of those sketches.

McVeigh was arrested in connection with the bombing on the afternoon of April 21. Ahmads release from custody became public the same day. His exoneration did not make big headlines. The Washington Post mentioned it in the 36th and final paragraph of its front-page story on McVeighs arrest. Now your story is gone. Its history. Your story is nothing, Ahmad told me. You are completely forgotten. Nobody is talking about what happened to you and your family.

For Imad Enchassi, it was hard to see his friends release and Timothy McVeighs arrest as anything but an enormous relief. But there was one thing that he needed to do before he got closure. After Ahmad got home, Enchassi sat his friend down and made a confession:

Couldnt look him in the eye, ashamed, looking down. I was, in a very hesitant voice, told him, you know, The media was very strong in condemning you, in pointing the finger towards you, that, you know, some of the people here actually, including me, thought maybe you have done it. And I begged for his forgiveness. And he forgave me for that.

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After 9/11, Enchassi felt a calling to become an imam. He wanted to spread peace and understanding, and to promote a positive image of his faith in the media. Hes now the senior imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City. Hes given sermons on the doubts he felt about Ahmad after the Oklahoma City bombing. He tells that story as a reminder not to rush to judgment. He thinks about that lesson every time he sees his friend. Ibrahim was here a few days ago, actually, he told me in 2021, and I swear I could still not look him in the eye.

The date of the Oklahoma City bombing, April 19, had special significance for McVeigh and his collaborator Terry Nichols. It was the second anniversary of an event that had helped stoke the American militia movement: the federal raid in Waco, Texas, that ended with the Branch Davidian compound burning and 76 people dead. That connection, which pointed to anti-government domestic terrorists, didnt get major media attention in the hours after the attack on Oklahoma City. The bogus connection to the Middle East did.

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One of the experts whod touted that Middle Eastern link, former congressman Dave McCurdy, said he was sorry if anyone thought hed jumped the gun, but he continued to insist that Islamic extremists had met in Oklahoma City. Steven Emerson, the producer of the documentary Jihad in America, said hed done nothing wrong in declaring a possible link to Middle Eastern terrorism. I have never referred to American Muslims as the subjects of somebody who should be investigated, he explained. Ive always said very precisely that militant Islamic terrorists and suspects are the ones that should be investigated. Emerson is now the executive director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, which calls itself the worlds most comprehensive data center on radical Islamic terrorist groups.

After McVeigh got caught, news outlets had to reckon with the choices they made in the hours after the bombing. CNN had broadcast the names of four individual Muslim men who had nothing to do with the bombing. One of them was Ibrahim Ahmad.

CNNs executive vice president stood by the networks choices, saying they were not in the business of keeping secrets from our viewers. CNNs Wolf Blitzer said on the air that the network was just reporting what we hear from reliable sources. His colleague Bruce Morton noted that everybody made a serious, good-faith effort to get this right, and the Arab Americans were right to be sensitive. Theyve been victimized before, but this came out pretty evenly, I think.

In 1996, on the first anniversary of the bombing, a number of journalists checked in on Ahmad. He said that his life was in shambles. An NBC reporter gave this rundown: Part-time jobs, shunned by neighbors, counseling for him and his wife, and a family divided. He sent his daughter to Jordan to escape the attention. Ahmad himself told ABC, Its changed our life forever. We dont feel we are welcome in this country anymore. He said that hed been having a recurring nightmare. He was in a courtroom, and a judge told him, You killed those people, and were going to hang you.

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Ahmad filed a lawsuit against the government, saying that hed been detained because of his ethnic heritage. He eventually dropped that case, though, and in our conversations, he wanted to focus on the positive things that happened after his detention. People left flowers on his doorstep and sent his family notes of sympathy and solidarity. Hes held onto those letters for decades, from a womens Bible study group, a Sunday school class, and a man who offered to paint his house for free.

Ahmad left America in 1999, to be closer to his aging parents in the Middle East. When I checked in with him recently, though, he was back living in the United States, splitting his time between Denver and Oklahoma City. He has children in both cities, and his main focus now is to make sure theyre supported. He also wants them to be proud of who they are, and proud to be Americans.

Nobodys going to take that from you, he told me. Theres people who dont understand, but thats not the majority of Americans. Dont be shy to be an Arab or to be a Muslim in this country.
Anthropic released a new model, Opus 4.7. Some users on X and Reddit aren't happy with it.

Critics say that Opus 4.7 makes mistakes, is "combative," and burns through tokens.

Other users say that the costs are worth it. Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan is a fan.

Anthropic says its new AI model, Opus 4.7, should feel "more intelligent, agentic, and precise." Some users aren't feeling the joy.

The backlash to the new Claude model  a relatively rare occurrence for an AI product many view as the gold standard in AI  has gained traction on social media.

Anthropic is coming off months of widespread public celebration. The technical chops of Claude Code and Claude Cowork have boosted the company's image, and chatbot fans have long admired Claude's writing abilities. After the company's fight with the Department of Defense, Claude went No. 1 in the App Store.

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But hot on the heels of Anthropic users fretting that the previous model, Opus 4.6, had been "nerfed," the early reactions to 4.7 indicate Anthropic has a growing Claude backlash on its hands.

What are people saying about Opus 4.7?

There are examples of supposed Opus 4.7 flubs across social media.

One Reddit post titled, "Claude Opus 4.7 is a serious regression, not an upgrade," has 2,300 upvotes. An X user's suggestion that Opus 4.7 wasn't really an improvement over Opus 4.6 got 14,000 likes.

In one informal but popular test of AI intelligence, Opus 4.7 appears to say that there were two Ps in "strawberry." Another user screenshot shows it saying that it didn't cross reference because it was "being lazy." Some Redditors found that Opus 4.7 was rewriting their resumes with new schools and last names. Multiple X users posited that Opus 4.7 had simply gotten dumber.

Some X users have suggested the culprit is the AI model's reasoning times. Anthropic says the new "adaptive reasoning" function lets the model decide when to think for longer or shorter periods. One user wrote that they couldn't "get Opus 4.7 to think." Another wrote that it "nerfs performance."

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"Not accurate," Anthropic's Boris Cherny, the creator of Claude Code, responded. "Adaptive thinking lets the model decide when to think, which performs better."

In other cases, Anthropic has acknowledged there's room for improvement.

After one user specifically flagged issues with the adaptive reasoning on the Claude website, an Anthropic product manager responded that the team was "sprinting on tuning this more internally and should have some updates here shortly."

Gergely Orosz, the writer of the "Pragmatic Engineer" newsletter, posted a screenshot of Claude not knowing what OpenClaw was. Cherny chimed in to ask whether he had "web search" enabled. He hadn't, it turned out, but Orosz wrote that he had never "touched it" before.

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Orosz also said he found the model "surprisingly combative." (He "gave up" and returned to Opus 4.6.) Others found that the model refused to code certain prompts or put up safety flags on simple images.

Opus 4.7 can also use up a whole lot more tokens. The model has a new tokenizer, which means that one input can cost roughly 1.01.35x as many tokens as it would with a previous model.

After its release, one X user said that Claude Pro subscribers could ask only three questions before hitting their limit. Another user noticed that Opus 4.7 was priced at a 7.5x premium in GitHub Copilot until the end of April. "Yeeaaah I'll stick to 4.6 for now," they wrote.

Cherny later announced that Anthropic was increasing subscriber rate limits "to make up for it."

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Those upset with Opus 4.7 may look back to an old model like 4.5  only to find that it's gone. One Reddit thread is full of self-described "heartbroken" and "grieving" fans of 4.5.

It's not unusual for AI companies to face user pushback when depreciating an older model that proved popular  look no further than when OpenAI took away GPT-4o.

As was the case with OpenAI's popular 4o model, some fans have turned to trying to bargain with Anthropic.

"Please open back support for Opus 4.5," one Redditor wrote under Anthropic's post. "4.6 is unusable and 4.7 eats usage like nuclear reactor."

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Anthropic did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Do people like Opus 4.7?

Not everyone is put off by the resulting pricing. "Opus 4.7 is burning through tokens like nobody's business, but it's gooooooooood," one X user wrote.

Anthropic says that 4.7 is "a notable improvement on Opus 4.6 in advanced software engineering, with particular gains on the most difficult tasks."

"Users report being able to hand off their hardest coding workthe kind that previously needed close supervisionto Opus 4.7 with confidence," the AI company wrote in its announcement.

While some users threaten to leave for OpenAI's models, others are singing Opus 4.7's praises. Startup founder Jeremy Howard described it as "the first model that 'gets' what I'm doing when I'm working."

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Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan wrote that he's using it for his OpenClaw, and Cursor designer Ryo Lu said he uses it for planning.

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For those still skeptical of Opus 4.7, Anthropic seems to be tinkering amid the feedback.

"A lot of bugs that folks may have hit yesterday when first trying Opus 4.7 are now fixed," Anthropic staffer Alex Albert wrote on Friday. "Thanks for bearing with us."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Despite the months-long feud between Anthropic and the Pentagon, the National Security Agency is using the AI company's new Mythos Preview, according to Axios, which spoke to two sources with knowledge of the matter. Anthropic announced Mythos Preview at the beginning of April, describing it as a general-purpose language model that is "strikingly capable at computer security tasks." But back in February, Trump ordered all government agencies to stop using Anthropic's services after the company refused to budge on certain safeguards for military uses during contract talks.

The news comes days after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and other officials, reportedly to discuss Mythos. The White House later said the meeting on Friday was "productive and constructive," though President Trump said he had "no idea" about it when asked by reporters, Reuters reports. According to Axios' sources, the NSA is one of the roughly 40 organizations Anthropic gave access to Mythos Preview, and one said it's "being used more widely within the department" too.

The company is still embroiled in a legal battle with the US government. Anthropic filed lawsuits against the Department of Defense in two courts in March after the Trump administration labeled it a "supply chain risk," and the Pentagon filed a response shortly after. While Anthropic was granted a preliminary injunction by one court to temporarily block this designation, federal judges in the other denied its motion to lift the label.
The one thing scammers check before targeting you online

Most people assume scammers need to hack something. A database. A password. A bank system. They don't.

In most cases, everything a scammer needs to target you is already sitting online, publicly available, completely legal to access and surprisingly easy to find.

Here's what they're actually looking at before they ever pick up the phone.

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Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

There's an entire industry built around collecting and selling your personal information. It's called data brokering, and most people have never heard of it.

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Right now, without your knowledge or consent, your details are being published by dozens of websites, including:

People search sites (like Whitepages, Spokeo and BeenVerified): your full name, current address, phone numbers and age.

Address lookup tools : your current and past home addresses, sometimes going back decades.

Relatives databases : the names and contact information of your family members, automatically linked to your profile.

Property records: whether you own your home, what it's worth and when you bought it.

None of this requires a hack. It's all pulled from public records, voter registrations, court filings, real estate transactions, marriage and divorce records and assembled into a profile that anyone can search for a few dollars or sometimes for free.

In 2024, federal prosecutors indicted a network of scam call centers operating out of Montreal that had defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans out of more than $21 million. What made the scheme so effective wasn't sophisticated technology. It was a spreadsheet.

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The scammers were working from lists of potential victims that included names, ages and household income information pulled from commercial databases. They used those lists to identify targets, then called them pretending to be grandchildren in trouble. The calls were convincing enough that victims handed over thousands of dollars, sometimes in cash picked up at the door.

They didn't hack anyone. They just did their research first.

Why Widows And Divorced Women Are Targets For Retirement Scams

Scammers use your publicly available data to make their attacks more personal, believable and harder to detect. Here are three ways they do it.

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A scammer calls and says, "Hi, this is fraud prevention at [your bank]. We're seeing suspicious activity on your account ending in 4721."

They already know your bank, your name and possibly your address. That's enough to sound legitimate. From there, they walk you through "confirming your identity," which is really just you handing over the information they need to access your account.

This kind of scam starts with a simple people search lookup. Your name and address lead to property records. Property records suggest your income range.

Imagine getting a call: "Meemaw, it's me. I'm in trouble. Please don't tell Mom." Scammers don't guess. Instead, they research your family first. They use relatives' databases to find your children's names, ages and connections.

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With that information, they build a story that sounds real. For example, they know to call you "Meemaw." They also know which grandchild to impersonate. In some cases, they even mention a sibling's name to make the story more convincing.

As a result, the call feels personal and urgent. However, none of it is random. It's all based on information that was publicly available the entire time.

A phishing email that says "Dear Customer" is easy to ignore. One that says "Dear [your full name], we noticed unusual activity on your account registered to [your home address]" is a lot harder to dismiss.

Scammers use publicly available data to personalize attacks, adding your real name, city or even a reference to your neighborhood to make a fake email or text look authentic. The more specific the details, the more likely you are to believe it.

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"But I'm not on social media." This is the most common objection, and it misses the point entirely.

You don't have to be on social media for your information to be online. Data brokers pull from public records, not your Facebook profile. Your information is likely already listed on dozens of sites because of:

Your home purchase

Voter registration records

Court or property tax filings.

The less they think they've shared, the more surprised people usually are when they search for themselves on a people search site for the first time.

Data Brokers Accused Of Hiding Opt-out Pages From Google

You don't have to accept this as permanent. A few practical steps can help:

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Search your full name on Whitepages, Spokeo, FastPeopleSearch and other people search sites and submit opt-out requests.

Look up your address directly, not just your name, since many listings are organized by location.

Ask elderly family members to search for themselves, too, since older adults are disproportionately targeted.

Be skeptical of any call that opens with personal details, as it can be a sign that someone researched you first.

The challenge is that there are hundreds of data broker sites, each with its own removal process. Manually opting out of all of them can take hours, and your information often reappears weeks later when brokers refresh their databases.

That's why ongoing automated removal is the only approach that actually works. That's why I recommend using a trusted data removal service.

These services automatically contact data brokers on your behalf and request the removal of your personal information. They also continue monitoring those sites and submit new removal requests if your data reappears.

Many services remove personal data from hundreds of data broker and people search websites, and some plans allow you to request removals from additional sites as needed.

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Some have also received third-party assurance from independent firms, helping validate their claims.

The goal is simple: make it much harder for strangers, scammers and cybercriminals to find your personal information online.

These services often include a money-back guarantee, so you can try them risk-free and see how much of your information is exposed online.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

Most scams don't start with a breach. They start with a search. Your name, address, relatives and even income clues are already out there, quietly fueling more convincing and more dangerous attacks. That's what makes this so unsettling. You can do everything "right" online and still be exposed because the system itself is built to share your information.

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The good news is you're not powerless. Once you understand how scammers build their playbook, you can start disrupting it. Removing your data, limiting exposure and staying skeptical of anyone who knows a little too much about you can dramatically reduce your risk. The goal isn't to disappear completely. It's to make yourself a much harder target.

What should be done to stop scammers from using your publicly available data against you in the first place? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

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For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.





Original article source: The one thing scammers check before targeting you online
Khasif Hoda was waiting for a train in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when he had an encounter he clearly remembers almost two years later.

A young man with weird-looking glasses asked him for directions and walked away.

A few minutes later, the man approached him again, addressed him by name and asked about his work on minorities in India.

There was something that was unsettling, if you will, about this whole interaction, he said.

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Hoda soon found out that the moment was being recorded on those weird glasses. He was included in a video, viewed more than 1.2 million times on X, that demonstrated how easy it is to record and identify complete strangers in near-real time.

In that video, technology was used behind-the-scenes to identify Hoda  it wasn't seamlessly incorporated into the glasses. But privacy groups fear its just a matter of time.

On April 13, more than 75 advocacy groups issued a letter saying the wearable tech represents a dystopian privacy invasion that is a serious threat to privacy and civil liberties for every member of our society.

The letter was in response to reports that Meta plans to add real-time facial recognition to its smart glasses.

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Objections to the tech include:

Real-time facial recognition could be used by stalkers, scammers and abusers to identify and track their victims.

The glasses are already used to record people without their consent.

The technology could be adopted by law enforcement to surveil immigrants, people of color and nonviolent protesters.

Meta glasses dont currently include tech that can identify people in real time, but they do allow for discreet recording, leading to a host of privacy and legal questions. Other companies also make wearable tech, but Meta's high-profile partnership with sunglasses brands Oakley and Ray-Ban has attracted significant attention and scrutiny.

The company referred USA TODAY to previous statements saying it is still thinking through options regarding facial recognition, and that per its terms of service, users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and for using Ray-Ban Meta glasses in a safe, respectful manner.

The glasses  which allow users to send texts, make calls, listen to music and even translate text  have an LED light that Meta says makes it clear the device is recording. Others say the light can easily be missed or disabled.

Is secret recording with Meta glasses allowed?

Whether someone can record another person without their consent and post that video online depends heavily on where they are and the broader context of the situation, according to Woodrow Hartzog, a professor at Boston University law school.

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Even though people often say theres no such thing as privacy in public, the truth is a lot more complicated, said Hartzog, who works in privacy and technology law.

Some states require everyone involved in a conversation to give consent for it to be recorded, he said. And there are several ways someone can sue in civil court for an invasion of their privacy, even if the interaction happened in public. Someone could be held liable if they publicly disclose certain private facts, depict someone in a false light, misappropriate their likeness for a commercial purpose or intrude upon their seclusion in a way that's considered "highly offensive to a reasonable person," Hartzog said.

Meta said in a statement that "as with any recording device, people shouldn't use them for engaging in harmful activities like harassment, infringing on privacy rights, or capturing sensitive information."

As technology advances, the law is starting to catch up, albeit slowly, Hartzog said. In February, one California state senator introduced a bill that would specifically prohibit secret recordings with wearable devices like smart glasses in businesses and ensure the recording lights are always visible.

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Smart glasses have also been banned in certain locations, including Philadelphia courtrooms and the public areas of some cruise ships. Airmen are not allowed to wear them while in uniform, according to the Air Force. And the University of San Francisco issued a public safety warning to students after a man wearing Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses was suspected of filming women with the intention of posting the videos online.

Its not clear how often people actually get into trouble for using this technology. Julian Sarafian, an influencer and attorney for content creators, said hes never dealt with a legal issue related to hidden camera videos, even though most creators dont have people in their videos sign waivers granting them the right to use and monetize the footage the way media companies often do.

There are some people out there who have tried to claim that their copyright is being violated and therefore they need to be compensated for it, but the success on that has been very minimal from what Ive seen, he said.

Why smart glasses are so hard to spot

Smart glasses can be tricky to identify because there are many different styles and they look so much like regular glasses. Even if you do correctly spot a pair, it can be tough to tell if they are recording.

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The glasses produced by Meta in collaboration with Oakley and Ray-Ban are among the most common, with more than 7 million pairs sold in 2025, according to eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. Google has announced it is launching its own pair of AI-powered glasses in collaboration with Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

One tool that can help identify them is an app that detects nearby smart glasses using Bluetooth data. More than 100,000 people have downloaded Nearby Glasses, according to creator Yves Jeanrenaud.

Jeanrenaud stressed that he is not a professional developer, so the app isnt perfect (false positives can occur when VR headsets produced by the same manufacturer are nearby, for example). And it doesnt confirm someone is secretly recording: not all smart glasses have cameras and a wearer could be using them for something else.

Still, he hopes the app will give people some peace of mind.

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There are a lot of people that are affected by this kind of technology, and like I said as scholars have shown one time after another, women and various minorities, especially queer people, are a main target of such privacy-invading technology, said Jeanrenaud, a professor at Osnabruck University of Applied Sciences whose research interests include gender and science, technology, engineering and math.

Meta glasses have an LED light in the corner opposite the camera lens which should automatically turn on when the user is filming. But that light can be hard to spot, particularly for people who are blind or have low vision, and can potentially be covered or disabled with the help of tutorials available online.

Toluwa Omitowoju learned just how hard to detect this technology can be after a stranger secretly recorded her while she was waiting at the airport in Washington, DC, in late 2025. As an owner of Meta glasses herself, Omitowoju said she noticed the man was wearing smart glasses, but she doesnt remember seeing a light indicating they were recording.

The video ended up on social media, prompting friends and even strangers to ask her about it.

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This guy has exposed me to where people feel like they can just come up to me and shove things in my face, she said. So, I felt very violated.

Omitowoju said she still sees value in smart glasses, noting that they can help people who are visually impaired like her grandfather. But the incident underscored the potential dangers.

There needs to be more thought put into how we can protect  especially women  but just protect people and protect our rights in terms of our image being used without our permission, she said.

Facial recognition tech amps up privacy fears

The New York Times reported in February that Meta is planning to integrate facial recognition technology into its smart glasses, drawing even more scrutiny from advocates and lawmakers.

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U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Edward J. Markey warned the companys sweeping access to personal information makes the technology uniquely dangerous and the deployment would erode longstanding expectations of privacy in public spaces.

In the hands of a bad actor, this technology could be a remarkably powerful and dangerous tool, the senators, all Democrats, wrote in a letter to Meta Chair and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Hartzog said lawmakers need to create more specific rules tailored to the unique threat posed by the combination of facial recognition and nearly undetectable surveillance technology before it becomes ubiquitous. Those laws need to target not only people using the technology, but also the companies behind it, he said.

A lot of these conversations tend to focus on, Is it OK to use these glasses or this tool to surveil other people? he said. What often gets lost in this conversation is, Is it OK for companies to design these really socially hostile tools in ways that will foreseeably lead to massive violations of privacy?

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meta glasses backlash grows; 'unsettling' secret recordings reported
Southwest Airlines' new seating policy for plus-size passengers has sparked debate on social media.

One flyer's encounter with the policy change highlighted issues for plus-size travelers at airports.

Southwest's new policy requires plus-size flyers to pay for an extra seat.

Southwest Airlines' new approach to plus-size seating is leading to awkward encounters at the gate  and backlash from some travelers.

Kenny Slack, a 36-year-old hairstylist based in Houston, was traveling home from Kansas City after a work trip in March. He told Business Insider that he travels multiple times a week for his job and hasn't needed an extra seat on a flight since last year. He weighed 420 pounds and has since lost significant weight.

When he arrived at the airport in Kansas City for his Southwest flight, he didn't expect any issues. Then, at the gate, Slack said he was told he'd need to buy an extra seat to board.

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"This was all happening with people in line right behind me trying to check their bags," Slack said. "They didn't even have the courtesy to pull me to the side; it was just happening in front of everybody."

Slack said he told the gate agent he didn't need to purchase an extra seat on his Southwest flight to Kansas City. After speaking with multiple agents, Slack said, he was able to board his flight without paying hundreds of dollars for another ticket.

He shared his story on TikTok, and the video has since reached over 2 million views and thousands of comments.

Southwest changed its "customers of size" policy in January, nixing an earlier one that some plus-size travelers who needed extra accommodations hailed among the best in the industry. The airline made the switch as part of a wave of policy changes, including the introduction of assigned seating and checked-bag fees.

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The rollout is bringing the challenges of flying as a plus-sized person back into the spotlight.

Several other travelers have posted on TikTok about experiences similar to Slack's on Southwest. One said they were told they'd have to exit the plane if they boarded without paying for an extra seat.

Not everyone is upset. One passenger Business Insider spoke with said that following the new guidelines put her mind at ease when she would otherwise be stressed about flying.

The policy, which the airline said it began communicating to customers about on its website last year, tells passengers who may need an extra seat "to let us know in advance of their day of travel so we can do our best to accommodate their needs," a Southwest spokesperson said.

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The airline also said it speaks directly with customers of size in the event that a full flight would result in passengers being rebooked on a later flight. The company did not comment on how it's training its staff on those communications.

The new policy implemented a 'fat tax,' a frequent flyer said

Southwest used to have one of the best policies for plus-size travelers.

Influencer Samyra Miller said Southwest would accommodate her as a customer of size under the previous policy, with an extra seat at no additional cost. Most other airlines required her to pay for an extra seat.

Now, Miller said, Southwest is "basically charging a fat tax."

The change at Southwest stems from the airline's recent move to offer assigned seats.

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"With assigned seating, adjacent seats may sometimes already be occupied," the Southwest spokesperson said.

While Southwest doesn't list size requirements for passengers, it lists the dimensions of its seats in its policy. According to the rule, the armrests on the seat are the boundary markers between seats.

"Southwest may determine, in its sole discretion, that an additional seat is necessary for safety purposes," the policy states, adding that the decision is up to employees.

If you don't purchase ahead of time, you'll be required to pay for an extra seat at the fare available on the day of travel. If your flight isn't full, you may be eligible for a refund for the seat you purchased.

Some passengers found comfort in the new rules

Southwest's new rules aren't far off from what other airlines require for plus-size passengers. Many of them list their seat dimensions on their websites and require passengers who don't comfortably fit to purchase an extra seat.

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For some travelers, the simple solution is to pay for the additional seat in advance and hope for a refund.

Stephanie Massouda, 33, saw the online conversations about Southwest's new policy and decided to buy her extra seat up front to avoid a public callout during her trip in March. She'd never flown Southwest before the rule changed out of hesitation over the open seating practice.

"It kind of intimidated me," Massouda told Business Insider. "Flying while fat, there's already so many considerations that you have to keep in mind."

With other airlines, Massouda said she keeps an eye on seating arrangements leading up to her trip to ensure there's an open seat next to her on the plane. Her Southwest experience was the first time she'd ever purchased an extra seat.

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"I had seen some of the horror stories coming out, and I did not want to be put in that position at all," Massouda said.

Under the new policy, Massouda could guarantee comfort by getting a seat in advance. However, she wasn't sure that she would get her cash back for being on a flight that was 95% full.

Massouda said she was eventually refunded within 30 days after requesting it from Southwest. She avoided an awkward conversation and got her money back.

She told Business Insider that she would fly Southwest again. She said the old open-seating policy felt like a free-for-all "brawl" for seats, which seemed more stressful than other airlines.

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"I honestly think that if they hadn't done this policy change, I wouldn't have flown with them," Massouda said.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at jhart@insider.com or Signal at jordanhart.99. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Flights between Guernsey and Heathrow have been launched [Hannah McKay]

A British Airways plane has taken off from London Heathrow, marking the start of a new daily, yearround service between Guernsey and the UK's biggest airport.

The inaugural flight is the only direct route linking Guernsey with Heathrow.

The Committee for Economic Development is supporting the route with an unspecified amount of public subsidy to encourage business and tourism.

The captain and four members of the cabin crew on the flight have roots in Guernsey or close family ties to the island.

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Neil Chernoff, chief planning and strategy officer at British Airways, said the route was an "important addition to our network, strengthening connectivity between the Channel Islands and London, and opening access to further destinations across Europe, North America and beyond".

Flights start from 96 return, including taxes, and will operate daily from Heathrow Terminal 5.

In 2019, Guernsey's States launched a daily direct service between Guernsey and Heathrow, marking the first such link in over 20 years.

The route was subsidised by the States of Guernsey with 825,000 in funding and ceased in March 2020, coinciding with Flybe's collapse.

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Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.

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Tourism officials say fewer tourists are coming to Switzerland, Austria and Great Britain due to the Iran war.

Guests from Asia cancelled in March, partly because flights via hubs in the Middle East such as Dubai were cancelled, Switzerland Tourism spokesman Andre Aschwanden told dpa. New bookings were also declining.

"This is all the more unfortunate because it is currently the high season in the Gulf states and also in India or South-East Asia for travel to Europe and Switzerland," he said.

Key Swiss spots hit

The impact is being felt in Zurich, Thomas Wuthrich, director of Zurich Tourism, told dpa.

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"Feedback from the catering sector, retail and other tourist services shows that the absence of international guests was already noticeable in March," he said.

The problem was a general uncertainty about international travel, he said, leaving bookings for the summer and autumn depressed.

In Lucerne, around two thirds were reporting "a declining booking trend", said Jessica Ternes from the Hotellerie Suisse Central Switzerland association.

"Businesses with a high share of group travellers from Asia and guests from the Gulf states are particularly affected," she said.

Travel to Great Britain sharply lower

Great Britain is usually a magnet for guests from the Middle East. Almost a third of the big-spending tourists from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who travelled to Europe went to Great Britain, the tourism organization VisitBritain reported.

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But since the war started on February 28, flight bookings from the Middle East have dropped 50% and those from India are down by a third, it said. Bookings through to July were significantly below the level of the previous year. Tourists are still waiting to see how the situation developed.

Austrian Alps, Vienna affected too

Austria is also feeling the effects of the war. Destinations such as Salzburg, Tyrol and in some cases Vienna were particularly affected by a sharp decline from the Near and Middle East, the spokesman for the Austrian hotel association said.

Some upmarket hotels in Vienna had 20% fewer guests.

Missing guests did not just mean empty beds but also less revenue not only for the hotel sector: Arab guests in Austria spent around three times as much money per day as tourists on average.

Few worries in Italy and Spain

Italy has seen hardly any significant declines and is not expecting that to change. Traditionally, most guests there come from Europe as well as North and South America.

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In Spain, there are also no concerns about the war so far, according to the travel industry umbrella association Exceltur.

Spain could benefit if the Iran war is short. Otherwise, negative consequences would probably outweigh the positives, Exceltur believes. As a particularly safe country, it could attract more tourists.

At the same time, the association warned that fewer people might travel because of rising hotel and flight prices and strained household budgets.
You are blessed and highly favoured.

Thats the uplifting message teenage award-winning gospel entertainer Alyssa Joseph is sharing through her latest release Favor.

Alyssa declares victory in the inspiring new song, which centres on walking in Gods favour even when others try to block your blessings.

At a time when many people are facing uncertainty and pressure, Alyssa offers reassurance through a message of divine reversal. She sings:
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Cuong Phat Food Co, the entity linked to a ring involved in the slaughter and distribution of diseased pork to several schools in Hanoi. Photo: Dinh Hieu

Parents have been outraged and worried about their children. The mood is understandable, representing millions of parents, who when sending their children to school every morning, have faith that the semi-boarding meal at school is safe and strictly controlled.

That trust is even more significant given that, according to the Hanoi Department of Health, the city manages 2,181 public schools serving more than 1 million meals daily.

A meal system of such scale, if properly operated, is not merely a logistical service but also a reflection of modern urban governance.

The case involving nearly 300 tons of pork infected with African swine fever being distributed to local markets and making its way into kitchens of hundreds of kindergartens and primary schools is a very serious incident, one that is unacceptable as it directly affects students health.

However, what is necessary now is to view this as a very expensive lesson to patch the holes in the school meal chain, rather than letting the worry spread into a state of panic.

Nearly 3,600 diseased pigs, equivalent to nearly 300 tons of meat, were brought from provinces to Hanoi, slaughtered at centralized facilities, and then "legitimized" to move further into the market. Eight defendants have been prosecuted.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment called it a serious incident, revealing loopholes in slaughter management, quarantine, and the execution of public duties. More than 2,900 schools in Hanoi had to review all food supply sources for semi-boarding meals.

What is concerning is that this meat passed through multiple agencies that should have protected consumers, from transportation, slaughtering, quarantine certification and suppliers to school dining tables.

The problem is not a lack of regulations, but the loosening of control at many agencies.

However, caution is needed to avoid casting suspicion over the entire system of more than 1 million school meals served daily in the capital, where most schools, administrators, and suppliers operate responsibly under food safety procedures.

During a recent trip to France, what impressed me most was that almost all fresh beef and most pork sold on the market carry detailed traceability codes, allowing tracking back to farms, slaughterhouses and distributors.

For cattle, each animal is tagged from birth; and for pigs, strict batch management is applied at both farming and slaughter stages. By scanning codes on packaging or labels, consumers and regulators can trace the products journey across key supply chain stages.

Based on how France manages fresh meat, it becomes clear that traceability is not an unrealistic goal.

The lesson here is not to foster extreme suspicion, but to raise transparency standards and traceability across the entire supply chain.

First, slaughtering and quarantine processes need to be tightened through digital technology. Each batch should have an electronic traceable identity, connecting farming, transportation, slaughtering, and final suppliers. Quarantine should not stop at simple ink marks on animals but become verifiable digital data.

This data-based governance creates a strong safety barrier, helping prevent contaminated meat from entering the market. With over 1 million school meals daily in Hanoi, this is feasible to implement immediately.

In addition, the school meal supply chain should be reorganized to prioritize traceability, compliance history, and actual supply capacity rather than just low prices. A supplier competing solely on price without traceability capacity cannot be a sustainable choice for students meals.

Moreover, a shared data system among education, health, agriculture and public security sectors should be established to monitor the school food supply chain. Managing more than 1 million meals daily cannot rely primarily on paper records, manual signatures, and fragmented inspections.

Schools themselves should also be granted greater autonomy. When there are doubts about food sources, principals must have the authority to immediately suspend a batch or halt contracts with suppliers for verification. In food safety risk management, rapid response is more critical than slow but procedurally complete action.

Finally, parents should be enabled to participate in meaningful oversight rather than just receiving information. Supplier lists, traceability documents, menus, and meal portions should be transparently disclosed for easy access and joint supervision.

Tu Giang
A living heritage in the deep forest

The po mu kingdom stretches across roughly 450 hectares, perched at an altitude of more than 1,200 meters. Shrouded in mist year-round, the cool and humid climate creates ideal conditions for these towering conifers to thrive.

The forest is home to 2,011 po mu trees, of which 1,146 have been officially recognized as Vietnam Heritage Trees. Experts estimate that many are between 300 and 1,400 years old. The largest rises more than 40 meters high, with a diameter of 5.5 meters and a trunk circumference reaching 11 meters.

For the Co Tu people, the forest is not merely a natural space but a sacred one. Reaching it requires a demanding journey from the commune center - steep, slippery trails where travelers often cling to tree roots for balance. As the path deepens into the forest, sunlight fades beneath thick layers of canopy.

After hours of trekking, the ancient trees emerge through the mist.

Walk gently, dont speak loudly this forest is sacred, village elder Hoih Rieng, 75, quietly reminds visitors.

Before them stand massive trunks, some believed to have lived for over a thousand years.

No one here would dare harm these trees, he says.

The po mu do not grow sparsely but cluster densely, forming a striking ecosystem. Their straight trunks rise skyward, cloaked in moss, dominating the forest canopy.

At ground level, their roots are just as remarkable - sprawling, twisting above the soil, forming natural hollows large enough for several people to sit within.

Each tree carries its own form and identity. Some resemble resting animals, others twist gently with age, while certain trunks swell like sculpted stone. Locals even name them based on their shapes - roof tree, dragon back tree - as a way to recognize and preserve them.

We call this the mysterious forest, Rieng says. And what is mysterious cannot be fully explained.

Preserving a legacy for generations

For generations, the Co Tu people have believed that ancient trees are the dwelling places of spirits. The largest among them symbolize strength and endurance, making them untouchable by default. Po mu trees hold a particularly sacred place in this belief system.

Po mu is not meant for the living, says elder Clau Blao, 78.

According to him, the wood was traditionally reserved only for coffins, used to send the deceased back to their ancestors. It was never used for daily life. This is a sacred forest. No one can enter or take anything without the villages consent, he says.

Despite its remoteness, the forest was only formally recognized in 2010. From that moment, the community came together, agreeing to protect it at all costs. Their shared commitment became an invisible boundary, ensuring the forests survival.

Beyond belief, action followed. Local patrol groups were formed, taking turns monitoring the area and controlling access.

At times, the economic value of po mu attracted outside interest. In response, villagers set up checkpoints, preventing unauthorized entry.

This forest is a gift from the heavens to the Co Tu people, elder Hoih Mia, 68, says. We must protect it not only for today, but for future generations. Losing it would mean failing our ancestors.

More than a landscape, the forest represents a living heritage - rich in biodiversity, cultural meaning, and potential for sustainable eco-tourism.

In 2016, when the forest was officially recognized as a heritage tree complex, the community felt a deep sense of pride. Soon after, an 8km trail into the forest core was opened. Villagers contributed their efforts to build stilt houses and communal Guol houses, serving both protection and visitors.

Today, the area has begun to attract trekkers, though access remains carefully managed to avoid damaging the ancient trees.

Amid the vast Truong Son range, the po mu forest continues to endure - not only as a natural wonder, but as a sacred kingdom held intact by generations of quiet guardians.

The Co Tu people have a deep connection to the forest, viewing it as the source of their culture.

The po mu trees here reach an average height of over 30 meters.

An ancient po mu tree more than 1,000 years old, with a trunk so large that ten people cannot encircle it.

A massive po mu tree rises straight into the canopy, dominating the upper layer of the forest.

The trunk is thickly covered with moss and lichen, marking the passage of time in the old forest.

Natural growths have formed on the trunk over hundreds of years.

Po mu is a coniferous tree species in the cypress family, listed as endangered and included in Vietnams Red Data Book.

Ancient po mu roots take on unusual shapes after centuries of growth.

For the Co Tu people, the po mu forest is a sacred space, revered and preserved across generations.

The po mu kingdom possesses a rare and mystical beauty.

A towering ancient po mu tree rises among the forest, making humans appear small beneath it.

Visitors enjoy taking photos beside the ancient po mu trees.







Ha Nam
Every morning for nearly five years, a young woman in An Giang has begun her day the same way - helping her husband with personal hygiene, feeding him breakfast, taking him outside for sunlight, and lifting him onto a physical therapy machine.

A devastating turning point

After the accident, Hieu became bedridden, relying entirely on his wife for daily care.

In Long Dien commune, residents have grown familiar with the sight of Mai Tran Bao Tran, 25, carrying her husband onto a wheelchair and wheeling him into the yard each morning.

Since the day her husband suffered a workplace accident, this routine has defined her life. Nguyen Minh Hieu, 26, has been confined to bed, dependent on his wife for every aspect of daily living.

The accident occurred in June 2021. While Tran was at home caring for their child, she received news that her husband had been seriously injured at work. He suffered spinal cord damage, fractured three cervical vertebrae, and required emergency hospitalization.

Due to the severity of his condition, Hieu was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for further treatment. Tran left their young child with her mother-in-law and traveled to the city to care for him.

Back home, their child cried constantly, missing both parents. Unable to bear it, Trans mother-in-law brought the child to Ho Chi Minh City, renting a small room so she could help care for both her grandson and her injured son.

For nearly five years, Tran has had to carry her husband in her arms, supporting him through daily physical therapy exercises.

After about two months of treatment, Hieu was discharged. His body was almost entirely immobile. Any attempt to move or sit up caused such intense pain that he would faint.

Seeing my husband lying there, unable to move, broke my heart, Tran recalled. Every time he suffered, I cried. But I never felt hopeless or thought myself unlucky. I only knew I had to stay and care for him until he recovered.

From that point on, her life revolved around him. Each morning, she helped him with hygiene and meals, then lifted him onto a wheelchair and took him outside for sunlight before assisting him with physical therapy exercises.

Afterward, she soaked his hands and feet in herbal water and massaged them with medicinal alcohol to ease numbness.

The reward of persistence

Hieu is now showing encouraging signs of recovery.

The early days were especially difficult. Hieu was overwhelmed by despair and often wanted to give up.

In moments of pain and helplessness, he would lash out - knocking over food, shouting, and asking to be left alone. At times, he even tried to push his wife away entirely.

In the first year, he was consumed by hopelessness, Tran said. He couldnt accept what had happened, couldnt believe he would ever recover.

He felt like a burden to his family and blamed himself. When the pain became too much, he would get angry. He scolded me, tried to drive me away, even said I should leave him to die.

He would throw away the food I brought, sometimes refuse to eat altogether. But I knew it was his pain speaking, so I didnt take it to heart.

She sought help from her mother-in-law to comfort him, while she continued patiently encouraging him. Over time, he began to understand and slowly changed his mindset.

Looking back, Hieu admitted that in the early stages of treatment, he believed recovery was impossible. Not wanting his wife to suffer because of him, he had even contemplated drastic actions.

But her quiet endurance changed everything.

He can now perform some simple exercises on his own and feed himself.

No matter what, she never got angry or left me, he said. When I was in pain, she massaged my arms and legs. When I couldnt sleep, she stayed awake beside me.

Seeing her love me so selflessly moved me deeply. I told myself I couldnt let her suffer anymore. I began cooperating with therapy, believing I would recover.

After five years, that perseverance has begun to bear fruit.

From being completely immobile, Hieu can now sit upright steadily. His arms have regained slight movement. He is able to use the toilet on his own and can hold a spoon to eat simple meals.

More importantly, his spirit has transformed. He is now optimistic, full of life, and believes firmly in his continued recovery.

His condition has shown encouraging progress, Tran shared. Now, besides caring for him and our child, I can also do nails and hair washing to earn extra income. I feel happy that my efforts are finally bringing results.

Ha Nguyen
Christina Applegates friends are reportedly fearing the worst as she continues to live with multiple sclerosis.

Christina Applegates friends are reportedly fearing the worst as she continues to live with multiple sclerosis

The Married With Children actress, 54, was reportedly admitted to hospital in Los Angeles last month, though it remains unclear whether the visit was directly related to her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, which she disclosed in August 2021.

Christina, known for her roles in a string of television and film projects including Married With Children, has spoken publicly about the condition through interviews and her podcast, MesSy, which she co-hosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

A source told the Daily Mail: With every setback, if we are being realistic, everyone has it in the back of their minds that they might not have a tomorrow with her.

The insider added: Christina is a fighter, but her battle with MS has been treacherous. She has better days and really bad days  she doesnt have great days. Shes always dealing with something. It sucks.

The source continued: But when she does look at things positively it makes her feel better in the moment because she has so many friends that are there for her, even to listen to her, cry with her and anything in between.

When contacted by Page Six, a representative for Christina declined to confirm details of her apparent hospitalisation.

The spokesperson said: I have no comment on whether she is in the hospital or what her medical treatments are. Shes had a long history of complicated medical conditions that she has been refreshingly open about, as evidenced in her memoir and on her podcast.

Christina shares a daughter, Sadie LeNoble, 13, with her husband Martyn LeNoble, 56.

She has previously spoken about the physical impact of her condition.

In February, she told People she had been spending extended periods in bed due to pain, while continuing to care for her daughter.

She said: I want to take her  its my favourite thing to do. Its the only time we have together by ourselves.

Christina also said: I tell myself, Just get her there safely and get home so you can get back into bed. And thats what I do.

On an August 2025 episode of MesSy, Christina described a previous hospital visit prompted by severe pain.

She said she had been screaming and felt as though my appendix is bursting.

Christina added doctors later told her she had a kidney infection that had spread to her other kidney.
Chair of NAs Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment Nguyen Thanh Hai.

The issue was raised when a working group from the NAs Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment, led by Committee Chair Nguyen Thanh Hai, conducted a field survey on "The implementation of policies and laws on food safety and hygiene control (FSH) of the food supply chain" in Lang Son province.

The working group was divided into four teams to survey four border gates: Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh, Chi Ma, and Coc Nam, as well as several primary schools, kindergartens, traditional markets, and supermarkets in Lang Son province.

Hai said the survey was carried out under the NAs direction at its 56th session regarding oversight and the implementation of the task of presiding over the verification of the Draft Law on Food Safety (amended).

The draft law will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the upcoming second session of the 16th NA.

Hai pointed out that the food safety situation is still complex nationwide. Most recently, 300 tons of dirty food infected with African Swine Fever were still circulated and processed into meals, particularly for children at schools.

The four teams of the delegation inspected and surveyed nearly 20 locations and found a lot of bottlenecks in current management, such as the overlap and fragmentation between management agencies.

The agriculture sector manages cultivation, husbandry, supply sources, and circulation; while the industry and trade sector manages processing and usage; while issues related to poisoning and health are handled by the Ministry of Health.

Furthermore, Hai argued that the current "pre-inspection" work has many inadequacies. Regarding food safety certificates, there are many procedures before issuance, but the inspection of the origin of food at schools and collective kitchens remains very limited.

I visited two schools and found that neither tested input samples or performed spot checks. Information mainly comes from parents and citizens, so when a problem occurs, it is very difficult to trace the food origin. Almost no one inspects anymore after the food safety certificate is issued, Hai stated.

Another issue is that the penalties for violations are not deterrent enough; surprise inspections and audits are very rare.

Nguyen Phuong Tuan, head of working group number 2, pointed out that the survey at Tan Thanh border gate showed that no one knows the actual quality of the goods inside the trucks which went through green lane at customs agency.

Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong, head of group 3, also noted inadequacies at the Chi Ma border gate. Violating goods at the border gate must be transported to Hai Phong for destruction. This situation leads to expensive transport costs, which the state must pay.

Meanwhile, according to Ta Van Ha, head of group 4, the survey of school kitchens showed that buyers and users do not know the origin of the food and only depend on faith in the traders. This is a loophole allowing counterfeit and poor-quality goods to potentially penetrate schools, even though schools basically follow regulations and keep samples.

He also mentioned that the current coordination mechanism decentralizes power to four related sectors including the departments of: Health, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Environment, along with Customs. However, when asking who is responsible, it is still unclear, Ha affirmed.

Should there be dedicated food safety agency?

Nguyen Ngoc Son, an NA deputy, pointed out a paradox: while exported goods are strictly controlled, domestic food is loosely managed, with weak oversight from farm to table.

He suggested classifying production facilities by risk level, with stricter control for high-risk operations.

Meanwhile, Hai raised the question of whether a single agency should take charge, or whether provinces should establish a dedicated body similar to HCMC Food Safety Department.

A representative of Lang Sons Health Department proposed assigning food safety management to the Agriculture and Environment sector, noting that out of 112 product groups, the health sector is responsible for only six.

The official also said current fines of VND14 million are too low to deter violations, leading some businesses to simply accept penalties as a cost.

Bui Quoc Khanh, Director of Lang Sons Department of Industry and Trade, cited staffing shortages. His department has only 40 staff covering multiple areas, making it difficult to assign sufficient personnel to food safety alone.

In my view, a dedicated, specialized force is needed to ensure food safety, rather than splitting responsibilities among three departments as at present. A model similar to HCMC should be considered, Khanh said.

Thu Hang
Featuring a large number of artists, artisans, professional performers, and local participants, the opening ceremony helped to showcase the cultural values of the ancestral land while popularising the image of Phu Tho among both domestic and international visitors.



Speaking at the event, Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, described the annual festival as a major national cultural event, offering an opportunity for people across Vietnam and overseas Vietnamese communities to pay tribute to their ancestors, express gratitude, and strengthen the great national solidarity.



He noted that this years edition features notable innovations in both scale and content. A wide range of cultural, artistic, sporting, and tourism activities are being held, with participation from localities across the province, creating diverse experiences for residents and visitors alike. Notably, the revival of the traditional street folk culture festival has contributed to honouring long-standing cultural values.



The provincial official stated that through these activities, Phu Tho continues to affirm its status as the sacred ancestral land of the Vietnamese people, enhance its appeal as a tourist destination, and contribute to local socio-economic development.

Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Peoples Committee, beats the drum to mark the opening of the Hung Kings Temple Festival and the 2026 Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week at the ceremony on April 17. (Photo: VNA)

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, a son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then went on to give birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs, which hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.



Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri ward in Phu Tho), beginning the 18 reigns of the Hung Kings. The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for bumper crops.



To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the 10th day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.



The worship of the Hung Kings, closely related to the ancestral worship traditions of most Vietnamese families, was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012./. VNA
National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Khanh Vu.

Speaking about the medium-term public investment plan for 20262030, National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Khanh Vu said at the discussion session on April 10 that concern is not a lack of resources, but that resources are being tied up by self-imposed barriers, preventing them from being used efficiently.

The biggest bottleneck is overlapping and inconsistent legal regulations. A project must go through multiple laws, yet no single law takes full responsibility. When conflicts arise between laws, no authority steps in to resolve them for fear of accountability.

I propose that the Government review and remove cumbersome administrative procedures and conflicting provisions among the Law on Public Investment, the State Budget Law, the Construction Law, and other relevant laws to redesign a single focal point, a single process, and clear responsibility, he said.

This would create a transparent legal corridor and a synchronized operating process, ensuring smooth implementation and a safe legal environment for investment, he explained.

He went on to say that it is necessary to set up reasonable mechanisms to protect proactive, innovative officials who dare to think and act for the common good, so that those who want to do the right thing are not afraid of making mistakes.

A transparent legal anchor is needed to give officials the confidence to fully commit to advancing projects and to remove the current fear of legal risks.

He reiterated that too many procedures are imposed after planning.

I suggest integrating all land-related factors right at the planning stage. Once planning is approved, procedures for land-use conversion should be automatically completed. Relevant authorities, as defined by law, should participate in appraisal right at this stage to cut post-planning procedures. If planning cannot move straight into implementation, then it has no real value, he said.

He also proposed allocating resources early so that localities have more time to prepare and implement projects, as well as to offset delays caused by natural disasters such as storms and floods.

Priority should be given to provinces that cannot balance their budgets, especially those with strategic importance like Quang Tri and others. This is an important solution that would help less-developed but strategically located areas achieve breakthroughs and promote balanced regional development.

Bottlenecks in site clearance

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Thi Tuyen from Hanoi said that public investment disbursement remains slow despite improvements. In practice, implementation still faces many obstacles.

Investment procedures remain complex and involve multiple steps, prolonging both preparation and execution.

Meanwhile, state-announced construction material prices often lag behind market prices, leading to significant discrepancies. This makes it difficult for contractors, affecting project progress and efficiency.

She suggested more realistic assessments to allow timely adjustments, ensuring contractors rights and project feasibility.

She also noted that site clearance remains a major bottleneck, delaying many public investment projects. She proposed locality-based solutions to remove obstacles related to procedures, material prices, and site clearance.

High-quality tourism

At the discussion session on socio-economic development for 2026 and beyond, National Assembly deputy Venerable Thich Duc Thien (Dien Bien delegation) emphasized the need to promote tourism to contribute to double-digit growth.

Vietnam has nine UNESCO-recognized world cultural and natural heritage sites (including six cultural, two natural, and one mixed site), 16 intangible cultural heritage elements of humanity, 10 documentary heritage items under the Memory of the World program, 11 biosphere reserves, and four global geoparks.

UNESCO has also passed resolutions honoring many Vietnamese figures. Thousands of national and special national historical-cultural relics, along with rich natural landscapes and a long, beautiful coastline, provide abundant resources for tourism development.

He suggested accelerating digital transformation and applying AI to develop smart, green, and sustainable tourism, while creating high-end, in-depth tourism products to increase visitor spending.

According to him, one key driver for high-quality tourism is public-private partnership (PPP), which can enhance sustainability, competitiveness, and destination promotion.

He noted that the effectiveness of this model can already be seen in provinces such as Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, Tay Ninh, Da Nang, and An Giang in recent years.

Tran Thuong
Sayangva is the most important traditional festival of the Cho Ro community in Dong Nai. Deeply rooted in agricultural beliefs, it expresses gratitude to heaven and earth and deities, especially the Rice Goddess, while praying for bumper harvests and prosperous lives.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Khac Vinh said the recognition is only the beginning. More importantly, it entails responsibility for preserving and promoting the heritage in an effective and sustainable manner.

He called on localities to proactively develop plans to safeguard and promote the heritage in line with practical conditions, while linking preservation with tourism development to create sustainable livelihoods for locals. He also stressed the need to organise festival activities properly, ensuring the preservation of traditional identity and avoiding any distortion of heritage values.

For the Cho Ro community, village elders and artisans are encouraged to pass on knowledge, skills, and rituals to younger generations, contributing to the sustainable safeguarding of the heritage, he added.

At the ceremony, Cho Ro people in Bao Vinh ward re-enacted the Sayangva festival.

According to the National Statistics Office, the Cho Ro population stood at more than 29,500 in 2019, living in various localities nationwide, with the largest number - around 16,000 -recorded in Dong Nai.

The Cho Ro are considered one of the four indigenous ethnic groups in the province. They mainly live the communes and wards of Binh Loc, Bao Vinh, Long Khanh, Xuan Loc, Xuan Phu, La Nga, Phu Ly, and Song Ray./.
Backed by new mechanisms and proactive engagement from enterprises, private conglomerates are expected to deliver transformative projects that will reshape the capitals urban face.

As the political centre and a leading economic hub of Vietnam, Hanoi has long grappled with mounting pressure on its transport and urban infrastructure  an enduring challenge for the state budget. The decisive implementation of Resolution 68 has opened the door wide for private enterprises to contribute ideas and capital, turning blueprints into tangible works.

In recent years, private firms have moved beyond housing development to take on a leading role in core infrastructure. Major transport routes, Red River crossings, and large-scale urban frameworks now bear a strong imprint of private investment. Notably, Sun Group has partnered with the city in projects such as the Hanoi Opera House and the development of green spaces along the To Lich River, helping improve urban aesthetics and residents quality of life.

At the same time, construction is being accelerated on Tran Hung Dao Bridge  another investment of Sun Group, and Tu Lien Bridge  partly invested by Vingroup, both key transport projects in Hanoi.

Elsewhere, Sunshine Group has launched several major housing developments, including the flagship Noble West Lake Hanoi project, marking a strategic push following its corporate restructuring and supporting the capitals new growth phase.

These large-scale projects underscore the expanding role of private enterprises in developing Hanois socio-economic infrastructure. When provided with appropriate mechanisms, the private sector can effectively partner with the State to deliver long-term and value-driven projects that sustain growth at both local and national levels.

Economists describe Resolution No. 68 as a milestone in refining Vietnams socialist-oriented market economy. While the 12th-tenure Paty Central Committee's Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, dated June 3, 2017, recognised the private sector as an important driver of the socialist-oriented market economy, Resolution No. 68 elevates it to the most important driving force. This reflects a breakthrough in the Party's awareness and vision that place private entrepreneurs and businesses at the centre of the national development strategy.

It also advances institutional reforms by ensuring property rights, business freedom, fair competition, and equitable access to resources for businesses while shifting governance from pre-licensing to post-licensing inspection.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, Director of the HHA Vietnam Investment and Trading Co. Ltd, noted that initial successes in Hanoi demonstrate the policys effectiveness. However, sustaining momentum will require continued reforms, particularly in site clearance and investment attraction.

With consistent implementation, private sector dynamism could propel Hanoi toward becoming a modern and livable megacity in the near future, he added./.VNA
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has officially announced the passing of Venerable Thich Thanh Duc, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Sanghas Council of Proving, who died in the early hours of April 16 at Doai Lam Pagoda in Hung Yen province. He was 100 years old.

Venerable Thich Thanh Duc passed away at the age of 100. Photo: Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Venerable Thich Thanh Duc entered monastic life in 1939. Over decades of service, he held numerous important roles, including Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Council of Proving of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, former member of its Executive Council, and a certifying member of the Sanghas Executive Board in Hung Yen province. He also previously served as head of the Executive Board of the Sangha in the former Thai Binh province, as well as a delegate to the Peoples Council and a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in the same locality.

He was the abbot of Thanh Long Pagoda in Tran Lam ward, Hung Yen province, and the head monk of Doai Lam Pagoda in Kien Xuong commune.

Due to advanced age, the Venerable peacefully followed the natural course of impermanence, passing away at 2:30 a.m. on April 16, 2026 (corresponding to the 29th day of the second lunar month, Year of the Horse) at Doai Lam Pagoda, Ngai Dua hamlet, Kien Xuong commune, Hung Yen province. He lived for 100 years, with 70 years in monastic seniority.

The Standing Committee of the Council of Proving has issued a notice confirming that the funeral will be held in accordance with the highest rites of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

According to the funeral program, the encoffining ceremony will take place at 9:00 a.m. on April 19, 2026 (the 3rd day of the third lunar month). The casket will be placed at Thanh Long Pagoda in Tran Lam ward, Hung Yen province.

The official visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. on April 19 through the end of April 20, 2026 (from the 3rd to the 4th day of the third lunar month).

The memorial service is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on April 21, 2026 (the 5th day of the third lunar month). Following the ceremony, the Venerables remains will be interred in a stupa within the grounds of Doai Lam Pagoda.

Tinh Le
Nguyen Hong Dao, representing a small business household in Can Tho, questioned tax authorities about whether households and individual businesses with annual revenue under VND500 million are allowed to issue e-invoices.

In practice, many clients, especially government agencies, require invoices for settlement and reimbursement. Without invoices, businesses may struggle to operate as they cannot meet customer requirements.

In response, the Can Tho Tax Sub-department cited Clause 5, Article 8 of Government Decree No. 68/2026 stating that those with annual revenue below VND500 million are not subject to using e-invoices.

Many tax authorities, such as Tax Unit 3 of Khanh Hoa province, Tax Unit 7 of Dak Lak province, and Tax Unit 1 of Quang Ngai province, have all notified business households in their areas about stopping the use of e-invoices for households and individual businesses with revenue below VND500 million/year.

N.T.T (Hanoi), the owner of a business household in pharmacy with revenue below VND500 million/year, said that when the regulation on switching from flat-rate tax to declaration and invoice usage starting from June 2025 was released, she spent money to buy invoice software initiated from a cash register.

Now, having become accustomed to using it, she must stop because she belongs to the subjects with low revenue which dont have to pay tax.

Expressing anxiety as policies constantly change, T. said that if she cannot issue invoices, her shop will lose the group of customers thar are enterprises needing invoices when purchasing goods.

Some tax agencies now allow business households to self-determine; if they determine their 2026 annual revenue will be above VND500 million, they can write a commitment and continue to issue invoices.

No official ban

Nguyen Ngoc Tu, a lecturer at Hanoi University of Business and Technology, said that business households and individual businesses with a revenue of VND500 million/year or less are identified as subjects not liable for VAT and do not have to pay personal income tax.

This is major reform, raising the tax threshold to nurture revenue sources and reduce the procedural burden for small-scale business households.

However, the fact that the households and individuals with less than VND500 million/year in revenue are not allowed to use e-invoices and are not granted invoices on a transaction-by-transaction basis is a new consequence, a step backward.

If invoices are not applied, enterprises buying goods from business households with revenue below VND500 million/year will have no documents to account for costs, he explained.

Under a new regulation, individual consumers will soon be able to deduct expenses such as education and healthcare when calculating personal income tax. It will be difficult for them to obtain invoices when using services from this sector (small business households). This puts business households under VND500 million/year at a competitive disadvantage, Tu said.

Meanwhile, in principle, invoices are a universal form. Government Decree 123/2020 on invoices and documents also clearly states the principle: once goods are sold or services provided, the seller must issue an invoice to the buyer. This is a right of the business household, while whether they are tax-exempt or not is a different matter.

He emphasized that invoices are a fundamental part of commercial transactions. Government Decree 123/2020 clearly states that sellers must issue invoices when providing goods or services. The right to issue invoices is separate from tax obligations.

Invoices ensure transparency in financial flows. Only with invoices can authorities determine whether a business exceeds the VND500 million threshold for tax purposes. So, small businesses should be encouraged to issue invoices, he added.

Tu proposed that the Ministry of Finance revise policies to encourage small businesses under the threshold to issue invoices, noting that no legal document explicitly prohibits them from doing so.

As a short-term solution, he suggested that small businesses contact tax authorities to ask for the right to issue invoices on a per-transaction basis when needed, and fulfill corresponding tax obligations. Small businesses under the threshold still have the right to issue invoices.

Nguyen Le
From May to September 2027, we will welcome a charter flight carrying Polish tourists to Vietnam each month, with each flight carrying about 300 passengers. This is the first time we can welcome European guests during the summer, said Le Phong Tran from Vietluxtour.

In general, the peak season for international visitors is from November to March, with guests mainly going during their winter holidays. This time, Vietluxtour has the opportunity to welcome Polish tourists in the summer.

As one of Vietnams leading inbound travel companies, European tourists now account for more than 35 percent of total international arrivals at the firm, with key markets including the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and Poland. The Polish market alone has recorded growth of more than 45 percent.

Tran The Dung, CEO of Vietluxtour, said this reflects Vietnams more open visa policies, effective promotion efforts, and the countrys growing appeal as a destination.

Dung added that in the first three months of this year, international arrivals grew well through charter flights. When conflicts occurred, some flights with transits in the Middle East were disrupted, but direct flights were largely unaffected, helping maintain stable overall visitor numbers.

According to Dung, most European tourists choose Middle Eastern airlines to travel to Vietnam due to convenience and reasonable costs. When the region becomes unstable, some segments, especially private tours and free & easy travelers (flight + hotel packages), tend to slow down due to rising ticket prices. However, previously planned group tours continue as scheduled.

As conflict in the Middle East has affected international aviation activities, many worry that Vietnam's tourism could suffer a chain effect. However, in the early stage of 2026, the number of international visitors to Vietnam saw positive signs.

New record

The Statistics Office reported that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, Vietnam welcomed up to 6.76 million international arrivals, an increase of more than 12 percent over the same period, establishing a new record.

Notably, many markets grew by 40-70 percent, and some even 200 percent. For example, the number of Russian visitors increased by 194.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025, while visitors from Poland grew by 52 percent, Norway 26 percent, Switzerland over 27 percent, Sweden 27.5 percent, and Denmark and Italy by over 20 percent.

The business representative said that the volume of international visitors from now until the end of the year has been booked since last year, so it is less affected. New bookings may slow down in the short term, but overall demand remains positive.

When the situation stabilizes, the number of postponed guests may return, similar to the recovery period after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trend of European and American guests is becoming increasingly clear as this group has a long duration of stay, high spending levels, and often chooses trans-Vietnam itineraries.

This helps the flow of visitors spread to many localities, even places without international airports such as Ca Mau, Pleiku and Buon Ma Thuot. Thanks to that, the flow of guests is distributed more evenly, instead of just concentrating on major centers like HCMC, Hanoi, or Da Nang.

Diversifying markets

In key tourism localities, the number of international visitors still maintains a growth momentum, despite impact from geopolitical fluctuations. Nguyen Quang Thang, Standing Vice Chair of the Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, said that in the first quarter of 2026, local tourism still achieved positive results thanks to early promotion work.

This year, Khanh Hoa sets a goal to receive more than 18 million visitors, of which international visitors exceed 6.5 million. South Korea, Russia, and some new markets are its key sources of travelers. Currently, every day the locality welcomes about 20 flights from South Korea. Russian guests also increased sharply thanks to charter plans signed in advance.

Nguyen Quang Thang believed that the influence of the conflict in the Middle East is only short-term. Some flights were adjusted but are expected to recover quickly. Diversifying markets helps Khanh Hoa reduce dependence on a single source of visitors.

After Covid-19, the structure of international visitors to Khanh Hoa has changed significantly. Instead of depending on the Chinese and Russian markets as before, the locality has stepped up promotion of new markets such as South Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Europe. It also expects 48-50 international cruise ships docking at Cam Ranh port and the marina this year.

Ngoc Ha
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on April 18 praised the persistent, silent, yet immense contributions by village elders, community leaders, artisans, and prominent figures among ethnic minorities nationwide  those who are preserving the roots of the nation and safeguarding the values that constitute the identity, depth, and enduring strength of Vietnam.



He made the commendation while receiving village elders, community leaders, artisans, and prominent figures from across the country on the occasion of the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day (April 19).



The Party and State leader emphasised that preserving the culture of ethnic groups is not only about preserving heritage, but also about safeguarding the spiritual foundation of society, strengthening the great national solidarity, and creating intrinsic strength for sustainable national development.



Within this foundation, elderly villagers, community heads, artisans, and respected individuals play a particularly important role. They are not only keepers of community memory but also spiritual anchors and places where trust converges, contributing to stability and cohesion at the grassroots level, he noted.



Over the past years, under the leadership of the Party and State, with coordinated efforts by the entire political system and endeavours by localities and the people, the preservation and promotion of ethnic groups cultural values have achieved many important results, creating positive changes in both public awareness and social life.



Besides the obtained achievements, General Secretary and President Lam also pointed out certain new difficulties and challenges in the preservation and promotion of the cultural values of ethnic groups, adding that some are long-term issues that directly impact the foundation of sustainable national development.



Only when culture is nurtured basing on the self-awareness and pride of each individual can it exist and develop sustainably, he remarked.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam presents portraits of late President Ho Chi Minh to village elders, community leaders, artisans, and prominent figures of ethnic minorities at the meeting in Hanoi on April 18. (Photo: VNA)

He expressed confidence that village elders, community leaders, artisans, and prominent figures will continue to bring into play their particularly crucial roles to help uphold cultural identity, enhance the great national solidarity, and create a solid cornerstone for the sustainable development of the country.



The leader went on to say that cultural preservation should be closely linked to livelihood development, especially community-based tourism, so that local residents can both maintain their identity and improve their income, thereby generating long-term momentum for cultural preservation and promotion.



Development is not just about adding new things, but also about keeping and capitalising on the inherent positive values, he stated.



On this occasion, the General Secretary and President requested the Government, ministries, sectors, and local Party committees and authorities to continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's policy on cultural development in the new period, considering this a key task closely linked to the goal of fast and sustainable development of each locality and the country as a whole.



In 2008, the Prime Minister issued a decision designating April 19 as the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day. Since then, the day has truly become a major occasion for people of all ethnic groups to meet and immerse themselves in traditional festivals and unique cultural spaces of ethnic communities./. VNA
The state visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam from April 14 to 17 marked a significant milestone, ushering in a new stage in the development of the bilateral friendship, Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and a Vietnam  China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.



Vietnam  China ties deepen further



The visit was undertaken shortly after Vietnams 16th National Assembly consolidated key state leadership positions, following the successful 14th National Party Congress and general election for the 20262031 term. It reflected the high priority the Vietnamese Party and State attach to the longstanding friendship with China.



During the trip, General Secretary and President Lam and the accompanying delegation engaged in a wide range of activities, underscoring the shared determination of both sides to elevate strategic connectivity and deepen the relationship in a more practical and effective manner, meeting the needs of both Parties and countries, as well as the aspirations of their peoples.



The top leaders of the two Parties and States affirmed that amid an increasingly complex international environment, both sides should strengthen solidarity, enhance strategic trust, and promote linkages in policy, trade, infrastructure, and energy. These efforts aim to further advance bilateral relations in the new phase, contributing meaningfully to peace, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.



On this occasion, the two leaders jointly announced the launch of the Vietnam  China Tourism Cooperation Year 20262027, agreeing to step up joint promotional activities, upgrade tourism infrastructure and services, and reinforce their positions as each others largest source of tourists.



A joint statement was issued, highlighting the agreement to accelerate infrastructure connectivity, particularly in railways, roads, and border facilities. Railway cooperation is expected to emerge as a new highlight of bilateral strategic cooperation. China expressed readiness to collaborate with Vietnam on financing, technology, training, and industrial capacity in the railway sector while encouraging capable enterprises to participate in railway construction.



Upon arrival in Beijing, General Secretary and President Lam visited the Xiongan New Area (Hebei province) and later travelled to Nanning (Guangxi) by high-speed rail. Concluding his engagements there, he and the Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi by train. Cross-border rail travel, beyond its practical function, serves as a symbol of the high level of political trust between the two Parties and States, as well as a peaceful, stable, and cooperative shared border.

Executives from Chinas railway sector accompany Party General Secretary and State President To Lam aboard a high-speed train during his trip to Nanning. (Photo: VNA)

During the visit, the two sides signed 32 cooperation agreements spanning Party-to-Party ties, public security, judicial affairs, the economy, railways, agricultural trade, production and supply chains, customs, science and technology, social welfare, human resources, media, and local-level cooperation.

Strengthening a vital bridge of friendship and cooperation



In a policy address at Tsinghua University, General Secretary and President Lam affirmed that Vietnam consistently regards the development of relations with China as an objective necessity, a strategic choice, and a top priority within its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. This consistent position reflects the fundamental and enduring interests of both nations and aligns with the aspirations of their peoples while contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.



At a meeting with Chinese and Vietnamese youth participating in the Red Study Tour programme, Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping expressed confidence that younger generations will carry forward the time-tested friendship between the two countries. The Vietnamese leader, in turn, emphasised the role of youth as a core force in national development and as a vital bridge fostering bilateral friendship and cooperation.



Addressing the launch of the 2026 Vietnam  China Border Peoples Festival in Guangxi, General Secretary and President Lam encouraged young people from both countries to nurture ambitions, foster innovation, and demonstrate initiative in building their careers, hence becoming a bridge of knowledge and vibrant vitality, helping steer bilateral relations confidently into the future.



During a visit to the relic site of Nanning Yucai School in Guangxi, which trained Vietnamese students and cadres from 1951 to 1954, he affirmed Vietnams enduring gratitude for Chinas valuable support during its past struggles and ongoing development.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and officials at the ChinaASEAN Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application Cooperation Centre on April 17, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Looking ahead, Professor of Vietnamese studies Li Qiaoping at the Guangxi Minzu University noted that with sustained joint efforts, bilateral relations will continue developing in a stable and healthy manner, with broader prospects for cooperation between Guangxi and Vietnamese localities.



Outlining future directions following the state visit, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung stated that ministries, sectors, and localities will continue to thoroughly implement the common perceptions reached by the two top leaders. Efforts will focus on increasing exchanges at all levels, promoting substantive cooperation centred on strategic connectivity, measuring success through tangible outcomes, and setting the interests of both peoples as the ultimate goal./. VNA
Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom have welcomed their first child into the world.

Couple Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom

The couple announced the arrival of their son - whose name was not revealed - in a sweet joint Instagram post on Saturday (18.04.26).

They shared an adorable black-and-white shot of the newborn lying across the 54-year-old actor's chest, with the caption: "Hes here. We are so in love."

Celebrities showered the Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice star and the Paradise actress with congratulatory messages in the post's comments section.

Running Point cast member Brenda Song, 38, penned: "CONGRATS!!! So happy for you guys! (sic)"

Former co-anchor of Saturday Today, Peter Alexander, 49, typed: "Congratulations! Were so thrilled for you and Nicole - and both families!"

And Hacks alum Hannah Einbinder, 30, left a string of red heart emojis.

Justin and Nicole's fans also reacted, as one person gushed: "Oh, my!!! Tears of JOY! Congratulations are not enough! (sic)"

A second supporter commented: "Absolutely precious - happy for you guys!"

And a third follower said: "Congratulations Nic, I so happy for you and your family. Wishing a happy blessed and lots of Love in this incredible journey. Xxx (sic)"

In December 2025, People reported that Justin and Nicole, 32, were expecting their first child together - nine months after they got married at Hotel Esencia in Xpu Ha, Mexico.

Also, that month, they returned to the country and stayed at that hotel for their babymoon.

Nicole posed a series of photos from their getaway to Instagram, and captioned the post: "So much fun to revisit our favourite place with a little one on the way."

In February 2023, the Fallout star and Nicole were first linked after they attended the Next in Fashion Tastemaker event at the club Zero Bond, New York City, and they went Instagram official in December that year when Nicole shared a photo of Justin at her twin sister Chrissys wedding.

In August 2024, Justin and Nicole attended the premiere of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice at the Venice Film Festival, and while in Italy, People reported that he popped the question with a custom Stephanie Gottlieb 4-carat diamond ring that featured an 18-carat yellow gold inlay.

A month later, Justin recalled the moment he asked the We Were the Lucky Ones star to marry him.

He told The Times: "Of course, I was nervous proposing. It is a question after all, so the answer isnt guaranteed. But it was wonderful."

The pair dated for two years before they got married at Hotel Esencia in Xpu Ha, Mexico.

Speaking about why Mexico was the perfect destination for their nuptials, Nicole told Vogue magazine: "We spent February 2024 in Mexico and fell in love with the chic, low-key hotel.

"The first time I set foot on their jungle paths that led straight out to the perfectly blue ocean, I knew I was somewhere wonderfully unique, secluded, and peaceful, so when choosing our wedding location, it seemed like the obvious place to celebrate.

"We wanted our friends and family to have a taste of our dream weekend in the Mayan Riviera paradise."

Before Justin met Nicole, he was married to Friends legend Jennifer Aniston from 2015 until 2018.

And after he and Jennifer, 57, went their separate ways, Justin made a conscious decision to keep his romances private.

In May 2023, he explained to Esquire: "I want all of my relationships to exist within the four walls of whatever room we're in. Having been in a public relationship, its much more fun not being in a public relationship."
The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, together with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and partners, hosted a Vietnam  Singapore business networking programme on April 17, attracting more than 200 representatives from Singaporean regulatory bodies and industry associations.



The programme not only facilitated direct connections between businesses and investors from both countries, but also aimed to support the development of long-term trade infrastructure.



As part of the event, a Vietnamese online agricultural wholesale market platform was officially launched in Singapore. The system directly links Vietnamese producers with importers and distributors in Singapore and the wider region. It aggregates standardised supply sources, ensures stable output, enables traceability, and optimises pricing through pooled orders, thereby shortening intermediary chains and improving cross-border trade efficiency.



Addressing the event, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor Cao Xuan Thang highlighted the countrys potential within global supply chains, particularly in high-quality agricultural products. He also underscored the role of digital platforms such as the online wholesale market in enhancing export capacity, ensuring transparency, and improving responsiveness to the Singaporean and regional markets.



Also speaking at the programme, SMF President Lennon Tan commended the initiatives practical approach, particularly its combination of in-person networking and digital integration.



He noted that models such as the online agricultural wholesale market will play a key role in optimising supply chains, reducing intermediary costs, and improving access to high-quality goods from Vietnam, while opening up broader opportunities for deeper cooperation between the two business communities.



Tan further observed that Singapore and Vietnam hold considerable potential for collaboration in green energy, as well as in alternative packaging materials and production methods that could help reduce carbon emissions.

Vietnamese enterprises introduce their products and engage in business networking and investment activities at the programme. (Photo: VNA)

Participating Vietnamese enterprises showcased a range of projects focused on sustainable agriculture, community health care, and technology solutions serving society, with the dual aim of generating positive social impact and economic value. These initiatives drew interest from investment funds, sponsors, and strategic partners, paving the way for expanded cooperation and future deployment./.
A memorandum of agreement (MoA) has been signed between Vietnams CMC University and the Schools of Next Practices (S-Next) under Germanys Steinbeis University, focusing on strengthening cooperation in education and training for a highly skilled workforce.



Under the MoA, the two sides will introduce Germanys practice-oriented education model into Vietnam while building a long-term cooperation roadmap. Key initiatives include establishing a transfer centre in Vietnam, developing joint masters degree programmes, enhancing research capacity in fields such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and building a digital training ecosystem.



Speaking at the signing ceremony in Berlin on April 17, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh described the agreement as a meaningful step in CMC Universitys internationalisation strategy.



He noted that amid the rapid transformation of the knowledge-based economy and technological landscape, linking a pioneering digital university in Vietnam with a business-integrated education model such as S-Next reflects a forward-looking and appropriate approach. The ambassador also affirmed that the embassy will continue to support the partnership to ensure tangible benefits for both countries education systems.



Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Prof. Dr Mario Vaupel, Chief Executive Officer at Steinbeis University, characterised the MoA as a foundational move that will pave the way for long-term cooperation. He expressed his confidence that the partnership will help develop modern learning models and innovative educational approaches for younger generations.



Echoing this view, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, President of CMC University, emphasised that the collaboration will open up opportunities for students to participate in global study programmes and undertake internships with Steinbeis partner enterprises in Germany and across Europe.



He noted that the partnership will not only enhance training quality but also directly address the growing demand for highly skilled workers in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Within the broader framework of the Vietnam  Germany strategic partnership, he described the initiative as a highlight of educational diplomacy.



Founded in 1971 in Stuttgart, Steinbeis has developed into Europes largest technology transfer network, comprising more than 1,000 centres and 6,000 experts and implementing over 10,000 projects annually worldwide./. VNA
Miles Teller is "not retiring from acting anytime soon" after he cashed out on a drinks brand in a reported $325 million sale.

Actor Miles Teller

The 39-year-old actor had a "minority stake" in The Long Drink Company, and he is now set to pocket a big chunk of cash after the firm's The Finnish Long Drink, a ready-to-drink canned cocktail beverage, was acquired by the Mark Anthony Group of Companies earlier this week.

Speaking about the payout, Miles refused to say how much he will take home, telling The Hollywood Reporter: "I dont really talk numbers. I was always taught thats not in good taste.

"All Ill say is that Im not retiring from acting anytime soon."

However, the Top Gun: Maverick star said the sale, which he regards as "an opportunity to continue to scale", may influence him to produce and fund films about "underdog stories".

Miles explained: "I really like chip-on-the-shoulder characters, odds stacked against you - a person or a community. This gives me a lot of confidence to trust my instincts.

"Ive been producing for the last several years. Certain actors can get movies made on different budgets. If you can say, 'Hey, Im attached to this thing, let me find a director, and what actors do we like for this, do I have relationships with them?'

"So, it certainly helps."

Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds found himself in a similar situation to pal Miles with the buyout of his Aviation American Gin brand to Diageo for up to $610 million in August 2020.

Asked if Ryan, 49, reached out to congratulate Miles on the acquisition, he said: "That first wave of guys with Ryan and Clooney and Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman - it kind of started it all off, where you had a lot of these celebrity copycats come in and say, 'Oh man, look at this cash grab.'

"But anyone in the industry will tell you thats just not how it goes. If you do the research on the celebrity brands, a lot of times it doesnt work out. Its tough to build a business, in general.

"I can tell you, Ive had a lot of texts from various friends and people who have built companies and had companies fail, and they said, 'Miles, this is a huge, huge win. It doesnt happen very often, its extremely rare.'

"Im sure its less than one per cent of people who start companies who end up selling it for any kind of profit. It feels good because it was a new arena for me and Im really proud of it."

The Fantastic Four cast member added: "Im very excited for our founders. How cool for them to come from a country where they dont export a lot of things on the global stage.

"But this drink - their national beverage - for them to bring this product here that they believed in and to scale it and grow it organically, its the true American dream."
Welsh speakers are invited to explore new career opportunities with Coleg Cambria at a dedicated bilingual recruitment event  and there is a 400 welcome bonus available for eligible new starters.

Taking place on Wednesday April 29 at the colleges Yale site in Wrexham, Gyrfa Gymraeg @ Cambria will offer a relaxed and informal opportunity to meet staff, learn about roles, and explore how Welsh language skills can be used in the workplace.

The session aims to attract bilingual talent into key roles across the college, including teaching, business support, and industry-to-education pathways.

The event runs from 4.30pm to 6.30pm and attendees can drop in at any time, with short presentations scheduled for 5pm and 6pm.

Llinos Roberts, Director of Welsh Language Development at Coleg Cambria, said: Developing a confident, bilingual workforce is central to our vision.

This event is about connecting with Welsh-speaking communities and showing how valuable those language skills are in a professional setting. Were committed to supporting staff at every stage of their Welsh language journey and creating more opportunities to use Welsh in the workplace.

Visitors will be able to speak informally with Welsh-speaking staff over refreshments, with no formal interviews, and gain insight into the colleges supportive and inclusive working environment.

Jack Swift, HR Business Partner at Coleg Cambria, added: We want to make it as easy as possible for people to explore a career with us. Whether youre already in education or coming from industry, this event is a chance to ask questions, make connections and see what a future here at the college would look like.

The college is particularly keen to hear from industry professionals in sectors such as construction, engineering, healthcare and digital, offering routes into teaching with support for gaining a PGCE while in post.

Coleg Cambria also provides tailored Welsh language development, training for bilingual delivery, and incentives for staff who use Welsh at work.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance, as places are limited.

For more information and to reserve a place, visit http://www.cambria.ac.uk/campaigns/welsh-recruitment-event/.

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North Wales residents are being encouraged to apply for the role of Appropriate Adult (AA), helping to safeguard the rights and welfare of young people and vulnerable adults in police custody.

The service plays a crucial role in safeguarding detainees rights, welfare, and wellbeing, while also helping to ensure that police procedures are carried out properly, fairly and in accordance with PACE.

An Appropriate Adult is typically a parent, guardian, social worker, or another responsible person aged 18 or over when no suitable person is otherwise available. The role was introduced under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and applies across England and Wales.

Its purpose is to protect children under 18 and vulnerable adults during police detention, interviews, searches, and identification procedures, ensuring they are treated fairly and understand their rights and entitlements.

TAAS, the largest provider of Appropriate Adult services in the UK, said its aim is to ensure that every child and vulnerable adult entering the criminal justice system is treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The service is currently recruiting Appropriate Adults to support detainees held in North Wales custody suites, including:

Caernarfon

St Asaph

Llay

Dawn Roberts, from Bangor, said it was a personal experience that inspired her to become an Appropriate Adult.

In 2021, my son was attacked. When police interviewed him, they asked me to leave because I was his mother and assigned a woman from social services as his Appropriate Adult. At the time, I didnt know what that meant, she said.

It was horrible. I left the Police station, then researched what an AA was. Seeing my sons fear inspired me to want to be a safe person for others.

She added that the success of an AA relies on your ability to compartmentalise your work and home life and remain impartial.

Dawn said: I always say to people, I dont want to know what youre accused of. You have to treat everyone the same, whether theyve committed murder or stolen a packet of Smarties, its irrelevant.

You may often interact with the same person and at times, it can feel like a friendship, but you must remain mindful that it is not.

Remaining impartial is easy for me, whether they have or havent done anything is irrelevant. It is the polices job to worry about the case. I focus on the person who needs help.

Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin praised the work of commissioned service TAAS in helping to maintain key elements of his Police and Crime Plan priorities by ensuring the support of victims and a fair and effective criminal justice system.

PCC Dunbobbin said: The Appropriate Adult Service plays a vital role in delivering the Police and Crime Plan by protecting vulnerable people, strengthening the fairness and legitimacy of policing, supporting effective criminal justice outcomes, and building public confidence.

By safeguarding children and vulnerable adults at their most critical point of contact with the police, the service helps ensure that dignity, legality, and compassion remain at the heart of policing in North Wales.

TAAS is the largest provider of Appropriate Adult services in the UK, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The organisation has been delivering Appropriate Adult services since 2001, supporting individuals across criminal justice settings nationwide.

Applicants should demonstrate patience, a non-judgmental approach, impartiality, empathy, professionalism, excellent listening skills, and clear communication.

Applicants must have a full UK driving licence, their own transport, a smartphone, or tablet for app-based forms, and be willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

TAAS embraces diversity. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, neurodiversity, gender reassignment or identity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

You can apply directly to the role of Appropriate Adult here.

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Official pupil numbers at two more Wrexham schools will be reduced to allow education budgets to be used more effectively where they are most needed.

Falling admissions and projected decreases in birth rates have seen Wrexham County Borough Council reduce admissions at a numer of primary schools over the last 18 months.

This week the councils Executive Board approved two more  the reduction of Pupil Admission Numbers (PAN) at Ysgol Maes y Mynydd Primary School from 51 reception pupils to 45 and Penygelli from 45 to 30.

By reducing the admission numbers where pupil numbers are falling, the authority and headteachers are able to plan their budgets more effectively without closing schools and forcing families to send their children further afield.

Over the last three years reception classes at Ysgol Maes y Mynydd have dropped from 47 pupils in 2023 to 29 pupils in September 2025.

The school which has a capacity across all years of 357 pupils, is projected to see its pupil deficit peak this September with 94 surplus places before seeing numbers gradually increase to September 2029.

Penygelli took in 33 reseption pupils last September, 10 more than the previous year and three more than in 2023.

Its numbers are currently fairly flat but projections show intake is set to fall sharply over the next four years. This September is is expected to have 99 surplus places but by September 2029 that is anticipated to grow to 121.

Separate consultations on the plans  which received a combined 43 responses  failed to demonstrate significant opposition to the proposals, which will now be put into place and advertised.

Back in November the Executive Board provided permission to consult on pupil admission numbers at Ysgol Maes y Mynydd in Rhos and Penygelli in Coedpoeth, said Wrexham Councils Lead Member for Education Cllr Phil Wynn.

This report has been brought to the Executive Board for other schools in the recent past, which is reflective of the falling birth rates therefore theres fewer pupils attending our primary schools at the moment  which is the trend across the UK.

It is easier for schools to manage their finances and their curriculum delivery if their PAN reflects the number of pupils who are actually attending that school.

There was nothing brought up through that 12-week consultation that made us think twice about what were proposing to do therefore as an Education Department were fully supportive of the heads and governors to proceed with a statutory notice to reduce the PAN number and to report back in July as to the responses to that.

If given final sign-off in July, the changes will take place from September 2027.

By Alec Doyle  BBC Local Democracy Reporter

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Wrexham residents are being urged to check that anyone collecting their waste is properly licensed before hiring a man with a van.

Householders have a legal duty of care to ensure their rubbish is disposed of correctly and must make sure waste carriers are registered.

Wrexham Council said legitimate companies should be willing to show proof of their waste carrier licence and confirm how waste will be disposed of.

If rubbish is fly-tipped and traced back to a household, the person responsible could face a fine of up to 5,000 or prosecution. A 300 fixed penalty notice may also be issued as an alternative.

Councillor Terry Evans, Wrexham Councils Lead Member for Environment, said Its important that we help people understand how to dispose of their waste properly, and this includes only using responsible licensed waste operators to take away their rubbish.

So, if youre thinking about paying a man with a van to take away your rubbish, make sure they have a license first.

Unlicensed waste carriers are more likely to fly-tip your rubbish, and you could still be held liable and forced to pay a hefty fine.

We should all take pride in our community and do everything we can to discourage fly-tipping.

Residents can check whether a carrier is licensed on the Natural Resources Wales website.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran's joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile ceasefire into question days before it expires.

It was the first interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran's joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation, the state broadcaster said.

With the U.S.-Iran standoff over the strait sharpening and the ceasefire expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.

The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian-flagged ship, the Touska, to stop and then stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom." U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were seeing whats on board!

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn't answer questions, said the destroyer had issued repeated warnings over a six-hour period.

Iranian state media suggest new talks won't take place

There was no comment from Iranian officials directly addressing Trump's announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkians phone conversation with Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and betray diplomacy," the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks  last June and earlier this year  were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy," Irans state broadcaster said.

Pakistan did not confirm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional official involved in the efforts said mediators were finalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Irans chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy, he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.

It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Irans nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn't agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, he wrote.

Iran wants to control strait until war fully ends

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone, Mohammad Reza Aref, first vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world's farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the straits reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran fired at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the straits closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, inflicting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, Irans Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

___ Magy reported from Cairo and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

An earlier version of this story corrected the name of the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson to Esmail Baghaei.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first such interception since the blockade of Iranian ports began last week.

He said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom and that U.S. Marines had custody of the vessel, named Touska, and were seeing whats on board!

Irans joint military command said Tehran will respond soon and called the U.S. seizure an act of piracy.

The news threw into question Trumps earlier announcement that U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran. That had raised hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday, but Iran has not confirmed it would attend.

The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed fighting that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 civilians and 15 soldiers in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.

Here is the latest:

Iran says it hangs 2 convicts claimed by opposition group

Iran said Monday it hanged two men it accused of setting fire to buildings on behalf of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

An Iranian exiled opposition group earlier claimed the men as members and alleged their charges stemmed from events that happened after they already had been detained.

The Mizan news agency of Irans judiciary identified the men hanged as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi.

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq opposition group identified Shahi as Nima Shahi.

The MEK said the men had been subjected to interrogation and torture and convicted over an incident that happened before their detention.

This brings to eight the total number of MEK members executed since the start of the war.

Activists and rights groups say Iran routinely holds closed-door trials in which defendants are unable to challenge the accusations they face.

Hezbollah claims attack destroyed Israeli tanks

Hezbollah said it detonated explosives Sunday afternoon in an attack against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

The group said in a statement Monday that bombs planted by Hezbollah fighters exploded and destroyed four tanks in a convoy of eight tanks that was passing the village of Deir Siryan.

It was the first claim of an attack by Hezbollah since a 10-day ceasefire went into effect at midnight Thursday.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

Tehran says restrictions on Iranian oil come with a price

Irans first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, says global fuel prices could stabilize only if economic and military pressures on Iranian oil exports end.

One cannot restrict Irans oil exports while expecting free security for others, Aref wrote on X. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.

Irans foreign minister says US is showing bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy

Irans top diplomat has told his Pakistani counterpart that Washingtons demands in negotiations and its threats to Iranian ships and ports mark clear signs of Americas disingenuousness.

Abbas Aragchi made the remarks in a phone call to Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, according to Iranian state media.

Its another indication of how the Washington-Tehran standoff is sharpening as the ceasefire is to expire on Wednesday. It could also shake up plans for a new U.S.-Iran round of talks in Islamabad this week.

Irans military vows swift response to US seizure of Iranian-flagged tanker

The Iranian military headquarters said the attack and subsequent boarding of the Iranian vessel by U.S. forces was a violation of the ceasefire and an act of maritime piracy, according to Irans state-run broadcaster.

The United States says it fired on the ship and seized it because it had crossed the blockade line after ignoring multiple warnings.

Iranian state media suggest new talks wont take place

There has been no comment from Iranian officials on Trumps announcement of new talks in Pakistan this week.

But Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports on Sunday suggesting the talks would not happen. The reports came before the U.S. announcement of its seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM releases video of US firing on Iranian-flagged vessel Touska

U.S. Central Command released a message sent by a U.S. Mariner to the Iranian-flagged tanker in a video posted on X, saying it shows the moments before the U.S. seized Touska for crossing the U.S.-imposed blockade line in the Gulf of Oman.

Motor vessel Touska, Motor vessel Touska. Vacate your engine room. Vacate your engine room. We are about to subject you to disabling fire, can be heard in the video. Later, three rounds are fired, leaving smoke in their wake.

CENTCOM said its fire targeted the vessels engine room before forces seized the ship. It said Touska was headed to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and ignored multiple U.S. warnings over six hours to evacuate the engine room. The USS Spruance then fired, after which Marines boarded and took hold of the ship.

American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance, it wrote on X.

Irans president calls US blockade actions provocative and illegal

The Iranian judiciarys Mizan news agency has reported on President Masoud Pezeshkians phone conversation with Pakistans prime minister earlier today. The report says Pezeshkian alleged bullying and unreasonable behavior by the United States during negotiations and the ceasefire.

The report says Pezeshkian warned that the U.S. actions and threatening rhetoric have led to increased suspicion among Iranian officials about the seriousness of the United States and the possibility that it will repeat previous patterns and betray diplomacy.

The report did not say whether Irans president commented on a second round of talks in Pakistan, or on Trumps announcement that U.S. forces had seized an Iranian-flagged ship.

French shipping company says one of its ships was targeted

CMA CGM said Sunday that one of its vessels was the target of warning shots. Trump said Iran had fired on French and British ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The International Maritime Organization confirmed that a French-flagged vessel was involved. The IMO, which regulates international shipping, said there have been 24 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and across the Middle East since March 1. The latest, on April 18, involved the CMA CGM Everglade, a container ship sailing under French flag. The IMO said it was damaged north of Kumzar, Oman, though no pollution or injuries were reported.

Trump said Sunday on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Iran had fired bullets in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that many of them were aimed at a French ship and a freighter from the United Kingdom.

Trump said the US forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship Sunday that tried to get around its naval blockade

Trump, in a post on social media, said the ship was warned by a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman to stop but it did not.

Our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room, Trump wrote.

He said U.S. Marines had custody of the cargo ship, named Touska, and were seeing whats on board!

The seizure escalates a back-and-forth with Iran over traffic in the strait and comes as the U.S. was preparing for a second round of in-person talks with Iran as a fragile ceasefire runs out in days.

US energy secretary describes extending waiver on Russian oil sanctions as pragmatic

The decision announced Friday at the Treasury Department came days after Secretary Scott Bessent had ruled out such a move, and Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called it shameful.

Putin has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of President Trumps war against Iran, as Russia saw oil revenues nearly double in March, the Democrats statement said. Enough is enough.

But Chris Wright said the Trump administrations reasoning was to ensure that India and other Asian countries receive oil that would have otherwise gone to China. He noted that India exports gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to Europe, where people are also concerned about fuel prices.

These are short term, pragmatic decisions to allow oil that was already flowing to flow a different direction, and theyre temporary, Wright said on Fox News Sunday.

Pakistan and Iran arent confirming Round 2 of US-Iran talks

Six hours have passed since U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for more talks with Iran, but neither Iran nor host Pakistan have confirmed it.

Pakistan has kept up the diplomacy today, with its prime minister holding a 45-minute call with Irans president and Pakistans foreign minister speaking with his Iranian counterpart.

But while authorities have begun tightening security in Islamabad, the only player that has openly committed to another round of talks is the Trump administration.

British military says situation in Hormuz critical

The British military has declared the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to be critical, its highest risk level.

The militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, UKMTO, cited a high level of activity by naval forces in the region.

It said there is a risk of attack or miscalculation in the waterway.

The Iranian navy reimposed tight restrictions on transit through the strait as the U.S. military implements a blockade on Iranian ports and waters. The UKMTO also cited multiple attacks on Saturday by Iranian forces on vessels passing through the strait.

Israel reveals new forward defense line in southern Lebanon after ceasefire

The Israeli military says it has established the line and released a map showing troops operating south of it.

The deployment has been described elsewhere as a Yellow Line. It says five divisions are working to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. The line was not mentioned in ceasefire terms published by the United States.

The map shows dozens of villages inside the zone, stretching several kilometers into Lebanon, whose residents would likely be prevented from returning.

There was no immediate comment from Lebanese officials, but the move is likely to raise concerns in Lebanon about the scope and duration of Israels presence.

Pope Leo XIV sees a sign of hope for peace in the Middle East

Celebrating Mass before an estimated 100,000 people outside the capital of Angola on Sunday, Leo praised the cease-fire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah as a sign of hope that he prayed would bring peace permanently to the Middle East.

Leo mentioned the conflict as he called on Angolans to denounce the exploitation of their mineral-rich land and people, who still bear the scars of a brutal, post-independence civil war. We wish to build a country where old divisions are overcome once and for all, where hatred and violence disappear, and where the scourge of corruption is healed by a new culture of justice and sharing, Leo said.

The American pope is on an African odyssey that will take him to an epicenter of the African slave trade with a history emblematic of the Catholic Churchs role in forcing human bondage, and what some scholars say is the Holy Sees continued refusal to fully acknowledge it and atone for it.

 Read more

Israeli fire kills 1 Palestinian in central Gaza, health official says

The strike on a group of people in central Gaza also wounded three others, according to a health official at Awda hospital, where the casualties arrived.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

Palestinians in Gaza have reported that Israeli strikes have intensified over the past few days across the enclave. Since a fragile ceasefire deal was reached in October, deadly Israeli strikes have been a near-daily threat in Gaza, and more than 775 Palestinians have been killed since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

UK police investigating if Iranian proxies are responsible for arson attacks on Jewish sites

The Metropolitan Police force says counterterror officers are probing fires at synagogues and other Jewish targets, as well as an attack on a Persian-language media organization critical of Irans government. No one has been injured in the blazes, the latest of which caused minor damage to a north London synagogue on Saturday night.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said Sunday that the attacks had been claimed online by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.

Israels government has described the group, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as recently founded with suspected links to an Iranian proxy that has also claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 Read more

Whats happening with ships in the Persian Gulf

Vessels trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz have reversed course, according to the MarineTraffic shipping tracker.

The Iranian navy has reimposed tight restrictions on transit through the strait while the U.S. blockades Irans ports and waters. The standoff has left hundreds of vessels waiting in both directions for clearance through the waterway where a fifth of the worlds oil supplies normally passes.

Kpler, a maritime data firm, said 19 vessels had passed through the strait on Friday after Iran and the U.S. announced the reopening of the strait late last week as part of understanding between the two governments.

But on Saturday, U.S. Central Command said it had sent 23 ships back to Iran since its blockade began, and at least three vessels were attacked by Iran Saturday while attempting to cross the strait, bringing shipping to a standstill again and further straining the global energy market.

US energy secretary says talks with Iranians over Strait of Hormuz are going well

Chris Wright said the United States is not too far away from a deal.

There are negotiations with the Iranians going on, despite what you hear in the chatter in public, I think those are actually going well, Wright said on Fox News Sunday.

Wright said Trump is a creative negotiator who uses pressure in different ways, uses uncertainty in different ways.

I think well have a nice end of this conflict, Wright predicted, adding that restarting shipping will take time but probably not too much time once the strait is reopened.

Waltz calls potential strikes on power plants and bridges an escalatory ladder

Trump is renewing his threat to knock out every Iranian power plant and bridge if Tehran doesnt agree to U.S. terms for ending the war.

Some experts in military law have said targeting civilian infrastructure can be a war crime, an issue that could turn on whether the power plants are legitimate military targets, whether the attacks are proportional compared with what Iran has done and whether civilian casualties are minimized.

When the war crimes question was posed to Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz said that would be an escalatory ladder.

Iran and its proxies have a long history of actually deliberately hiding military infrastructure in hospitals, schools, neighborhoods and  and other civilian assets.  They have no ground to stand on, Waltz told ABCs This Week.

Its perfectly acceptable in the rules of land warfare, Waltz added, noting that Iran has used drones and missiles to strike hotels, resorts and homes across the Gulf.

So this is just a ridiculous argument, he said.

Iranian official says US blockade amounts to war crime

Irans foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Sunday that the U.S. blockade of Irans ports and coastline is an act of aggression that violates the shaky Pakistani-mediated ceasefire between the two countries.

By deliberately inflicting collective punishment on the Iranian population, it amounts to war crime and crimes against humanity, Baghaei said on social media.

Baghaeis comments came after Irans renewed threats on shipping, in response to the U.S. blockade, fully reclosed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Bahrain to review citizenship for those deemed threat to its security

Bahrains king has ordered a review of citizenship of those deemed a threat to the island kingdom.

The decision has come amid an intensified crackdown on dissent during the war in the Middle East.

According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ordered the government to immediately take measures against those who have betrayed the nation or undermined its security and stability, including stripping Bahraini citizenship from those who dont deserve it.

The situation is still delicate, the king was quoted as saying.

Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, has been one of the hardest hit by Iranian missile and drone attacks during the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Authorities in the small Shiite-majority island, which is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, have detained many people over the course of the war.

Spains leader wants the EU to end agreement with Israel

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants the 27-nation European Union to tear up its long-standing Association Agreement with Israel.

The agreement, in force since 2000, sets out the legal and institutional framework within which the bloc and Israel conduct trade and cooperation.

We have nothing against the people of Israel; quite the contrary, Sanchez said in a post on X on Sunday. But a Government that violates international law and, therefore, the principles and values of the EU cannot be our partner.

Spain will present a formal proposal at an EU foreign ministers meeting on Tuesday to end the agreement with Israel, he said.

Sanchez has been a vocal critic of the decision by the U.S. and Israel to attack Iran, drawing sharp public criticism from Trump.

Residents of hard-hit Israeli border town protest ceasefire outside US Embassy

About 150 residents from Kiryat Shmona, located near Israels northern border with Lebanon, traveled to Jerusalem on Sunday to demonstrate against the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The 10-day ceasefire announced by Trump began Friday. It is meant to shore up a broader ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

Residents of northern Israel, whose communities were subject to round-the-clock barrages of Hezbollah rockets, have reacted angrily to the truce. They say Hezbollah remains a threat and has not been disarmed.

Its time to remove this threat from over the heads of the northern residents, said Kiryat Shmonas mayor, Avichai Stern.

One of the protesters, Einat Dardari, said shes very disappointed that the Israeli military was forced to halt its offensive against Hezbollah. We want security, I want security at home, I want security for my children, she said.

Iran rebuilds its stockpile of missiles and drones, commander says

A senior Iranian military official said Sunday that Iran has begun rebuilding its stockpile of weapons and munitions as the two-week ceasefire nears to expire, state media reported.

Brig. Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, said they have repaired missiles and drone launchers during the ceasefire which started on April 8, according to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

Our speed in updating and refilling missile and drone launch platforms is even greater than before the war, he said.

The broadcaster aired a two-minute video paired with uplifting music, showing missiles and drones in warehouses as well as mobile launches of missiles.

The United States and Israel say they have degraded Irans military capabilities over the course of the nearly six-week war.

Turkish foreign minister says Israels fundamentalist government is a global problem

Hakan Fidan was asked whether Turkey could replace Iran as Israels main adversary, a question raised in both Turkish and Israeli media in recent weeks.

This is a fundamentalist government. They are a problem for the whole world. This is not just a problem for Turkey, Fidan told a news conference at the close of a three-day diplomacy forum in southern Turkey.

Turkish officials have described Israels military operations in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Syria as an expansionist threat to global stability. Fidan said stopping this threat is clearly on the international communitys agenda. He also described the defense agreements signed between Israel, Greece and Cyprus in December last year as a military alliance against the Muslim countries in the region.

Trump said US negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran

Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be traveling to Islamabad for the second round of in-person talks, according to the White House.

Trump in his social media post Sunday accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement by firing bullets Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz, and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran if it does not take the deal the U.S. is offering.

If they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, Trump wrote.

Argentinas President Javier Milei is in Israel

The far-right South American leader landed on Sunday for a three-day visit, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting the Western Wall of Jerusalems Temple Mount.

Milei is scheduled to sign new binational accords with Israel and receive a Presidential Medal from Israeli President Isaac Herzog celebrating his commitment to fighting anti-semitism, Herzogs office said. It is at least Mileis third visit to the Western Wall.

He has backed the United States and Israels decision to launch a war on Iran. Earlier this month Argentina expelled Irans ambassador from Buenos Aires.

Milei is among a small cohort of right-leaning leaders who have deepened ties with Netanyahus government even as Israel faces diplomatic isolation over wartime conduct, including in Gaza and Lebanon. Some of Argentinas South American neighbors have cut diplomatic ties or withdrawn their ambassadors,

Preparations pick up in Islamabad ahead of possible ceasefire talks

Pakistani authorities have begun tightening security in the capital, Islamabad, ahead of a possible second round of ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran.

Authorities on Sunday deployed troops at roadside checkpoints, closed tourist sites and ordered major hotels to cancel bookings and keep facilities available.

Islamabads streets are largely deserted, as residents stayed home to avoid road closures seen earlier this month during the first round of talks.

While there were no formal announcements, Pakistani officials said arrangements are in place for talks in the coming days.

A regional official involved in the mediation efforts said mediators were finalizing the preparations. He said U.S. advance security teams are already on the ground. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the preparations.

Pakistan has led mediation efforts to end the war. Its military chief visited Tehran last week, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with regional leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander just before ceasefire

The Israeli army says it carried out a series of strikes that killed more than 150 Hezbollah fighters.

Among those killed was Ali Rida Abbas, which it said was Hezbollahs commander in Bint Jbeil. The southern Lebanese town and its surroundings were the site of intense clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants in the days leading up to the ceasefire.

Israel gave no evidence to support its claims, and Hezbollah didn't immediately confirm the death of its commander.

The ceasefire took effect early Friday.

Iran wants lasting peace, chief negotiator says

Irans chief negotiator says his country wants a lasting peace so that war is not repeated again.

Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the comments in a televised interview late Saturday, a few days before a ceasefire deadline is set to expire, according to Iranian state media.

What is fundamental for us is distrust of the United States, he said. At the same time, we have good intentions and seek a lasting peace  one that prevents the recurrence of war.

He said that the Islamabad negotiations didnt address the mistrust, but that the U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a more realistic understanding of one another.

He said that the two sides achieved progress in the Islamabad talks, but disagreement remained on some key issues, including the nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

The gaps remain wide and some fundamental issues are still unresolved, he said.

He didnt elaborate with further details.

Lebanon's army reopens some roads in the south

The Lebanese army said in a statement Sunday that it reopened the Khardali road that links the southern city of Nabatiyeh with the town of Marjayoun.

The army said that it also reopened the road that links the port city of Tyre with the village of Bourj Rahhal. The army is also working on reopening other roads, including a bridge on the Litani River in the village of Tayr Filsay.

During Israels invasion of southern Lebanon over the past several weeks, Israels air force has destroyed several bridges on the river.

After a 10-day ceasefire was declared as of midnight Thursday, the Lebanese army and the Litani Authority have been working on putting up temporary bridges to replace the destroyed ones.

Iran negotiator says strait will remain closed

Irans parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as the U.S. imposes a naval blockade on Iran.

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, he said in televised comments aired by Iranian semiofficial media late Saturday.

Qalibaf, who is Irans chief negotiator with the United States, said that the strait is now under Irans control, linking the choke points reopening to the U.S. lifting of its blockade.

If the U.S. does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be restricted, he said.

He said that the ceasefire was on verge of collapse when the U.S. attempted to mine-clear the strait.

He said Iran viewed the U.S. attempt as a violation of the ceasefire.

The situation escalated to the point of conflict but the enemy retreated, he said.

Another Israeli soldier dies in combat

Israels military says another soldier died in combat in southern Lebanon, the second death announced in under 12 hours.

It brought the total number of soldiers killed in Lebanon to 15, and was the second soldier killed in combat since the ceasefire.

The military said that another soldier was badly wounded, along with four moderately wounded and four slightly injured.
Nadia Fares has died at the age of 57.

Nadia Fares has died

The Crimson River actress was found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris last weekend and her family have now confirmed that the French star passed away a few days later.

Nadia's daughters, Cylia and Shana Chasman, told AFP in a written statement: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Nadia Fares this Friday.

"France has lost a great artist, but for us, it is above all a mother we have just lost."

According to France's Le Monde newspaper, Nadia had been pulled from the pool at a private gym last Sunday (11.04.26) and went into a coma after suffering a cardiac arrest.

She never regained consciousness and died at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital on Friday (17.04.26).

Authorities told the outlet that an investigation has been opened into Nadia's death but no wrongdoing has been found at this point.

On Saturday (18.04.26), Cylia took to Instagram to share an emotional tribute to her mother, declaring her death to be a "heartbreak I will never get over."

She wrote: "It pains me to say goodbye, but mama, I will make you so proud.

"I am so happy that we got even closer than we were before in your last few months. You understood me better than anyone and I dont know how I will recover. People always say Im mini you and thats the best compliment.

"You were so loved and you were my role model, every achievement I had I was always so excited to tell you first because I knew how proud of me you would be.

"You were not only an amazing mom but my best friend. ...I love you, please watch over me. You have shown me how fast life can change literally overnight. I will take that with me every day and make every day count for you."

Nadia had undergone brain surgery due to an aneurysm in 2007, describing her health issue at the time as a "ticking time bomb that needed to be treated urgently".

She had also had three operations on her heart in the past.

The actress was born in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 1968 and found fame thanks to her work on Mathieu Kassovitzs The Crimson River, based on the Jean-Christophe Grange novel of the same name.

She went on to star in other Hollywood films, including 2007's Storm Warning, as well as dozens of French projects.

Nadia had been due to begin filming an action-comedy, her debut as a director and screenwriter, later this year.
Offset sued by producer ChaseTheMoney over $20K track dispute. Both sides claim breach of agreement on "Worth It" from 'Set It Off' album.

AceShowbiz - Offset is currently embroiled in another legal conflict as a music producer claims the rapper owes him $20,000 for a track used on his 2023 album without a proper payment agreement.

The producer, known as ChaseTheMoney, alleges that Offset utilized his song titled "Worth It" on the album Set It Off but never finalized payment terms. ChaseTheMoney is now pursuing legal action, demanding both compensation and a detailed accounting of the albums earnings.

This lawsuit adds complexity to an ongoing dispute because Offset has already filed a suit against ChaseTheMoney. In his claim, he states that an initial agreement was made early in 2023 to pay the producer $20,000 along with a 4% royalty split shared with a co-producer.

However, the situation escalated when ChaseTheMoneys new management came forward about three months post-album release, seeking a payment five times higher than the original amount. Following this, Offset requested a judge to affirm that the original deal was valid and binding. Meanwhile, ChaseTheMoney has countersued, and the case remains unresolved.

Offsets team responded to the claims, calling them "completely meritless and nothing more than a money grab." They explained that an agreement was negotiated with Mr. Rose (ChaseTheMoneys real name) and his management, covering fair compensation and credit for his contribution.

The statement continued, "After the record was released, and with new management in place, he refused to honor that agreement and attempted to renegotiate for fees well beyond industry standards under the threat of litigation." Essentially, Offsets camp accuses ChaseTheMoney of trying to alter the terms after already being paid and credited.

This producer lawsuit is just the latest legal headache for Offset in what has been a difficult year for the rapper, both financially and legally.

In January, an arrest warrant was issued for Offset after he missed a court arraignment on a misdemeanor battery charge dating back to December 2025. The warrant was later recalled by an LA judge on February 26.

Legal troubles intensified when MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit filed a lawsuit on March 30, accusing Offset of failing to repay a $100,000 credit line used for gambling.

Just days after the casino lawsuit, Offset was shot in the leg outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on April 6. The FBI is actively investigating the incident, having released images of suspects and vehicles, but no arrests have been made.

Offset spent several days in the hospital and was released in stable condition. Remarkably, he performed just six days after the shooting.

Taken together, the producer dispute, arrest warrant, casino debt lawsuit, and shooting paint a picture of an artist facing multiple serious challenges simultaneously.
Doctor Doom rises as the Avengers' greatest threat in Doomsday. See his legendary Castle and face the Incursions.

AceShowbiz - Avengers: Doomsday is set to introduce one of Marvels most iconic villains, Doctor Doom, in a major new role as the movies primary antagonist. While Doctor Doom made a brief appearance during the post-credits scene of Fantastic Four: First Steps, his presence in Avengers: Doomsday will be much more significant, with fans finally getting a detailed look at his legendary home, Castle Doom.

Doctor Doom was first teased in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sitting alongside Franklin Richards in the post-credits of Fantastic Four: First Steps. This small cameo hinted at the broader role he would take on in the upcoming Avengers film, where he will serve as the main villain. The storyline is expected to also address the looming threat of the Incursions, positioning Doctor Doom as a formidable secondary challenge for the heroes.

An exciting new development reveals that Castle Dooms backdrop will be partially created using footage from the Alton Towers amusement park in the UK. Reports confirm that production took place earlier this year at Alton Towers, which will serve as the digital backdrop representing Latveria, Doctor Dooms fictional country.

Its important to clarify that the castle itself was likely filmed at a different location, possibly in Scotland, but the Alton Towers site will provide the surrounding landscape digitally integrated into the scenes. This method allows for a stunning visual representation of Latveria without the need for constructing a massive physical set or relying heavily on CGI environments.

The idea of using Alton Towers as the visual landscape is particularly fitting because the amusement parks architecture and atmosphere closely match the gothic and imposing vibe associated with Doctor Dooms castle in the comics. This choice offers a practical filming solution while maintaining the authenticity and grandeur expected from Latverias infamous fortress.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige spoke at CinemaCon about the process of bringing Doctor Doom to the MCU, including the decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. in the role. Feige emphasized the flexibility of the multiverse within the MCU, stating, "It's our universe. It's a multiverse. We can do whatever the heck we want." He also highlighted the significance of having Downey Jr. transition from playing the MCUs most iconic hero, Iron Man, to portraying its most iconic villain.

Feige further elaborated on the characterization of Doctor Doom, assuring fans that the character will be portrayed with depth, highlighting his complexities and vulnerabilities. This approach echoes the nuanced portrayal of Thanos in the MCU, aiming to create a multi-dimensional antagonist rather than a one-note villain. The new trailer debuted at CinemaCon featured Robert Downey Jr. speaking for the first time as Doctor Doom, including a confrontation with Thor. However, details remain unclear regarding the exact location of their battlewhether it took place during the events of Thor: Love and Thunder or within Latveria itself.

With the inclusion of Latveria and Castle Doom as central elements of the film, Avengers: Doomsday promises to deliver a fresh and authentic portrayal of Doctor Doom that surpasses previous cinematic interpretations seen in earlier Fantastic Four movies. The MCUs meticulous approach to integrating his home country and castle sets a new standard for how this iconic villain is presented on screen.

Fans can expect that the combination of real-world locations like Alton Towers and the carefully crafted Castle Doom set will bring Latveria vividly to life in a way that honors the source material. This blend of practical and digital effects is poised to enhance the immersive experience of the film, giving audiences a deeper connection to Doctor Dooms origins and motivations.

Overall, the revelations about filming locations and casting choices underscore Marvel Studios commitment to elevating Doctor Dooms story within the MCU. The film will not only showcase the villains formidable powers but also explore his complex personality and the environment that shaped him. This holistic approach could redefine Doctor Dooms role in the cinematic universe and set the stage for future storylines involving the character and his homeland.

As Avengers: Doomsday approaches its release, anticipation continues to build around how the movie will portray this critical chapter in the MCUs evolving narrative. The inclusion of Alton Towers as a scenic backdrop for Latverias Castle Doom highlights Marvels innovative methods for world-building and dedication to visual authenticity.

What are your thoughts on the use of Alton Towers for Latverias landscape and casting Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom? Join the discussion and share your opinions with fellow fans in the ComicBook Forum.
Octavia Spencer narrates & produces Lost Women of Alaska, a docuseries honoring indigenous women victimized by a serial killer and fighting systemic neglect.

AceShowbiz - Octavia Spencer serves as both narrator and executive producer of Investigation Discoverys three-part docuseries Lost Women of Alaska, which sheds light on a deeply troubling chapter involving indigenous women targeted by a serial killer.

Spencer became involved in the project to bring visibility and respect to women who have often been marginalized and overlooked in society. The series focuses on indigenous women living on the edges of society who were victimized and murdered by serial killer Brian Steven Smith.

In discussing her motivation, Spencer emphasized the importance of restoring the dignity of these women and standing in solidarity with them and their families. This approach seeks not only to tell their stories but also to honor their lives amidst the tragedy.

The docuseries aims to raise awareness about the broader issues faced by indigenous women, including vulnerability to violence and the systemic neglect of their cases. By shedding light on these stories, Lost Women of Alaska hopes to contribute to a greater understanding and recognition of the challenges indigenous communities face.

Octavia Spencers involvement as both narrator and executive producer brings a powerful voice and perspective to the series, amplifying the call for justice and remembrance.
Rediscover lost Doctor Who history. Two long-missing William Hartnell episodes, found and restored, are now streaming on BBC. The Daleks return in this rare ...

AceShowbiz - Doctor Who fans have a reason to celebrate as two long-lost episodes from the shows early years are set to be added to the BBC streaming service. These episodes, believed destroyed for decades, have recently been found and restored, marking a significant recovery for the iconic British sci-fi series.

The recovered episodes are from the shows third season and include "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet". Both feature the original Doctor, William Hartnell, and his famous adversaries, the Daleks. Their rediscovery comes from an anonymous benefactors estate, as reported by the Associated Press, offering fans a rare glimpse into the early days of the series.

Despite this exciting find, there are still 95 episodes of Doctor Who that remain lost. The reason for so many missing episodes dates back to a time before digital storage. The BBC, being government-funded, reused old tapes to save costs. This practice led to many classic programs, including numerous Doctor Who episodes, being recorded over and lost forever.

De Montfort University professor Justin Smith explained to the Associated Press, "The main broadcasters in the U.K. in the 1960s, '70s, up to the '80s really, junked quite a lot of content." He further noted that finding missing Doctor Who episodes is considered "the holy grail." This puts into perspective the rarity and significance of the recent recovery.

While the BBCs tape reuse practice was practical at the time, it unintentionally erased parts of television history. The return of these episodes not only enriches the Doctor Who archive but also reignites interest in the shows early legacy. Fans will soon be able to stream these episodes and experience original adventures that had been lost for decades.

As technology advances, the hope remains that more missing episodes might resurface, allowing new generations to enjoy the early stories of the Doctor and his iconic foes. For now, the arrival of "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet" on the BBC streaming platform is a thrilling development for the show's devoted audience.
Late night TV highlights: Harrison Ford evades, Colbert squirms, and audiences unsettle. Recapping the week's most memorable talk show moments.

AceShowbiz - This weeks late night television landscape was marked by a mix of memorable moments, with Harrison Ford delivering a standout, somewhat evasive turn during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Earlier in the week, the farewell tour for Stephen Colbert on The Late Show continued to showcase the unusual dynamic between host and guests. John Lithgow honored Colbert with a poem that struck a note of gentle reverence. Yet, it was clear that Colbert himself remains somewhat uncomfortable with the adulation, whether from his guests or the audiences enthusiastic chants of Stephen! Stephen!

The week also saw a notable undercurrent of audience tension across various late night programs. On the British panel show Have I Got News for You, comedian Gianmarco Soresi acknowledged the differing audience reactions to his jokes. Similarly, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Conan OBrien appeared to discuss the Oscars but was visibly unsettled by the audience chanting his name, likening their tone to that of an angry jury and urging them to just settle down.

Among the top five late night highlights this week, the lighter fare included a pre-St. Patricks Day segment on The Tonight Show. Host Jimmy Fallon and his sidekick Steve Higgins delighted viewers with a series of limericks celebrating mundane subjects like winter boots and the Shamrock Shake. What elevated the segment was their enthusiastic attempt at posh British accents.

Comedian Pete Holmes also made a memorable contribution during his visit to The Late Show. Holmes delivered a "sitting down stand-up" routine, sharing a personal anecdote about being hit in the groin by a child and his subsequent dark revenge.

In contrast, Rebecca Ferguson brought a different energy to Late Night with Seth Meyers. Ferguson attempted twice to rally the audience into applause breaks, only to be firmly shut down by Meyers each time. Adding to the quirky vibe, she hid a spoon in Meyerss desk before filming.

On Watch What Happens Live, Jennifer Tilly recounted her reputation for encountering the supernatural during a fast-paced storytelling game. Tilly shared rapid-fire anecdotes about famous people and ghosts she has met.

But it was Harrison Ford who truly dominated the weeks late night highlights. His appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was a reminder of why he is considered a national treasure. Fords interaction with the audience was marked by his characteristic brusqueness, beginning with an order for them to knock it off! as they continued applauding. He and Jimmy Kimmel wasted no time in ribbing their mutual friend Woody Harrelson and poking fun at Kimmel in comparison to Michael J. Fox. One particularly endearing moment came when Ford admitted, likely in jest, that he listens to his own movie soundtracks.
The final season of Mayor of Kingstown begins. A new FBI agent threatens to expose Mike McLusky's secrets in the brutal reckoning for Kingstown.

AceShowbiz - The gripping crime drama Mayor of Kingstown is officially moving toward its conclusion as production starts on its fifth and final season in Pittsburgh, Paramount+ announced on March 13, 2026.

The series, created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, has long been a tense exploration of power struggles, corruption, and violence within the fictional town of Kingstown. This final chapter promises to deliver the brutal reckoning the shows atmosphere has been building toward since its debut in 2021.

Paramount+ confirmed that David Morse is joining the cast as a regular for the last season. He will portray Russell Hardy, a veteran FBI agent sent to Kingstown to investigate the fallout following the murder of Tracy. Hardys arrival sets off a chain reaction that threatens to expose the secrets and dark deeds of Mike McLusky, played by Jeremy Renner, while further destabilizing the already fragile power balance of the city.

The upcoming season consists of eight episodes and will once again feature returning cast members including Edie Falco, Laura Benanti, Hugh Dillon, Taylor Handley, Tobi Bamtefa, and Derek Webster. Additionally, Necar Zadegan, Nichole Galicia, and Lennie James will reprise their roles for the series final arc.

Behind the scenes, the show continues under the guidance of co-creator Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, with Dave Erickson serving as showrunner. The creative team remains committed to delivering the intense storytelling and complex character dynamics that have defined the series.

In response to the announcement, Jeremy Renner took to social media expressing his excitement about the renewal and the final season ahead. He wrote, Season 5. Rebirth. Renewed, here we go. Back to work this year, were excited, and I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone, and I love you. In a follow-up message, he shared a heartfelt note of gratitude to the fans, saying, I find myself in deep gratitude this gorgeous morning. After a rebirth, today, announcing a renewal of Mayor of Kingstown Season 5... what a blessing... and its all because of the amazing, dedicated fans. Thank you.

Mayor of Kingstown marks the first ongoing series from Taylor Sheridan to receive an official end date, following recent leadership changes at Paramount+. The show currently streams on Paramount+ and is scheduled to be available on Netflix later this year, expanding its audience reach before the finale.

Since its premiere on November 14, 2021, the series has garnered attention for its raw depiction of crime and corruption, anchored by powerful performances from its ensemble cast. Jeremy Renner's portrayal of Mike McLusky, a man navigating the violent power dynamics of Kingstown, has been particularly praised.

The final season is expected to deepen the exploration of these themes as FBI agent Russell Hardys investigation threatens to unravel the precarious peace within the community. With the stakes higher than ever, fans can anticipate a conclusion that is both intense and emotionally charged.

Directed by a team including Stephen Kay, Guy Ferland, Christoph Schrewe, Clark Johnson, Paul Cameron, Tasha Smith, and Taylor Sheridan himself, the series has maintained a consistent tone and quality throughout its run.

As production progresses in Pittsburgh, anticipation builds for how this acclaimed crime saga will wrap up its storylines and character arcs. The final season is poised to deliver the dramatic closure that viewers have awaited, cementing Mayor of Kingstown as a standout title in contemporary crime drama television.
Moroccan French actress Nadia Fares, star of 'The Crimson Rivers,' dies at 57. Her daughters confirm the tragic news following a cardiac arrest.

AceShowbiz - Nadia Fares, the Moroccan French actress, has died at the age of 57 following a cardiac arrest. She was discovered unconscious in a swimming pool last week and remained in a coma until her passing.

The news of her death was confirmed by her daughters, Cylia and Shana Chasman, who issued a statement to Agence France-Presse expressing their profound grief. It is with immense sadness that we announce the death this Friday of Nadia Fares. France has lost a great artist, but for us, it is above all a mother that we have just lost, they said.

Nadia Fares was born in Marrakesh and gained widespread recognition for her role in the 2000 thriller The Crimson Rivers, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. In the film, she starred alongside notable actors Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel, marking a significant point in her career.

The actress's sudden health crisis and subsequent death have deeply affected her family and fans alike. While her legacy as a talented performer endures, her daughters emphasized the personal loss they now face.

Nadia Fares leaves behind a noteworthy body of work that continues to resonate within French cinema and beyond. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable artistic journey remembered by many.
Cardi B threatens to cancel Atlanta tour date over disrespectful venue staff. Read about her Instagram Live ultimatum before the final show.

AceShowbiz - Cardi B took to Instagram Live just hours before her final "Little Miss Drama" tour date in Atlanta to express serious frustration with the treatment her team received from venue employees.

The rapper threatened to cancel the entire show at State Farm Arena on April 18, 2026, unless immediate action was taken by management to address the disrespectful behavior she encountered upon arrival.

Cardi B was visibly upset during the livestream, emphasizing that despite completing 35 consecutive sold-out shows, basic respect should not be overlooked. She condemned the rude conduct of the arena staff and made it clear that such treatment was unacceptable.

Your f###### employees are being disrespectful. Why I'm not gonna perform today? Get your boss like you said, Go get them. I'm not performing today. Let me tell you why, because we got in here, your employees are f###### rude for no reason, being rude for no reason. I feel a certain type of way, because you being disrespectful. I did 35 shows, and I never had a problem, and we've been kind to everybody, she said emphatically during the live broadcast.

The previous night, April 17, marked the first of the two-night Atlanta finale, which went off without a hitch. The energy was electric, and Cardi B surprised fans by bringing out hometown legends T.I., Jeezy, and Ludacris. Notably, Jeezy arrived with over 60 Jeeps as a show of support.

The production was flawless, the crowd was enthusiastic, and the event proceeded smoothly, making the sudden tension the following day all the more unexpected for fans eagerly anticipating the second night.

The "Little Miss Drama" tour began on February 11, 2026, in Palm Desert, California, and has become a cultural phenomenon. Over the course of 35 shows, the tour has grossed more than $45.8 million, setting the record as the highest-grossing debut arena tour by a female artist.

Throughout the tour, Cardi B has shared the stage with major names in female rap, including Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Tyla, Kehlani, Blueface, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott. Each performance has been an unpredictable celebration of female hip-hop talent.

The tour promotes her album Am I the Drama?, which topped the Billboard 200, reinforcing her status as one of the dominant figures in contemporary hip-hop.

Despite the heated moment, it appears the final show will proceed as planned. Cardi B chose to remain professional and avoid penalizing her fans for the venue issues.

In a final message to her followers, she stressed the importance of respect in positions of power. When you hold power and authority, use it with kindness and respect. Never abuse it... because not everyone will endure your arrogance in silence. Treat others exactly like you demand to be treated. Atlanta... I'll see you soon, she said, bringing relief to her audience.
King Charles will reportedly honour the late Queen Elizabeth with a message to mark her 100th birthday.

The then-Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth in 2022

It has been said that the 77-year-old monarch will deliver his heartfelt recorded address to the nation on Tuesday (21.04.26), commemorating his mother's life, legacy and 70-year reign, which ended when she died on September 8, 2022, aged 96 from "old age".

His Majesty will also use the message to "renew his vow of service", following a challenging start to his reign, including a cancer battle, estrangement from his 41-year-old son, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and dealing with his 66-year-old disgraced brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as more details emerge about his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - of which Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

A royal insider told The Mirror: "The start to the King's reign has not been without its obvious troubles, but there has been much to celebrate as well.

"He has been immensely positive in the face of adversity, continuing his cancer treatment while maintaining an incredible work rate.

"He has travelled extensively across the country and abroad, meeting two Popes, celebrating 50 years of the King's Trust (formerly the Prince's Trust) and pressing on with historic visits abroad.

"His message will be one celebration of an incredible life well lived and also an opportunity for him to renew his vow of service to the nation and the Commonwealth, but also speak to the values that he stands by - where fairness and the well-being of others matter most."

The King's message will take place on the day of Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday, but more commemorations will be held around the anniversary.

These include a series of public engagements and a special reception at Buckingham Palace, with senior members of the royal family expected to attend alongside the King and 78-year-old Queen Camilla.

After next week's events, the King and Queen will travel to the US for a State Visit hosted by 79-year-old President Donald Trump, which will run from April 27 until April 30.

The royal couple will attend a state dinner at the White House - with the monarch making a speech to Congress - on a visit to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and "celebrate the historic connections" between the UK and US.

Buckingham Palace said: "On advice of His Majestys Government, and at the invitation of The President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America.

"Their majesties' programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States."

President Trump expressed his and 55-year-old wife, First Lady Melania Trump's delight in welcoming the King and Queen to the US in a post shared to his Truth Social platform.

He penned: "Melania and I are pleased to announce that Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, will visit the United States for a Historic State Visit from April 27-30th, which will include a beautiful Banquet Dinner at the White House on the evening of April 28th.

"This momentous occasion will be even more special this year, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our Great Country. I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC."
Celebrate Superman Day with DC's new Krypto short & Supergirl's 2026 spotlight. Explore the legacy of the Man of Steel and his iconic family.

AceShowbiz - Nearly nine decades ago, the world met Superman in Action Comics #1, a milestone that forever transformed comic books and superhero movies. This iconic event is commemorated annually as Superman Day by DC, celebrating the legacy of the Man of Steel. In 2026, the occasion also spotlights his cousin Kara, better known as Supergirl, who will headline the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) release scheduled for June.

To honor Superman Day, DC unveiled the fourth installment of its Krypto Saves the Day animated shorts. These shorts, confirmed by James Gunn as non-canonical, feature the misadventures of Krypto, the super-powered dog. In the latest episode titled Coastal Catastrophe, Krypto attempts to enjoy a hotdog at the beach alongside an animated depiction of Clark Kent, portrayed by David Corenswet. However, a cascade of mishaps ensues, preventing Krypto from having a peaceful day.

This family-friendly short contrasts the darker tones expected in the Supergirl movie, where Krypto faces genuine mortal danger. Notably, the short includes a brief cameo of Supergirl herself, seen surfing before being caught in an underwater cyclone created by her canine companion. This appearance seems more promotional than narrative, teasing fans ahead of the films release.

Despite the anticipation surrounding Superman Day 2026, the event felt underwhelming for many fans eager for new DCU content. While the Krypto Saves the Day: Coastal Catastrophe short was a highlight, the overall celebration lacked significant reveals or trailers, especially for anticipated projects like Supergirl and Man of Tomorrow.

James Gunn marked the day by sharing a celebratory message on social media, featuring cameos from notable DCU actors including David Corenswet, a newly bald Nicholas Hoult, Jason Momoa, and Milly Alcock. Gunns post humorously showcased different ways to celebrate Superman Day: Krypto indulging in treats, Supergirl embarking on an adventure, and Superman himself spending time with his longtime nemesis, Lex Luthor.

Gunn also paid homage to the enduring partnership of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, recognizing their first appearance in ACTION COMICS #1 in 1938. He emphasized their ongoing role in storytelling and heroism through DC Comics.

In an unexpected nod to Supergirl, DC teased a collaboration with the band Blondie, whose 1980s hit Call Me was featured in the films trailer. This partnership was announced on the official Supergirl social media account, hinting at upcoming promotional content, though details remain scarce.

Moreover, DCs official YouTube channel released an extensive, hour-long compilation of Supermans most iconic live-action movie moments. This video brought together all four actors who have portrayed Superman in live-action films, along with a brief acknowledgment of the animated Superman from the DC Animated Universe (DCAU).

Despite these efforts, the absence of a new television spot for the Supergirl movie or a concrete reveal regarding the Blondie collaboration was noticeable. Fans also missed any official confirmation related to Man of Tomorrow, which was understandable given its current stage in production. There was speculation about whether Adria Arjonas involvement might be confirmed during the event, but no such announcements were made.

Overall, the 2026 Superman Day felt like a missed opportunity to build momentum for the upcoming DCU slate. After the limited information shared at CinemaCon earlier in the year, fans hoped for more substantial updates or trailers to generate excitement for both Supergirl and Man of Tomorrow.

The celebration remains a significant moment in the DC calendar, honoring the legacy of one of the most influential superheroes in history and teasing exciting new stories yet to come. However, this year's festivities seemed more subdued, leaving fans eager for the next big reveal.

What are your thoughts on this year's Superman Day? Did the Krypto Saves the Day short or the Blondie collaboration teaser meet your expectations? Share your opinions and join the discussion now in the ComicBook Forum!
Danielle Brooks on her indie film 'If I Go Will They Miss Me' and why authentic storytelling, not blockbusters, fulfills her artistic purpose.

AceShowbiz - If I Go Will They Miss Me has become a defining project for Danielle Brooks, whose career spans major roles on stage and screen, including Netflixs Orange Is the New Black and Broadways The Color Purple. Despite her success in larger productions, Brooks shared at the Miami Film Festival how independent films like this one resonate more deeply with her artistic purpose.

At the festival, where she was honored with the Art of Light Award following a screening of If I Go Will They Miss Me, Brooks emphasized the authenticity indie films offer. "Independent films are so incredible because I think they reflect the truth of who we are," she said. "It's not about big blockbuster movies to make a dollar, it's about the people. And that's why I got into this, so that I could be a reflection, the light, because there were people in this industry, artists that were that light for me."

The film tells the story of Lozita Harris, played by Brooks, a mother of three struggling to keep her family together as her partner, Ant, portrayed by J. Alphonse Nicholson, attempts to reconnect with their son after his release from prison. The semi-biographical feature, directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez, draws on real-life experiences and was shot in a public housing complex in Watts, adding to its raw and grounded atmosphere.

Brooks revealed that her connection with the film began with the 2022 short of the same name by Thompson-Hernandez. "My team had come to me and said, 'Hey, there's this film that we want you to think about being involved in. There's this amazing new up-and-coming director, Walter Thompson Hernandez.' And I'm always like, 'Ooh, new. I like,' because that means there's a new energy that's being put out into the film industry, and that excites me." She was drawn to the shorts unique style and energy, comparing it to the acclaimed film Moonlight. The passion and community-based nature of the project stood out to her, especially since it was clear it was made without a large budget.

When Brooks met with Walter Thompson-Hernandez, they talked extensively at the London Hotel, and she quickly committed to the project. "This truly was a passion project. This is one of those films that you end up spending money to be in it. It wasn't something that came with a large check, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it because it felt honest and real." She noted that her role as Lozita was a departure from her previous characters, like the larger-than-life Sophia in The Color Purple or Taystee in Orange Is the New Black. Lozitas quiet strength was what captivated her.

Because the characters in If I Go Will They Miss Me are based on real people, Brooks had to prepare differently. She shared that while she has played real-life figures before, this role was unique because the woman she portrayed had passed away. Brooks gathered information from Lozitas partner and from the director, who was close to her. Photographs played a crucial role in capturing Lozitas essence. "Pictures tell a thousand words," Brooks explained. She paid close attention to Lozitas tattoos, braids, and mannerisms, incorporating these details into her performance.

Walter Thompson-Hernandez described the films core as a story about survival and resilience. "None of us asked to be here, but we all have to figure out how to survive it," Brooks said. The film captures a family navigating difficult circumstances and the legacy they will leave their children. Shooting in the Watts projects made the experience even more authentic, as the cast was embedded in the community rather than isolated from it. "Sometimes it was really real. Life imitates art, and art imitates life, so there was no moment for me to escape the character."

Brooks also found it inspiring to see children in the neighborhood watching the filming. She observed how these kids, without access to modern devices, played outside and saw reflections of themselves in the cast. When she asked what they wanted to be, many said actors, which Brooks found powerful.

Working alongside J. Alphonse Nicholson brought additional depth to the emotionally charged scenes between their characters. Brooks praised Nicholsons talent and the trust they built during filming. While rehearsal time was limited, the actors connected on a personal level, sharing experiences to bring vulnerability to their performances. "Being in a space with him, having to take my shirt off and have intimate scenes, it was a safety with the way in which he works that I felt comfortable to give all myself to her, no problem."

Brooks described how both she and Nicholson could relate to their characters struggles, despite their appearances. This understanding made some moments intense but also fostered a strong support system between them. "We had each other to be like, 'You good?' And that's important. It's very important to be able to trust your same partner that way."

Since its premiere at Sundance in January, If I Go Will They Miss Me has been acquired by Rich Spirit, signaling a promising future for the films distribution. The experience of working on this project has inspired Brooks to create her own short film, further exploring the themes and storytelling style that drew her to this project in the first place.

For Danielle Brooks, indie films like If I Go Will They Miss Me represent more than just roles; they are a chance to reflect real stories and voices often overlooked by mainstream cinema. Her dedication to portraying these authentic narratives continues to shape her evolving career, highlighting the power of independent filmmaking in connecting audiences to genuine human experiences.
A remote cabin wedding turns into a nightmare. Watch the chilling trailer for Netflix's new horror miniseries starring Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco.

AceShowbiz - The upcoming Netflix horror miniseries Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen presents a chilling look at a doomed relationship as portrayed by Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco. The recently released official trailer introduces viewers to the couples fragile romance and hints at a dark, unsettling conclusion.

In the trailer, Nicky (DiMarco) proposes a small, intimate wedding ceremony to Rachel (Morrone) at his familys remote cabin in the woods, aiming to avoid the typical wedding bulls-t. The couple sets off on a road trip toward the snowy retreat, but Rachels excitement soon turns to doubt. A string of strange events and unnerving encounters spirals her into paranoia.

Ever since we got here I feel like something weird is going on, Rachel confesses in the preview. Her growing unease is echoed by her friends who question the odd circumstances surrounding her fiance and the location. A mysterious man even confronts her, asking if Nicky is really the one. Meanwhile, Nickys parents add to the tension with cryptic advice about protecting a partners soul.

Nickys father ominously tells the couple, What makes two people soulmates, some call it fate, but the most important decision is whom you trust to keep secrets. This haunting message deepens the mystery and foreshadows the dark themes explored in the series.

Showrunner Haley Z. Boston describes Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen as an atmospheric horror series blending elements reminiscent of classics like Carrie and Rosemarys Baby. Boston shares, I love horror. Its natural to me. Horror allows you to explore taboo feelings and take all of these fears and give them some bite. She also compares the tension leading to a wedding to walking the plank, emphasizing the peril of making the wrong choice.

The series stars Jennifer Jason Leigh as Victoria, Ted Levine as Boris, along with Jeff Wilbusch, Karla Crome, Gus Birney, and Zlatko Buri? in supporting roles. The show is executive produced by Boston alongside the Duffer Brothers for Upside Down Pictures, with Hilary Leavitt, Andrea Sperling, and Weronika Tofilska also producing. Tofilska, known for directing episodes of Baby Reindeer, will direct four episodes, with Axelle Carolyn and Lisa Bruhlmann helming others.

All eight episodes of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen are scheduled to premiere on Netflix on March 26, offering fans a suspenseful and haunting new series to watch.
New Netflix series explores Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera's passionate, turbulent love, art, and politics. A nuanced drama from a top creative team.

AceShowbiz - Netflix is developing a new scripted series centered on the life of Frida Kahlo, the renowned Mexican artist and cultural icon. The drama will explore the complex relationship between Kahlo and her husband, fellow artist Diego Rivera, highlighting how their passionate love, betrayals, and artistic creations were deeply influenced by the political and social climate of their era.

Directorial responsibilities will be shared by Patricia Riggen and Gabriel Ripstein, bringing their combined vision to this ambitious project. The series is produced by Monica Lozano of Alebrije Producciones, emphasizing a strong creative team behind the scenes.

The story is adapted from the book by French novelist Claire Berest, which chronicles the intertwined lives of Kahlo and Rivera. Maria Renee Prudencio has been named head writer for the series, which is currently untitled. This upcoming Netflix drama aims to provide a nuanced portrayal of the artists personal and professional journeys, set against a backdrop of significant historical events.

While further details such as release dates remain unannounced, the collaboration between Netflix, Riggen, Ripstein, and the production team signals a compelling new addition to the streaming platforms slate of original content focused on influential cultural figures.
Thrash is Netflix's #1 horror hit. A gripping shark thriller praised by Stephen King. Discover why this survival film has such powerful staying power.

AceShowbiz - Netflix has a reputation for releasing thrillers that flare brightly and then quickly fade away in its vast streaming catalog. However, Thrash emerges as a horror movie with far more staying power and impact. This shark-themed survival thriller has rapidly gained popularity, fueled by its gripping premise tailored for viewers seeking a mix of excitement and terror.

Helping to propel the film into the spotlight is none other than renowned horror writer Stephen King, who publicly praised the movie on social media. He highlighted a particular line from the film, calling it the Best line of the year (so far): Mommys got to go to work. Such an endorsement is a significant boon for a genre film and arrived at a moment when Thrash was already sitting comfortably at No. 1 on Netflixs global movie chart.

The films success owes much to its talented cast and crew. Thrash stars Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, and Djimon Hounsou, under the direction of Tommy Wirkola. Netflix describes the storyline as revolving around the residents of a coastal town who face a devastating hurricane, only to find that the ensuing floodwaters become a deadly hunting ground for sharks. The movie embraces its pulpy, high-stakes thrills with full awareness of its genre conventions.

In an era when streaming platforms frequently churn out numerous thrillers that struggle to maintain audience attention beyond their initial release, Thrash stands out by combining the visceral threat of nature with human drama. Its premise of survival against both natural disaster and predatory sharks taps into primal fears, making it a compelling watch for horror fans and casual viewers alike.

Adding to the films appeal is the chemistry and performances of its lead actors. Phoebe Dynevor and Whitney Peak bring depth to their roles, while Djimon Hounsou contributes a commanding presence that anchors the story. Director Tommy Wirkola is known for his ability to balance horror and dark humor, and with Thrash, he delivers a movie that is both entertaining and tense.

The timing of Thrashs release has also played a crucial role in its rapid ascent on Netflixs charts. With the streaming services global reach, the film quickly found an audience eager for a fresh horror experience that combines survival thriller elements with a classic monster movie feel. The devastating hurricane backdrop adds a layer of environmental disaster that heightens the stakes and urgency of the narrative.

Stephen Kings endorsement, in particular, has lent the film cachet within the horror community. His simple but impactful quote about the films dialogue not only highlights the sharp writing but also signals to genre fans that Thrash is worth their attention. Such praise from a heavyweight in horror literature is rare and much sought after by filmmakers aiming to break through the noise of streaming releases.

Overall, Thrash represents a successful blend of familiar horror motifs and modern streaming sensibilities. It capitalizes on audiences appetite for suspenseful, high-energy storytelling while delivering moments of genuine terror and survival drama. The films coastal setting, natural disaster scenario, and shark attacks come together to create a thrilling cinematic experience that continues to dominate Netflixs global movie rankings.

As Netflix continues to expand its slate of original horror films, Thrash is poised to be one of the standout titles of 2026. Its combination of star power, effective direction, and Stephen Kings endorsement ensures it will remain a topic of conversation among horror aficionados and mainstream viewers alike. The films success underscores the appetite for genre movies that can deliver scares, suspense, and memorable moments in equal measure.

For anyone looking for a horror movie that offers more than just fleeting thrills, Thrash promises a pulse-pounding ride through a catastrophic hurricane, where the real danger lurks beneath the floodwaters. With its compelling cast, expert direction, and a high-profile nod from one of the greatest horror storytellers of all time, this Netflix original is set to make waves well beyond its release date.

Whether youre a fan of survival horror, shark attacks, or disaster films, Thrash delivers a powerful punch that is hard to ignore. Its a stark reminder that sometimes the scariest monsters come from nature itself, amplified by human resilience and desperation. Keep an eye on this title as it continues to captivate audiences worldwide and solidifies its place as one of Netflixs most talked-about horror movies of the year.
Morgan Wallen & Ella Langley debut new duet "I Can't Love You Anymore" live in Tuscaloosa. Hear the story and watch the first performance.

AceShowbiz - Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley thrilled fans during the third stop of Wallens Still the Problem tour in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Saturday, April 18. The two country stars announced a brand-new duet titled I Cant Love You Anymore, set to release on Friday, April 24.

From the stage, Wallen shared the story behind the track: "Ella wrote this song and sent it to me about a month ago and I loved it." Langley confirmed the release date before the pair performed the song live for the very first time.

The passionate mid-tempo ballad features Wallen and Langley trading heartfelt verses before joining voices on the chorus, creating a powerful emotional connection with the audience. Music Mayhem Magazine captured significant portions of the debut performance, offering fans an early glimpse of the duet.

Interestingly, hints about the upcoming collaboration had been subtly dropped beforehand. Langleys official music video for her song Choosin' Texas, released roughly two weeks prior, included a mysterious detail: the white van Miranda Lambert and Langley escape in displays a license plate reading ICLYA, which fans now recognize as an acronym for I Cant Love You Anymore.

Further clues appeared when Langley joined Wallen on stage at his April 7 concert at The Pinnacle in Nashville to perform Sand in My Boots together, sparking speculation about a possible collaboration.

The new duet is not part of Langleys recently released album Dandelion, which debuted on April 10. It remains unclear whether the song will be a standalone single, included in a deluxe edition of Dandelion, or featured on a future project by Wallen.

Both artists are no strangers to successful duets. Langley achieved major acclaim last year with her duet You Look Like You Love Me alongside Riley Green, earning the ACM Award for Single of the Year. Meanwhile, Wallen topped charts with his collaboration with Tate McRae on What I Want, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts.

Fans can look forward to seeing Langley join Wallen at multiple upcoming stadium tour dates. These include May 9 in Indianapolis, May 16 in Gainesville, Florida, May 30 in Denver, June 6 in Pittsburgh, June 20 in Chicago, June 27 in Clemson, South Carolina, July 18 in Baltimore, and August 1 in Philadelphia.

This new collaboration highlights the continued momentum of Wallen and Langley as two of the most prominent voices in country music today, expanding their already impressive legacies with fresh material fans eagerly anticipate.
New drama Durango on Hulu. A ski bum and a runaway chase a reckless dream, fleeing the law and falling in love. From the creator of Y: The Last Man.

AceShowbiz - Hulu is expanding its lineup of drama series with a new pilot from Eliza Clark, known for her work on Y: The Last Man. The Disney-owned streaming platform has officially ordered the pilot titled Durango, a story focusing on a couple defying the odds while chasing their own version of the American dream.

Durango is written by Clark, who will also executive produce alongside Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer of Media Res, the production company behind shows like The Morning Show and the upcoming Peacock series The Miniature Wife. The project is a joint production between Media Res and 20th Television.

The official logline describes the series as centered on "Mikey, a ski bum townie chasing a buzz, and Bunny, a homeschooled runaway working as a greasy-spoon waitress." Together, they navigate an avalanche of poor decisions while falling in love and fleeing from law enforcement, criminals, and Mikeys wife, all in pursuit of their own American dream.

Durango has been in development at Hulu for approximately one year. It joins a slate of recent drama pilots ordered by the streamer, which includes Ryan Cooglers reboot of The X-Files, a new take on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the prep school mystery Foster Dade from Greg Berlanti and Bash Doran, and Southern Bastards, based on the graphic novel and executive produced by Nia DaCosta and Bill Dubuque. Hulu is also developing a drama titled Vatican City with Robert and Michelle King.

Clark is no stranger to high-profile TV projects. Besides her role as showrunner on FX and Hulus Y: The Last Man, her writing and producing credits include TNTs Animal Kingdom, CBS Extant, and AMCs The Killing and Rubicon. In addition to television, Clark is a playwright with works that have been staged at notable venues such as The Kirk Douglas Theater, The Cherry Lane Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Alley Theatre, and South Coast Repertory Theatre.

With Durango, Hulu aims to continue building a diverse and compelling drama slate, leveraging Clarks distinctive voice and storytelling expertise. The pilots focus on complex characters on the run promises a gripping narrative that will resonate with audiences seeking fresh, emotionally charged television.
Bunbury addresses viral ticket mix-up with Bad Bunny. Fans bought his concert tickets by mistake. Hear the rock star's humorous take on the confusion.

AceShowbiz - Bunbury, the renowned Spanish rock artist, recently addressed a humorous ticket mix-up that gained attention on social media. During his appearance on the TVE show La Revuelta on April 14, he shared an amusing story about some fans who accidentally purchased tickets to his concert instead of one for Bad Bunny.

The incident came to light following a TikTok video posted on February 9, where a group of young women laughed as they described how they mistakenly bought tickets for Bunbury's December 4 concert at the Movistar Arena in Madrid rather than for one of Bad Bunny's residency shows scheduled between May 30 and June 15 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Bunbury speculated that the confusion likely arose from the similarity in their names. "I guess they saw the B and the Y ..." he remarked, alluding to the overlapping letters in their stage names.

When asked by the host to send a message to those fans who bought the wrong tickets, Bunbury responded with good humor: "Well, welcome to the concert." He also dismissed the idea of refunding the tickets, adding, "I'm not planning on giving them back."

Despite the mix-up, Bunbury stood by the quality of his live performances, assuring potential attendees, "I think if they come, they're going to enjoy it."

Billboard Espanol reached out to Bunbury's team for further comment, but no response was available by press time.

The conversation also revealed Bunbury's cautious approach to social media. He admitted that he tends to avoid exposing himself to online opinions, especially negative ones, explaining, "You read 100 good comments, and then there's one that says 'terrible' and that one weighs on you more than the others."

In the same interview, Bunbury recalled a recent encounter with Bad Bunny at the Latin Grammys, where they were seated near each other. However, he noted that they did not get the chance to greet one another.

Looking ahead, Bunbury is preparing to embark on his Nuevas Mutaciones Tour later this year, with dates to be announced. Fans who find themselves in the unexpected position of attending his concert due to the ticket mix-up may discover a memorable live experience.
Will Trent fans speculate: Is Faith leaving the GBI? Explore the emotional fallout and hints of a major character departure in the latest episode.

AceShowbiz - The latest episode of Will Trent dropped significant hints about a potential major character departure, stirring speculation among fans about the future of the ABC crime drama.

On a recent installment, Faith, portrayed by Iantha Richardson, grappled with the emotional fallout of her complicated romance with Malcolm. Although Faith had recently helped put Malcolm behind bars, their feelings for each other remained tangled, highlighted by the numerous letters she received from him while he was incarcerated.

During a poignant moment, Faith confided in Amanda (played by Sonja Sohn) about her growing doubts over continuing her career with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). I look at you and the career youve had and what its cost, Faith told Amanda. And in my head, I know that what we do in the end  it matters. Yet despite this realization, Faith expressed uncertainty about whether she could keep doing the job, especially given the personal sacrifices it demanded.

The episode ended with Amanda visibly shocked, leaving viewers questioning if Faith might be considering leaving the GBI or seeking a different path altogether. This cliffhanger has fueled fan discussions about the possibility of Faiths exit from the series.

Earlier this year, Richardson offered insight into Faiths evolving character arc, particularly regarding her romantic entanglements. She described Faiths relationship with Malcolm as a youthful experiment, suggesting Faith had worn rose-colored glasses and experienced her little bad boy moment. Richardson remarked, She was a young mom, maybe she never had a bad boy. This could have been her first time and now she did it. She did it, were done.

Richardson also expressed hope for Faiths future stability and happiness. I feel like she should have genuine love. I just want to see her with somebody and happy. And there could be dynamics, because audiences love drama, but I think its time for her to have luck in love, she shared, emphasizing that Faith deserves joy after all shes endured.

In addition to the romantic storyline, Richardson teased that Faiths professional drive will be reignited with renewed purpose in upcoming episodes, signaling continued character development.

Will Trent is adapted from the novels by Karin Slaughter and centers on a special agent at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation who was abandoned at birth and raised in Atlantas foster care system. The series follows Will Trent, portrayed by Ramon Rodriguez, as he uses his unique life experiences and perspective to solve crimes.

Rodriguez recently spoke about upcoming storylines that will reveal new facets of his character. He highlighted how Will has rarely taken time for himself due to his relentless focus on work and how the introduction of an unconventional therapist will challenge him in unexpected ways. He keeps himself busy; those have been some of his coping mechanisms, and now to finally meet a therapist who is a bit unconventional where her tactics might be a little strange. But I think thats what someone like Will needs, Rodriguez explained.

He added, I love that we took what weve seen a million times before in movies and shows  which is therapy  and we said, How can we make this really different and give it the Will Trent spin that we try to do? I loved it.

As the series moves toward its fourth season, the fate of several main characters remains uncertain. Fans are eager to see which cast members will return and how the storylines will evolve.

Will Trent continues to air on ABC, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu. With its blend of intense crime-solving, rich character drama, and emotional storylines, the show remains a compelling fixture in ABCs lineup.

For viewers invested in Faiths journey and the overall narrative, the upcoming episodes promise revelations that could reshape the dynamics of the series and test the loyalties of its characters.
Explore young Gibbs' origin story in NCIS: Origins, the highest-rated NCIS spin-off now in Paramount+'s top 10.

AceShowbiz - NCIS: Origins stands out as the highest-rated spin-off within the long-running NCIS franchise, recently breaking into Paramount+s top ten most-watched shows. The series, which premiered in October 2024, dives into the early career of the franchises iconic character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, exploring his formative years at the Naval Investigative Service (NIS).

The NCIS universe has enjoyed more than two decades on television, growing to include six spin-offs over the years. While several of those offshoots have ended or been cancelled, NCIS: Origins has carved a unique place in the franchise by focusing on a young Gibbs backstory. The show also features Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Gibbs mentor and leader during this earlier period.

NCIS: Origins has been praised for its storytelling, achieving an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated entry among NCIS spin-offs. Unlike other series that investigate different geographic locations or characters, this show rewinds time to reveal unknown aspects of Gibbs life and career. It introduces new characters alongside younger versions of familiar faces from the flagship NCIS series, adding depth to the franchises mythology.

The series expertly blends procedural crime drama with serialized storytelling, a hybrid format that suits the streaming era and modern broadcast TV demands. This approach has resonated with audiences, helping the show secure a place within the top ten on Paramount+. According to FlixPatrol data, NCIS: Origins currently holds the 10th position in viewership rankings.

The show airs on CBS every Tuesday at 9 pm and is also available to stream on Paramount+. The latest episode, titled Lean on Me (Season 2, Episode 10), aired on March 10, 2026. It centers around a tense biological threat scenario: a marine captain arrives at Camp Pendleton with symptoms of a deadly virus, prompting a lockdown. Gibbs must take command while the team races to uncover whether they face an actual outbreak or another kind of danger.

Monreal, who has been integral to the show's success, is stepping away to pursue other projects. Meanwhile, NCIS: Origins has been renewed for a third season. The series boasts a diverse supporting cast including Mariel Molino as Cecilia Lala Dominguez, Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes, and Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland. Other notable actors featured are Caleb Foote, Patrick Fischler, Julian Black Antelope, Michael Harney, Daniel Bellomy, and Bobby Moynihan.
Sarah Fergusons recent reclusiveness is driven by a desire to protect her children amid renewed scrutiny linked to Jeffrey Epstein, according to one of her relatives.

Sarah Ferguson has withdrawn from public view in recent months, with a relative saying her absence is driven by a desire to protect her children amid renewed scrutiny over her links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Ferguson, 66, the former Duchess of York, was photographed last week outside a wellness clinic in Austria, marking the first time she has been snapped in public in four months after attending the christening of her youngest granddaughter.

Her retreat from public life follows the release of documents in the United States connected to Epstein, the convicted paedophile financier, which further referenced both Sarah and her former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors friendship with the sex trafficker.

A relative of Sarahs, Martin Barrantes, who lives in Buenos Aires, has now told the Daily Mail she has been deliberately avoiding public exposure in order to shield her daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36, and their children.

Martin said: I have spoken to her (and) can tell you that she just wants to protect her children and her grandchildren.

He added: We spoke around three months ago. I wanted to give her my support in a difficult moment for her with all that was going on with the Epstein Files. Sarah is going through a difficult moment, and I wanted to send her our support, she is a valued member of our family. Given the situation she seemed to be in good spirits.

He went on: What people need to remember is that the real villain in all this is Epstein. Sarah was perhaps foolish to trust him and take such confidence from him, and I am sure she regrets that now. I havent seen Sarah in person for four or five years now (but) Sarah, and her sister became much loved members of our family and of course we give her our support.

Another relative, Martins younger brother Raphael Barrantes, also spoke to the Daily Mail.

He said: Im sure Sarah regrets ever getting to know Epstein. She was led on by him, but he was the criminal in all this, people have to remember that Sarah didnt do anything wrong.

He added: She loves her children more than anything and will do anything for them.

Sarah has longstanding ties to Argentina, where she co-owns El Pucara, a ranch located about 600km from Buenos Aires.

The estate, which lies near Tres Lomas on the Pampas, has been part of her familys history for decades and is where her mother, Susan Barrantes, died in 1998 following a car crash.

Her stepfather, Hector Barrantes, who died aged 51, is also buried there.

In earlier interviews, Sarah spoke about the impact of her mothers departure to Argentina during her childhood.

She told The Observer: (Susan) was my spirit. My whole soul and she went. I believed it was my fault  of course I did. She hardly contacted me at all and thats when food became my only friend.
3 Body Problem Season 2 is confirmed, but with a surprising change: a shorter 6-episode season. Discover what this means for the epic sci-fi adaptation's fut...

AceShowbiz - When the 3 Body Problem series debuted on Netflix, it quickly captivated viewers with its impressive scale and ambitious storytelling. Unlike many contemporary science fiction shows, it felt expansive, complex, and meticulously crafted to unfold over multiple seasons. Fans eagerly anticipated the continuation of this high-profile adaptation, especially after Netflix confirmed plans for Seasons 2 and 3 to complete the narrative. However, recent production updates suggest some unexpected changes that may disappoint the audience.

According to a fresh report from Whats On Netflix, Season 2 of 3 Body Problem will have a reduced episode count, dropping from the eight episodes featured in Season 1 to just six episodes. This information comes from a production wrap photo listing episodes 201 through 206, indicating a tightened season length. While a shorter season does not always equate to reduced quality, this contraction in episode numbers is notable given the shows initially grand scope.

More concerning is the speculation that the combined total for Seasons 2 and 3 may be as low as 11 episodes, based on earlier production insights and tax-credit filings related to the shows filming in Hungary. If accurate, this would mean Season 3 might only include five episodes, making the final segment of the story even shorter than Season 2. Such a shift could impact how the storys conclusion is paced and delivered, potentially leaving less room for character development and complex plot resolutions than originally anticipated.

Netflix has yet to publicly confirm these episode counts or comment on the shows production schedule. The streaming giant traditionally keeps tight control over such announcements, often releasing official details closer to premiere dates. Nonetheless, the information so far indicates a more compressed approach to the concluding chapters of 3 Body Problem.

The first season of 3 Body Problem featured a strong ensemble cast led by Jess Hong as Jin Cheng, Jovan Adepo portraying Saul Durand, John Bradley in the role of Jack Rooney, Eiza Gonzalez as Auggie Salazar, alongside Alex Sharp playing Will Downing. The cast also included notable names such as Benedict Wong as Da Shi, Liam Cunningham as Thomas Wade, and Rosalind Chao embodying Ye Wenjie. This diverse and talented lineup contributed significantly to the series' critical acclaim and audience engagement.

The original novel series by Liu Cixin, which the show adapts, is known for its intricate plotting and philosophical depth, often requiring substantial screen time to translate effectively. Fans of the show have praised the first seasons ability to capture the essence of the source material while delivering high production values and immersive visuals. The reduction in episodes raises questions about how the subsequent seasons will balance narrative complexity with a shorter runtime.

Despite these concerns, the commitment to continue the story through Seasons 2 and 3 indicates Netflixs confidence in the series potential and its fanbase. The shows creators and cast have expressed enthusiasm for bringing the remaining chapters of the story to life, hinting that the quality of storytelling may remain intact despite fewer episodes. However, viewers will be watching closely to see how these changes affect the overall experience.

The decision to film in Hungary, as noted in the tax-credit documents, aligns with Netflixs strategy of leveraging international locations to manage production costs while maintaining high standards. Hungary has become a popular filming destination for major productions due to its versatile locations and attractive incentives, which likely influenced the series production design and budget considerations.

In the broader context of television production, its not uncommon for shows to adjust episode orders between seasons based on various factors such as budget constraints, scheduling conflicts, or narrative restructuring. However, for a series as ambitious as 3 Body Problem, known for sprawling world-building and complex story arcs, fewer episodes could pose creative challenges.

Netflixs approach to serialized storytelling often involves flexible season lengths, tailored to the needs of the story and audience engagement metrics. While some series benefit from concise seasons that maintain tight pacing, others rely on longer episodes to explore their universes fully. How 3 Body Problem will navigate this balance remains to be seen, but the current reports suggest a leaner, more focused narrative for the upcoming seasons.

Fans of the show and the original books have taken to social media to discuss the implications of this news. Some express concern that important plot points may be rushed or omitted, while others remain optimistic that the creative team will deliver a satisfying conclusion regardless of episode count. The anticipation for Season 2 remains high, with viewers eager for any official updates from Netflix.

Ultimately, the evolving production details of 3 Body Problem underscore the challenges of adapting complex literary works to screen, especially within the competitive streaming landscape. As Netflix continues to refine its content offerings, balancing artistic ambition with logistical realities will be crucial for the success of such high-profile projects.

For now, audiences can look forward to the next installment of 3 Body Problem, expecting six episodes in Season 2, followed by a potentially shorter Season 3. How these changes will affect the storytelling and overall impact of the series will become clearer as the release dates approach and more information becomes available.
Remembering Nadia Fares: French actress of The Crimson Rivers dies at 57. Explore her life, career, and legacy in our tribute.

AceShowbiz - Nadia Fares, the celebrated French actress renowned for her role in The Crimson Rivers and a prolific career spanning over thirty years, passed away at the age of 57. She was discovered unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris on April 11, 2026, and after several days in a coma, she died on April 17 due to cardiac arrest.

Her daughters expressed their sorrow in a statement released to Agence France-Presse, saying, "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death this Friday of Nadia Fares. France has lost a great artist, but for us, it is above all a mother that we have just lost." Below are five important facts about the life and career of Nadia Fares.

Born in Marrakesh and Raised in France

Nadia Fares was born on December 20, 1968, in Marrakesh, Morocco. She moved to France at a young age and was raised there. Later, she relocated to Paris to follow her passion for acting, beginning her professional journey in the early 1990s.

A Longstanding International Acting Career

Fares made her debut in 1992 with the film My Wifes Girlfriends and gained considerable recognition for her performance in The Crimson Rivers. Her career included roles in international productions such as War, where she acted alongside Jet Li and Jason Statham, and the horror film Storm Warning. Additionally, she appeared in the Netflix series Marseille from 2016 to 2018, showcasing her versatility across film and television.

Marriage to Producer Steve Chasman

In 2002, Nadia Fares married American film producer Steve Chasman. During their marriage, she relocated to the United States. The couple eventually separated in 2022, after which she returned to France to continue her life and career.

Mother to Two Daughters, Cylia and Shana

Fares was a devoted mother to two daughters, Cylia and Shana. Following her passing, her daughter Cylia shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, expressing her profound grief and gratitude, writing, "This is a heartbreak I will never get over. Everyday I wake up and pray this is a nightmare and that you're still with us. I know you fought your very hardest for your babies. Thank you. Thank you for fighting, thank you for giving me life, thank you for every memory, thank you for the laughs, for the cries."

Health Battles Throughout Her Life

Throughout her life, Nadia Fares openly discussed her serious health challenges. In 2007, she underwent brain surgery to treat a significant aneurysm. Over the following years, she also endured three heart surgeries within a span of four years. Her death was linked to a cardiac arrest following the swimming pool incident in Paris that led to her coma and eventual passing on April 17, 2026.

Nadia Fares leaves behind a legacy as a talented actress who made a lasting impact on French and international cinema. Her contributions to the arts and her strength in facing health struggles remain deeply remembered by fans and loved ones alike.
Heated Rivalry stars denounce hate speech, telling fans that racism, homophobia, and bigotry have no place in fandom.

AceShowbiz - The stars of Heated Rivalry, Hudson Williams and Francois Arnaud, recently addressed the surge of hateful comments circulating on social media aimed at the cast. Both actors took to their Instagram stories on Monday afternoon, posting an identical statement denouncing racism, homophobia, biphobia, misogyny, ageism, ableism, parasocial bigotry, and other forms of hate speech.

The joint message, shared shortly after 3 p.m. PT, made clear to fans and detractors alike that spreading hateful commentary under the guise of fandom is unacceptable. "Don't call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynist/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind," the post read emphatically. "None of us need your hateful 'love.'"

Williams, who portrays Shane Hollander on the series, and Arnaud, who plays Scott Hunter, have both been targeted by a wave of negative comments online. The statement also pushed back against attempts to create conflict among the cast members, highlighting their unity. "We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side," it continued. "If you can't accept that gtfoh (get the fuck out of here)."

The backlash prompted both actors to engage further on social media. Williams responded to a discussion on Threads, explaining, "It was Francois' idea and I helped write it! I don't scroll comments so I did not see the hate. I was vibing watching figure skating highlights." Meanwhile, Arnaud has been actively replying to Instagram comments, including one which stated, "racists and haters of all kinds gtfoh."

The message resonated with other members of the cast and crew, many of whom reposted the statement in solidarity. Co-star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova shared the statement with a heartfelt addition, urging fans to avoid spreading negativity about a show grounded in love. "Please don't make a show that's about love be hateful online," she wrote. "So much love was poured into this project and we all genuinely have so much respect for everyone involved in making this. We're not characters and neither are our real friends, partners, family and making up false narratives about us isn't 'love.'"

In a separate post on Sunday, Kharlamova addressed the timing of the online comments in relation to Women's Day. She emphasized the hard work and merit of women attending industry events, pushing back against assumptions that they are only present because of their male co-stars. "Since it's Women's Day I want to say the women you see at industry events are there [because] they are just as deserving of being in those rooms!" she wrote. "The assumption that we are there because our male costars invited us takes away the work we also put in. Celebrate women's achievements!"

Following that, Kharlamova issued a clarifying message aimed at those criticizing the male cast members. "Also if you're using this tweet to criticize my cast mates you missed the point! They are amazing!! I said CELEBRATE WOMEN not hate on male actors," she posted.

This united front from the cast demonstrates a clear rejection of online hate and division within the community surrounding Heated Rivalry. Together, Williams, Arnaud, and Kharlamova are standing against toxicity and advocating for respect and support both on and off screen.
New details emerge: Lil Tjay allegedly knocked out before Offset was shot outside a Florida casino. Unverified claims suggest a fan was arrested.

AceShowbiz - New information has surfaced regarding the shooting of Offset outside a casino in Florida, amid claims involving Lil Tjay and a physical altercation. YouTuber Ceddy Nash alleged that during the confrontation near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, Lil Tjay was knocked unconscious.

In a video posted on April 7, 2026, Ceddy Nash explained that Lil Tjay and his group confronted Offset and his entourage. He stated, "Here's where things get interesting. Lil Tjay got knocked out." The altercation reportedly escalated, culminating in gunfire that left Offset injured.

According to Ceddy, the individual arrested at the scene was unrelated to either artist. He claimed, "The dude who got arrested was just a fan of Offset. So, Tjay got his a- knocked out by a fan." However, no official confirmation has been provided by authorities to verify this version of events.

Following the incident, police apprehended Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Merritt. He faces charges including disorderly conduct and driving without a valid license. His lawyer, Dawn M. Florio, strongly refuted rumors that Lil Tjay was involved in the shooting, stating, "Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting. Any reporting to the contrary is false."

Offset was transported to a local hospital and remains in stable condition, according to his representatives.
Stephen Colbert reveals Conan O'Brien's advice to leave late night before his show ended. "Patron saint of ex-talk show hosts" gave tough-love career counsel.

AceShowbiz - Stephen Colbert recently opened up about the advice he received from fellow late night host Conan O'Brien regarding his career in late night television. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on March 9, Colbert described how O'Brien had been encouraging him to consider stepping away from hosting his show well before the news of its cancellation.

Conan is the patron saint of ex-talk show hosts, Colbert said, explaining that O'Brien had often told him, I want you to know there's a lot of fun to be had when this is over, so don't feel like you need to stay. This encouragement came during a night out a few years prior at the Emmys.

Colbert admitted that the persistent suggestion almost felt personal, saying, It almost hurt my feelings, but he was just being kind. He Dutch uncle'd me, referring to O'Brien's tough-love style of advice.

For context, Conan O'Brien has a significant history in late night television. He succeeded David Letterman as host of Late Night in 1993 and remained in that role until 2009. After a brief and complicated period hosting The Tonight Show, O'Brien launched his own show, Conan, on TBS in 2010, which ran for 11 seasons until ending in 2021.

Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert has been the host of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert since 2015. However, in July 2025, it was announced the show would conclude in May 2026. CBS explained the decision was due to financial reasons and was unrelated to the show's content or performance. The network expressed pride in having Colbert as part of CBS.

During a July 2025 taping, Colbert informed his audience of the upcoming end of the show, which also marked the final season of The Late Show on CBS. The announcement was met with boos from the crowd. Colbert acknowledged their feelings and clarified that no new host would replace himthe show was simply ending.

He expressed gratitude toward CBS for their partnership and to the viewers who supported the show nightly, both in-studio and worldwide.

In the months following the announcement, Colbert shared how he learned of the show's cancellation from his and fellow late night host Jimmy Kimmels manager, James "Baby Doll" Dixon. The revelation came after Colbert returned from vacation, during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September 2025.

Colbert recounted, He said, 'Hey, baby, I just need to talk to you for 15 minutes after the show on Wednesday.' This was on the 16th of July. Five minutes on the phone with Baby Doll is an hour, so 15 minutes in person, what the hell is this about? He told his wife Evie he would be home late, expecting a brief conversation but ended up away for over two hours. When he returned, she asked if he had been canceled, which he confirmed.

The very next day, Colbert addressed the news live to his staff, studio audience, and viewers after recording the show. He admitted to being nervous about delivering the announcement, especially since there was nothing scripted on the teleprompter. Speaking off the cuff, he stumbled a couple of times and had to restart. The audience initially thought it was a comedic bit and encouraged him with cheers of You can do it!

Despite the disappointment of the cancellation, Colbert and his team received recognition shortly before the announcement, winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series at the 2025 Emmy Awards on September 14. This was their first win after multiple nominations over the years.

Colbert has expressed acceptance of the networks decision and is looking forward to the next phase of his career after The Late Show ends in May 2026.
PNAU & The Warning unite in 'Tu Corazon,' a vibrant dance-rock anthem celebrating life's beauty. A spirited global collaboration.

AceShowbiz - The Australian electronic duo PNAU is back with a vibrant new track titled Tu Corazon (Your Heart), featuring the Mexican rock band The Warning. This three-minute dance anthem encapsulates years of creative collaboration and global influences, delivering a spirited celebration of opening ones heart to lifes beauty.

Comprising Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes, PNAU describes Tu Corazon as a reminder to embrace the worlds wonders amid constant change. The song was created with the Villarreal Velez sistersDaniela, Paulina, and Alejandrawho make up The Warning. The trio contributes their distinctive guitar, drums, bass, and vocal talents, blending their signature rock energy with PNAUs electronic soundscape.

PNAU first discovered The Warning over a decade ago when Littlemore was working on his other project, Empire of the Sun, in Mexico. At that time, the sisters were emerging artists from Monterrey, still dreaming of larger stages. This early connection led to recording sessions in PNAUs Los Angeles studio, where the collaboration on Tu Corazon began and evolved over several years.

Littlemore describes the song as "a flash of ecstatic dance" from Monterrey, combining elements of punk and love into an irresistible groove. He challenges listeners to try and stay still while the track plays, emphasizing its infectious energy. Meanwhile, The Warning reflects on the songs message of opening ones heart to the beauty found in community and love, calling the experience of working with PNAU both nostalgic and deeply rewarding.

The official music video for Tu Corazon was filmed in Monterrey, showcasing the bands hometown spirit and vibrant culture. This visual accompaniment complements the songs lively and heartfelt mood.

Originating from Sydneys rave scene, PNAU has achieved international acclaim with multiple No. 1 hits. Their global breakthrough was cemented by collaborating with Elton John on his 2012 remix album Good Morning to the Night, which topped the Official U.K. Albums Chart. The duo replicated this success with the 2021 smash "Cold Heart," a remix featuring Elton John and Dua Lipa that became a worldwide hit.

Tu Corazon follows The Warnings recent single "Kerosene" and a series of major festival performances. The sisters have appeared at Lollapalooza in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, and drew a record-breaking crowd of 50,000 at their Monterrey homecoming show. Later this year, The Warning will join YUNGBLUD as a supporting act on his IDOLS World Tour across the U.S. and U.K.

In the months leading up to this release, PNAU has also been busy with collaborations and remixes. Highlights include working with the Italian trio MEDUZA on "Rollin," with Kungs on "Light Me Up," and remixing tracks by Coldplay, Parcels, Tame Impala, Diana Ross, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. These projects highlight PNAUs versatility and ongoing influence in the electronic music scene.

The current lineup of PNAU features founding members Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes. Sam Littlemore, Nicks brother, joined the group in 2016 but departed after completing their 2024 album Hyperbolic. Billboard reports that Sam contributed to the production of Tu Corazon prior to his exit.

To celebrate the new release, PNAU has announced a 12-date Nirvana Tour along Australias East Coast scheduled for June and July, coinciding with the regions winter season. Before this tour kicks off, the duo will debut their live show on May 1 at Foro Indie Rocks! in Mexico City, marking an important milestone for their international presence.

In addition to the live shows, PNAU will perform DJ sets in April at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay on the 10th, and at Ability Fest in Melbourne on the 11th.

The Nirvana Tour dates are as follows:

June 19  Gilligans, Cairns

June 20  The Warehouse, Townsville

June 21  Magnums, Airlie Beach

June 24  McGuires Hotel, Mackay

June 25  Leichhardt Hotel, Rockhampton

June 26  Sugarland Tavern, Bundaberg

June 27  The Powerhouse, Toowoomba

June 28  Beach Hotel, Byron Bay

July 1  Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbor

July 2  Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay

July 3  King Street Hotel, Newcastle

July 4  Drifters Wharf, Gosford

PNAUs latest single Tu Corazon (Your Heart) blends electronic and rock influences to craft a dance track that invites listeners to embrace joy and connection. With the combined talents of PNAU and The Warning, the song stands as a testament to creative collaboration across continents and genres.
Moroccan-French actress Nadia Fares, star of The Crimson Rivers, dies at 57. Details on her tragic passing and the unanswered questions.

AceShowbiz - Nadia Fares, the Moroccan-French actress celebrated for her roles in The Crimson Rivers and Storm Warning, passed away at the age of 57, her family confirmed on April 17, 2026. The news came one week after she was discovered unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris, France.

Nadia Fares daughters, Cylia and Shana Chasman, issued a heartfelt statement to l'Agence France-Presse (AFP), expressing their grief. "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Nadia Fares this Friday," they wrote. They further described the loss as not only a blow to the arts community but a deeply personal tragedy, saying, "France has lost a great artist, but for us, it is above all a mother we have just lost."

The circumstances surrounding Nadia Fares death have sparked many questions about what exactly happened and the cause of her passing. At present, the official cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

On April 11, 2026, Nadia Fares was found unconscious in a swimming pool located in a private gym in Paris' 9th arrondissement. Emergency responders performed CPR at the scene before transporting her to the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital. Following her admission, she was placed into an induced coma in hopes of stabilizing her condition.

According to reports from Le Figaro, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the injuries that led to her critical state. As of now, the inquiry has not uncovered any evidence of foul play or criminal offense.

Nadia Fares is survived by her two daughters, Cylia and Shana Chasman. Following the announcement of her passing, Cylia shared a poignant tribute on Instagram, revealing the profound pain and disbelief she feels over the loss of her mother.

In her emotional post, Cylia wrote, "Mama. This is a heartbreak I will never get over. Every day, I wake up and pray this is a nightmare and that you're still with us. I know you fought your very hardest for your babies. Thank you. Thank you for fighting, thank you for giving me life, thank you for every memory, thank you for the laughs, for the cries."

She also disclosed that she had spoken to her mother on the phone the day before her passing. "On Saturday, we were on the phone, and you told me you weren't afraid of death, and my response was that I was afraid of your death, and the next day, the universe decided it was time for you," Cylia wrote. She continued, "As much as it pains me it brings me some comfort knowing you weren't afraid. I know you tried your best to stay, I sat at the edge of your bed and begged and pleaded for you to stay and the universe took you anyway."

The outpouring of sympathy for Nadia Fares reflects the impact she had both on screen and in the hearts of those who knew her. While the official details about her cause of death remain pending, the loss is deeply felt by fans and loved ones alike.
Avengers: Endgame returns to theaters with new footage. See the unseen scenes that bridge the epic finale to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

AceShowbiz - Avengers: Endgame is set for a theatrical re-release featuring previously unseen footage that directly connects to the upcoming Marvel film Avengers: Doomsday. Originally released in 2019, Endgame was a monumental success, grossing over $2.7 billion worldwide and briefly holding the title of the highest-grossing movie of all time. The film also made history by earning $1.2 billion in its first five days alone and became an iconic farewell to key characters who united to defeat Thanos.

At the Sands Film Festival in Scotland, director Joe Russo shared new details with Deadline about the significance of this re-release. He explained how the added scenes will serve as a vital narrative bridge to Avengers: Doomsday, Marvels next major installment. This announcement came on the heels of Disneys CinemaCon presentation, which revealed that alongside the re-release, audiences would get a first look at the Doomsday trailer, though this trailer has yet to be publicly unveiled.

"It's critically important to re-release the movie," Russo said, emphasizing the rare opportunity to enhance the story by connecting Endgame to Doomsday. He pointed out that re-releases are expensive and not often possible, but the success of Endgame makes this an ideal moment to expand the narrative. The new footage will deepen the story of beloved characters and continue their arcs in a unique way, setting the stage for what fans will see in December.

Russo described Avengers: Endgame as a "critical companion story" to Doomsday, underscoring that the re-release is more than a mere revisit but an essential setup for the upcoming film. This connection is particularly intriguing given the ending of Endgame, where Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., sacrifices himself to defeat Thanos once and for all.

Despite the characters apparent end, Downey Jr. is confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday, but in an unexpected role: the villainous Doctor Doom. Russo revealed that this casting decision has been in discussion for over two years between himself, Marvel Studios, and producer Kevin Feige. Sharing a personal anecdote, Russo recounted a dinner conversation with Downey Jr. in New York where the actor expressed interest in taking on the ultimate villain role after portraying the ultimate hero.

"He played the ultimate hero, and now he's going to play the ultimate villain. I thought it was a very clever idea," said Russo, highlighting the creative intent behind this casting choice. This shift will add a fresh dynamic to the MCUs evolving storyline, especially considering Downey Jr.s iconic status as Tony Stark/Iron Man.

The re-release of Endgame will not only allow fans to relive one of the most poignant and impactful moments in MCU history but will also introduce new narrative elements that directly lead into the events of Avengers: Doomsday. This approach offers a seamless transition between the two films, providing context and enriching the continuity for viewers.

Given the financial and narrative significance of this re-release, it is expected to attract both longtime Marvel fans and newcomers eager to experience Endgame on the big screen once more, now with added content that expands the universe and teases the future conflicts to come.

As the MCU continues to evolve, this strategy of re-releasing highly successful films with new footage to set up upcoming stories reflects Marvels commitment to crafting interconnected and compelling cinematic experiences. The inclusion of Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom also signals bold creative directions that will challenge audience expectations.

With Avengers: Doomsday scheduled for release in December, the re-release of Avengers: Endgame will serve as both a celebration of the franchises past achievements and a crucial narrative stepping stone. Fans can anticipate a blend of nostalgia and new storytelling that deepens the MCUs complex saga.

In summary, the Avengers: Endgame re-release will feature exclusive footage that connects directly to Avengers: Doomsday, marking an innovative way to bridge films in the franchise. The return of Robert Downey Jr. as a villain adds an exciting twist, promising a fresh chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universes ongoing story.
NVIDIA remains plagued by the chip shortage in the tech industry, but it may be giving customers, a chance to snag a budget gaming GPU with adequate specs later this year.

A new leak claims that NVIDIA would give users a new option for their next build, one where they need not worry about the rising costs of GPUs in the market to help ease the current issues faced by the community.

NVIDIA Budget Gaming GPU Is Coming

RTX 5050 9G is delayed, launch becomes pretty uncertain now. The newly produced RTX 3060 will fill the gap, ETA June 2026.  MEGAsizeGPU (@Zed__Wang) April 17, 2026

A trusted leaker called MEGAsizeGPU has shared new information online, saying that NVIDIA is planning to reproduce the GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, its previous-gen budget-friendly gaming GPU.

It is believed that NVIDIA's next graphics card, the GeForce RTX 5050 9G, is delayed in its planned release and has an "uncertain" timeline now.

The leaker said that the mid-range gaming GPU from five years ago is set to "fill the gap" before the next-gen mid-range gaming GPU from NVIDIA arrives.

It was revealed that the GeForce RTX 3060's resurrection from NVIDIA will arrive by June 2026 and deliver a tried and tested GPU to the market to help alleviate the surging prices and market shortage.

What to Expect From NVIDIA's Budget GPU?

According to PCGamesN, the return of NVIDIA's budget gaming GPU from five years ago may help users, with its proven track record making it an "ideal upgrade" for users. This could give users a notable option to upgrade their older components to a more modern one or to build a budget gaming PC.

Earlier this year, there were rumors that NVIDIA was resurrecting the GeForce RTX 3060 as the production of its GA106 GPU restarted at its original manufacturer, Samsung. This move could help NVIDIA produce the chips at high volume and at a low price as its current partner, TSMC, is already at capacity.

The report noted that the GeForce RTX 3060 with 12GB VRAM could be powerful enough to handle most games as lower VRAM capacity could cause some games to not run. PCGamesN noted that the likes of the GeForce RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 only have 8GB of VRAM on them.

That said, should the GeForce RTX 3060 return this June, it will only have access to NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling because of its older technology and not the latest frame generation.

Originally published on Player One
By the time President Trump returned to the White House, NATO had become a textbook example of alliance rot: rich European allies treating U.S. blood and treasure like an unlimited ATM while Russia rearmed on Europes doorstep and China plotted global dominance. The old transatlantic bargain, Americas security umbrella in exchange for European lip service, was dead on arrival in the 21st century.

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Trumps first term called the bluff; his second term is cashing it in. No more blank checks. No more pretending that 2 percent of GDP was some heroic sacrifice. The 2025 Hague Summits pledge of 5 percent of GDP on defense and security-related spending by 2035 (3.5 percent core defense plus 1.5 percent for resilience and infrastructure) was just the opening salvo.

For decades, Europe treated NATO as a luxury the Americans would always underwrite. Europeans spent years dithering over budgets and virtue-signaling about strategic autonomy while the United States foots at least 60% of the cost burden in 2026. That era is over. Trumps transactional hammer has forced real movement, and the February 2026 command realignment proves it. Europeans now run all three Joint Force Commands (U.K. in Norfolk, Italy in Naples, Germany/Poland rotating in Brunssum). Washington kept Supreme Allied Commander Europe and seized direct control of the Air, Land, and Maritime component commands, the actual tools that win wars. Europe gets the photo ops and headquarters prestige; America keeps the firepower and the veto. That is smart power.

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Trump does deals and shows little interest in nostalgia. Look at the Abraham Accords: bilateral normalization between Israel and Arab states that bypassed decades of failed land for peace dogma and the Palestinian veto. No grand treaty, no Article 5 suicide pact  just hard-headed mutual interest, economic incentives, security cooperation, and rapid results. Trade between Israel and the UAE alone now exceeds $3 billion annually, with defense-tech corridors and integrated air-defense networks emerging in the background. The Accords ignored the diplomats sacred cows and delivered peace through strength and prosperity. NATO needs the exact same creative disruption.

Why should every NATO member duplicate expensive capabilities when the United States already provides the irreplaceable strategic enablers: nuclear umbrella, strategic airlift, intelligence, logistics? Let allies subscribe to American power through direct cash contributions, expanded host-nation support, or bilateral trust funds managed with U.S. oversight. In return, they get calibrated relief from rigid national spending mandates and can focus budgets on niche strengths  for example, Baltic anti-access missiles, German heavy armor, and Polish artillery.

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Critics will likely scream about tribute and sovereignty. Trump has heard worse. Side deals on trade relief, energy exports, and tech transfers, Abraham-style, can make the arithmetic work quietly and profitably for everyone.

Better yet, direct financial transfers are transparent and reduce the perverse incentives for corruption that plague indirect arms deals and murky procurement schemes. Many of the weapons and technologies involved are American-made anyway, so payments flow back into the U.S. economy through jobs and investment. As the United States tightens supply chains and roots out corrupt billing practices at home, bringing more NATO-related transactions under DOJ and DOD scrutiny turns them into domestic matters, subject to American oversight, audits, and enforcement. This improves overall alliance readiness while protecting taxpayers on both sides of the Atlantic from waste and fraud. Of course, Congress and the Pentagon must take that oversight responsibility seriously. Half-measures wont cut it.

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This approach sharpens deterrence and builds mutual trust, cooperation, and benefit. Europe gains flexibility and political cover at home; America gains real burden relief, economic recirculation, and greater leverage without endlessly subsidizing redundant European bureaucracies.

Expand rotations of NATO officers and enlisted into U.S. combat units. Create targeted visa and service pathways for allied volunteers, and, where skills are critical (cyber, pilots, special operations), even select conscripts, under strict U.S. command and loyalty standards. Call it a NATO Auxiliary Force. This builds ironclad interoperability, spreads training costs, and gives European governments political cover: they contribute manpower without visibly inflating their own standing armies back home. No more hawkish optics for domestic voters while the alliance actually gets stronger on the battlefield.

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Grow NATOs common-funded budgets for munitions, drones, air defense, cyber, space, and A.I. Allies pay their share without jacking up politically toxic defense line items on national budgets. Reframe the 1.5 percent related bucket as jobs, infrastructure, and economic resilience, exactly the language European leaders need to sell it to skeptical publics and nervous neighbors. Add reciprocity clauses: When America faces threats outside Europe (Hormuz, Indo-Pacific), NATO nations deliver troops, logistics, and intelligence or lose premium access to U.S. capabilities and shared economic benefit. Article 5 is and must be mutual, not a one-way street.

Hurdles exist: bureaucratic inertia in Brussels, sovereignty sensitivities, varying threat perceptions across 32 capitals. Traditionalists will grouse about shared values and warn that transactionalism erodes the alliance. They said the same about the Abraham Accords: impossible, destabilizing, a betrayal of the old order. Instead, the Accords produced normalization, economic booms, and a stronger anti-Iran bloc. Trumps record is clear: When conventional wisdom fails, creative deal-making succeeds.

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Picture a slimmer American footprint that punches far harder. Europe finally staffs and funds its own continental defense. Interoperability deepens through shared personnel and pooled procurement. The alliance deters Russia today and China tomorrow. American taxpayers see reciprocity instead of subsidy. European publics see strategic autonomy and jobs instead of militarism. Adversaries see a lean, mean force with real and demonstrated capability, and not a paper tiger propped up by Washington.

Instead of dismantling or ignoring NATO, a reorientation and reformation rescue it from irrelevance. Trumps disruptive reform turned Middle East paralysis into the Abraham Accords. Applied to the North Atlantic, it will produce a New NATO: ruthless on deterrence, realistic on burden-sharing, and politically and economically sustainable on both sides of the ocean. The old alliance limped along on nostalgia and American generosity. The new one will run on realism, results, and raw American leverage.

Image via Picryl.
During a speech commemorating the two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told an audience in Austin, Texas, last week that progressivism threatens Americas system of government:

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Progressivism seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence and hence our form of government. It holds that our rights and our dignities come not from God but from government. It requires of the people a subservience and weakness incompatible with a constitution premised on the transcendent origin of our rights.

It is unfortunately rare these days to hear any public figure describe the threats of progressivism so clearly. At its heart, progressivism is a worldview that elevates mans will above everything else. It assumes that if the right people  the smartest, best people  are allowed to design human systems in the correct ways, then humans will flourish. Consulting God to find correct governing solutions undermines progressives fundamental belief in themselves. To admit that a divine authority exists is to admit that progressivism is a pale imitation of that authority. Because progressivism presumes to be capable of acquiring all knowledge and applying that knowledge in perfect ways, it is incapable of deferring to Gods will. Progressives must replace God with themselves.

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In practice, it is quite easy to see how progressives deification of themselves plays out in the public square. Progressives are obsessed with promoting the lie that there can be no overlap between a government officials duties and that officials religious convictions. They scream about the supposed inviolable separation of Church and State, as if the Constitution were written for a godless people and an atheistic government. The exact opposite is true.

Almost every signer of the Declaration of Independence and delegate to the Constitutional Convention was a committed and faithful Christian. In their public speeches, editorials, and recorded debates, the Founding Fathers referred to God frequently and beseeched Him to protect and guide their endeavors. The Christian churches of the colonial era shaped political discourse before, during, and after Americas War for Independence. In the years that followed, the first elected representatives appealed to Americans obedience to God as the thirteen original colonies worked to coalesce into one nation united by common principles and shared Christian virtues.

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For progressives to deny the Christian roots of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is to starve both documents of their vital meaning. Progressives often belittle their significance by denigrating the Founders as just a collection of dead, white men who declared something no longer important and constituted a government steeped in racism. In truth, those men declared something revolutionary: Our rights do not arise from the whims of monarchs. They come from God. And those rights belong to each and every one of us. No king, aristocrat, or petty bureaucrat can strip those rights away.

What does the Declaration declare? We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Every man, woman, and child has rights. Those rights come from God. Progressives cannot conjure rights from thin air, nor can they deny rights that God has graciously given us. Similarly, the Preamble to the Constitution tells us how the Declarations principles shall be applied to the structures of government. Why did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention ordain and establish our system of government? To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. The Declaration reminds us that our liberty comes from God; the Preamble reminds us that the Constitution is legitimate only insofar as it secures Gods blessing of liberty to each of us.

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Never has a nation been founded on more consequential ideas. Together, the Declaration and Constitution reject the false notion that strong, wealthy, or otherwise powerful people are entitled to decide what freedoms the rest of us may enjoy. Our Founding documents safeguard the indispensable truth that a governments authority arises only after the peoples liberties have been secured. As Justice Thomas said last week in Texas, Our rights and our dignity are inherent. They do not come from others, and they do not come from government. And our government derives its legitimacy and its authority from our consent.

Justice Thomass truthful exposition of our rights directly threatens progressives beliefs. For if our rights and dignities belong to us, then progressives have no authority to take those rights and dignities from us. Furthermore, when progressives falsely claim to be empowered with the authority to dilute, diminish, or deny our rights, they simultaneously delegitimize their government offices. No matter how superior progressives believe themselves to be, they are never entitled to take from us what we have received from God.

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It is easy to see why so many progressives openly mock God. He stands in the way of progressives pursuit of absolute power. When President Obama mocked Americans for clinging to their Bibles, he was attempting both to diminish Gods authority over all of us and to diminish the foundations for our unalienable rights. By disparaging Americans who do their best to obey God, Obama and his fellow progressives wish to sever the link between God and our liberties. Progressives wish to cloud our minds until we forget both God and the blessings He affords us. To become gods on Earth, progressives must first eliminate God.

Progressives do not hide their anti-God agenda. They are the first to criticize members of the government for invoking the will of God or praying for His guidance and protection. Progressives walk around the halls of government like anti-God fumigators seeking to eliminate His presence. In Gods place, those progressives speak reverently about science, government, and democracy. They treat these human disciplines as gods that must be respected and obeyed, and by doing so, elevate the authority of scientists, bureaucrats, lawmakers, and agency regulators over the rest of us.

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By worshiping at the altars of Science and Government, progressives strip naked the essential meaning of the Declaration and our Constitution. They return us to the old forms of government that place monarchs and royal courts of aristocrats above everyone else. Progressives drag us back to a time when powerful government officers decided whether ordinary people would be allowed to exercise their God-given rights. By denying that a governments legitimacy and authority come directly from the consent of those governed, progressives turn government into a false god and the people into serfs.

By calling out progressivism for its dogged efforts to usurp the basic premises of the Declaration and Constitution, Justice Thomas is warning Americans that their rights and freedoms are under attack. Should the generations alive today not recognize the threat to their inherent liberties, the generations that follow will inherit no liberties at all. The more successful that progressives are at convincing Americans to forget God, the more successful progressives will be at convincing Americans to relinquish their rights, submit to their government masters, and become slaves.

As a society, we no longer debate important ideas. We exist in an age saturated with soundbites and aspersions. Few officers of the government  and even fewer agitators in the street  are capable of stating a position clearly, providing evidentiary support for that proposition, and refuting counterarguments persuasively.

Justice Thomas is the rare exception. He is telling Americans to rise in defense of their freedoms. He is telling Americans that if they do not find the courage to do so today, then they will soon enjoy no freedoms at all. He is reminding Americans that they inherited a system of government intended to protect God-given rights. And he is urging us to protect those rights in obedience to God.

Image: Clarence Thomas. Credit: Flickr, public domain.
William Shakespeare is the greatest poet in English history  but if you dont know English history, you can easily be made to think hes the worst.

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To prove this, Sir Ian McKellen says, in a recent monologue on The Late Show with Steven Colbert,

Its all happening 400 years ago, and in London theres a riot happening  theres a mob out in the streets. And theyre complaining about the presence of strangers in London. By which they mean the recent immigrants whove arrived there. And theyre shouting ... and complaining and saying that the immigrants should be sent home wherever they came from. Advertisement And the authorities sent out this young lawyer, Thomas More, to put down the riots, which he does in two ways  one by saying, you cant riot like this: Its against the law, so shut up and be quiet. And also, being by Shakespeare, with an appeal to their humanity. And in order to set it up, Im going to have to ask somebody to shout, The strangers should be removed.

Somebody shouts it, and then he launches on a beautiful monologue from Sir Thomas More  which you really should see for yourself.

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It goes,

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Grant them removed, and grant that this your noise Hath chid down all the majesty of England; Advertisement Imagine that you see the wretched strangers, Their babies at their backs and their poor luggage, Advertisement Plodding tooth ports and costs for transportation, And that you sit as kings in your desires, Authority quite silent by your brawl, And you in ruff of your opinions clothed; What had you got? Ill tell you: you had taught How insolence and strong hand should prevail, How order should be quelled; and by this pattern Not one of you should live an aged man, For other ruffians, as their fancies wrought, With self same hand, self reasons, and self right, Would shark on you, and men like ravenous fishes Would feed on one another. He goes on later, with an appeal to The Golden Rule, Youll put down strangers, Kill them, cut their throats, possess their houses, And lead the majesty of law in line, To slip him like a hound. Say now the king (As he is clement, if th offender mourn) Should so much come to short of your great trespass As but to banish you, whether would you go? What country, by the nature of your error, Should give you harbor? go you to France or Flanders, To any German province, to Spain or Portugal, Nay, any where that not adheres to England,  Why, you must needs be strangers: would you be pleased To find a nation of such barbarous temper, That, breaking out in hideous violence, Would not afford you an abode on earth, Whet their detested knives against your throats, Spurn you like dogs, and like as if that God Owed not nor made not you, nor that the claimants Were not all appropriate to your comforts, But chartered unto them, what would you think To be thus used? this is the strangers case; And this your mountanish inhumanity.

Here is the greatest case in the English language, I think, for helping refugees, and a reminder that in the majority of men, the love of justice is simply the fear of suffering injustice.

But theres just one problem.

What Colbert and Sir Ian McKellen missed here  probably on purpose  is that Shakespeare was writing about Evil May Day. This was May 1st, 1517, when English rioters, impelled by jealousy and greed, went around town, dragging lawful German and Flemish business owners out of bed, smashing up their shops, and beating them up. Some sources estimate that around a dozen victims died.

In Shakespeares time (almost a century after the riots), this monologue would have been relevant  so relevant, in fact, that the royal censor banned it. Over the past generation, the Huguenots had fled France and settled in England. There was a religious war raging between the Catholics and Protestants across the continent, and one that was so sanguine that Catholics had gotten up in the middle of the night in France, formed into mobs, and proceeded to kill as many Protestant neighbors as possible. This was known as the Saint Bartholomews Day Massacre, now inconceivable in Europe. We have a hard time imagining our ancestors doing it.

During this period, there werent just hard times in Paris. The likelihood that Protestants would be jailed or murdered (or worse) was extremely high. And they had no legal recourse, because the violence wasnt only supported by the government, but many times instigated by it.

What this means is that most of the refugees in Shakespeares day were families. They were of the same religion as the English  and almost guaranteed, due to persecution, to be sincerely religious. They shared a common enemy with the English. There was no modern welfare system in Shakespeares England, so they couldnt be coming to leech off the system. Thus, the English werent upset about an influx of criminals; they were worried about being outclassed by an influx of skilled and religious artisans. This would be almost comparable, in our day, to an influx of Ukrainian doctors, engineers, MBAs, and techies. In Shakespeares day, there was grumbling, but the royal censor made sure nobody acted like his grandparents. He commanded Shakespeare to leave out the insurrection wholly and the cause thereof.

Thus, though Colberts and McKellens timing draws an obvious parallel between Shakespeares rioters and Republicans, the difference between Shakespeares day and ours couldnt be more stark. First of all, a large chunk of our immigrants today came against the laws. Were getting not families, but hordes of single, military-aged men. Most of our migrants are coming from the poorest and least educated classes of the poorest and least educated nations. We dont share a border with the great majority of illegals. We dont share a common race or heritage with the great majority of legal immigrants, either. We dont have a common enemy, and in fact, according to our leftists, the common enemy of the new foreigners is white Americans and Republicans. Oh, and Venezuela emptied its prisons and sent all its rapists to us.

We are currently housing large chunks of illegal aliens in our prisons  according to the Bureau of Prisons, foreign nationals make up around 16%  and the riots we see happening are mostly by Democrats to keep foreign criminals in house. Due to our laws, migrants get access to food stamps and social security, and many illegal aliens get free medical care  adding time to wait lists and driving up the prices drastically for natives. News about immigrants raping children, or drunk-driving over pedestrians, or butchering innocents, is routinely and notoriously buried. And finally, it can be proved that no mass violence  ever, during my entire life  has ever been staged by our natives against immigrants. To put it simply, were on the receiving end of a beating, not in the process of dishing one out.

Not only does this make Sir Ian McKellens parallel slanderous; it makes it stupid. Its an abuse of Shakespeare one could expect from an American ignoramus, or maybe from one of Shakespeares villains  maybe Macbeths wife or Othellos Iago. But certainly not from a Shakespearean actor. And certainly not from the man who played Gandalf  a wise, noble old wizard who drove invaders back to Mordor and sent even more of them to meet Jesus.

Shakespeares play was banned by the law because it hit too close to home. If Shakespeare were to live here a few years and see McKellens monologue, I doubt hed know which home Colberts show was trying to hit. But its apparent that with our home, Colbert doesnt really know it; and if he does know it, its pretty clear he doesnt love it. Two things nobody could say about Shakespeare in his day without getting hooted off a soap-box.

Jeremy Egerer is the author of The Prejudices  a collection of questionable essays on Substack.

Image: Buaidh via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).
The four leading European states are planning a naval mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. This much is clear: the hot phase of the conflict appears to be over, and the key players have already made their moves.

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The loss of Europes geopolitical power is the defining decline narrative of our time. As Europeans, we are condemned to become unwilling witnesses of continental decay. And in no field of politics does the toxic amalgam of eco-socialism, elite arrogance, and rampant infantilism become more visible than at the level of the European Union.

What we are witnessing in Brussels and the leading capitals of the EU are desperate attempts at coordinated foreign policy -- and the realization that the cooperation of powerless individual entities does not necessarily lead to better outcomes than bilateral cooperation.

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That this realization must have reached the highest circles of European politics could be observed at the end of this week. The four big ones -- Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy -- called for a maritime alliance and the protection of the Strait of Hormuz.

Fifty additional states -- according to the initiators of this rather peculiar political camouflage -- are expected to join the European alliance. Leadership claims are naturally being made by the former maritime powers Britain and France, above all France, whose aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle may stand as the last remaining symbol of Europes great naval tradition at the center of these activities -- if one can even approach the Persian Gulf at all.

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The situation remains fragile: the currently stable ceasefire ends on Wednesday. And negotiations between the United States, Israel, and Iran are entering their final phase. From a European perspective, our assumptions are once again confirmed: the EU and its slowly re-approaching partner the United Kingdom are staging a political cabaret. First came the wait-and-see approach until Americans and Israel had militarily decided the situation. Meanwhile, some NATO members refused cooperation with the United States, only to now, after everything has been decided, attempt to place themselves at the forefront of political forces seeking to guarantee the security of the Strait of Hormuz.

Through constant media overdrive, Starmer, Macron, Meloni, and Merz present themselves as the decision-makers of the moment -- it is their harvest time, collecting cheap public dividends. But is that really the case? Do they seriously believe that the majority of Europeans are not fully aware of what is happening? That European power is essentially the product of media magic -- permanent propaganda wrapped in moral excess? A shadow of past greatness, reduced to virtual impotence, ultimately dissolving into the very media theatre that we, as embarrassed Europeans, are forced to endure every day.

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The German contribution to the mission, as announced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is predictably modest: mine countermeasure vessels (eight available), one supply ship, and two P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft. No frigates -- they are tied up in a NATO deployment in the North Atlantic. Germany does have a defense budget that exceeds all other Europeans by billions, yet even this money appears to vanish into the nirvana of bureaucracy and into the coffers of defense contractors, who are popping champagne corks thanks to the governments debt-driven spending spree amid multiple conflict scenarios.

So much for the possible German contribution. But as said: whether a military deployment will actually take place remains uncertain. Europe is already feeling the consequences of its energy dependency and its eco-socialist policy course, which hit like an icy wind. Yet this does not change the fact that policymakers continue to refuse to acknowledge the geopolitical vacuum and instead begin trying to piece together diplomatically what they have shattered in recent years -- especially in relations with the United States and Russia.

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From poker we know: those who repeatedly bluff at the same table with empty hands and are exposed will be dismantled in future rounds. A U.S. withdrawal from NATO would likely also mean a full retreat from the Ukraine conflict. This move would expose both Europes fragile finances and its nonexistent security infrastructure. The EU faces economic and geopolitical problems it cannot manage alone.

From a European perspective, not many options remain. To those advocating closer alignment with China: China sees Europe primarily as a dumping ground for surplus production from its politically driven export sector. Europe could be pressured at any time via export restrictions on rare earths or microchips. This is not a viable option.

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Reintegration of Russia into a broader Eurasian cooperation would be a natural and obvious element. The attempt to force regime change in Moscow has failed. The idea, attributed to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, of fragmenting Russia into ethnic components in order to maintain leverage and control access to raw materials and energy resources remains a fantasy of hysterical Europeans trapped in their globalist worldview.

The United States remains, with its increasingly despised president in Europe, Donald Trump. He creates facts and destroys European dream worlds. And he executes a political program that allows the United States to dominate the Western Hemisphere over the long term. That the Americans project their power in the worlds maritime choke points -- the Panama Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and, following the agreement with Indonesia, the Strait of Malacca  shows that Washington is preparing for the power struggle with China.

Should Europeans believe that the two giants will not ultimately reach an understanding, they are likely mistaken. The United States and China are working at high speed to consolidate their spheres of influence, reorganizing financial systems and commodity markets in line with their specific industrial needs. Moreover, the costs of an escalating conflict between the two would be too high. It is therefore logical to divide the world into corresponding spheres of power and shift the costs onto others.

For Europeans, it becomes a burden that the unavoidable has happened: access to energy and its distribution have once again become instruments of power. Oil and gas dominate -- the so-called declared dead are living longer than ever. And Europes dependency is striking: up to 60 percent of primary energy demand must be imported.

Those who fail to conclude from this simple observation that the time has come for diplomacy and fair negotiations with partners -- and that the era of lecturing the world with a moral finger in order to enforce a Net Zero climate regime is over  have simply been overtaken by reality.

Brussels strategy to impose a European climate regime on the world failed the moment Donald Trump buried the European climate policy anchored by his predecessor Barack Obama. The fact that politicians such as Friedrich Merz, Lars Klingbeil, and Ursula von der Leyen continue to cling to climate doctrine, CO2 trading, and the transformation agenda is tragic for Europe. Our economies are now bleeding out until economic reality -- higher energy prices, rising unemployment, and the emerging sovereign debt crisis -- forces a political shift.
Atlas Shrugged, the novel by Ayn Rand, warned us about the controlling mind of society, a place where talented free thinkers disappear.

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A Collective Descent into Evil, a documentary film produced by Gloria Greenfield, deserves to be in the same class with conceptual thinkers Rand and Minsky.

Scholars and historians such as journalist Melanie Phillips, Ruth Wisse (Harvard University), Eric Cohen (Tikvah Fund), Alan Dershowitz, Jonathan Schanzer (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), Itamar Marcus (Palestinian Media Watch), Jonathan Tobin (Jewish News Syndicate), Mark Tapson (David Horowitz Freedom Center), Daniel Pipes (Middle East Forum), historian Victor Davis Hanson, and others give testament in the film to the premise that in our time, Jew-hatred is upheld and not eradicated.

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Evil actions such as rape, torture, mutilation, hostage-taking, and murder of Jews with vows to continue are met with shrugs and resignation rather than outrage and condemnation.

Greenfield leaves nothing unturned in displaying societys graphic descent into evil. Important and interesting archival photography is intertwined with the dialogue of scholars, adding depth of visual understanding to the films premise about evil and hatred in culture, in society, and in politics.

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Preceding the Muslim Brotherhood, or Irans jihadist rulers; there has been 3,000 years of Jew-hatred. Greenfields film shows how radical Islam has normalized Jew-hatred in todays world, crawling even into the far right of American social media with the likes of Tucker Carlson. If the victims of October 7 were not Jews, would there have been condemnation of the perpetrators?

This film is not a sermon. It is a cogent argument about consequential truths. If you would like a better understanding of radical influences on society, plan to see this film.

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Darlene Casella is an internationally published writer, a former English teacher, a stockbroker, and owner/president of a small corporation. She is active with Republican Women, the Lincoln Club, and the California Republican Party and can be reached at [email protected].

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Image via Pixnio.

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This essay has been updated since publication to correct Marvin Minsky's name.
In February 2026, Virginias newly elected Democrat Governor Abigail Spanberger effectively delivered a $200.3 million tax increase on the Commonwealths working families, small businesses, and tipped workers. She, of course, didnt call it a tax hike. Rather, she quietly amended the caboose budget billHouse Bill 29, the 2026 Amendments to the 2025 Appropriation Act, and struck the tax conformity language that would have aligned Virginias state income tax code with President Trumps landmark federal tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21).

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The introduced version of HB 29 (Youngkins proposal) carried forward key elements from Governor Youngkins administrations budget proposal. However, that proposal would have maintained Virginias long-standing rolling conformity to the Internal Revenue Code and passed through most of Trumps new federal tax cuts, including modified versions of no tax on tips for qualifying service workers (up to certain income thresholds in tipped occupations), relief on car-loan interest, and pro-growth business expensing reforms designed to boost investment and jobs.

However, once Spanberger and the Democrat-controlled House and Senate took over the bill, they added amendments (Amendment 4-14 #1h and others) that struck Youngkins broad conformity language and replaced it with a fixed conformity date of December 31, 2025, plus selective decoupling from several expensive federal provisions that would have benefited Virginia workers and businesses.

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The result in plain English? Virginia taxpayers are now stuck paying state income taxes on tips, overtime, car loan interest deductions, and certain business expensing provisions that their federal returns may now deduct or otherwise treat more favorably. Spanberger deliberately chose not to pass along the full Trump tax breaks to Virginias citizens. These changes are the functional equivalent of a targeted tax increase on the very people Democrats claim to champion: the service-industry workers who rely on tips to make ends meet.

What does Spanbergers bill mean for service workers in real terms? At the federal level, the Big Beautiful Bill now allows waiters, bartenders, delivery drivers, hairstylists, hotel housekeepers, and other service workers to deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tips on their federal returns, subject to eligibility rules and phaseouts. Virginia, however, will still tax those same tips at the state level. A server earning $500 a week in tips now watches the state take its 2%5.75% cut anyway, and that adds up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year that could have gone toward rent, groceries, gas, childcare, or car repairs.

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Most tipped employees earn less than $50,000 a year total. They are often young adults, single parents, immigrants, veterans, or retirees working extra shifts just to get by. These families often live paycheck to paycheck, so every extra dollar taken in state taxes makes it tougher to cover bills, handle emergencies, or give their kids a better shot at life. It is the exact opposite of helping working families. It turns out Spanberger is more interested in filling the states coffers than the pockets of average Americans.

The final law, as detailed in the Virginia Department of Taxations official Tax Bulletin 26-1, replaced rolling conformity with a fixed date of December 31, 2025, and decoupled Virginia from key expensive federal provisions. While the state now conforms to most of the 2025 federal Budget Reconciliation Act changes affecting adjusted gross income and itemized deductions, it specifically deconforms from immediate expensing of qualified production property. It also deconforms from immediate expensing of domestic research and experimental (R&E) expenditures, including retroactive or catch-up provisions.

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In addition, Spanberger signed off on reduced expensing limits for certain depreciable business assets and changed the limits for businesses regarding deductible interest expenses  now allowing only a 20% subtraction (down from 50%) of the amount of business interest disallowed on the federal return. In real terms, that means Virginia businesses now pay higher state income taxes because they cannot deduct as much interest expense.

In summary, the tax bulletin, issued the same day Spanberger signed HB 29, tells Virginia taxpayers the following:

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For 2025 Virginia returns filed in 2026, Virginia no longer automatically follows every new change in federal law.

The state now uses a fixed cutoff date of December 31, 2025.

Virginia will follow most parts of the 2025 federal tax bill (P.L. 119-21) but deliberately skipped several expensive pieces of it.

Businesses must now add back extra money on their Virginia returns for things like faster equipment write-offs and research costs.

Bottom line: the state keeps more tax revenue because it did not give Virginia taxpayers all the new federal breaks, meaning roughly $200 million now remains in state coffers instead of going into the pockets of workers and businesses.

These changes mean small businesses can no longer immediately write off new equipment, research costs, or certain assets the way the federal government now allows for Virginia tax purposes. Owners will have less money for raises, new hires, or merely keeping prices low. This could mean fewer hours for workers or slower job growth. In turn, workers will likely have less to spend at local businesses, restaurants, and shops, slowing the entire economy.

Virginia has long prided itself on competitive taxes and a business-friendly climate. Automatic or rolling conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) kept the state in step with federal pro-growth changes without endless legislative drama. Spanbergers shift to a fixed conformity date of December 31, 2025, plus selective decoupling, means future federal tax changes will not automatically flow through to Virginia unless the General Assembly acts to adopt them, leaving the door open for higher state tax burdens whenever lawmakers decline to conform. The $200.3 million revenue grab in the first year alone is likely just the opening bid.

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Image: Abigail Spanberger. Credit: Ezra Deutsch-Feldman via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
As Democrats write the 2026 campaign talking points, they may want to read this post from John B. Judis. He is primarily talking about Tom Steyer, the latest Democrat who wants to run in the leftist lane.

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Steyer is running for governor of California, but he sounds more like a guy who is running against President Trumps policies. Lets check out this post:

As the Democrats attempt to supplant and replace Donald Trump and the Republicans in the 2026 and 2028 elections, lesson number one should be: Dont counter Trumps maximalist policies with maximalism of your own on the issues that got the party into trouble in the 2016 and 2024 elections  especially immigration. Unfortunately, California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer, the frontrunner after Eric Swalwells ignominious withdrawal from the race, has not learned this lesson. Advertisement Steyer recently issued a position paper on ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and illegal immigration that amounts to a perfect inversion of Trumps immigration policies. In response to Trumps deployment of masked agents to progressive jurisdictions to enforce the nations immigration laws, Steyer has promised, in effect, to end enforcement of those laws altogether. Echoing the longtime progressive slogan, Steyer calls for ICE to be abolished. California, he says, should build a system that fights fire with fire by taking on ICE the same way we took on the mob. As governor, the hedge fund billionaire promises he will defy the Supreme Court by passing legislation that outlaws any kind of profiling by race, occupation, language, location, or ethnicity. He will also, he claims, criminally prosecute and imprison not just the ICE agents who are committing [crimes], but the leadership directing them to do so. Finally, he will bring those detained and kidnapped by ICE back home and create a much larger and stronger immigration legal defense infrastructure in our state  funding for more attorneys, investigators, accredited representatives. Advertisement

Wow. When will he call for California to break from the Union? How does a potential Governor Steyer plan to do all of this and get around federal law? The answer is separation from what weve called the U.S. all of these years. How else does he plan to do it? Does he understand that federal law is the primary law on matters of immigration? My guess is that he does, but he is preaching to the choir.

This message, obviously rooted in Trump Derangement Syndrome, may work in California, especially if he goes one-on-one against Mr. Hilton, the apparent GOP candidate in the race. It may work there, but will it play in Peoria, as they used to say?

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Steyers message is precisely what is killing the Democrats between San Francisco and Washington, D.C. There is no evidence that voters want to eliminate enforcement of immigration laws. On the contrary, people see illegal immigration for what it is: the violation of U.S. law.

So maybe Mr. Steyer is preaching to the Golden State choir, or the Democrats out there. Maybe he can be the next governor of that once prosperous state. At the same time, I hope he understands that his immigration message is out of step with reality.

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PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

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Image: Tom Steyer. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Suddenly, it looks like almost every Democrat has 'gone Catholic.'

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Get a load:

To be clear, I'm on team Pope. Advertisement April 16, 2026

Once again, the President is a disgrace to our country.



As a Catholic, I stand with Pope Leo, who is an advocate for peace, not a politician. At a time when the world desperately needs it, he is a steady, committed voice for peace. https://t.co/pamA0t6Y3J  Rosa DeLauro (@rosadelauro) April 13, 2026  Former Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims President Trump needs mental help after clashing with Pope Leo, escalating political and religious tensions:



Youd have to ask a psychiatrist. As a devout Catholic and the rest, and I wear these bracelets that say 'faith' pic.twitter.com/49P78ZihOy  Donnie Cope (@dcopechatter) April 14, 2026 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on President Donald Trumps spat with Pope Leo XIV:



At the point that youre attacking the Pope, who do you think has moral authority in this situation? pic.twitter.com/a2h8EYSAnn  AOC | Updates (@updatesaoc) April 15, 2026 There's more of them, cited here. And get a load of Ted Lieu's history, here. They haven't exactly gotten religion, despite what they claim now:

Most Democrats, said Christopher Hale, a Democratic operative and Catholic who runs Letters from Leo, a Substack that focuses on American politics and the first American pope, are eager to embrace this fight.



In Hales estimation, the Democratic Party has spoken more about  Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) April 17, 2026

They're after the usual stuff -- Getting Trump.

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Which is the height of hypocrisy.

I'm not the only one who's noticed:

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 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE?



Biden:

Pushed abortion

Jailed pro-lifers

Promoted child mutilation

Men in womens spaces/sports

Trans ideology on Easter



Trump:

Overturned Roe v Wade

Spoke at March for Life

Banned men in womens sports

Banned child mutilation

Pardoned pro-life activists pic.twitter.com/UVaJn4ybOd  Alec Lace (@AlecLace) April 18, 2026

Aren't they the party of abortion on demand, and not just demand, but bankrolling abortion and spreading it abroad, as happened during the Obama and Biden administrations?

Aren't they the party that spied on Catholics as potential terrorists during the Biden administration?

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Aren't they the party that tried to force priests to break the seal (or secrecy) of confession by legal mandate in the State of Washington state last year? It took a federal court to shut them down.

Aren''t they the party that persecuted the Little Sisters of the Poor for years and years under Obama and Biden for not wanting to pay for insurance that would provide abortifacients to employees at their hospitals?

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Aren't they the party that sought out new ways of obtaining longer prison sentences for pro-life protestors who are mostly Catholic? That news came out just a couple days ago.

Aren't they the party that ushered in the era of church-burnings, complete with zero law enforcement resources to bring these violators of the First Amendment to account?

Aren't they the party of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, defending their right to mock Catholicism as Catholics protested.

Aren't they the party that defended the rights of radical left-wing anti-ICE protestors to interrupt Christian worship services? The incident in Minnesota was not a Catholic Church, but rest assured, they had that kind of right in their gunsights.

Aren't they the party whose presidential candidate vowed to end conscience exemptions for Catholic and other medical personnel in performing abortions? Kamala Harris gleefully told an interviewer that abortion was just too important to allow it, and in any case, Catholics can all in good faith favor abortion on demand?

The point here, is that Democrats have quite the anti-Catholic record, and in quite concrete ways that make a few angry words between the pope and President Trump look like nothing.

Yet here we are, and Democrats are now declaring themselves the good Catholics, the best Catholics, Catholic all along, despite few of them ever going to Church, and much better than the rest of us Catholics. They are Catholic as can be because they agree with the pope on one or two matters and both just happen to involve what they really like, which is Getting Trump.

They haven't been Catholic in years.

The strange thing is that the pope isn't exactly in on the fun of Getting Trump, nor is Trump into the business of Getting the Pope.

Both are now declaring they don't want to fight with the other one, even though there seem to be a few veiled criticisms behind it, in a sort of low-intensity conflict. They're trying, but it's always tough for those who disagree to play nice. The bottom line, though, is that the tone is different, and the two have both clearly said that they don't want to be mixing it up.

"I have no disagreement with the fact the pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree."



Trump said he is not fighting with Pope Leo XIV but that he does have a right to disagree with the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church. pic.twitter.com/tDd2F76OSI  MS NOW (@MSNOWNews) April 16, 2026

 Pope on plane to Angola: A certain narrative has taken holdone that is not entirely accuratedue to the political situation that arose when, on the first day of the trip, the President of the United States made certain statements regarding me. Much of what has been written pic.twitter.com/KDqjqvRoXi  Rich Raho (@RichRaho) April 18, 2026

NEW: Pope Leo XIV insists his African tour is about promoting peace and justice across the continent, not picking a fight with Donald Trump.



Leo has addressed Trump just once on the trip, telling reporters the Trump administration doesnt intimidate him.



Many MAGA allies read pic.twitter.com/WFaLM1crnE  Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) April 18, 2026

Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that it was not in my interest at all to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the Iran war, but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.https://t.co/y6VZpvIewh  KYW Newsradio - NOW ON 103.9 FM! (@KYWNewsradio) April 18, 2026

#PopeLeo says 'tyrant' remarks were not aimed at #DonaldTrump after President hit out at pontiff

Yes they were, now we have a Pope that lies too?

Someone might want to take the shovel away from Leo before he hurts himself



https://t.co/jW8mOdUx11 @MailOnline  Deplorable Garbage Petr@ does it matter? (@PragueArtist) April 18, 2026

But Democrats don't care what the pope thinks, despite their claimed loyalty. For them, it's party time, or rather, loud and happy combat time, and they want to keep fighting Trump.

Peacemaking? Don't think so.

They flame with hypocrisy but they're the same old Democrats, looking to undermine Catholicism as they have done for years.

Image: Grok ai-generated image
Last September, someone looked into Ilhan Omars taxes and discovered something interesting: In just a few years, she went from virtual poverty (minimal money; maximum debt) to being a multi-millionaire thanks to her husbands businesses. That was bad enough, but her sudden wealth earned new scrutiny when we learned that a lot of Somalis from Minneapolis were also overnight millionaires.

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On Friday, Ilhan Omar decided to set the record straight, telling the Wall Street Journal that shes not a millionaire at all. Instead, she and her husband, Tim Mynett, just made an accounting error... You know, the kind that has you overestimate your net worth by as much as 59,000%. Its the kind of mistake anyone can make:

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that while an Omar disclosure filed last year showed she and her husband held assets of between $6 million and $30 million, a massive rise in wealth from her previous annual filing, now an amended filing claims the couples assets to be just $18,004 to $95,000. The forms dont require exact values, only broad ranges. Advertisement [snip] Aides said that Omar looked at the form before it was filed in 2025, but that the error didnt jump off the page for her because she isnt involved with her husbands businesses and she trusted the accuracy of the accountant who provided her husbands figures. Advertisement

I can understand not knowing whether your husbands little business is bringing in $50,000 or $90,000 a year, or whether its a big business, bringing in $5 million or $9 million a year. However, claiming to be incapable of distinguishing between, say, $30,000 and $30,000,000...well, lets just say that strains credulity. Either shes dumber than even we realized, or something else is going on. Indeed, one is tempted to ask that age-old cross-examination question: Are you lying now or were you lying then?

However, heres some food for thought for Omar and for the person who prepared the original return.

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When you, the taxpayer, sign your Form 1040, you are explicitly stating under penalty of perjury that the form is true and correct to the best of your knowledge:

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If you have a tax preparer, that person is signing off on a few things himself (or herself), although ironically, many of the points the preparer signs off on are directed to dishonestly understanding liability, not overstating wealth. Thus, preparers are barred by law from understating wealth due to an unreasonable position or willful or reckless conduct. Preparers also have a duty to prepare an honest return based on the information provided and to use reason to meet all applicable standards.

Again, the norm is for people to understate their assets to avoid paying taxes. In this case, for whatever reason, Omars return grossly overstated assets. Did she and her husband pay taxes on that original return? If so, whered that money come from? And if not, their tax preparer must have done a heck of a good job in diminishing taxes on such an enormous leap in wealth.

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If I were the accountant, Id be very worried right now, because, whether Omar is stupid or dishonest, something doesnt add up. I wouldnt want to be the accountant on the hook for that math error.

Image created using AI.
One of the enduring mysteries of California is how a state as big and advanced as it is, with as huge a tax base and as high a tax rate as it has, can have roads that look straight out of Kolkata.

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Shawn Regan at the Manhattan Institute has delved into the matter in one of the worst-hit cities, Los Angeles, where its 7,500 miles of roading are in a complete state of dispair and only nine miles of them have seen any repairs at all in the last year.

Writing in the New York Post, he asked:

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Why would a city in such obvious need of repair stop fixing its roads? Because in Los Angeles, basic roadwork has become too complicated, too expensive, and too legally treacherous. Advertisement Mandates meant to improve streets have instead made the work harder to carry out. So officials have found the path of least resistance: avoid repaving altogether. ... Advertisement At the center of the dispute is Measure HLA  the Healthy Streets LA initiative approved by voters in 2024. The law requires the city to implement its long-standing mobility plan  adding bike lanes, bus lanes, crosswalks, and other safety features  whenever it repaves a street. Advertisement ... Those add-ons  curb reconstruction, protected bike lanes, new signal timing  can turn a routine resurfacing job into a multimillion-dollar project on a single corridor. Advertisement Faced with that reality, the citys Bureau of Street Services landed on a simpler solution: Dont repave the streets. The results speak for themselves. In the two years since voters approved Measure HLA, the city has implemented just 300 feet of the improvements the law requires  roughly one city block.

It's not even wretched socialist Mayor Karen Bass who's directly causing this, it's the city's woke and gullible voters who voted this policy in, which mandates by law that for any street to get repaved after it becomes a gravel trail, it must install bike lanes, build handicapped-accessible curb ramps for the time of repair, bus lanes, crosswalks and all the other things that ensure complete accessibility, no matter what the condition of the street or how high the cost goes, which turns a simple street repairing of a few thousand dollars into a multi-million-dollar project just for the access ramps alone. If they can't get the full buffett of nice-to-have goodies for whatever the monstrous cost, then no street repairs for them. Regan points out that they are trying to work around this matter through something called 'major asphalt repairs' which means sending a truck around and dripping tar on the potholes, but it washes away in just weeks, and leaves the roads in the same shambles as before.

That's the law now in Los Angeles and that's why the city no longer repairs its roads.

Why bother, when just the first one in need of repair blows out the entire budget?

Not every city in California has laws this bad. San Jose, for one, has the nice-to-have lists but no legal mandate on installing all those goodies, which means the streets look like places normal people could live in -- Democrat gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahon, a former San Jose mayor who is running as a moderate and whose ads describe prioritizing nice-to-have things and need-to-have-things very likely was talking about San Jose's sensible roads policy, so he deserves credit for that.

But other cities are not so lucky. San Francisco has its own similar policy with other kinds of red tape which drives its costs skyward.

San Diego, where I live, has bad policy already known as the Mobility Master Plan, which has resulted in an eight-year-wait for any road or sidewalk repairs, and now is moving to pass a measure called the Streets Masterplan which is literally modelled on the failed Healthy Streets LA disaster, "but scaled for San Diego" as its organizers say. They are gathering petition signatures now for it, so that San Diego can follow Los Angeles, lemmings-like, off the cliff.

Its organizers posted this on Reddit:

Its called the Streets Master Plan, and it would require the City to actually add safety and mobility improvements (like crosswalks, bike lanes, bus lanes, and accessible signals) every time they repave a street  instead of just laying new asphalt and calling it a day. Basically: no more pave now, maybe fix later. This plan has teeth  its legally binding, includes yearly public progress reports, and gives residents the right to hold the City accountable if it doesnt follow through. Its modeled after LAs Healthy Streets LA, which voters passed overwhelmingly, but scaled for San Diego.

Want that dumpside look L.A. has after two years of this? Then by all means, sign the petition.

It's bad already in San Diego, with trucks driving around with tar streams to repair the crumbling asphalt instead of just repaving the roads.

My street, for instance, which is on a cul-de-sac neighborhood and doesn't get big traffic, looks like this; I took this picture this morning:

Image: Monica Showalter

Reporting like Regan's helps voters understand why this state is so badly run.

And the fact is, the state is going downhill fast. Los Angeles became a roadway disaster in just two years after passing the proposition. San Diego already seems to be transforming into a run-down stereotype of a Siberian street, creating the same effect as Siberia's extreme weather does on its roads, just with its Mobility Master Plan being enforced on the books.

Google AI reported from its various sources that more than a third of the city's roads were in bad condition and that was three years ago:

Based on a 2023 assessment, San Diego's overall street network has a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 63, placing it in the "Fair" category, down from 71 ("Satisfactory") in 2016 . While many streets are fair, a 2024 report indicated that 34% of the city's roads are classified as "poor," "very poor," "serious," or "failed," with nearly 600 road segments rated as failing

Los Angeles is even worse, says Google AI:.

As of early 2026, the percentage of Los Angeles streets in good condition is estimated at roughly 60%, with projections suggesting a decline to a Pavement Condition Index of 56 next year due to a shift towards patching rather than resurfacing. The city's 7,500+ miles of streets face increasing deterioration, with repairs hampered by a significant budget deficit. Key Findings on LA Street Conditions Declining Quality: The citys Pavement Condition Index is projected to drop to 56 next year, a 4% decline within a single year.

Repair Shortfall: Budget constraints are reducing the citys ability to fully repave, leading to a reliance on patching.

Pothole Surge: Intense rainy seasons have caused a surge in pothole complaints, putting stress on the roughly 7,500 miles of city streets.

Numbers like these say the cities are going downhill fast.

Regan has done yeoman's work in getting to the bottom of why California's streets are so disgusting and why changing this law is essential if the state is ever going to recover. If a city or state can't repair its roads promptly and properly, then what good is it?

The state is becoming one vast pothole fast, all because of its sounds-nice greenie and special interest policies which benefit only contractors.

Sunlight might just help the patient by November's midterm elections.
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently split in two, and resembles the country: divided, contentious, partisan, and not sufficiently acting in a unified way that reflects a commitment and understanding of country, sovereignty, and duty.

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The political left likes it that way.

No other branch of government is thought to serve its purpose of social division, and social control, like the judiciary. And until the SCOTUS can be stacked with their judges, and cemented ideologically, then internal division, and lack of discipline by its appointees, will serve its interests in frustrating good government.

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To make matters worse, the U.S. Supreme Court is suffering from a lack of leadership, and instead of running the court with firm expectations and direction, it is being allowed to drift. This has resulted in a bicameral Supreme Court  one level professional and competent, the other an effective lower court of progressive amateurs  all with no leader, with no legal philosophy.

The political left likes to call Court decisions it doesnt like or understand, a product of a shadow docket. They think such rulings are meant to selectively empower the president.

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Indeed, the New York Times has now created a new editorial function for what it calls a higher level of SCOTUS coverage over this asserted shadow docket. They apparently feel they are the Court watchdog for decisions that progressives reject and want to turn into political capital, or, to champion ones before the Court or heading to it, which are designed to frustrate the President -- and empower them -- especially in dimensions of national security: border control, citizenship, voting rules, and more.

It is interesting to think about why the left is so obsessed with courts and judges. One reason is that they represent a believed power to selectively rule and enforce  and that suits the progressive mind. But the other reason is that the lefts entire concept of government is a concept of judicial government; that is, the political left sees the judicial branch as itself a superior form of governance.

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Unfortunately, their brand of judicial government means using the law to try and override public consent, public will, citizen voters, and especially, the president and national security. Indeed, with a White House they control, and a string of favored judicial nominees, the tone of Court criticism turns from open revolt, to open manipulation. What was previously called a shadow docket suddenly becomes a shadow government -- theirs.

In its worldview, societies are not deliberative, and consent is an inconvenience. They resist the imperfect process of compromise and negotiation. Indeed, it is curious how the notion of common law is even entertained in their view, because it is based fundamentally on a process of discovering the law, not dictating it.

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The lefts preference actually appears to be civil law or code, and of course written by them. And if a court rules summarily on an obvious legal contention, or finds the president clearly in line with his authority and duty, it suddenly becomes cast as an illegitimate shadow decision. This makes the shadow docket controversy an effective form of lawfare, against the Court itself, through a shaming mechanism.

This ultimately frustrates the left because the Court is their great hope which they worship like a child. The SCOTUS is the progressive lefts mother ship because it symbolizes to them an ultimate, ideal fantasy of enforced direction. It functions like an appeal to a parent, made by a child who wont accept any way but their own. Judge Jerome Frank made this observation in his celebrated book Law and the Modern Mind. To the progressive left, a Supreme Court judge is even more: he represents a permanent parent with permanent authority, and permanent custody.

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That brings up the two central weaknesses of the Supreme Court: a lack of term limits, and a tendency to admit too many disputes that are better left to Congress, state and local government, pushed back to trial courts, or simply rejected. The judiciary needs to regularly signal its very limited purpose. Like a good parent, sometimes their kids have to work things out for themselves, and live with the consequences. That's how they grow up.

The other distortion in the Court is concentration: eight out of nine justices come from just two law schools, both in the Northeast: Yale and Harvard. And both teach law in terms of concepts outside of law: Yale is the school of law as sociology, and Harvard, the citadel of critical studies.

Imagine instead a SCOTUS with justices from North Dakota, Texas, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Alabama, for example. Moreover, the Constitution makes no claim that a Supreme Court justice even be a lawyer. Consider a judge with executive business experience. Business is very much like a court system where numerous interests are adjudicated every day, and decisions come from leadership that reports to shareholders. Most of all it requires knowledge of complex technical areas, operating in a real world. When it comes to ability with science, technology, real-world business, including vital national security problems which find their way into the court system, the legal mind is often guessing, and the courts, either overstepping, or turning their back.

This also suits the progressive left because in their view, law is "pure," and shouldn't be tainted with inconvenient facts, too much outside expertise, or burdened with business-like reform of its practices.

Matthew G. Andersson is a former CEO and author of the forthcoming book Legally Blind. He has testified to the US Senate and is a graduate of the University of Chicago.

Image:
Elizabeth II and Camilla joined Sir Paul McCartney on stage during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace in 2012 - Ian West/PA

The Queen has praised Elizabeth II for her ability to carve her own role in a world full of male leaders.

In a new BBC documentary exploring the late Queens legacy before the centenary of her birth on Tuesday, Camilla, 78, praised the former monarchs overriding sense of duty.

Paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 aged 96, Her Majesty said: It must have been so difficult, being surrounded by much older men.

There werent women prime ministers or women presidents. She was the only one, so I think she carved her own role.

The late Queen was Britains longest-serving monarch, reigning for more than 70 years, and Camilla said her sense of duty had overridden everything.

I dont think Ive ever seen anybody have a sense of duty like she had, she added.

Camilla recalled that after the Covid pandemic, the country was looking for a reason to celebrate, and the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 provided that outlet.

The Mall was packed for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022 - Leon Neal/Getty

I remember there were thousands and thousands of people lining streets, lining The Mall, she said. We were all looking for something to cheer us all up  So it was an incredible jubilee.

She was very much centre stage. Ive never seen anything like it. Everybody was in a good mood.

Queen Elizabeth was just 25 when she unexpectedly became Queen while she was on a tour with Prince Philip in Kenya.

She was welcomed back to Britain after the death of her father, King George VI, by Winston Churchill, the prime minister of the day.

Queen Elizabeth II, pictured during Trooping the Colour in her Platinum Jubilee Year, was known for her sense of humour - James Whatling

Elsewhere in the BBC1 documentary, titled Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century, Dame Helen Mirren labelled the former monarch an intrinsic part of the tapestry of our life.

The actress, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the late Queen in the 2006 film The Queen, said: Shed become such an intrinsic part of the tapestry of our life, it was as if you were going to pull a thread and the whole thing was going to fall apart.

Other notable figures who pay tribute to her legacy included Barack Obama, Sir Tony Blair, Sir David Attenborough and Sir Tom Jones.

Sir Tony Blair was given an audience with the late Queen at Buckingham Palace in May 2002 - Anwar Hussein Collection

Mr Obama and his wife Michelle, forged a bond with the late Queen following their state visit to the UK in 2011, when the US president stayed at Buckingham Palace at her invitation.

In his tribute, he said: What struck me in every conversation that I had with her was the weight of her experience.

She did understand the sweep of history. That gave her a respect on the world stage. The combination of the sense of duty with a very human quality of kindness and consideration, and sense of humour.

I think thats what made her so beloved, not just in Great Britain, but around the world. By virtue of her having known every world figure through the entire 20th century, shes a link to history.

Barack Obama forged a special bond with Queen Elizabeth after the 2011 state visit - Lewis Whyld/AFP/Getty

During her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth saw the US presidency change hands 14 times. The only US leader she did not meet face to face was Lyndon Johnson.

Her enduring legacy will be marked and championed by members of the Royal family next week, with various engagements planned to mark the centenary.

The establishment of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, a charity that will focus on regenerating shared spaces that bring people together, was announced on Saturday.

The King will serve as royal patron of the organisation, which will be launched on April 21.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century, will be broadcast on BBC1 at 9pm on Sunday.
Counter-terror police are investigating whether the series of arson attacks against the Jewish community in north London have been carried out by Iranian proxies.

A synagogue in Harrow was firebombed overnight in the latest incident in a terrifying spate of recent arson attacks against Jewish sites in the capital.

The Met said the incidents were similar in nature and said Iranian proxy group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks online.

Officers are following a line of inquiry to establish if the group is paying thugs for hire to carry out the attacks on its behalf on British soil.

The same group has recently claimed attacks across Europe, including at Jewish and Israeli premises, Ms Evans said.

Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans said: We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran.

As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans (left) and ,Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes (centre) address the media (PA Wire)

Ive spoken previously about the Iranian regimes use of criminal proxies, and we are considering whether this tactic is being used here in London.

She went on: I want to be clear, irrespective of the motivation of this group, to those who are facilitating this activity on their behalf and those who are committing the acts, we will not tolerate activity that seeks to intimidate and harm our communities, you will not succeed in creating division and hate.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, counter-terrorism policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK.

We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran  as you would expect we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.

The deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Matt Jukes said we are facing a concerted campaign which is targeting Londoners and specifically targeting Britains Jewish community.

London is better than this, we should be standing alongside our neighbours, he added. We need a response across the whole of society  across all faiths, across all politics, across charities, across businesses  we need people to speak out against extremism.

In the latest attack police were called to Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftesbury Avenue, Harrow, at around midnight after a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window.

Police officers patrol at a cordon near to an incident at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, (PA)

It caused smoke damage, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage.

Video that appears to be published by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, also known as Hayi, shows a person in dark clothing lighting an item and throwing it at the synagogue before running away.

It was filmed by another person behind the metal fence surrounding the building.

The clip named leaders at the place of worship and accused it of being one of the centres of Zionist influence in the British capital.

The Chief Rabbi called the attack cowardly and said a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

It follows follows similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in northwest London, all that are being investigated by Counter Terror Policing London.

On Friday a building formerly used by a Jewish charity in Hendon, was targeted by an attempted arsonist in an incident being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

A synagogue in Finchley was targeted earlier this week and ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity set alight in Golders Green last month.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the spate of attacks.

Forensic police officers investigate a suspected firebomb outside Finchley Reform Synagogue on April 15 (Getty)

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called it a cowardly arson attack and said a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

His statement shared on X said: This sustained attack on our communitys ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said in a statement: Londons Jewish communities have been targeted with a series of shameful antisemitic arson attacks on charities, businesses and places of worship. I know that many Jewish Londoners will be concerned about their safety.

He said an Iranian organisation has claimed responsibility for facilitating attacks and the counter-terrorism police are investigating, adding that he remains in close contact with the Metropolitan Police which has increased its resources to protect and reassure Jewish communities.

He added: There can never be any justification for attacking our Jewish friends, neighbours and colleagues. Those responsible are seeking to promote fear, hatred and division.

They cant stand what our city represents  an open, diverse, pluralistic society that embraces and celebrates our differences.

History shows that we will never back down against terrorists. In London, we will stand with our Jewish communities, unite against those who seek to divide us, and ensure that those responsible face the full force of the law.

I want to thank the police, security services, Community Security Trust and others working so hard to keep our communities safe.
Footage shared online appears to show the incident (X)

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car ploughed into pedestrians in central London in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A woman in her 30s is in hospital in a critical condition and a man in his 50s suffered life-changing injuries after they were hit by a car in Argyll Street, off Oxford Street, at around 4.30am.

A second woman in her 30s also suffered minor injuries, the Metropolitan Police said.

The driver of the car, a 29-year-old woman, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving and taken into custody.

Police say the incident, which took place in the street near Oxford Circus that is home to the London Palladium theatre, is not being treated as terrorism-related.

Shocking footage that appears to show the incident has been shared online.

In the clip a car can be seen surrounded by pedestrians as it suddenly shoots forward.

A witness shouts in alarm: 'She is going to run her over.'

Passers-by then rush to help a woman who is hit by the car.

A man who appears to be locking an e-bike is also struck by the car and falls to the ground.

Detective chief inspector Alison Foxwell called for potential witnesses to come forward.

She said: As our inquiries continue, our thoughts are with those injured and their loved ones.

While this incident took place in the early hours of the morning, venues in the area were still open, and we believe a number of people will have seen what happened.

I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any activity prior to it that they feel may be of relevance, to come forward.

The information you have  however minor you believe it may be  could be of crucial importance to investigators.

Anybody who has information to provide is asked to call 101, providing the reference 1404/19APR.

Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Shamar Elkins shot 10 people, eight of them fatally, including his seven children in Shreveport, Louisiana

A gunman killed seven of his children and one of their cousins in Louisiana on Sunday.

Shamar Elkins shot 10 people, including a 3-year-old, in a domestic disturbance at two homes in the early hours of Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Elkins, 31, was shot dead by police after trying to flee the scene in a stolen car.

Seven of the eight children were the shooters own. The eighth child was a cousin.

The three boys and five girls were identified by their mothers as Jayla Elkins, 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 7, Markaydon Pugh, 10, Sariahh Snow, 11, Khedarrion Snow, 6, and Braylon Snow, 5.

Two women, including the gunmans wife who was the mother of their children, were also shot and critically wounded.

Residents were shocked by what police called an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen - AP

A boy, who was in one of the homes when the gunman opened fire, was seen jumping from the roof to escape. He sustained a few broken bones but is expected to recover, a police spokesperson said.

Officers were actively investigating the motive.

Wayne Smith, Shreveports chief of police, said: This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen.

I just dont know what to say, my heart is just taken aback. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.

Flowers have been left outside one of the houses where the door is riddled with bullet holes - Getty Images

Police said Elkins led them on a chase to three locations, with police eventually shooting and killing him, Cpl Chris Bordelon told reporters.

At the end of that pursuit, the suspect exited the vehicle with a firearm, and ultimately our officers were forced to neutralise the suspect, Cpl Bordelon told reporters.

Elkins lived in Shreveport. He served in Louisianas National Guard from Aug 2013 to Aug 2020 and left as a private, an entry-level rank, an army spokesperson said.

He had been known to police and was convicted in 2019 of illegally using a firearm. Officials were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.

Shamar Elkins was shot dead by police after he tried to flee the scene in a stolen vehicle - Shreveport Police Department/Reuters

Elkins and his wife were in the middle of separating and were due in court on Monday, according to Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the wounded women. Ms Brown said the couple had been arguing about the separation before the shooting.

Elkins shared four children with his wife and three children with another woman who lived close by and who was also shot, according to Ms Brown. All the children were together at one house, she said.

Two weeks before the attack, a Facebook page believed to belong to Elkins, shared a picture of him posing with seven children as he described taking them to church for an Easter service.

Ms Brown described all the children as happy kids, very friendly, very sweet.

Officials are still gathering details about the crime scene, which extends across three locations - Jill Pickett/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP

Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city of about 180,000 people in north-western Louisiana, said: This is a tragic situation  maybe the worst tragic situation weve ever had.

We have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners personnel. This affects the entire community, so we all mourn with these families.

At a news conference, officials appeared shocked as they requested patience and prayers from the community. Police said no officers were harmed in the shooting.

Elkins served in Louisianas National Guard from Aug 2013 to Aug 2020

Speaker: Children were senselessly killed

Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House who also represents Louisiana, said: Heartbreaking tragedy in Shreveport this morning  eight children were senselessly killed and multiple others were injured.

He added: Were holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. And we are grateful to the Shreveport, Bossier, and Louisiana State Police for their swift response.

It is the worst mass shooting in the US since January 2024.

Before the incident in Shreveport, the Gun Violence Archive listed at least 119 mass shootings in the US this year, resulting in 117 deaths, including 79 children.

In January, a 24-year-old gunman went on a shooting spree in Mississippi. Six people were killed, including his father, brother, uncle and seven-year-old cousin.
Before Beatlemania captivated America, George Harrison made an unassuming visit to Benton, Illinois, in September 1963, staying with his sister's family.

The quiet trip, just months before The Beatles' seismic U.S. debut, offered a rare glimpse into the ordinary life of a musician on the brink of global fame.

During his stay, the Briton embraced small-town American life: he went camping, jammed with locals, enjoyed roller-skate-delivered root beer, bought records, and even purchased a new guitar.

Four months later, Benton residents, along with 73 million others, watched him on The Ed Sullivan Show, marking the start of the British Invasion.

Now, the house where Harrison and his brother Peter lodged in Benton, 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, is up for sale.

This news has prompted concern among Beatles fans, mindful of the property's precarious past. In 1995, the residence at 113 McCann Street faced demolition but was ultimately saved by activists, including Harrison's sister, Louise Harrison Caldwell.

Paul McCartney (left) and George Harrison sit next to each other on their tour bus during a Beatles American tour, c. 1966 (Getty)

Mining brought the family to Benton

Previously known for hosting the state's last public hanging in 1928, Benton, population 6,700, was built on Southern Illinois' rich veins of coal. Louise Caldwell moved to town when her husband, a mining engineer, got a job in what was then a thriving industry.

The house they chose is a five-bedroom bungalow built in 1935 with a brick facade across its wide front porch.

In the mid-1990s, a state agency bought the house from a subsequent owner with plans to flatten it for parking. Mega-fan Robert Bartel of Springfield, a Beatles author and documentarian, alerted the media and Fab Four loyalists.

Local investors repurchased it from the state and opened the Hard Day's Nite Bed and Breakfast, featuring the couch Harrison traded guitar licks on and stacks of other loaned Beatles memorabilia, including a bevy from Bartel.

The bed-and-breakfast closed in 2010. Benton resident Grady Adams has since operated it as regular bed-and-bath apartments but now wants to sell, listing it for $105,000. Brian Calcaterra, Bentons director of economic development, suggested the city draft an ordinance to protect the house from demolition by a new owner, but Benton Mayor Lee Messersmith said the city council has not discussed the matter.

Of course, if it doesn't get demo'd, I would prefer that, Adams said.

The Benton home is listed for $105,000 (Grady Adams)

That momentum is not here

Whether there's interest  or energy  to return the McCann Street house to its Beatles glory is up for debate.

Jim Kirkpatrick of Creal Springs, author of Before He Was Fab, a recollection of Harrison's visit which has been optioned for a movie, has had at least one encouraging conversation with someone considering purchase.

Benton business owner Robert Rea, a historian who helped save the Beatles house three decades ago, said the obsession has faded.

When we did this (in 1995), the world went crazy because they thought, George is going to come, hes going to save the house,' Rea said. And Im just being honest with you, maybe Im missing it or something, but that momentum is not here.

His last quiet vacation

Harrison's trip was perhaps the last time the musician could enjoy obscurity. He camped in Shawnee National Forest. He sat in with a popular local group when they played a nearby Veterans of Foreign Wars hall. The bands leader took him to a drive-in restaurant with carhops on skates, where he guzzled root beer for the first time.

At a record store on Benton's downtown square, Harrison bought a pile of vinyl. Included was James Rays R&B single, Ive Got My Mind Set on You, Harrisons 1987 cover of which went to No. 1.

He also bought a Rickenbacker 425 guitar like the one bandmate John Lennon had. Harrison played the guitar a month later when the Beatles recorded I Want to Hold Your Hand. It sold at auction in 2014 for $675,000.

One day during Harrison's visit, he and Caldwell dropped by WFRX radio, where then-17-year-old Marcia Schafer Raubach had a Saturday afternoon teen program. Harrison gave her a copy of She Loves You, which he told her had just hit the top of the British charts.

Raubach interviewed Harrison on the air, the first for a Beatle in America, and played the 45, which she still has. She said it sounded different than the songs American teens were then punching up on jukeboxes. But it didn't make an impression on her audience.

Despite his longish hair in a land of crew cuts, Raubach found Harrison, dressed in a crisp white shirt, jeans and sandals, very clean cut, he was personable and mannerly and they call him the quiet Beatle  well, he was.

If I had known what they were going to become, I would have handled that differently, Raubach, now 79, said. Its still amazing that he even came here and that I met him. I think he really liked Southern Illinois.

Harrison never returned to Benton, though, dying in 2001 at 58. Caldwell was 91 when she died in 2023.
India summons Iranian envoy after tankers come under fire in Strait of Hormuz

India summoned Irans ambassador after two Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon allegedly by Iranian navy while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a formal diplomatic protest from Delhi.

Indias foreign ministry summoned Mohammad Fathali after the incident and foreign secretary Vikram Misri conveyed the governments deep concern over the shooting involving two merchant ships bound for India.

Misri stressed the importance India places on the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers, noting that Iran had previously enabled the safe passage of several India-bound vessels.

Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, the foreign secretary urged the ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait, the ministry said.

It added that the ambassador undertook to convey these views to the Iranian authorities.

NEW: Audio from the Indian oil tanker fired on by Iranian Navy in the Strait of Hormuz



You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back! pic.twitter.com/C3nouIPzOJ  Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 18, 2026

The two vessels were identified as Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald. Officials said there were no casualties and the ships suffered minor damages, except shattered glass in one of the cabins, reported local media. Both vessels turned back after coming under fire north of Oman.

According to Marine Traffic, Jag Arnav, a bulk carrier sailing under the Indian flag, had departed Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia and was heading to India. Sanmar Herald was travelling to India with crude oil loaded in Iraq.

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and is one of the worlds most important energy chokepoints. About one-fifth of global crude shipments normally pass through the narrow waterway. India is among the countries with the highest number of vessels transiting the route because of its dependence on energy imports from the Gulf.

Indian officials said the government was treating the alleged firing by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seriously and continued to support open and free navigation through the strait.

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)

The incident also occurred while the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan remained docked at Kochi after seeking refuge from India. Around 120 of its 183 crew members have been repatriated, while essential personnel remain aboard to maintain the vessel. The ship arrived after another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka on 4 March.

A distress transmission from Sanmar Herald later surfaced. In audio shared by Tanker Trackers and reported by NDTV, a crew member can be heard saying: Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back.

Video reviewed by NBC News appears to show the Sanmar Herald moving through a designated safe passage or Green Area in the Strait of Hormuz. While travelling east, the ship temporarily switched off its tracking signal (AIS), which is the system ships use to broadcast their location. Later, when the signal came back on farther east, the ship had quickly turned around and was heading back west.

The confrontation came amid wider uncertainty over a fragile ceasefire involving the US and Iran, which is due to expire on Wednesday. The war, entering its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and driven oil prices higher because of the effective closure of the strait.

While Iran has not officially acknowledged the attack on the Indian tankers, it has said it is restricting shipping because of a continuing US blockade of Iranian ports. Its Supreme National Security Council called the blockade a ceasefire violation and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait.

Earlier, Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali had told NDTV that the strait will remain open for Indian ships. "We have good contact with the [Indian] government for allowing their ships to sail through the Strait of Hormuz."

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would continue threatening commercial shipping through the waterway.

A Sri Lanka Navy vessel approaches an Iranian Navy vessel IRIS Bushehr during a rescue operation, a day after the crew of a distressed Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena, were assisted in waters south of Sri Lanka, off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 5 March 2026 (Reuters)

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, Mr Qalibaf said.

In separate comments, he said recent talks with Washington had narrowed some differences but major gaps remained over nuclear issues and the strait.

We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us, he told state media. There are some issues on which we insist ... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.

US president Donald Trump said there had been very good conversations with Tehran, but also described Irans move over the strait as blackmail. He defended the US blockade and warned he was prepared to start dropping bombs again unless a longer-term agreement was reached before the ceasefire ends.

Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press: Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations, adding that the US is risking the whole ceasefire package.

The latest disruption followed a temporary reopening announced by Iran on Friday after a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday. Tehran then reversed course on Saturday and reimposed control over the route.
Ships and tankers in the strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman. Photograph: Reuters (Photograph: Reuters)

Iranian officials say they have reversed the reopening of the strait of Hormuz and reimposed restrictions on the vital shipping lane after the US said it would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.

A UK maritime agency reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ships had fired at a tanker as it attempted to pass through the strait on Saturday. Reuters reported an Indian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil had also been attacked while in the waterway.

Irans Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command said on Saturday that Tehran had restored the strait to its previous status and was now under strict management and control by the armed forces.

Iran said the restrictions would remain if Washington did not ensure full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to destinations and from destinations to Iran. This was reiterated by the countrys deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, and the IRGCs navy command.

Irans top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Saturday that the recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the strait of Hormuz. We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us, he told state media, referring to talks last weekend. There are some issues on which we insist  They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.

President Donald Trump said the US was having very good conversations with Tehran but warned against blackmail over the key shipping channel. He later praised war ally Israel in a social media post, adding that other allies had shown their true colours in a moment of conflict and stress.

Neither side offered any specifics about the state of negotiations on Saturday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.

The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the closure of the strait, which usually carries a fifth of the worlds oil shipments.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Turkish diplomatic forum in Antalya, Iranian deputy foreign minister Khatibzadeh said the US cannot impose their will to do a siege over Iran, while Iran, with good intention, is trying to facilitate safe passage through the strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, the IRGCs navy command wrote: As long as the movement of vessels from Iran and to Iran is under threat, the status of the strait of Hormuz will remain as it was previously. Any breach of commitments by the United States will receive an appropriate response.

Iran officially closed the strait on 4 March in response to US-Israeli airstrikes on the country, and declared it back open on Friday after a 10-day ceasefire deal was agreed between Israel and Lebanon, as part of wider negotiations to achieve peace in the region.

The UKs Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it had received a report from a tanker that had been approached and then fired on by two IRGC gunboats 20 nautical miles north-east of Oman. The captain said there had been no radio warning beforehand. The agency added that the tanker and crew were reported safe, and authorities were investigating the incident.

The announcement of Irans U-turn came the day after Donald Trump said the US blockade would remain in full force until a permanent peace deal with Tehran was reached. The US president also said that the temporary ceasefire with Iran, brokered by Pakistan and due to expire on Wednesday, may not be extended.

US and Iranian delegations are expected to hold a second round of peace talks, although the timing is yet to be confirmed. Agence France-Presse reported that the Egyptian foreign minister said on Saturday there were hopes for a deal in the coming days.

We hope to do so [reach an agreement] in the coming days, Badr Abdelatty said, adding: Not only us in the region, but the whole world is suffering from the continuation of this war.

Before Irans reversal, at least eight oil and gas tankers had passed through the strait in the brief window when it was open early on Saturday, according to maritime tracking data.

About 20% of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the narrow strait, which has become a focal point of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Its closure has driven up energy prices around the world.

In Lebanon, the Israeli military said on Sunday that one soldier was killed during combat in the south, adding that nine soldiers were wounded, including one who was severely injured.
The Iranian people are still fiercely loyal to the flag, but they are also clear about the difference between the flag and the regime - Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto

When I was stationed in Tehran as deputy ambassador 20 years ago, a single cartographic error by National Geographic provided a masterclass in the Iranian soul. The magazine had mistakenly labelled the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf, and in an instant the nation ignited. Secularists, monarchists, and regime loyalists were united in collective outrage. It was a reminder that, while regimes are transitory, the pride of the Persian people is immutable.

Today, the Iranian regime is portraying itself as benefiting from a similar outpouring of national pride and unity.

When Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader, state media reported: In a glorious display of national unity, millions of Iranians gathered in Enghelab Square to swear unconditional loyalty to the Supreme Leader. The roar of the people has sent a clear message to the Great Satan: the nation is rising as one to defend the Revolution and its new guardian.

Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader in March - AFP

A few days later, when the Speaker of the Iranian Majles arrived in Islamabad for negotiations, he said the Americans must realise that they are not facing a government, but a nation of 85 million who have mobilised to protect their sovereignty.

Unfortunately for the regime, it isnt true. The majority of the Iranian public now are likely to distinguish sharply between the country and the regime, and while they remain fiercely proud of their country, they dont feel the same about their leaders.

After the Islamic Revolution, the ayatollahs played down Irans pre-Islamic heritage. Heroes like Cyrus the Great were downgraded, and hardliners talked of bulldozing Persepolis. But over time, the Islamic Republic realised the power of these symbols, and tried to co-opt them. The Achaemenid kings were reframed as monotheistic precursors of Islam; the regime played up the role of Salman the Persian, companion of the Prophet Mohammed; in recent months the pre-Islamic hero Arash the Archer has appeared on Tehrans billboards alongside more modern martyrs.

The statue of Arash the Archer is seen in Tehrans Vanak Square, March 31, 2026 - ATTA KENARE/AFP

But this pivot to Irans pre-Islamic glories has had limited impact. The majority of the Iranian public hold the regime in contempt, and see them as tarnishing rather than upholding the glory of Persia. This has been true for years  while the regime tried to blame the Americans for the pain of sanctions, mainstream Iran blamed the regime instead.

In recent protests, two popular chants have been Na Ghazzeh, na Lobnan, Janam fadaye Iran (Neither Gaza, nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran), and Doshmane ma haminjast, doroogh migan Amrikast (Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say its America). Both chants have the same point  the protestors are more concerned about their lives in Iran than the regimes ideological battles abroad.

Since the start of the conflict, the Iranian public has risen up neither to support the regime nor to topple it. There have been loyal crowds in the street, but these are the same minority who have always been loyal to the regime, for a combination of religious, ideological and economic reasons.

There have also been celebrations when regime targets have been hit, but nothing on the scale of the January protests. The slaughter of thousands of protestors has had a sharp chilling effect. The security forces have stayed loyal, with the IRGC enjoying a much strengthened grip on power. Despite Reza Pahlavis promise of mass defections, there have been none.

When I was posted in Iran, there was always a concern from reformist Iranians that explicit American support would be the kiss of death, as they would be cast as puppets of Irans enemy. They used to say that the best thing the Americans could do was to keep quiet.

Despite Reza Pahlavis promise of mass defections, there have been none - JOEL SAGET/AFP

We are well past that now  the Iranian people are still fiercely loyal to the flag, but they are also clear about the difference between the flag and the regime.

Neither are they likely to remember the actions of the Americans and Israelis with affection or gratitude. Though angry with the regime for bringing this attack down on the country, they will also remember the strikes on bridges, factories and schools, an American president who said that it had been more fun to sink Iranian warships than to capture them, and the threats to send Iran back to the Stone Age. Iranians have long memories.

Iranians still talk about how Britain sank Iranian battleships in the Second World War. Trump may not end up immortalised as the saviour he is expecting to be.

Matthew Gould served as British ambassador to Israel and deputy and acting ambassador to Iran
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Top administration officials, including President Donald Trump himself, appeared unclear as to whether Vice President JD Vance would lead peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan this week, less than 24 hours before the U.S. negotiating team are supposedly due in Islamabad.

Vances participation in the upcoming talks has been in question for days after the last round, helmed by the vice president, failed to reach an agreement to end the war. Tuesday is the two-week deadline for the U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

Trump is closely watching Vances performance in the negotiations with Iran as he ponders his eventual successor for 2028. CNN reported last week, citing multiple sources familiar with the conversations, that the president was soliciting opinions of Vances strengths. On Sunday morning, the president took calls from reporters at a plethora of outlets, telling ABC News Jonathan Karl, then MS NOWs Jacqueline Alemany that Vance would not be attending the Islamabad talks, claiming that security issues prohibited Vances participation in the second round of talks.

Its only because of security, Trump told Karl. JDs great.

Unnamed White House officials then contradicted the president and told multiple networks, including ABC and MS NOW, that Vance would indeed be traveling to Islamabad.

Vice President JD Vance led the last round of peace talks with Iran but failed to reach an agreement on the country ending its nuclear program or the opening the Strait of Hormuz (Getty Images)

On Sunday news shows, there was further confusion. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN that Vance would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan.

U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz, meanwhile, could not say whether Vance was leading the latest U.S. delegation, during his own interview on NBCs Meet the Press. My understanding from an announcement the president just made is that the team is going over. I'll leave the delegation announcement to the White House, he said.

Trump told two reporters who called him early Sunday morning that JD Vance would not be a part of Mondays peace talks in Islamabad (AFP/Getty)

Both networks then reported Vance would be traveling to Islamabad, citing unnamed senior U.S. officials. In a call with Axios, Trump also mentioned the participation of both special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but did not say if Vance would attend. Axios reported that two U.S. officials separately confirmed Vance would lead the delegation.

The Independent has asked the White House for confirmation of the vice presidents plans. When asked about the confusion around whether Vance was leading the U.S. delegation, a White House official told CNN: Things changed.

The White House hasnt offered any explanation for why security risks that supposedly prohibited Vances attendance at the talks were no longer present, or any other reason for the sudden shift.

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were at Vance's side for U.S. peace talks with Iran in Pakistan last weekend (Getty)

The vice president himself has been quiet about the negotiations with Iran since last Tuesday, when he appeared at an event for conservative youth organization, Turning Point USA.

I recognize that young voters do not love the policy we have in the Middle East, OK, he told attendees. Dont get disengaged because you disagree with the administration on one topic. Get more involved, make your voice heard even more. That is how we ultimately take the country back.

On Sunday, Tehran reportedly rejected taking part in the second round of peace talks after Trump threatened to strike civilian infrastructure in a Truth Social post earlier in the day.

Were offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, he posted.

During his call with Axios, Trump also said: "The concept of the deal is done. I think we have a very good chance to get it completed.

Irans official state news agency, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), reported that regime would not be taking part in the talks despite the U.S. sending a delegation to Pakistan. They cited U.S. excessive demands and unreasonable, unrealistic requests as preventing progress, however they did not cite a specific source.

However CNN reported from Iranian sources than an delegation from the country would be there to meet the U.S. team.

Polls indicate that a large share of Americans question whether the administration has a real plan to end the war, which the president and his allies keep insisting is already won.

Sunday began with the news that a tanker ship was fired upon by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and a statement from the force claiming that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports was ended. The president later wrote on Truth Social that U.S. Marines had boarded an Iranian-flagged vessel that attempted to run the blockade.

Days earlier, Trump had taken a short victory lap and declared the U.S.s efforts to reopen the strait a success. Now the U.S. is staring down a deadline with Iran and the U.S. at essentially the same point the two countries were before talks began. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces has caused a massive jump in oil prices that U.S. officials warn will likely last for months.

A cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz reported that it had been fired upon early Sunday by IRGC forces (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Trump and his allies continue to insist that, to end the war, Iran must give up future ambitions of enriching nuclear material and commit to the full destruction of its nuclear weapons development. Iran has refused this demand.

Vance confirmed last weekend, upon leaving negotiations with Irans top diplomats, that the sticking point remained.
Representative. (Getty Images)

A learner driver has been charged after a car struck pedestrians outside an Australian comic con event, killing one man and seriously injuring another.

Police allege a Toyota sedan mounted the kerb near Melbournes Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event in Ascot Vale shortly before 5pm on Saturday and hit two men as three male pedestrians were leaving the convention.

A 20-year-old man died, while another man of the same age was seriously injured and hospitalised. A third young man who was with them avoided the vehicle and was not hurt.

The accused, Awer Dau, 33, was named in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday evening after being charged with dangerous driving causing death and culpable driving causing death, news.com.au reported.

He appeared by video link from Melbourne West Police Station. He was not required to speak and sat hunched over with his arms on his knees. His lawyer said there would be no application for bail.

Magistrate Jarrod Williams remanded Mr Dau in custody until 15 September.

Police said the man was unlicensed and held only a learner permit.

A prosecutor was granted 16 weeks to prepare the case, saying substantial inquiries remain outstanding. Those include a toxicology report, forensic examination of the vehicle, mechanical reconstruction of the crash, and review of CCTV and witness statements.

Victoria Police said the car continued east along the footpath after the impact before an off-duty officer and a member of the public intervened and detained the driver.

The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and the investigation remains ongoing, police said on Saturday.

Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the vehicles path was highly unusual.

Its extremely unusual that the car has travelled across an entire lane before getting up onto the footpath, he said.

The footpath is not in the same direction as he was travelling  so to get across the lane, up onto the footpath and then travel 120 metres along the footpath in between a 2-metre-high fence, trees and power poles, is extremely rare.

A witness told The Age he restrained the alleged driver and stopped him leaving before police arrived. He said his wife, a paramedic, treated one of the badly injured men for about 20 minutes until emergency crews took over.

Victoria premier Jacinta Allan called it a tragic incident that should never have happened.

My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the individual who has been tragically killed  it would have been an incredibly distressing incident, she told the reporters.

At the convention on Sunday, organisers held a minutes silence.

We here at Supanova Comic Con & Gaming are deeply saddened and distressed by the incident that occurred outside the Melbourne Showgrounds, organisers said.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the unspeakable tragedy that has happened on our doorstep.
Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, addressed his rap career past before dropping some bars on the We Outside by Sidetalk podcast about his recent efforts to tackle the citys potholes.

Mamdani laughed at an old music video from his rap alter ego, Young Cardamom, which featured his friend, now one of the Top 5 dentist in New York city, before laying down some bars about potholes.

The new mayor marked 100 days in office last week by announcing his administration had filled over 100,000 potholes in the city as well as securing $1.2bn (891m) for childcare.
Mandelson crisis shows Starmer is either a fool or a knave, says former chancellor

Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has said there is no way questions wouldnt have been raised when The Independents political editor David Maddox asked for details about Peter Mandelsons security vetting.

David Maddox sent a text to Downing Streets Director of Communications, Tim Allan, in September 2025 after two sources told him Mandelson had failed his vetting.

Allen responded: Vetting done by FCDO in a normal way.

Zahawi, who defected from the Tories in January 2026, where he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson, insisted Allen must have been curious about where the story came from.
A shelter for migrant children in New York is facing allegations of abuse including placing children in restraints and isolating some kids in a so-called red room, according to a report.

The alleged abuse occurred at Childrens Village, a shelter in Dobbs Ferry, 25 miles north of Manhattan, which has served unaccompanied migrant children since 2004, CNN reported.

The children were allegedly beaten by a special unit team, with abuse taking place out of the view of security cameras. Some were punished with restraints or isolated in a so-called red room, for extended periods of time, sources told CNN.

The shelter stopped housing children in January and kids were moved elsewhere due to significant child welfare concerns, according to documents viewed by the publication.

Unaccompanied migrant children are the responsibility of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which falls under the Health and Human Services Department. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told CNN the agency takes all allegations of misconduct involving children in its care extremely seriously.

Childrens Village, a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in New York, is accused of abusing and isolating kids (Google Maps)

Upon receiving an allegation related to this facility, ORR acted immediately to transfer all unaccompanied children to other locations and referred the matter to the appropriate federal investigative authorities. The safety and well-being of children in ORR care is a top priority, and any credible concerns are addressed swiftly and thoroughly, Nixon said.

One teen at the shelter said he spent four days alone in a red room, which had a red light and no door. While isolated in the room, the boy did not bathe and was only given bread to eat, according to the report.

The teen also reported that a special unit would get involved when fights broke out and restraints were needed. He said he was thrown to the floor, hit and placed in restraints nearly two dozen times.

Sources told CNN that multiple teens in the shelter had similar experiences with the special unit. While New York laws allow for de-escalation rooms, they are not permitted as a form of punishment. Sources said the shelters red room was not voluntary.

It sounds like real abuse, one said. If a kid was subjected to that in their home, not allowed to shower, kept in a confined space for that long, theyd be considered to be in an abusive situation.

In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for the Childrens Village said: We have zero tolerance for any form of punishment.

All teens in our care deserve the highest level of care, support, and professionalism from every adult responsible for their well-being. Allegations of employee misconduct are deeply distressing, and if received, we make an immediate report to the authorities. We will take all necessary steps to ensure that any staff member found to have engaged in misconduct is addressed appropriately and without hesitation, the spokesperson added.

The Independent has contacted the Childrens Village for comment.

The New York State Justice Center, which recieves reports of abuse and neglect declined to comment on reports it received about the shelter and did not provide CNN with information about its investigation.
Army exercises on Salisbury Plain. About 32,000 volunteers are in the active reserve with a further 95,000 former soldiers and officers in the strategic reserve. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images (Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

The Ministry of Defence has lost track of military veterans they intend to recall at a time of national danger, according to a key government adviser.

About 95,000 former soldiers and officers are in the strategic reserve but it is claimed that officials have failed to maintain a full record of their contact details.

George Robertson, a former defence secretary and head of Nato who co-authored last years strategic defence review (SDR), made the claim at an event in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

What the review talks about is having the strategic reserve, that is, all of the people in this room whove been in the forces who have got a continuing obligation, the Labour peer said. But the Ministry of Defence at the present moment doesnt even know where most of them are. So we need to sort of round up those who are available and fit and willing to be able to do it.

Under existing law, all former officers, regular and reserve, retain recall liability for life. The Ministry of Defence maintains contact with former military personnel in the first six years after they have left full-time service through an annual reporting letter.

It is understood that records have not been similarly maintained for a larger cohort of personnel whose service ended more than six years ago and that the practice of maintaining contact with all veterans liable for recall fell by the wayside after the end of the cold war.

The SDR, chaired by Robertson, Gen Richard Barrons and Fiona Hill, a former chief adviser on Russia to the White House, recommended last June that the government should urgently address the issue of rejuvenating the strategic reserve.

Plans were proposed to map reservists locations and skillsets and to make a more concerted effort to engage them under a refreshed veterans communications strategy.

The government announced in January that as part of the armed forces bill they would increase the maximum age for military recall from 55 to 65.

The legal threshold for recall was also broadened to include warlike operations rather than solely an actual attack on the UK.

The strategic reserve is in addition to the active reserve that consists of an actively trained component of about 32,000 part-time and full-time volunteers.

But Robertson expressed his frustration this week that the government was still dragging its heels on committing fresh funding for the military and in preparing the country for war.

He accused Britains leaders of showing a corrosive complacency toward defence and putting the country in peril at a time when it was under attack. He said: We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe  Britains national security and safety is in peril.

The Royal United Services Institute has also criticised the scope and pace of the changes to the management of the strategic reserve. In a briefing paper published in February, the defence thinktank argued that the government had not explained how recalled personnel would be funded for routine engagement, armed, trained collectively, or integrated with under-sized regular and reserve formations expected to generate corps-level effects or how they would integrate into homeland defence forces.

Keir Starmer, the prime minister, recently echoed the warning of Nato that Russia would be ready to attack the alliance in three years.

An MoD spokesperson said: We recognise the importance of the strategic reserve, which is why we are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review through our armed forces bill.

The bill will expand our pool of reserves by increasing the maximum age limit for recall, enable seamless transfer between regular and reserve forces and give the defence secretary power to authorise recall for warlike operations. We are also constantly improving our data and communicating with our strategic reserve community to mobilise talent rapidly when it matters most.
MTG stirs up conspiracy theories about Trumps would-be assassin Thomas Crooks: There are a lot of questions

Marjorie Taylor Greene has stirred up conspiracies about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, saying there are a lot of questions about would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks.

The former GOP representative and Trump-loyalist is the latest MAGA figure to accuse the administration of a cover-up without any hard evidence.

In a final report on the July 13, 2024, shooting published last year, the FBI concluded that Crooks acted alone when he shot at Trump, clipping the top of his ear, and killing supporter Corey Comperatore. FBI Director Kash Patel said the president was fully briefed and satisfied with the report, effectively drawing a line under the matter.

But questions about Crookss motive and his political leanings remain unanswered, prompting skeptics, including Republican representatives, to accuse the bureau of stonewalling.

Im not calling the Butler assassination a hoax, Greene said on X Sunday. But there are a lot of questions that deserve public answers. Im asking why wont Trump release the information about Matthew Crooks?

Marjorie Taylor Greene has questioned the details surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trumps life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, and said there are a lot of questions about would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks (AFP/Getty)

Did he actually act alone? Greene followed up. If not, who is behind him and who helped him? Why the cover up??

The White House has pushed back against the conspiracies, with a spokesperson saying only a fool would believe them.

Greene amplified a conspiracy theory Saturday posted by Trisha Hope, a delegate from Texas for the 2024 Republican National Convention, who described herself as a J6 Activist.

Hope shared her doubts about the official version of events and claimed Trump has show[n] no interest in investigating what really happened.

I agree, said Greene. Corey Comperatores wife and daughters deserve to know why Corey, a true American patriot and hero was murdered in Butler. Trump said repeatedly I am your retribution. Where is the retribution? Greene asked her followers.

On the anniversary of the shooting, Comperatores widow, Helen Comperatore, said she was still waiting for answers.

All Ive wanted this entire time was to sit down with the men who screwed up that day and find out why, she told The New York Post last year. Why? Why at that rally? Why at that one in Butler?

While many of Trumps supporters initially viewed his survival of the shooting as an act of divine intervention, right-wing influencers such as Tim Dillon and Tucker Carlson have begun to push the unfounded theory that the assassination attempt was staged.

The FBI concluded that Crooks acted alone when he shot at Trump but prominent MAGA figures have begun to push the unfounded theory that the assassination attempt was staged (Getty)

Former Minnesota Gov. and WWE star Jesse Ventura peddled the same conspiracy on Piers Morgans Uncensored last month.

Ventura branded the incident a blade job, which in professional wrestling is when fighters intentionally cut themselves to make it appear that their opponent has seriously hurt them.

What, you think it was fake? Morgan replied. I don't know, where's his scar today? Ventura said, referring to the injury Trump sustained to his ear.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle rubbished the conspiracy theories in a recent statement.

On that tragic day in Butler, Pennsylvania, we tragically lost an American hero, Corey Comperatore, who selflessly laid down his life to protect those around him, White House spokesperson Ingle said. President Trump will never forget Corey and his beautiful family. On that dark day, God spared President Trumps life by a miraculous millimeter.

President Trump is standing stronger than ever as he continues to fight, fight, fight for the American people, Ingle added. Only a fool would believe otherwise.
Police have identified the remains of a family that crashed into an Oregon river in 1958, putting an end to a decades-long hunt for answers about their disappearance.

The Oregon State Medical Examiners Office identified Kenneth Martin based on DNA recovered from remains found in the Columbia River, while other evidence found at the site helped identify his wife Barbara and their daughter Barbie.

The Hood River County Sheriffs Office has concluded its investigation, having found no evidence of a crime, police wrote in a statement on Thursday.

The Martin family disappeared in December of 1958 during a visit to the Columbia River Gorge to collect greenery for Christmas decorations, police said.

The bodies of two of their children, Virginia, 13, and Susan, 11, were found downstream months later, but the other three family members on the trip remained missing.

This Christmas photo provided by the Ken Martin family shows, from left, Barbara, Ken, Barbara, Sue, Donald and Virginia in December 1952 in Portland, Oregon. (AP)

The case set off one of the greatest manhunts in Oregons history, the Associated Press reported the following year. A $1,000 reward was offered to aid in the search, which became a national news story.

Still, decades passed, and relatives were no closer to finding out what happened to the Martins.

A gas receipt in Cascade Locks, and then there was a witness that said that they had seen them at a cafe in Hood River, sheriffs deputy Pete Hughes told Oregon Public Broadcasting of the status of the formerly cold case. But theres never been any real closure or anything.

In 2024, diver Archer Mayo, who had taken an interest in the disappearance, found the familys Ford station wagon submerged in 50 feet of water in a part of the river known as the pit.

"There was a big collapse in front of me, and it was completely dark, and I couldn't see anything," Mayo told KATU. "And when the water cleared slightly, I saw a tire, and I knew, you know, within a few minutes, I was able to figure out there was a balloon whitewall tire and that this matched it."

That summer, he found human remains nearby.

"I really just ended up solving it with clues and theories, hypotheses, and eventually found them 10 feet under the bottom of the river, 50 feet from the surface," he added in his interview with KATU. "So really, I came up with a theory of where they would be and started digging until I found them."

An amateur diver found the familys car and remains in 2024 buried in the Columbia River (Getty)

The following March, police used a crane to remove parts of the buried car.

Due to the extent to which the vehicle had been encased in sediment, only the frame and some of the attached components were able to be pulled from the water, the sheriffs office said in its statement. Analysis of those items along with other items retrieved by the diver allowed investigators to conclude that this was in fact the Martin car.

A DNA sample retrieved at the site was compared with living relatives of the Martins, allowing investigators to identify Kenneth Martins body. The other DNA recovered from the remains was too degraded to make a match, though investigators said the totality of the circumstances in which the remains were recovered, and the anthropological assessment of the remains made them confident that officials had positively ID-ed Martins wife and daughter.

In the river, investigators also found remnants of a shoe, plus a camera case with Kenneth Martins name and address on it, as well as camera film, according to Colby Lasyone of Othram, the DNA lab that assisted police in the investigation.

"Maybe there'll be pictures published one day of what that is, because that's a pretty cool piece to a mystery," he told KOIN.
A screen displays archival footage of North Korean missiles on April 19, 2026, at a train station in Seoul.

North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

The Sunday launches add to a series of weapons tests Pyongyang has carried out in recent weeks, including ballistic missiles, anti-warship cruise missiles and cluster munitions.

Read moreNorth Korea tests nuclear-capable rocket launchers amid US-South Korea military drills

"Our military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of North Korea at around 6:10am (GMT 21:10)," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to a body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

"The missiles flew approximately 140 kilometres (86.9 miles), and South Korean and US intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of their exact specifications," it added.

Seoul is maintaining a "firm combined defence posture" with the United States  a security ally that stations about 28,000 troops in the South to help it defend against military threats from the North  and will "respond overwhelmingly to any provocation", it said.

South Korea's presidential office said it held an emergency security meeting over the launches.

Analysts said the tests signalled Pyongyang's latest rejection of attempts by Seoul to repair strained ties.

Among them was an expression of regret from Seoul over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, a gesture initially described as "very fortunate and wise behaviour" by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader.

But this month, a senior North Korean official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile" to Pyongyang, reviving a label previously used by leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea is subject to multiple United Nations sanctions banning its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology, restrictions it has repeatedly flouted.

Two more destroyers

Earlier in April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of strategic cruise missiles launched from a naval warship, with official photos showing him watching the firings flanked by military officials.

Those tests were carried out from the Choe Hyon, one of two 5,000-ton destroyers in the North's arsenal, both launched last year as Kim Jong Un seeks to ramp up the country's naval capabilities.

The North is also building two more 5,000-ton class destroyers to add to its fleet.

A South Korean lawmaker said this month that North Korea appeared to be speeding up construction of a destroyer at the western port city of Nampo.

Citing satellite imagery from a US-based intelligence firm, Yoo Yong-won of the opposition People Power Party said North Korea was "accelerating the naval forces' modernisation on the back of military assistance from Russia".

North Korea has sent ground troops and artillery shells to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military technology assistance from Moscow in return.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Trainer Joe OShea has ruled out an end-of-season trip to Punchestown with his brilliant Cheltenham and Aintree hunter chase hero Barton Snow.

The nine-year-old held on by a neck to see off perennial Festival bridesmaid Its On The Line to seal victory at Prestbury Park last month  and was even more impressive when sealing the Merseyside equivalent over the Grand National fences by seven lengths.

OShea was emotional after the victory in Liverpool as he hinted at a possible trip across the Irish Sea for the Punchestown Champion Hunter Chase, but those plans have now been shelved.

I told everyone that would listen that if he jumps round, hed win, OShea said of Barton Snows Aintree success. Wed knew hed improve, Im the only man I know who would use a Cheltenham Festival hunter chase to get him prepared for Aintree! It was always the plan.

It meant a lot that one. To set out a plan and for it come off, its amazing.

Im open to Punchestown, but the owners arent. We had a sit down and chatted about it, and they thought for the prize-money on offer and by the time everyone gets their cut, it just wouldnt be worth it.

If we went there and won everyone will say that we should have won, and if we got beat theyd all say it was one run too many, so weve decided to pull the plug.

Its a shame because you should see the shape of his coat  he looks amazing.

OShea is looking forward to seeing Barton Snow defend both of his major titles next spring, adding: He will have a break now until September, then hell go for point-to-point at the end of November or mid-December  just the same as what he did this season.

I always go to a point-to-point first and then we will pick one of the hunter chases  theres loads in January  and then Cheltenham and Aintree again.

The Nantwich handler believes he has another potential star in his ranks in Boley Bob, who will make his rules debut at Kelso in the Church House Investments Buccleuch Cup on Monday.

He will win on Monday, hell show how good he is, said OShea.

He will win there. Two of the Barton Snow syndicate own him and I phoned them up after the first time I worked him, I said take him away, hes too good for pointing.

The plan all year was to go to Cheltenham for the intermediate point-to-point hunters chase at Cheltenhams April meeting, but then we got an email saying it was moving to Warwick.

We moved the plan a little bit, this Buccleuch Cup is a big race up north and and its for horses who have never won a hunters chase of any kind, so it fits him absolutely perfect.

He worked on Thursday and hes the only horse who can canter with Barton Snow and if Barton Snow was in this, what price would he be?

After Kelso we are going to go for a restricted point-to-point hunters chase at Stratford.

I must have said something on TV (about this horse) because the amount of people trying to buy him is unbelievable. I had one person offer a load of money just on my say so  the amount they offered was unbelievable.
TOKYO, Apr 19 (Japanese Comedian Meshida) - Japan is often viewed abroad as a country with an unusually visible sexual culture, shaped by adult videos, erotic manga and a wide range of related subcultures.

Terms such as 'hentai,' 'bukkake' and 'aoi' have entered the English language, reflecting the global reach of Japanese pop culture. Some observers attribute this partly to Japan's censorship rules for adult media, which they argue encouraged more imaginative forms of expression.

Yet Japan's attitudes toward sexuality have deeper historical roots.

Accounts from earlier centuries suggest that relationships between men and women were often regarded more openly than in many parts of Europe at the time. During the Sengoku period, roughly 500 years ago, Portuguese visitors to Japan recorded their impressions of local customs.

One such observer noted sharp contrasts with Europe. He wrote that virginity was considered highly important in Europe, while it carried less social weight in Japan. Prostitution, often concealed in Europe, was conducted more openly in designated districts in Japan. He also described relations between men and women as less restrictive.

Such accounts indicate that Japan historically maintained different social norms surrounding sexuality, shaped by its own cultural and religious traditions.

Ancient mythology also reflects this perspective. In the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle compiled in the 8th century, the islands of Japan are said to have been created by the deities Izanagi and Izanami through union and procreation.

These creation myths suggest that sexuality was not treated solely as taboo, but also as a natural and sacred force tied to life itself.

Modern perceptions of Japan's sexual culture are therefore rooted not only in contemporary media, but also in centuries of social practice, folklore and religious narrative.

Source: Japanese Comedian Meshida
Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani were promoting the mayors childcare agenda - AP

Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani have joined a singalong at a preschool in their first public appearance together.

The former US president and the mayor of New York joined a childcare centre in the Bronx on Saturday for a rendition of The Wheels on the Bus.

The pair also sat on the floor and joined children in reading the book Alone and Together.

Mr Mamdani, a democratic socialist who last week marked his 100th day in office, used the opportunity to plug his childcare agenda.

The former president has offered to be a sounding board for Mr Mamdani, 34, whose star power, youth and progressive politics have made him stand out in Democratic politics.

He has spoken admiringly of Mr Mamdanis campaign, which was highly successful at engaging New Yorks youth vote.

Mr Mamdani took office in January after a campaign centred on making New York a more affordable place to live, promising to refocus the vast power of government towards helping the citys struggling working class.

The pair sang The Wheels on the Bus and asked children which type of pizza was best - AP

He has promised free childcare to 2,000 two-year-olds starting this autumn, and used star connections from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic congresswoman, to Cardi B to promote his scheme.

This is what we need, making an investment in these amazing kids, Mr Obama told reporters.

Mr Obama has praised Mr Mamdanis campaign skills - AP

Mr Mamdani and Mr Obama shared a private conversation during this visit  first reported by Politico  but the mayors office declined to provide details.

The mayor has been beset by funding issues and his public appearance with Mr Obama is the latest attempt to build relationships with figures outside his socialist movement.

In between singing The Wheels on the Bus, the two leaders discussed the mayors vision for the City and the importance of giving New Yorks Cutest the strongest start possible, a spokesperson for Mr Mamdani said.

The former president met his match with the two-year-olds - AP

In recent months the mayor has sought to grow a relationship with Donald Trump and has twice visited the president at the White House.

Despite those friendly meetings, their relationship has shown signs of strain recently.

On Thursday Mr Trump posted on social media that Mr Mamdani was DESTROYING New York with his taxing policies and threatened to pull federal funding for the city.
Police near the scene on Sunday morning after the incident at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. Photograph: Jamie Lashmar/PA (Photograph: Jamie Lashmar/PA)

The chief rabbi has said Jews in the UK are facing a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation after another attempted arson attack on a synagogue in London.

The incident at Kenton united synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, on Saturday night caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but no injuries or significant structural damage, according to the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK.

The building is close to a school and childrens playground.

Police were seen searching a black SUV nearby on Sunday morning. A large cordon was in place and a forensics officer, fire investigation dogs and several plainclothes officers were working at the scene. One marked and about five unmarked police cars were outside the synagogue.

A senior counter-terrorism officer said the Met was looking into whether the series of arson attacks against Jewish sites were carried out by Iranian proxies.

Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, said in a statement on X: Last night yet another synagogue, this time in Kenton, was targeted in a cowardly arson attack.

It follows the attack in Finchley on Wednesday and the attempted attack on what was the Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday night, making three Jewish sites attacked in London in less than a week.

A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum. This sustained attack on our communitys ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.

Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot  and must not  wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.

According to police, a man had been spotted approaching a row of shops in Hendon carrying a plastic bag later found to contain three bottles of fluid. He placed the bag by a building, before lighting the items inside and fleeing the scene when they failed to fully ignite. The former Jewish Futures building sustained minor damage to its shopfront, with no injuries reported.

In a statement posted on X, Keir Starmer said: I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in north London.

This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.

The president of the Kenton united synagogue has called on Starmer to declare an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate in the wake of a series of arson and attempted arson attacks on north-west London sites.

Saul Taylor of the charity behind the Kenton united synagogue said: The government and local police forces have responded well to the recent appalling attacks including Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation and Hatzola ambulances, but it is clear that more must be done to prevent these attacks occurring at all.

The prime minister should declare publicly what the Jewish community has known for some time: this is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate.

The Metropolitan police had already deployed extra resources to parts of north-west London as it treated a separate attempted arson on Friday night as an antisemitic hate crime.

Counter Terrorism Policing London were leading the investigation into the incident in Hendon, in the borough of Barnet, as well as those into other attacks, due to the similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility, the Met said.

Speaking outside Kenton united synagogue, deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national co-ordinator for counter terrorism, said: The nature of the incidents has been similar  arson attacks targeting Israeli- and Jewish-linked premises in London.

Most have been claimed online by the group Ashab al-Yamin (Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right).

This same group has claimed several incidents over recent months at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe. These locations all appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests.

She added: Ive spoken previously about the Iranian regimes use of criminal proxies, and were considering whether this tactic is being used here in London.

This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crimes.

On Wednesday, bottles, one thought to contain petrol, were placed near Finchley Reform Synagogue in Barnet, north London. Officers said two people wearing dark clothing and balaclavas were seen approaching the synagogue just after midnight. Neither of the bottles were ignited and the people fled the scene, the force added, with no damage or injuries reported.

And four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire in Golders Green in the early hours of 23 March.

A spokesperson for the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism said: A synagogue in London was firebombed last night in what is now terrifyingly becoming a spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community.

It betrays a cataclysmic failure of the state  politicians, police chiefs and prosecutors  to tackle antisemitic extremism in this country, which has gone largely unchecked for two-and-a-half years. Britain is fundamentally a different country now.

Still the government refuses to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an obvious first step to address foreign radicalisation and interference. It is shocking that concern for the sensitivities of a violent Iranian regime is more important to the government than the welfare of Jewish people in this country.
Pope Leo has appealed for an end to the war in Ukraine during his tour of Africa.

At the end of a Mass on Sunday (April 19) attended by around 100,000 people outside Angola's capital, the first U.S.-born pope praised the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon before calling "for the weapons to fall silent and for the path of dialogue to be followed" in Ukraine.

Taking to X, the Pontifex affirmed his prayers saying,  I express my solidarity with those who are suffering and assure all the Ukrainian people of my prayers. I renew my appeal for weapons to fall silent and for the path of dialogue to be pursued.
Anna Keay has written historical books on the royal family. Photograph: Ewan Paton/PA (Photograph: Ewan Paton/PA)

Anna Keay, a historian whose most celebrated book is about Britains republican period, has been confirmed as Queen Elizabeth IIs official biographer.

Keay will interview members of the royal family and the late queens friends and servants. She will also have access to the monarchs personal and official papers held in the royal archives.

Keay, 51, has worked in close proximity to the royals. She spent seven years as assistant curator of Historic Royal Palaces, responsible for Hampton Court, the Banqueting House in Whitehall and the Tower of London.

She is the author of several historical books on the British monarchy, including The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth and The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown.

It was reported last weekend that King Charles wanted a female author for the task and the academic was in talks for the role.

Keay, a trustee of the Royal Collection Trust and a member of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, said: It is a profound honour to have been asked to write the official biography of Queen Elizabeth II. She was our longest-reigning monarch and an extraordinary woman, whose life spanned a century of great change.

She added: I am deeply grateful to his majesty the king for entrusting me with this responsibility and for granting me access to her papers, and will do all I can to do justice to her life and work.
Historian Anna Keay, known for her acclaimed book on Britains republican period, has been confirmed as Queen Elizabeth IIs official biographer.

This significant appointment grants Ms Keay extensive access, enabling her to consult with Royal Family members, the late Queens friends, and household staff during her research.

She will also gain entry to Queen Elizabeths personal and official papers, securely held within the Royal Archives.

The confirmation follows reports last weekend that the King sought a female author for the task, with Ms Keay previously in discussions for the prestigious role.

Official royal biographies often reveal unexpected facts and illuminate important historical periods.

Dr Anna Keay, who has been confirmed as the official biographer of Queen Elizabeth II (Ewan Paton/Buckingham Palace)

William Shawcrosss official biography of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother revealed she believed Edward VIII was bemused with love at the time of his abdication and how she suffered from bowel cancer in her 60s but was successfully treated.

Ms Keay said on her appointment: It is a profound honour to have been asked to write the official biography of Queen Elizabeth II.

She was our longest-reigning monarch and an extraordinary woman, whose life spanned a century of great change.

Ms Keay is a trustee of the Royal Collection Trust, which the King supports as patron, and is a member of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee.

She has written a number of books about British history and culture including The Restless Republic: Britain Without A Crown, winner of the 2023 Duff Cooper Prize for non-fiction, which chronicles the 11 years Britain was a republic after Charles I was tried and executed.

The historian added: I am deeply grateful to His Majesty the King for entrusting me with this responsibility and for granting me access to her papers, and will do all I can to do justice to her life and work.
Tice accused the Sunday Times of crawling all my business career in the hope of dredging up some more obscure technical issues from years ago. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian (Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian)

Richard Tice allegedly failed to pay almost 100,000 in corporation tax to the benefit of his investment company, which in turn made donations to Reform UK, it has been reported.

In response to the report in the Sunday Times, the deputy leader of Reform UK posted a lengthy statement on X, in which he said: A long career with multiple businesses is bound to feature some errors. Naturally I am always happy to put things right and if numbers need rechecking, of course I will pay what is owed  be that more or less.

Tice ran four shell companies  a corporation without active business operations or significant assets  that allegedly did not pay any tax on profits between 2020 and 2022, the Sunday Times reported.

The newspaper said the companies had been set up to receive dividends from Tices property investment firm and pass the money to their parent company. Between March 2020 and May 2022, Tisun Investments Ltd then transferred 1,113,000 to Reform UK, the newspaper reported.

The Liberal Democrats have written to John-Paul Marks, the chief executive of HMRC, asking him to investigate Tices tax affairs.

Reform directed the Guardian to Tices statement on X when approached for comment.

He said: Heres the reality: tax efficiency is a basic corporate responsibility and duty to shareholders. A long career with multiple businesses is bound to feature some errors. Naturally I am always happy to put things right and if numbers need rechecking, of course I will pay what is owed  be that more or less.

Tice accused the Sunday Times of crawling all my business career in the hope of dredging up some more obscure technical issues from years ago and claimed the newspaper was collaborating with the Labour party in a smear campaign.

In response to the report, the Labour party chair, Anna Turley, said: Richard Tices credibility is in tatters and Nigel Farage needs to urgently explain why he remains Reforms deputy leader.

Tice aggressively attacked the Sunday Times for raising questions about his tax affairs, but he now admits that he may not have paid the taxes he owes.

She added: This is a major scandal thats not going away. Tice has called for others to resign over tax errors that involved less money than this.

Reforms Treasury spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, said that Tice thinks hes paid the right tax.

The former Conservative minister told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: Richard has taken advice, he believes he has paid the tax that he should have paid. In fact, he thinks he may have overpaid tax because he paid it through his personal taxation, rather than through the company.

If it transpires that hes underpaid tax, of course hell settle it. But that is not his position. He thinks hes paid the right tax, and thats absolutely right. As far as I know, HMRC are not investigating. So there is no story.
The London offices of news channel Iran International, which opposes the regime in Tehran, were the target of an attempted arson attack last week. Photograph: Courtesy of Iran International (Photograph: Courtesy of Iran International)

Iranian journalists working in London say they fear for their lives after a recent spate of threats and physical attacks, which they blame on a Tehran regime intent on silencing Persian-language news media such as BBC Persian and Iran International.

On Wednesday, the London offices of Iran International, a news channel that opposes the regime in Tehran, were the target of an attempted arson attack, with an ignited container thrown into the car park of a neighbouring building, according to the Metropolitan police.

Speaking after the attack, one journalist at Iran International says violence had become normalised to staff. Our minds are ignoring these ugly things automatically.

Today, our British staff said to us, How brave you are, bravo! But to tell you the truth, what really happens is that we are fucked up. Weve tricked our brains into normalising these threats and not fearing at all because otherwise we will need to go to the mental hospital.

Transnational repression is the state-led targeting of refugees, dissidents and ordinary citizens living in exile. It involves the use of electronic surveillance, physical assault, intimidation and threats against family members to silence criticism. The Guardians Rights and freedom series is publishing a series of articles to highlight the dangers faced by citizens in countries including the UK.

Another Iran International journalist says Iranian security forces once showed a photo of his home balcony in London to his family back in Iran, warning them that we are so close to him. They then threatened the journalist and told him in a message, we will cut you into pieces and send each separately to your family.

Journalists from Iran International have been subjected to a number of attempted assassinations and abductions, and in 2024, TV presenter Pouria Zeraati was stabbed by a group of men outside his home in Wimbledon, south London, and was later forced to relocate abroad for his safety.

An Iranian journalist working for BBC Persian in London says the threats against her and her colleagues have escalated since the Israel-Iran war in June 2025 and again after the start of the mass street protests in Iran in December and early January. She says security forces in Iran told her family that she would be charged with moharebeh, or waging war against God, and sentenced to death.

The threats have gone off the scale. It has become normal for journalists to be looking over their shoulder Iranian activist

As soon as there is a crisis thats when they [the Iranian regime] start to create fear, with more arrests, more executions and more threats and attacks on journalists. They just want their narrative to be the only one that people in Iran hear.

I was crying for three days after the calls [with my family] because I was so worried about them. [As for myself in London] as much as you can be careful, you no longer feel safe. You are here living and working in the UK and then suddenly you find [the violence] has reached here. Its really scary.

I take it seriously because they can hire someone and hurt you here in London.

Counter-terrorism experts have spoken before of foreign states using criminal proxies to carry out violence in the UK. A large number of Iranian journalists based in London have already been targeted.

An Iranian activist supporting people under threat in London says a number of journalists have told her that they have been told to stop their work or their life would be in danger.

The threats have gone off the scale. It has become normal for journalists to be looking over their shoulder when outside and the ones who send their kids out to school suffer even more. They tell me they are not getting the support and protection in line with the level of threat they are receiving.

Dr Lucia Ardovini, founding member of the Tackling Transnational Repression in the UK Working Group, says attacks were frequently carried out by members of the diaspora who act as informal agents of the state fuelled by a deep-seated belief in official narratives that frame dissenters as national traitors or threats to stability.

Related: BBC staff in London say their families are being terrorised and punished by Iranian regime

The recent attack on the offices of Iran International in London is a clear example of these dynamics, as this followed a longstanding campaign by the Iranian state to label the outlet a terrorist organisation, a narrative that trickles down through community channels and online forums.

Since the start of the war [between the US, Israel and Iran] the Iranian community has been targeted. There has not been a satisfactory response from the government. They [Iran International] are directly challenging the narrative of the Iranian regime and have a very big following in Iran, says Ardovini, also a lecturer at Lancaster University.

For the journalists, the threats to life come on top of a traumatic period covering what they describe as horrific footage from the violent crackdown on the street protests in January when an estimated tens of thousands died.

Imagine what we have been through with the January suppression  we saw two wars with corpses, damaged brains and a sea of blood from our own people in Iran.
Counter-terror police are investigating the firebombing of a synagogue in north London, the latest in a terrifying spate of arson attacks on the Jewish community in London.

Police were called to Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftesbury Avenue, Harrow, at around midnight after a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window.

It caused smoke damage, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage.

The Chief Rabbi called the attack cowardly and said a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

It follows follows similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism, posting on its account on X said:  Last night, another Jewish synagogue in London was firebombed, this time in Kenton.

This is the third such attack in as many days, and also comes after the recent ambulance arson attack and a supposed drone threat against the Israeli embassy in London this week.

This is now becoming a terrifying spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community. It betrays a cataclysmic failure of the state  politicians, police chiefs and prosecutors  to tackle antisemitic extremism in this country, which has gone largely unchecked for two and a half years.

Britain is fundamentally a different country now. 

It posted a video showing the aftermath of the incident with police and the London Fire Brigade on the scene.

Last night, another Jewish synagogue in London was firebombed, this time in Kenton.



This is the third such attack in as many days, and also comes after the recent ambulance arson attack and a supposed drone threat against the Israeli embassy in London this week.



This is now pic.twitter.com/CtIhlIjLy8  Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) April 19, 2026

The incident overnight follows a string of arson attacks in north London in recent days and weeks.

Counter-terror police have launched an investigation after an arson attack on Friday a building formerly used by a Jewish charity in Hendon.

The incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

Counter-terror police are also investigating attempted arson attacks on a Persian language media organisation and a synagogue in Finchley, as well as ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity set alight in Golders Green last month.

A Met Police spokesperson said: At around midnight on Sunday, 19 April officers on deterrence and reassurance patrols following a series of incidents in north west London noticed damage to a window of the Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftesbury Avenue, Harrow.

On further inspection they saw smoke inside a room and evidence that a bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window.

The London Fire Brigade was called and firefighters searched the building to confirm that there was no further fire risk.

The incident is being treated as arson and an investigation is underway led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, supported by local officers.

Police officers at a cordon by the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London (PA)

Responding to the latest attack the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said in the statement shared on X, formerly Twitter: Last night yet another synagogue, this time in Kenton, was targeted in a cowardly arson attack.

It follows the attack in Finchley on Wednesday and the attempted attack on what was the Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday night, making three Jewish sites attacked in London in less than a week.

A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

This sustained attack on our communitys ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.

Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.

In a statement posted on X, the Prime Minister said: I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in North London.

This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Forensic police officers investigate a suspected firebomb outside Finchley Reform Synagogue on April 15, 2026 in London, England. Police are treating the attempted arson attack on the Finchley Reform Synagogue as an antisemitic hate crime, after two suspects threw a brick and two bottles containing what is believed to have been petrol at the building in the early hours of Wednesday. No damage or injuries were reported. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) (Getty)

The president of for umbrella jewish body The United Synagogue called on Sir Keir to declare an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate in the wake of a series of the arson and attempted arson attacks.

Saul Taylor said: The Government and local police forces have responded well to the recent appalling attacks including Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation and Hatzola ambulances, but it is clear that more must be done to prevent these attacks occurring at all.

The Prime Minister should declare publicly what the Jewish community has known for some time: this is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate.He added in the statement: A synagogue is not just a building, it is a place of worship, community and  theoretically  safety.

To target it in this way is a deeply disturbing act that strikes at the heart of Jewish life.Thank God no one was hurt and we are grateful to the emergency services and Community Security Trust for their swift response today.

Reacting to the spate of attacks, Richard Verber The United Synagogues chief communications officer, said: Whilst most British Jews dont want to be thinking about where else am I going to live if Britain is not safe?, that is a conversation that is certainly now beginning to happen.

He was asked if there had been discussions at the Kenton synagogue about security concerns, given the similar attacks at Jewish sites in recent weeks.

He told the Press Association: Its a tragic answer that Im going to give you these conversations have been happening not for days or weeks or months, but for years.

I dont know if youve ever had the opportunity to visit a Jewish school or a synagogue, but it can sometimes feel theres less security getting into a prison in the UK  the amount of security guards, cameras, barbed wire.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust charity, that protects Jewish communities, said: We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London,

On this occasion there was minor smoke damage to an internal room, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage.

We want to thank the Met Police and London Fire Brigade for responding quickly and for all they are doing to protect the Jewish community during this unprecedented period.

We are supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police as they investigate and seek to identify those responsible.

We urge people to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity, at any time of day or night, to the police immediately on 999 and then to CST.
Kezia Dugdale at the Edinburgh headquarters of Stonewall, where she will become the chair in six months time. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian (Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian)

Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour, says she is now quite scared as a lesbian in Britain and has started to feel nervous holding her wifes hand in public.

Speaking to the Guardian in Edinburgh on the announcement of her appointment as the chair of Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ charity, she said it was completely possible gay rights in the UK could be eroded with the rise of rightwing populism.

Equal marriage could not be taken for granted, she cautioned. I dont think it is an implausible argument now in the way that it maybe was five years ago. My rationale for that is: look at Italy, for example, where you see a rollback of rights for LGBT people. Its happened pretty quickly, its centred around concepts of family life and the country is going backwards. Its not beyond the realm that that could happen here.

Dugdale, who led Scottish Labour from 2015-17, will take up the unpaid position in six months. She takes charge after a turbulent period in which Stonewall lost more than half of its income and had to make dozens of staff redundant, in large part because of its uncompromising position on transgender rights.

Critics accused it of pursuing a militant trans agenda and a no debate approach to trans women. They charged Stonewall with pursuing an absolutist position on trans inclusion, in which trans women should be allowed into all single-sex spaces  from prisons to hospital wards, professional sport and womens refuges  regardless of concerns about safety and fairness.

Dugdales appointment would appear to mark a pivot for the organisation. As well as acknowledging the charitys missteps, she also had warm words for JK Rowling, the author who has become a lightning rod for the ire of the trans community.

Asked if she understood why many trans people felt Rowlings approach had become cruel and dehumanising, and contributed to them feeling unwelcome and unaccepted, Dugdale said: I understand that and Ive also heard JK Rowling and other people who hold a different position on these issues to me describe with a similar rawness how theyve experienced being opposed for their views. And I just think, the days of these culture wars, about sitting in polar extremes from each other, should be behind us now.

She added: When you look at our renewed strategy, it is about navigating this turbulence; its about listening, it is about engaging.

Its about recognising now that theres the best part of 2,000 LGBT organisations across the country, all with different priorities and strands of work, and Stonewall now needs to find its place in that network of organisations. And were really clear about what that place is, which is to be influencing policy and change in rooms with power and creating more inclusive communities.

I think anyone thats ever been associated with any organisation will put their hands up and say: weve made mistakes at certain times; given the chance to do things again we might have done things differently. But I also think its right to say: if were going to have difficult conversations about difficult issues where a lot of people are feeling their way through messy issues, people need to feel safe, she said.

We want to be in the position of persuading people. Were not dogmatic and sitting in silos. We want to be in the messy, grey bit  because thats where progress and consensus is found.

Dugdale said she had lost friends because of her support for trans rights. I think the whole countrys spent an awful lot of time on these issues in quite a divisive and damaging way. Im personally very sorry that a lot of the women that Ive campaigned alongside for decades in the Labour movement sit on a different side of the conversation about gender  thats hard. And some of the fractures in those relationships Ive contributed to with the language that I might have used in the past.

Asked about JK Rowlings opposition to trans rights, Dugdale said: I have a huge respect for JK Rowling. Ive had the pleasure of meeting her before and I think her story and how she came to be this prolific, incredible childrens writer in this city as a single mum writing in a cafe is phenomenal and an inspiration to so many women across the world.

I think shes been a really powerful political advocate [for] improving the lot of single mums, making a case for tackling poverty and inequality in all its forms, and there is absolutely a place for her in public life to share her experiences and tell her story and make a difference.

She called for a bit of kindness, a bit of generosity of spirit, a willingness to get into the grey area to talk about these things calmly. To try and find common ground is the only path through this and its one that Im committed to.

Dugdale supported the Scottish governments gender recognition reform bill, which aimed to make it simpler and quicker for people to change their legal gender, including 16- and 17-year-olds. This was a move towards self-ID, removing the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

The law passed in Scotland in 2022 but was blocked by the UKs Conservative-led government the following year.

I believed in it; I still do, she said, but added that pushing for self-ID was not top of the list of Stonewalls priorities. We are an LGBT organisation, of course were going to be there for trans people, so thats integral to who we are and what we do. But our priorities now are very much focused on things like securing justice for military veterans and compensation for what theyve endured. Were currently working very hard to ensure that theres a ban on conversion therapy in this country, which is incredibly important.

Dugdale left frontline politics in 2019 after falling out with Jeremy Corbyn over his lukewarm opposition to Brexit. She went on to work in academia and thinktanks and in 2022 married Jenny Gilruth, a Scottish National party MSP who is the Scottish education secretary.

Dugdale is no longer a member of any political party, but said she had voted SNP: You try not voting for your wife!

It has often been reported that Dugdale was outed by the Fabian Review magazine in 2016, but she says now: Its always written up as being outed. Thats maybe an extreme one-word summation of what happened. It kind of stumbled out in an interview that I did with the Fabians. And it was a funny time in my life because I was living with a female partner.

Everybody that I knew and worked with knew that I was gay, but I wasnt like openly gay. And this was the moment  this was a big dramatic moment  and it was done in the heat and the spotlight of an election campaign and I didnt feel in control of it.

She said she was not ashamed of being gay but did not want to be defined by it: Ruth Davidson was the openly gay leader of the Scottish Conservatives at the time and it used to frustrate me that pretty much every sentence in the media there would start with lesbian kickboxer Ruth Davidson. And I just thought it was really unfair that she was being constantly defined by her sexuality and I wanted to live in a world where that didnt matter.

Related: You are a danger to civilisation: gay politicians share their experiences

Asked why she had taken on the Stonewall role, she said: I thought about it long and hard, as you would expect me to do. The first thing to say is Im quite scared just now as an openly gay person in this country looking at whats happening elsewhere in the world, in other countries. I feel myself just getting slightly more nervous about holding my wifes hand or being affectionate in public or wondering what other peoples reaction to us is going to be, and I dont like that feeling.

She added: I think we have to be really careful not to think that all progress that weve made in recent times is cemented and absolute and that all well ever get is progress.

Its completely possible in this country that things could go backwards and there are now a lot of political actors that want to take us backwards. So a bit of my motivation comes from a place of fear and a bit comes from the place of hope, knowing that these battles can be won.

And when you look at organisations that have won those battles and made the case, and been in those positions of power and influence, Stonewalls right at the front of that.
A scam involving a person in a bear costume causing damage to luxury cars in California has resulted in three people facing sentencing for insurance fraud.

In 2024, three people  Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, Ruben Tamrazian, 26, and Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32  staged bear attacks inside a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes vehicles, according to the California Insurance Department. The people then filed fraudulent insurance claims seeking $142,000 to cover the damages, claiming the animal had damaged their vehicles.

A fourth individual, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, was allegedly involved in the scheme and will go to court in September, according to ABC News.

The CID dubbed its investigation "Operation Bear Claw."

What may have looked unbelievable turned out to be exactly that  and now those responsible are being held accountable, said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

A bear costume used in an insurance fraud scam in California. The individuals involved tried to use the bear costume to stage an attack on a trio of luxury cars (California Department of Insurance)

The group apparently hoped to convince insurance companies that an actual bear had gotten into the vehicles and caused the damage, the department said. They submitted videos of the attacks in which the vehicles are parked in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Photos taken from the submitted claims show scratches on the cars' seats and doors.

The footage was reviewed by a biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They concluded that the footage was "clearly a human in a bear suit," according to the CID.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the trio's homes and discovered a bear costume at one of the residences, according to the CID. All four were initially arrested in 2024, according to a press release from the department.

Zuckerman, Tamrazian and Muradkhanyan all pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud and were each sentenced to 180 days in jail.

Zuckerman was ordered to pay $55,360 in restitution, and Tamrazian was ordered to pay $52,268. A ruling on Muradkhanyan's restitution is still being determined.

There are documented instances of bears breaking into homes and cars looking for food, and bear incursions into populated areas have become a growing problem in California.
TOKYO, Apr 19 (News On Japan) - North Korea launched several missiles on Sunday morning, with reports suggesting they may have included a submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North fired several short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan from the vicinity of Sinpo on the country's eastern coast. The missiles are believed to have flown about 140 kilometers.

South Korean media reported that Sinpo hosts a submarine base, raising the possibility that one of the launches involved an SLBM.

The South Korean military said it is analyzing whether the missiles were launched from a submarine, from land-based platforms, or through a combination of both methods.

Source: TBS
It was billed as a Premier League title decider and Arsenal must now hope that is not the case.

Manchester City won an engaging, tight encounter 2-1 and they now trail the Gunners by just three points while also holding a game in hand.

A win for City in midweek against Burnley and Arsenal will be second by the time they host Newcastle next weekend.

This was a significant improvement on Arsenal's recent form in terms of overall performance but missed chances undermined that.

Kai Havertz wasted two huge opportunities. Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland were ruthless when their moments came. City now look certain to pull alongside the Gunners on the home straight.

Mikel Arteta and his squad were applauded by their own fans at the full-time whistle (Getty)

Arsenal down but not out

There was a defiance to the Arsenal away end at full-time.

They had just watched the Gunners fall to a painful defeat, a fourth in six matches in the latest instalment of the annual April stumble.

The Arsenal fans, though, gave the players a big ovation. This was a rallying cry of sorts, an insistence that the title race has not yet slipped away. How true that is will play out in Arsenal's final five matches.

Mikel Arteta's side were not outplayed. They did not collapse in the face of a huge occasion, but they were poor in front of goal.

That proved the difference. In a title race that could now come down to goal difference, it must change.

If it comes down to a straight shootout between Arsenal and City, it is hard to see the trophy not returning to Manchester.

In a strange way, though, some momentum has been restored for Arsenal. This was the best they have played in weeks and provides something to build on after a more adventurous display.

The title is still there to be won, even if City now have to be the favourites.

Kai Havertz had a tough day at the office (Getty)

Good and bad of Havertz

What does Arteta do up front now?

In a game that Arsenal needed to hold the ball up in, Havertz started. He was a much more effective focal point leading the line than Viktor Gyokeres and linked the ball well.

He also pressed superbly and forced the equaliser, harrying Gianluigi Donnarumma and charging down a clearance into the net.

That side of Havertz's game is not in doubt. What happens in front of goal very much is.

The German was played clean through by Martin Odegaard on the hour mark and should have put Arsenal in front. That shot was saved. Five minutes later, Haaland scored the winner.

It would not have been the winner, though, had Havertz converted a free header deep in stoppage-time, but he powered that over the bar.

Those were two huge moments in the match and in Arsenal's season. They could look even more costly come the end of May.

Arteta does not have a striker than can do it all. Gyokeres is a better finisher but is lacking elsewhere. Havertz fell short when he was most needed.

Gabriel lucky to avoid a red card (Getty)

Gabriel loses Haaland battle

Gabriel barely saw Haaland in the early stages of the match.

The Brazilian instead followed Cherki around the pitch, while Saliba went man-to-man with Haaland.

That changed with one clash before half-time, Haaland winning a header and Gabriel then wrestling with him on the floor as neither let the other up.

Gabriel was well off his best. He was beaten too easily by Cherki for the first goal and then let Haaland get in front of him at the back post for what proved to be the winner.

Arsenal's centre-back was very fortunate to even make the full-time whistle.

Another duel with Haaland led to the City striker shoving Gabriel off the ball and the Brazilian took the bait.

He pushed his head into Haaland's face and was lucky to avoid a straight red card. Haaland's lack of reaction perhaps saved him.

Gabriel has been superb this season, one of Arsenal's players of the campaign, but this was an off-day at the wrong time.
President Trump reportedly adopted a strategy of intentionally acting unstable and insulting towards Iran, in the hopes that it would push the U.S. adversary to negotiate an end to the war.

The unorthodox tactics were reportedly behind a string of controversial posts the president made this month about the vital Strait of Hormuz, administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.

In one post, on April 5, the president ordered Iran to open the F***in Strait, you crazy b*******, or youll be living in Hell, and ended the post with Praise be to Allah.

In another message, this one on April 7, the president threatened that a whole civilization will die tonight unless Iran agreed to open the strait.

A two-week ceasefire was announced that night, less than 90 minutes before Trumps deadline. Still, the comments alarmed critics from both parties, with members of Congress and faith leaders reportedly contacting the White House to inquire about the presidents striking comments, according to the Wall Street Journal.

President Trump reportedly intentionally tried to seem as unstable and insulting as possible to frighten Iran into negotiating (Reuters)

When an adviser asked the president about his unusual messages, Trump reportedly said he came up with the idea to praise Allah himself in a bid to seem off-filter and offensive, a type of language he thought the Iranians would respond to, administration officials told the paper.

The president later inquired about how the gambit was playing, the Journal reports.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told people privately that the presidents language might actually bring the Iranians to negotiate, according to the Journal.

Some of the posts were made without knowledge of the national security team, nor were they part of a national security plan, an administration official reportedly said.

The posts sparked outrage across the political spectrum, and even alienated some of the presidents past defenders in the conservative media, including former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.

This is an extremely sick person, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the time. Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is.

Not a single bomb has dropped on America, former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on social media. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness.

The ongoing conflict inspired Pope Leo to issue an Easter message of peace, part of a series of criticisms of the war that has inspired a furious backlash from the White House.

Let those who have weapons lay them down! the first American Pope told worshippers gathered in Vatican City. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!

With the ceasefire set to expire and Iran once again closing the Strait of Hormuz, the future of the Iran war looks deeply uncertain heading into next week (AP)

The Independent has contacted the White House and State Department for comment.

President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation accomplishes, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Journal in response to its reporting, adding that President Trump remained a steady leader our country needs.

The fate of the war remains unclear.

On Saturday, Iran declared that the recently reopened Strait of Hormuz was once again closed, while tankers coming into the vital waterway reported facing attacks.

Tehran said it would continue to block the strait as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in force.

A related ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, reached Friday, appears to be holding, but the U.S.-Iran deal expires next week with no clear progress in sight.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans parliamentary speaker and top negotiator, said on state television on Saturday that the U.S. and Iran are still far from a final agreement.

White House officials are hopeful a breakthrough in negotiations could be reached in the coming days, the Journal reports.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press aboard Air Force One on Saturday, during which he spoke about the US-Israel war on Iran. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images (Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Donald Trump hopes of extricating himself from his war on Iran were dealt another blow on Saturday after Tehran closed the strait of Hormuz again after the president said the US would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.

Earlier, Trump said in a social media post: The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete, adding that this process should go very quickly.

On Saturday, Tehran reversed course on opening the waterway vital to oil shipments, and a UK maritime agency reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ships had fired at a tanker as it attempted to pass through the strait on Saturday. Reuters reported separately that an Indian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil had also been attacked while in the waterway.

Trump reportedly convened a White House Situation Room meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the renewed crisis around the strait of Hormuz and negotiations with Iran, according to reporting from Axios. A senior US official said that unless there is a breakthrough in peace talks, it appears that the war could reopen within days.

It marks a swift turnaround from the previous day. In a barrage of social media posts, Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had agreed never to close the strategic waterway again, hailing A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!

He later said that President Xi is very happy that the strait of Hormuz is open and/or rapidly opening, and suggested it augured well for their upcoming summit in China.

Trump and Tehrans series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace

A set of mismanaged and premature media announcements by Donald Trump and Tehran has led to the collapse of progress towards a peace settlement between Iran and the US, writes Patrick Wintour.

The recent missteps ended with Iran saying it would reinstate a complete block on the movement of commercial shipping through the strait of Hormuz and that it would not allow any of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be exported out of the country.

Read the full story

Two weeks that pushed Trump to the edge. Is his presidency unravelling?

Lance Johnson voted for Donald Trump three times. Now he is feeling buyers remorse, writes David Smith. I havent been too happy with the third time around, said the 47-year-old contractor, sitting at a bar in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. Were supposed to not start any new wars. Prices were supposed to come down. We were promised a lot of things and were not getting them.

Read the full story

Jon Ossoff calls out Mar-a-Lago mafia amid presidential bid rumors

Democratic senator Jon Ossoff mocked Donald Trumps rosy predictions on Iran and tore into what he called the unprecedented corruption of the presidents family at a campaign rally in Augusta, Georgia.

While Ossoff is running for re-election in November, he trained most of his fire on the president, and the vice-president, amid mounting speculation that the Democrat could launch a bid for his partys nomination for the presidency in 2028.

The senator began his remarks by making fun of the paltry turnout for an event headlined by JD Vance on Tuesday, and then argued that Trumps decision to attack Iran would be paid for by young Americans deployed to the Middle East and cuts to services for their families back home.

Read the full story

FBIs Kash Patel denies excess drinking amid officials US security concerns

The FBI director, Kash Patel, is denying allegations detailed in a new report that he drinks to excess and has been unreachable at times during his tenure in office. Patel threatened to sue the Atlantic over the story published on Friday, which detailed his alleged heavy drinking and how members of his security detail have on multiple occasions had difficulty waking him.

Read the full story

Trump announces reforms to accelerate access to psychedelic drug treatments

Donald Trump on Saturday announced reforms intended to speed up access to medical research and treatment based on psychedelic drugs. The president signed an executive order directing the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite review of drugs such as ibogaine, which US military veteran groups have said can help treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Read the full story

ICE deported 174 Daca recipients through most of last year, agency head says in letter

From January to September 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 174 people who were renewing their protections from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program, the head of the agency has said in a letter reviewed by the Guardian.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

A chaotic scene unfolded Saturday at a beagle breeding and biomedical research facility in Wisconsin as about 1,000 animal rights activists seeking to breach the property were rebuffed with rubber bullets and pepper spray by law enforcement.

A United Airlines flight bound for New York City was forced to land and evacuate in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning after crew members reported a possible security issue, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Two US army soldiers have been injured after encountering a brown bear in a mountainous training area in Anchorage, Alaska, the military said on Friday.

Catching up? Heres what happened on 17 April 2026.
U.S. Marines have seized an Iranian cargo ship that was attempting to pass through the American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, according to President Donald Trump.

Trump announced the seizure in a post on Truth Social on Sunday evening.

Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them, he wrote.

Trump said that the ships crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.

Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing whats on board! Trump wrote.

A U.S. Marine monitors ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said U.S. Marines seized an Iranian cargo ship that attempted to bypass the blockade on Sunday. (US Centcom)

The U.S. began its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on April 13 following a failed peace negotiation in Islamabad, Pakistan between American and Iranian officials.

We cant let a country blackmail or extort the world, because thats what theyre doing, Trump told reporters on Monday outside the Oval Office.

He warned on Monday that any Iranian ships approaching the blockade would be immediately eliminated.

If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea, Trump wrote on Truth Social. It is quick and brutal.

Irans ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, criticized Trumps continued threats on Sunday, including those surrounding the blockade.

You cannot keep violating the international law, double down on your blockade, threaten Iran with further war crimes, insist on unreasonable demands, pace out with rethorics (sic) and pretend to be pursuing Diplomacy, he wrote on X.

Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. The U.S. is currently maintaining a naval blockade of the strait (Reuters)

He added that as long as the naval blockade remains, fault lines remain.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Friday that Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. blockade continues.

"If the blockade continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X.

He further stated that "transit in the Strait of Hormuz will take place based on a 'designated route' and with 'authorization from Iran.'"

On Thursday, U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said the blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports.

The Trump administration also announced on Thursday that it plans to broaden its naval actions against Iran by targeting any ships carrying its exported oil, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Pentagon said it would board the ships regardless of where they are in the world.
The US seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to breach its naval blockade after blowing a hole in its engine compartment, Donald Trump has claimed.

The president said the US navy fired on and took full custody of the vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it refused fair warning to stop on Sunday.

A video posted by US Central Command showed the USS Spruance opening fire on the Iranian-flagged tanker.

It is the first known time that the US has fired on a commercial vessel during the conflict. It has turned back more than 20 Iranian-linked ships since the blockade, but has never before used force to do so.

The US military had warned that it would board and seize any vessels attempting to evade its maritime siege, which began on April 13, of ships going to or from Iranian ports.

The confrontation comes after Iran refused to take part in a second round of peace talks unless the US lifted its blockade and softened its demands on Tehran.

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, Mr Trump said: Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.

The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing whats on board!

@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

The tanker ignored multiple warnings to change course issued over six hours and was headed to an Iranian port when it was targeted, according to the military.

In the footage, a crew member of the USS Spruance can be heard ordering the Touska to evacuate its engine room moments before opening fire.

Motor vessel Touska, Motor vessel Touska. Vacate your engine room. Vacate your engine room. We are about to subject you to disabling fire, can be heard in the video.

Later in the video, three rounds are fired from the destroyers 5-inch MK 45 Gun, leaving smoke in their wake.

US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, who had been dispatched to the region in preparation for a ground invasion, later boarded and seized the vessel.

Irans military vowed to respond, accusing the US of having violated the ceasefire that has been in place since April 8.

We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the US military, said Khatam Al-Anbiya, a spokesperson for the militarys central command centre.

On Sunday, the president also announced that he was sending negotiators to Pakistan for a fresh round of peace talks before the expiration of the fragile ceasefire on Wednesday.

Mr Trump further threatened to knock out every power plant and bridge in the country unless Iran accepted his terms, while accusing the regime of violating the truce by opening fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

But officials in Tehran rejected further talks, blaming Washingtons excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade.

Iran had already signalled it was not ready to return to the table. We are still far from the final discussion, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans parliamentary speaker and a senior member of the negotiating team, said late on Saturday.

Mr Trump said the Touska tried to get past the USs naval blockade but it did not go well for the ship - Hans Rosenkranz/Marine Traffic

Confusion over JD Vance role

Tehrans hesitancy to return to the negotiating table is in part because it still does not trust Washington and believes Mr Trumps positive public comments are a cover for a surprise attack.

Both sides still disagree over the key issues that derailed the first round of talks in Islamabad, including Irans nuclear enrichment programme, its regional proxies and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, which briefly opened the critical shipping lane, said it would remain closed until the US lifted its blockade.

As the deadline for the ceasefire loomed, there was confusion as to whether JD Vance, the vice-president, would lead the US delegation again. Mr Trump told several reporters on Sunday that it was too dangerous for his deputy to travel at short notice.

However, a White House official told The Telegraph that Mr Vance would head to Islamabad, alongside US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Mr Vances office did not respond when asked to clarify.

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, Mr Trump said: If they dont take the deal, it will be my honour to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other presidents, for the last 47 years. No more Mr Nice Guy!

Before the ceasefire, Mr Trump reportedly requested that the Pentagon draw up plans for a high-risk raid to fly into Iran to recover its stockpile of enriched uranium, the material needed to build a nuclear bomb.

Such a raid remains unlikely. Instead, Tehran would probably hand over the material to a friendly country, such as Russia, or have a mediating country, such as Pakistan, remove it.

The Telegraph understands that the White House is willing to offer Tehran economic incentives, including sanctions relief, should it agree to its red lines.

A woman holds a post of Irans late supreme leader during an anti-US and anti-Israel protest in Tehran on Sunday - Majid-Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via REUTERS

Meanwhile, the US military has also drawn up further plans to board and seize Iranian-linked ships in the coming days, a move that would strengthen its economic stranglehold on Tehran in an attempt to force a reopening of the strait, The Wall Street Journal reported.

However, the president is increasingly worried about ordering troops into harms way.

Mr Trump has so far resisted ordering US soldiers to take Kharg Island, the main export hub for 90 per cent of Irans oil, for fear they would be sitting ducks.

Images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, when 66 Americans, including diplomats and other civilian staff, were taken hostage at the US embassy in Tehran, are said to loom large in his mind.

US not too far away from Iran deal

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre declared the threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to be critical, its highest risk level. Officials cited the high level of activity by naval forces in the region.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump claimed Iran had fired on a British ship, which the UK Government denied.

Elsewhere, Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, said the US was not too far away from a deal.

There are negotiations with the Iranians going on, despite what you hear in the chatter in public, I think those are actually going well, he told Fox News.

I think well have a nice end of this conflict, Mr Wright predicted, adding that restarting shipping will take time but probably not too much time once the strait was reopened.

Youths at the site of an Israeli air strike, carried out earlier this month, in Beirut on Sunday - Marko Djurica/REUTERS

Meanwhile, two Israeli soldiers were killed and 12 wounded in southern Lebanon over the weekend as the fragile ceasefire there came under strain.

One was killed by a bomb that detonated when his vehicle drove over it, while the other died after an explosive device was detonated as he searched a building for weapons.

Hezbollah was also blamed for the killing of a French peacekeeping soldier.

On Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said the war with Iran had not finished.

Speaking at a press conference, he said: We have achieved enormous things. Its not over yet. And any moment could bring us new developments.
The US military has attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged container ship that attempted to get past an American blockade near the strait of Hormuz, the first such interception since the blockade of Iranian ports began last week.

Irans joint military command said Tehran would respond soon and called the US seizure an act of piracy that violated the ceasefire that has been in place since 8 April.

The news threw into question Donald Trumps earlier announcement that US negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran. That had raised hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday, but Iran has not confirmed it will attend.

In a post on X, US Central Command said US marines departed the USS Tripoli assault ship by helicopter and rappelled on to Touska on Sunday. The post included a video of the marines onboard the helicopter

Trump had earlier posted on X that the ship had tried to get past the US blockade and it did not go well for them. The US president said a US navy guided missile destroyer warned the Touska to stop in the Gulf of Oman but the vessel did not. [Our] Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room, Trump said, adding that US marines now had custody of the vessel.

He said the ship was under US treasury sanctions because of prior history of illegal activity. The ship is on the treasury departments list of sanctioned vessels.

Related: Intemperate Trump brings chaos and confusion to Iran talks

A spokesperson for Iran militarys central command centre, Khatam al-Anbiya, cited by the Isna news agency, said: We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the US military.

Iranian state media also reported that Tehran had  for now  rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade, threatening rhetoric, and Washingtons shifting positions and excessive demands.

Video posted on social media by the US defence department showed the interception of the ship by US forces. The video includes audio of the container ships crew being warned that they will be fired on if they refuse to stop. Vacate your engine room, a US sailor can be heard saying. Were prepared to subject you to disabling fire.

The video then shows the USS Spruance firing on the Touska.

The cargo ship was stopped near Irans border with Pakistan. Touska had previously left Port Klang, a major port in Malaysia, when the vessel then attempted to move past the US blockade, according to tracking information from TankerTrackers.com.

The escalating standoff threatens to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed fighting, in a conflict that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 civilians and 15 soldiers in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
Police cars and an ambulance on Sherwood Way after a 999 call on Saturday

Armed police were called to a report of a shooting which turned out to be a Call of Duty game, it has been reported.

Officers from Essex Police were called to Sherwood Way in Southend-on-Sea after a 999 call at about 3.30pm on Saturday.

An air ambulance was also dispatched and police attended the address prepared for a genuine firearms incident.

Yet when they arrived, ready to force entry into the property with heavy breaching equipment, they realised there was no real danger.

The noise had instead come from someone playing Call of Duty loudly, Your Southend reported.

An air ambulance attends the scene in Southend-on-Sea

An Essex Police spokesman said: We were called with concerns a person may have been injured with a firearm at an address in Sherwood Way at about 3.35pm on Saturday, April 18.

Armed officers quickly attended the scene with the support of emergency service colleagues and confirmed no firearms were present and no one had sustained any injuries.

In 2016, three police firearms officers attended an incident in Hampton Wick, south-west London, after a passer-by reported a stand-off  not realising it was a film set using replica guns.

The same year, seven officers attended a home in Great Falls, Montana, after two emergency calls reported screaming, explosions and shots fired  only to find a family watching The Walking Dead with the windows open. Police surrounded the property, guns drawn, after seeing flashing lights and hearing loud talking.

Last year Essex Polices armed response unit attended about 14,000 incidents, including 285 spontaneous firearms deployments.
Andrew John retired last year following reports of inappropriate behaviour at Bangor Cathedral - PA

The Church in Wales has started advertising for a new Bishop of Bangor in the wake of the cathedrals sex scandal.

Andrew John, the Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor, announced his retirement in June after a report raised complaints about alcohol use and sexual behaviour in his diocese.

The Diocese of Bangor said it was looking for a replacement who models the life of a shepherd and pastor. The Church in Wales said in a document issued on its website it was seeking a bishop who can rebuild trust and relationships.

It added: Building on recent learning and change, we are committed to fostering a culture marked by transparency, accountability and mutual respect.

Sexual boundaries seemed blurred

A mood board for the bishop we seek includes a shepherd, pastor, with a genuine deep faith-loving people and embracing our beautiful, unique contexts, a healer and pastor, with discernment and integrity and a person of prayer and strategic thinking.

In May last year, a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral identified a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred and promiscuity was acceptable.

A summary of a report said there were also reports of inappropriate language, rude jokes and innuendoes in the choir that left some feeling unsafe and marginalised.

Bangor Cathedral is looking for a person of prayer and strategic thinking - Alamy

Inappropriate language was used in front of younger members of the choir and at times caused humiliation to some, the reports compilers were told. Other issues raised included hurtful gossip, a poor safeguarding approach and weak financial controls.

After the publication of a summary into the reports earlier this year, the archbishop said: I acknowledge that these findings are hard to hear  but they must be faced if we are to move forward with integrity.

He added: I have begun reflecting on what I must learn from this process  not only as a leader, but as a fellow pilgrim. While this has been a sobering time, it also offers us opportunity for change. It will mean hard work, but it can also bring healing, and we do not do this alone.

The diocese is recovering well

Mr John, who became Bishop of Bangor in 2008 and was elected Archbishop of Wales in December 2021, retired in August last year. There is no suggestion the archbishop behaved inappropriately.

Applicants for the job are advised that the diocese of Bangor has experienced a difficult time over the past year or so which has included the retirement of its long-serving bishop in August 2025 and a period of considerable media attention and general external scrutiny, particularly at the cathedral.

The description added: The diocese is recovering well from the difficulties it has experienced and while an important part of the new bishops ministry will be to be sensitive to the need for ongoing care for those bruised by recent events, the need for hope and vision for the future is paramount.

The Church in Wales said an independent governance review had examined governance arrangements, financial oversight and organisational culture across the diocesan charities.

The Diocese of Bangor, one of six dioceses of the Church in Wales, is in north-west Wales and primarily covers Gwynedd, Anglesey and parts of Conwy and Powys.

The mother church of the diocese is St Deiniols Cathedral, in the university city of Bangor. In 2025, the Cathedral celebrated its 1,500th anniversary since Saint Deiniol founded a monastic community in Bangor around 525AD.

The Diocese of Bangor has been approached for comment.
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen said the Ministry of Defence does not know where former soldiers are for recall - Julian Simmonds

Britain has lost track of thousands of military veterans who would be recalled in the event of a war, a key government adviser has warned.

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, who led 2025s strategic defence review (SDR), said officials failed to maintain full records and contact details of recently retired soldiers.

The Labour grandee, a former Nato secretary-general who served as a defence secretary under Sir Tony Blair, made the claim during an event in Salisbury in which he criticised Sir Keir Starmer and accused the Government of corrosive complacency over military spending.

About 95,000 people are meant to be part of the so-called strategic reserve network of soldiers and officers from the Army, RAF and Navy.

These differ from the 32,000-strong reserve forces, which comprise staff who volunteer part-time to serve in the military.

Speaking at the event in Wiltshire last week, Lord Robertson said: What the review talks about is having the strategic reserve, that is, all of the people in this room whove been in the forces who have got a continuing obligation.

But the Ministry of Defence [MoD] at the present moment doesnt even know where most of them are. So we need to round up those who are available and fit and willing to be able to do it.

The number of British soldiers has shrunk from more than 100,000 personnel in 2010 to just over 70,000 - Damian Lemanski/Bloomberg

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the head of the Armed Forces, previously warned Britain did not have an effective system of tracking and engaging those who have recently left the military.

I will be completely honest; we do not have a good plan right now to do that, the chief of defence staff told MPs during a defence select committee meeting in Parliament in January.

However, seeking to downplay the problem, he added: I am confident that if we found ourselves in that rising level of crisis, many of those who had served previously and retired or gone into another profession or into the private sector would want to come back.

Recall liability for life

Under existing law, all former regular and reserve officers retain recall liability for life.

The MoD must also maintain contact with former military staff in the first six years after they leave full-time service.

However, records have not been kept up to date for staff who left more than six years ago, meaning it would be harder to mobilise them in the event of a national crisis.

As part of the SDR, drafted by Lord Robertson, Gen Sir Richard Barrons and Fiona Hill, a former chief adviser on Russia to the White House, it was recommended that the Government address the issue of preparing the strategic reserve.

The military has struggled to recruit and retain staff in recent years. The Army has suffered the most, having shrunk from more than 100,000 staff in 2010 to just over 70,000 now.

In January it was announced military veterans aged 65 could be mobilised under new powers to prepare the Armed Forces for war. The Government is set to increase the age from 55.

The measures are being introduced as part of a new Armed Forces bill, with the changes set to make it easier to mobilise tens of thousands of former military staff.

Under existing rules, the pool of retired soldiers can be called upon in the event of national danger, great emergency or attack in the UK.

However, under the changes, this will be lowered to war-like preparations, which is already the threshold for reservists who have recently left the Armed Forces.
Dr Albert Maguire, pictured, is one of three scientists awarded the Breakthrough prize for life sciences for their Luxturna gene therapy treatment, which has transformed the lives of people born with Leber congenital amaurosis. Photograph: Bill West/AP (Photograph: Bill West/AP)

A married couple who met over a dissected brain and went on to create the first approved gene therapy for blindness have been awarded one of the most lucrative prizes in science.

Molecular biologist Jean Bennett and ophthalmologist Albert Maguire share the $3m (2.2m) Breakthrough prize for life sciences with physician Katherine High for the 25-year-long project, during which the couple adopted a pair of dogs they had treated for blindness.

The therapy, named Luxturna, was approved in the US in 2017 and has transformed the lives of people born with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a genetic disorder that typically causes total blindness by early adulthood.

Proof that the therapy worked came in a clinical trial in which one patient described seeing their childs face for the first time, the fine grain in wooden furniture and branches waving in the wind. Other patients reported similar profound improvements.

Related: Scientists develop gene-edited wheat that can make toasted bread less carcinogenic

I was overwhelmed, said Bennett, who is now retired from the University of Pennsylvania. It was one of the most miraculous eureka moments you can imagine.

Bennett said it was a tremendously exciting time for scientific and medical research, but warned that the US administrations attacks on science could cause damage for generations to come, leading her to fear a brain drain that the country would struggle to recover from.

Agendas have become politicised, government agencies that support basic and applied research have been undermined, knowledgable advisers and experts have been dismissed or have fled and revised guidelines contradict decades of rigorous research, she said.

The Breakthrough prizes, described by their Silicon Valley founders as the Oscars of science, were handed out on Saturday night at a glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles. Further life science prizes celebrated a gene therapy for sickle cell anaemia and beta thalassaemia, and the discovery of genetic drivers of frontotemporal dementia and ALS, the form of motor neurone disease that affected the cosmologist Stephen Hawking.

Bennett and Maguire met at Harvard Medical School when they were paired up to dissect a brain. Later, at the University of Pennsylvania, they set about tackling LCA. The disease was linked to faults in a gene called RPE65, but scientists lacked the tools to fix them. Bennett pressed on regardless. The nice thing about being young and naive is I didnt know what I didnt know, she said.

After years of work, Bennett and Maguire developed a gene therapy that smuggled a working version of the gene into retinal cells. Tests in animals and human trials, developed with Katherine High, showed that it restored lost vision. Two dogs that they treated on the way, Venus and Mercury, became the couples pets.

A second life sciences prize went to Swee Lay Thein, a senior investigator at the US National Institutes of Health, and Stuart Orkin, a physician-scientist at Harvard Medical School, for work on a gene therapy for sickle cell disease and beta thalassaemia. Both are driven by faults in the adult versions of haemoglobin, the protein that allows red blood cells to ferry oxygen around the body.

The pair discovered that disabling a gene called BCL11A forced cells to produce the healthy foetal form of haemoglobin, effectively treating the diseases. The work led to Casgevy, a groundbreaking therapy that works by editing patients blood stem cells and reinfusing them back into the body.

Related: Can scientists really resurrect the dodo? Inside the company that says it can

Thein, who discovered BCL11A at Kings College London in the 2000s, said the therapy was incredibly intense but that the field was moving fast. Instead of extracting patients cells for editing, new approaches aim to correct them inside the body or to treat the diseases with pills.

Its not the kind of therapy, at least in this generation, thats going to eliminate the disease for patients, Orkin said. In my mind right now, its the first big step. But in order to reduce the burden of disease, which is the goal, youve got to have a more user-friendly kind of therapy.

Like Bennett, Orkin lamented the administrations attacks on US science. We were in a golden age of biomedical science. Universities and medical centres were operating at high efficiency and speed. Now there are attacks on academic institutions, theyre disassembling scientific infrastructure that was created over many years, he said. Im at a total loss to explain why people in leadership would want to do this.

The Breakthrough prize for mathematics went to work on nonlinear evolution equations, which describe how complex systems change over time, while the physics prizes honoured work on the force that holds atomic nuclei together and a multi-decade effort to measure muons, the heavy cousins of the electron.
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The cadet was on a 24-week officer training programme at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire - Terence Wright/Alamy

An RAF cadet has been suspended from his officer training course after branding Islam the greatest threat to Britain.

The trainee officer, who was on a 24-week officer training programme at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, reportedly made the comment during a debate on national security involving around 50 fellow cadets shortly before Easter.

He was immediately removed from the course and is currently under investigation.

An RAF spokesman said: We are aware of an alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour involving a cadet at RAF Cranwell. An investigation is ongoing. We are unable to comment further.

The suspension drew sharp criticism from Chris Parry, a retired Rear Admiral, who described it as a failure to encourage proper debate among young members of the Armed Forces.

He added: If Id asked that question and got that answer I would have also asked the cadet to expand on his thinking and got some critical thinking going rather than suspend him.

The veteran officer criticised those involved in suspending the officer cadet, saying a distinction should have been drawn between Islam and radical extremism, and questioning whether it was necessary to suspend the trainee.

Mr Parry added that he was furious about the handling of the incident, and argued that training systems should allow future officers to articulate and refine their views on sensitive topics rather than penalise them outright.

Clearly Islamic extremism is the issue and not Islam, but how are young people expected to develop critical thinking around these complex issues if they are shut down in this way? Mr Parry asked GB News.

If this cadet had answered the far-Right I doubt he would have been suspended.

Islamist terrorism in Britain

There have long been concerns about Islamist terrorism in Britain. During the terror attacks on July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured more than 770 after detonating their devices in Underground trains and a bus.

In 2017, terrorists killed 22 people following an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

An Islamist group has taken responsibility for a series of incidents across London this year, including the firebombing of a Jewish charitys four ambulances in north London.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI), which is linked to Iran, appeared to claim responsibility for the attack in an online video.

On Saturday night, a firebomb was thrown through a synagogue window in the fourth attack on the north London Jewish community this month.

Counter-terror police are leading the investigation into the incident at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, where a bottle containing accelerant was thrown through the window of a medical room at 11.30pm on April 18.

The synagogue was the fourth Jewish site to be targeted in a month in what campaigners described as a cataclysmic failure of the state to tackle extremism.

HAYI also appeared to claim responsibility for this attack in an online video.
Despite causing some annoyance, villagers said the new sign did point in the correct direction to the Catalan capital 720 miles away - Tom Wren/SWNS

It is not easy navigating Somersets narrow country lanes at the best of times.

And now the task is being made even more difficult, thanks to a prankster who has been swapping road signs with boards directing motorists to Spanish and French destinations.

A Welcome to Midsomer Norton sign on the A362 is the latest victim, after it was replaced overnight by one pointing the way to Barcelona and Valencia, via Spains longest road, the N-340.

Despite some residents being annoyed by the switch, they acknowledged that the new sign was not entirely inaccurate, because it pointed in the correct direction to the Catalan capital, 720 miles away.

Another sign, just around the corner on Phyllis Hill, has also been replaced with one welcoming drivers to Sallespisse, a small French village in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, some 540 miles away.

A roundabout in Somerset, some 540 miles away from Sallespisse, as the crow flies - Tom Wren/SWNS

The prankster has been targeting villages in the South West of England since last year.

Among the first places to fall victim was Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, where a road sign was replaced with one from Camerton, near Bath. Meanwhile, a sign for Bradford-on-Avon was found in Portland, Dorset.

Midsomer Norton has also previously had a sign replaced with one from nearby Waterlip, while a Welcome to Frome sign was swapped with one from Kilmersdon, a few miles away.

A spokesman for Spains directorate-general for traffic said they did not know how the sign ended up in the UK or whether it had been reported as stolen.

They added: In any case, beyond the anecdotal, the manipulation or removal of road signage poses an undeniable risk to road safety and constitutes irresponsible behaviour that can have serious consequences.

Wish you were here? A geographically accurate sign welcoming drivers to Midsomer Norton - Tom Wren/SWNS

Several councils have previously condemned such pranks as a waste of public money.

A spokesman for Frome town council said: Its a sad sign of the times... Joking aside, it costs time and money to resolve this sort of thing.

Bath and North East Somerset council also confirmed it had reported one of the sign thefts to the police.

Opinion has been divided among residents, with some praising the prankster.

One commenter wrote: I was crying laughing. I think its bloody brilliant.

But another said: [It] may sound amusing, but apparently this is costing our already bankrupt councils, who we fund through taxes, a fortune to keep replacing.

So, if you find it funny, dont complain next time you want a pothole filled.
Tom Bennett says schools are tightening up discipline because so many parents rarely say no to their children, allowing them to be on their devices all day - Tom Werner

Weak-willed parents are to blame for their childrens poor behaviour in class, a government schools tsar has said.

Tom Bennett, the Department for Educations ambassador for attendance and behaviour, said a growing culture clash between parents and teachers was raging over who is responsible for disruptive pupils.

He claimed schools were having to tighten up discipline because so many parents rarely say no to their children, allowing them to be on their iPads and phones all day.

Tom Bennett claims many parents might think if you just speak nicely to children, theyll behave - Warren Allott for The Telegraph

At the same time, violence in classrooms is on the rise, with 16,000 pupils suspended in the autumn term of 2024-25 for assaulting an adult. The figure for this single term was more than the total number of children removed from school in a whole year a decade earlier.

Some teachers are now forced to wear bite sleeves to protect themselves, while others are given emergency radios to call for support should a physical attack happen.

Mr Bennett warned the crisis had forced teachers to build new systems from the ground up to tackle unruly children who think they can do what they want and that theyre the most important person in the room and that their feelings are the only feelings that matter.

Speaking to The Times, he said: Some parents have very weak boundaries with their own children. They allow them to be on their iPads and phones all day and think that thats loving and caring because thats what they want and its making my child happy. Schools are saying, no, we are going to do it [discipline] like this and that parenting gap is where a lot of this comes from. Parents and schools have moved in different directions.

The former religious education teacher, 54, did not support a zero-tolerance approach to discipline, but said schools had to ensure pupils respect the right thing the first time youre asked and that you cannot swear at [a teacher] or punch a kid.

The behaviour tsar, who has visited about 1,600 schools in the past eight years, feared parents were now at odds with this mentality and instead complained institutions were too strict on their children  a finding he disputes. He added there had been a massive shift in terms of who is responsible for a childs behaviour and claimed some parents felt bad and want to find someone else to blame, which led to some accusing schools of being too strict.

Mr Bennett added: Ive had parents say to me things like, why arent you inspiring my child? and Im like, why arent they turning up? Why dont they have a pen? Why arent they trying? You have to meet in the middle somewhere.

Gentle parenting to blame

Teachers have warned that gentle parenting is to blame for the surge in violent and disruptive behaviour in classrooms.

Parents made more than five million formal complaints about schools in the 2024-25 academic year, according to the National Governance Association, with school governors and trustees reporting an 82 per cent rise over five years.

Mr Bennett said many parents might think if you just speak nicely to children, theyll behave. But he said this might only work in very rare circumstances with small schools with highly socialised children.

Experts have added that the coronavirus lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 have had a detrimental impact on childrens ability to regulate their behaviour, which is now playing out in primary and secondary schools nationwide. The greatest impact was seen among pupils who were in reception when the first lockdowns began  a crucial stage when children normally learn to socialise, follow routines and navigate the busy world of the classroom.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found last month that these children showed less growth in their self-regulatory and cognitive flexibility scores over time compared with a second group of children who were in preschool when the pandemic started.

Prof John Spencer, from UEAs School of Psychology, said: Reception is a critical year for peer socialisation. Its when children learn classroom norms and build early friendships that shape their confidence. But for the cohort who started school in 2020, classrooms were closed, routines collapsed overnight, and opportunities for social interaction were severely limited.

Other research by City St Georges University in London warned children born during the pandemic had a very unusual experience and struggled to communicate and cope with higher-level thinking skills. Lockdown measures affected more than 10 million children across the UK, Unicef said.
Students, like the young woman seen here in front of a laptop, are increasing moving away from computer science as AI continues to disrupt the field.

For years, computer science was treated like a golden ticket  a degree that could all but guarantee a stable, high-paying job after graduation. But as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the tech industry, that promise is starting to crack.

Between 2008 and 2024, the number of four-year computer science degrees in the U.S. surged, rising roughly five times (1), outpacing growth in other high-paying fields like nursing and mechanical engineering, according to the Washington Post, citing data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Now, there are signs that boom may be losing steam.

New data from the National Student Clearinghouse (2) shows undergraduate enrollment in computer science programs at four-year institutions dropped 8.1%  the steepest one-year decline of any major since at least 2020. Graduate enrollment fell even further, down 14%.

The shift hasn't gone unnoticed. The Atlantic (3) recently declared that, "The Computer-Science Bubble is Bursting," while Nobel Prizewinning economist Simon Johnson (4) said AI has "substantially wiped out" coding as a reliable source of opportunity.

So if the once-dominant major is losing momentum, where are students turning instead?

The value of coding skills is shifting

The issue isn't that coding skills no longer matter  it's how they're being used.

Investor Matt Shumer, who has spent years working in AI, said recent breakthroughs are fundamentally changing how work gets done.

"By late 2025, some of the best engineers in the world said they had handed over most of their coding work to AI," he wrote in an essay published on X (5).

The post, which racked up about 86 million views, wasn't meant to spark panic, Shumer later said on CNBC's Power Lunch (6). Instead, he said he was describing his own surprise at how AI can now handle many of the technical aspects of his job, a shift he believes professionals in fields like law, medicine and accounting may soon experience as well.

That anxiety may already be showing up in the job market. In recent years, new college graduates have had a harder time finding work, with their unemployment rate exceeding the overall U.S. rate for five straight years (7).

It's also starting to influence what students choose to study. At Princeton University (8), computer science became the most popular major between 2011 and 2017 and held that position through the Class of 2025. But more recent data suggests demand may be cooling: 74 students in the Class of 2028 declared a computer science B.S.E., down from 117 the year before and 150 the year prior.

"Part of this is we are adapting to a new world," Szymon Rusinkiewicz, chair of the department, told the Princeton Alumni Weekly (8). "We have definitely noticed that things have leveled off, that we weren't growing at that explosive pace anymore."

Students are rethinking the payoff

For many students, the appeal of computer science was simple: strong job prospects and high salaries. That calculation is starting to shift. Rusinkiewicz said it's less about jobs disappearing and more about how they're evolving.

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"It's less a case of, 'AI is coming for your jobs,' but much more a case of AI is making people more efficient at their jobs," he said (8).

Companies are still offering high salaries but increasingly for roles that involve working alongside AI, not competing with it.

Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

Anthropic recently listed a software engineering role offering up to $320,000 a year (9), focused on helping "understand new model capabilities and redefine what is possible" with large language models.

Students are taking note. Gavin O'Malley, a Houston-area college applicant, told the Washington Post (1) that he felt discouraged from pursuing computer science as only the top students at his high school were applying to the field and with hiring slowing at major tech firms, the payoff felt less certain.

Others are rethinking their motivations. Theo Urban, a senior majoring in AI at Carnegie Mellon University, told the news outlet that students today may be choosing the field less for job security and more out of genuine interest.

So what are the top majors now?

As interest in computer science cools, other technical fields are gaining ground. Enrollment in mechanical and electrical engineering has grown (1) by about 11% and 14%.

More broadly, a Coursera analysis (10) including data from the National Center for Education Statistics (11) shows that business, health, social sciences and history remain the most popular majors in the U.S., with computer science ranking seventh.

Michael Leamy, now chair of the mechanical engineering department at the University of Vermont, told the Washington Post (1) that he's seen that growth firsthand teaching at multiple universities. He and other engineers believe students may view mechanical engineering as a more flexible path in an AI-driven economy, with applications across industries like robotics, aerospace, drones and electric vehicles.

There's still plenty of uncertainty around how AI will reshape the job market but one theme is consistent: adaptability matters.

As the technology evolves, experts say students should focus less on chasing a "safe" major and more on building skills, including learning how AI applies to their field, to stay competitive as the nature of work continues to shift.

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Washington Post (1); National Student Clearinghouse (2); The Atlantic (3); Open to Debate/YouTube (4); @mattshumer_/X (5); CNBC (6); New York Times (7); Princeton Alumni Weekly (8); Greenhouse (9); Coursera (10); National Center for Education Statistics (11)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Seniors looking for a smaller place should keep these things in mind.

Retirement can feel like a new lease on life  no deadlines, no commutes, no awkward small talk by the coffee machine. But for retirees who aren't paying attention to one specific Medicare rule, cashing in on the family home could come with a nasty surprise.

The Medicare premium surcharge, also called the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), affects what some retirees pay for Medicare Parts B and D (1). And major financial decisions, like selling the family home, can trigger steep premium increases that catch seniors completely off-guard.

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While the average age to downsize is around 55, many wait until much later in life (2). And those who wait may find that it drastically increases their Medicare bill  sometimes for years.

What IRMAA is and how it works

First, it's important to understand how Medicare works. Standard Medicare (Part A) is generally free for Americans over the age of 65  that's because most workers pay into the program during their working years. Part A is often called "hospital" insurance because it covers services such as inpatient care at the hospital, hospice, and some home health services (3).

Part B, which covers visits to doctors and other outpatient medical care, is where income starts to matter. For 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month (4). But the surcharge is calculated on a sliding scale with five income brackets, topping out at $500,000 for individual filers and $750,000 for married couples filing jointly. Part D prescription drug coverage carries its own IRMAA surcharge on top of that.

Here's a quick breakdown of 2026 Part B premiums based on individual income:

$109,000 or less: $202.90/month

$109,000-$137,000: $284.10/month

$137,000-$171,000: $405.80/month

$171,000-$205,000: $527.50/month

$205,000-$500,000: $649.20/month

Over $500,000: $689.90/month

Most seniors don't expect to earn over $500,000 per year. However, that overlooks one major financial move many seniors make: selling the family home. Seniors who have lived in their homes for decades have likely built up significant home equity. According to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, the amount of home equity held by seniors has hit a record high of $14.39 trillion (5).

That means retirees in high-cost-of-living areas like California and Florida can easily exceed that $500,000 yearly income threshold just by selling their homes. And even worse, the premium increase has a two-year look-back period, which means what you pay in 2026 depends on what you earned in 2024.

Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

The downsizing dilemma: How to avoid IRMAA

The first step is understanding what IRMAA is and how it works, and the next step is understanding your options. Here are ways to avoid (or prepare) for premium increases:

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Sell before age 63 if you can

The cleanest way to sidestep IRMAA is to sell your home before the two-year lookback window matters for your Medicare eligibility. If you can time the sale to occur before the age of 63, the gains won't affect your premiums once you enrol at 65.

Use the capital-gains exclusion

The IRS allows you to exclude up to $250,000 in profit for single filers, or $500,000 for married couples, from the sale of a primary home, as long as you've lived there for at least two of the last five years. If your gains fall within that range, you may be able to avoid an IRMAA trigger entirely.

Consider aging in place or renting

If you're already past 63 and don't need to sell, staying put can protect your Medicare premiums. Alternatively, renting out your home may help improve cash flow without triggering a dramatic increase in your annual income.

Budget for the premium increase

If selling is the right move regardless of the IRMAA impact, make sure you're prepared. Keep in mind, premiums will normalize once that high-income year falls off the two-year lookback window. Set aside enough from the sale proceeds to cover the surcharge for two years so it doesn't catch you off-guard.

Talk to a financial planner before you list

The IRMAA cliff is steep, and the math can get complicated fast, especially when capital gains, Social Security income, and required minimum distributions from retirement accounts get pulled into the mix. A retirement-focused financial planner can help you model the full picture and time your sale strategically.

Downsizing can still be a smart, liberating move in retirement. Just make sure you know what you'll end up paying down the road.

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Medicare Resources (1); Zillow (2); Medicare.gov (3),(4); National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (5)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
A photo of the professional services company Deloitte at the Washington, D.C. regional office

A high salary isn't the only thing that entices people to work for a company. For some people, employee benefits are just as important, if not more so. In 2025, workers reported that the job benefits they valued most were health-related ones, retirement and savings plans and paid leave. (1)

So, what would you do if you accepted a position because the company provided a package with great PTO or parental leave benefits  but then your employer cut those perks in half?

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Employees of Deloitte are currently facing this problem.

According to internal documents and a recorded meeting viewed by Business Insider (2), Deloitte is reducing annual PTO, IVF funding, parental leave, and a pension plan for a certain classification of employees. This particular change to benefits may be jaw-dropping, but Deloitte is hardly the only organization making these sorts of moves right now.

What benefits is Deloitte cutting?

Interestingly, Deloitte is only slashing benefits for a designated group of workers. Business Insider was the first to report that Deloitte was restructuring its talent workforce in January. The Big Four accounting firm broke its employees into four groups: Center, Core, Project and Domain.

Only employees who fall under the "Center" talent model will experience benefit cuts. This includes people who perform work internally rather than with clients, including roles in administration, finance and IT support. Some workers in Deloitte's Enterprise Solutions team are part of the Center talent model.

According to the internal documents viewed by Business Insider, employees will now have 18 to 25 days of PTO, depending on their seniority and tenure. As a result, most of the impacted workers will lose five to 10 days of PTO. (Many junior-level employees will be unaffected by this change, though.)

Paid family leave  which includes parental leave  will be slashed in half, from 16 weeks to eight weeks.

Previously, workers could access a $50,000 reimbursement for costs related to adoption, surrogacy and IVF treatment. Those in the Center talent model will no longer have access to this assistance.

Enterprise Solutions employees still have access to a company 401(k), but Center workers will stop earning accruals with a pension plan.

We don't know how many people will be affected by these changes yet. In all, the company employs a little over 180,000 people in the United States. All of these changes will take effect on January 1, 2027.

Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

More companies are cutting employee benefits and laying off workers

Deloitte is just the most recent example of a big-name company cutting employee benefits.

In January, Home Depot announced that it was ending its work-from-home policy. A Home Depot spokesperson told Business Insider that corporate employees had to return to the office five days per week (3). The corporation also raised the bar for managers to qualify for a bonus and reduced the bonus amount for managers who only met the minimum sales goal, according to Bloomberg (4).

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Meanwhile, Meta cut its stock awards by roughly five percent for most of its workers earlier this year after slashing them by 10% in 2025. (5)

Employees at these companies still have benefits such as healthcare. The cuts apply to perks that go beyond the basics and make these organizations competitive workplaces for job hunters.

Ravin Jesuthasan, a Future of Work expert and the global leader of Mercer's Transformation Services business, told Business Insider that companies are slashing "nice-to-have" benefits.

"We are hearing from a number of clients that they are considering actions to reduce cost, given the ongoing uncertainty in the global economy," he reportedly said.

Although Deloitte hasn't announced any layoffs yet, it's often the case that decreased worker benefits go hand-in-hand with layoffs. For example, when Home Depot demanded that employees return to the office in person, the corporation also laid off 800 people.

Meta has also been in the news concerning layoffs over the last few years. Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that he plans to lay off 8,000 workers in May and that more cuts are on the way through 2026 (6).

How to prepare for benefit cuts or layoffs

Obviously, no one wants to lose significant company perks or lose their jobs. But numerous organizations are implementing both of these changes, so it's wise to develop a plan and prepare financially in case you find yourself in a tough situation.

First, beef up your emergency savings fund. Many experts recommend having three to six months' expenses in an emergency fund. If you haven't hit this amount yet, start working toward it so you have some breathing room if you are laid off and need a few months to find a new job.

If your emergency fund is set, consider setting aside money for specific goals.

For instance, many Deloitte employees just lost access to $50,000 reimbursements for IVF, adoption, or surrogacy. If your employer currently offers a similar benefit that is important to you, and you're worried about losing it, start saving money for that specific purpose. Then, if you end up using company assistance, you'll get to use the money for something else.

Take time to update your resume, and consider attending networking events or connecting with people in your field on LinkedIn. This way, if you lose your job or decide to leave due to decreased benefits, you won't be starting from square one. You'll be financially and professionally prepared to move forward.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
A photo of Jim Cramer attending Charity Day 2025 Hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at BGC Group

On a recent "Morning Meeting" livestream by CNBC's Investing Club, Jim Cramer warned that the stock market is currently overbought (1). As of April 17, the S&P is up 1.18% at 7,124 points (2).

According to Cramer, the S&P Short Range Oscillator is over 8%. He told CNBC (3) that the team that runs the Oscillator told him that, historically, such dramatic swings tend to be followed by a "digestion phase," in which gains slow down rather than evaporate.

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He also said that when the Oscillator is this overbought, we need to take "a little different strategy," CNBC (1) reported.

That strategy? Trimming your stocks.

By trimming your stocks  in other words, selling a portion to secure profits while the going is good  you can protect yourself from potential downturns while still holding stakes. Cramer also advises that investors not jump into stocks that are new to them just because they are rallying right now.

Should you follow Jim Cramer's advice?

Cramer is predicting that "crazy rotations are about to occur (3)." And he's not alone in predicting that economic volatility isn't going away.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, recently warned that a 2026 recession could be looming, citing both the war in Iran and the uptick in artificial intelligence as potential causes (4).

Turbulent times like these can make selling or trimming your stocks enticing, but it isn't necessarily the right call. Historically, the market has recovered well from major volatility, such as the dot-com bubble and the Iraq War in the early 2000s.

Despite those challenges, a $100 investment in the S&P 500 at the start of 2000 would have grown to approximately $736.82 by April 2026, representing a total return of about 637% with dividends reinvested, according to data from OfficialData.org (5).

Ultimately, whether you follow Cramer's advice is based on your personal financial situation and portfolio.

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Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

Trimming vs. holding

Cramer told CNBC that market rotations "can be random, and they can be frustrating." He added that quick-changing leadership can make it hard to "distinguish between meaningful opportunities and short-lived moves (3)."

That being said, it's important to assess your personal goals and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.

If you hold stocks that are performing well, then trimming them offers a chance to keep your portfolio allocation in line with your risk tolerance.

Additionally, if a particular stock is doing so well that it's taking over the bulk of your portfolio, then trimming can negate the risk of one company having so much power over your portfolio.

If you are keen on selling out of panic, however, then you may want to stick out the peaks and valleys so you can enjoy the long-term gains of endurance during market volatility. Historically, holding investments longer is a more lucrative option.

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Ilhan Omar files amendment.

Rep. Ilhan Omar's office says she is not a millionaire. An amended congressional financial disclosure, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, now values the Minnesota Democrat's household assets at between $18,004 and $95,000  a dramatic drop from an earlier filing that listed assets of up to $30 million (1).

"The amended disclosure confirms what we've said all along: The congresswoman is not a millionaire," spokesperson Jacklyn Rogers told the Journal, adding that the filing was corrected voluntarily once the discrepancy was spotted. In a letter to the Office of Congressional Conduct, Omars attorney attributed the original numbers to an unintentional accounting error and argued that members of Congress and their spouses routinely rely on professional accountants.

Amended disclosures aren't unusual  the Journal noted, for example, that numerous House and Senate members have failed to properly disclose stock trades. Omars amendment comes at a time of intense public and political scrutiny, though. The corrected filing lists two of Mynett's businesses, previously valued in the millions, as having no net value. Neither the disclosure nor Omar's office has publicly detailed the offsetting liabilities.

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What Omars filings show

The original disclosure, filed May 14, 2025 and covering 2024, listed two assets owned by Omar's husband, Tim Mynett (2):

eStCru LLC, a Santa Rosa, California winery, valued at between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000

Rose Lake Capital LLC, a Washington venture capital firm, valued at between $5,000,001 and $25,000,000

On the liability side, the same filing listed two items: a Nelnet student loan of between $15,001 and $50,000 dating back to October 2005, and a Citi credit card balance of between $15,001 and $50,000 incurred in December 2022. Total reported liabilities: no more than $100,000. Omar certified the filing as "true, complete, and correct."

The amended filing, which has not been made public, lists both Mynett businesses as having no net value once liabilities were factored in, per the Wall Street Journal. Neither the disclosure nor Omar's office has publicly itemized the offsetting liabilities at time of writing.

Distributions and valuations of Mynetts companies are key

Omar's September 2025 defense and her April 2026 amended filing don't quite line up with each other.

In a September 2025 TikTok responding to the first wave of coverage, Omar said the asset values on her filing reflected the full valuation of businesses in which her husband is one of several partners, not his individual share. A 2025 email between Mynett and his accountant, attached to his attorney's letter to the Office of Congressional Conduct, valued the venture capital firm at roughly $7.9 million and the winery at roughly $1.5 million, with Mynett owning approximately one-third of each, per the Journal. That would put Mynett's personal stake in the two businesses somewhere in the low millions  not zero.

The amended filing takes a different position. Both businesses are now reported as having no net value. Even with the businesses zeroed out, the amended disclosure still shows the couple reported between $102,503 and $1,005,200 in income tied to those holdings in 2024  including $213,200 in distributions to Mynett from the venture capital firm and $3,000 from the winery (1).

Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

The original filing under-reported that income, too. Schedule A of the May 2025 disclosure listed partnership income from eStCru at $5,001 to $15,000 and income from Rose Lake Capital as "None" (2)  a figure that, based on the amended filing's own numbers, was off by more than $213,000.

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A partnership can legally show zeroor even negativevalue on paper while still paying out cash. This happens when the value of what the fund owns is canceled out by things like loans, future financial promises, or potential refunds. According to the Journal, neither Omar's attorney nor the accountant's email actually explained which of these reasons caused the value to drop to zero.

Omar under intense congressional scrutiny

The amendment follows months of Republican pressure. In January 2026, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said that committee attorneys were weighing a subpoena of Mynett, citing many questions about how Mynett had accumulated so much wealth in a short period.

On Feb. 5, 2026, Comer formalized the inquiry, writing directly to Mynett to request financial documents and communications related to eStCru and Rose Lake Capital. The letter flagged the valuation surge  from as much as $51,000 in 2023 to as much as $30 million in 2024  and said the jump "raises concerns that unknown individuals may be investing to gain influence with your wife" (3). The committee asked for records, including SEC filings, investor information, and travel records tied to Somalia, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates, with a Feb. 19 deadline for voluntary compliance.

The April amendment itself was prompted by a March 2026 letter from the Office of Congressional Conduct, the independent body that reviews allegations of misconduct against House members and staff. Jacklyn Rogers called Comer's investigation "a political stunt" and part of a campaign "meant to fundraise, not real oversight," per the Associated Press (4). No criminal charges have been filed against Omar or Mynett.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote on X that previously unreported liabilities had erased the reported wealth, questioning how debts absent from the original filing could now account for millions in value (5).

Omar has been a frequent target of President Trump since her 2018 election, and Comer is simultaneously running a broader Oversight investigation into Minnesota social services fraud. The Office of Congressional Conduct is an administrative review body, not a prosecutorial agency  its inquiries can result in referrals to the House Ethics Committee but are not themselves charges.

The broader oversight push is unfolding against the backdrop of Minnesota's sweeping public-funds fraud scandal. Federal prosecutors have charged more than 90 people across various schemes, and former U.S. Attorney's Office white-collar lead Joe Thompson estimated in December that losses across 14 state-administered Medicaid programs could reach $9 billion  a figure separate from the roughly $300 million tied to the Feeding Our Future child nutrition case. Omar has not been accused of wrongdoing in those cases.

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by Melani Manel Perera

One year after Bergoglios death, the Church in Sri Lanka has placed the theme of synodality  dear to his heart  at the centre of the Sunday that annually brings together the grassroots groups which, for over thirty years, have been gathering in their neighbourhoods or villages to walk together in faith. Bishop Wickramasinghe: A privileged place to live out each persons responsibility towards others.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka  as happens every year on the second Sunday after Easter  is today celebrating the National Sunday of Small Christian Communities with the theme: Small Christian Communities, the heart of a synodal Church on mission.

Across Sri Lanka there are 12 dioceses  the Archdiocese of Colombo and the dioceses of Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Chilaw, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala, Mannar, Ratnapura and Trincomalee  which have a total of around 1.6 million faithful, accounting for approximately 67% of the countrys total population. Introduced in 1995 on the model of base communities, the Small Christian Communities are neighbourhood groups that come together to strengthen their faith, live in solidarity and nurture their spirituality, highlighting the role of the laity in the Church.

As National Secretary Nimal Perera explains to AsiaNews, on this day all dioceses celebrate a special Mass presided over by the bishop with the Small Christian Communities. And at the end of the celebration, a prayer is recited in every church with the blessing and renewed mandate of the leaders.

In a message addressed for this occasion, the national director of the Small Christian Communities, Fr Priya Jayamanne, emphasises the link between this journey and the path towards a synodal Church indicated by Pope Francis, the first anniversary of whose passing falls in these very days. This is a Church in which everyone walks together and prepares for paths of liberation, and Pope Leo shares this same vision: everyone unites and acts with mutual responsibility, because, according to the word of Christ, a persons salvation is realised to the extent that they work for the salvation of others.

The President of the National Commission for the Laity, Bishop Raymond Wickramasinghe of Galle, also affirms that the challenges of contemporary Christian life, in a world that tends to progress on the basis of selfishness, can be overcome precisely by reviving experiences such as those of the Small Christian Communities. He recalls their roots in the value of communion affirmed by the Second Vatican Council. They were founded in response to the invitation issued by the Asian Bishops Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1990, which urged the re-enactment in modern society of the characteristics of the early Christian communities described in the Acts of the Apostles. By prioritising the Word of God and gathering in prayer, listening and meditation, they represent the most powerful experience within the Church for strengthening the life of faith and progressing in communion and synodality.

Today many people pursue their own goals alone, comments Bishop Wickramasinghe. Attention towards our brothers and sisters is waning. Our Christian life, however, has meaning to the extent that we are sensitive to our neighbours. If we actively participate in a small Christian community, it becomes a privileged place to live out this responsibility towards others. He also suggests that priests and religious should commit themselves as a driving force in the search for the lost sheep, protect the Catholic faithful from fundamentalist groups that misuse the Lords name and lead them away from the Churchs teachings, and guide the contribution of the Small Christian Communities, emphasising that the Churchs lay leadership will emerge precisely from them.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
19 April 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held under the theme Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties, featured a panel discussion on The Role of Regional Ownership in a Transforming World.

The timing of the forum is significant. The international system is passing through a period in which many of the traditional rules governing alliances, security frameworks and cooperation are steadily losing influence, while a new global order has yet to fully emerge.

Amid geopolitical tensions, shifting balances of power, rising trade barriers and growing pressure on multilateral institutions, the global landscape is becoming increasingly unpredictable. In response, regional actors are placing greater emphasis on locally driven solutions, strategic autonomy and partnerships based on shared interests.

Against this backdrop, the concept of regional ownership has gained renewed importance. Rather than relying solely on external powers to shape outcomes, countries are seeking to build mechanisms that reflect regional priorities, economic realities and security needs.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum has become one of the leading platforms for these discussions, bringing together policymakers, diplomats and experts to examine how regional cooperation can address global uncertainty. For countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkiye, it offers an opportunity to demonstrate how middle powers can play a more active role in shaping their neighbourhoods.

Both states have increasingly positioned themselves as advocates of connectivity, energy security and pragmatic diplomacy. Through transport corridors, trade initiatives and political coordination, they have sought to strengthen regional resilience at a time when established international mechanisms are under strain.

This approach has acquired greater relevance against the backdrop of escalating instability in the Middle East, disruptions to global supply chains and persistent security crises across several regions. As strategic geography regains importance, countries capable of linking markets, energy routes and political interests are gaining greater influence.

The participation of President Ilham Aliyev in the Antalya Forum underlines Bakus intention to remain an active diplomatic player in these emerging debates, while Turkiye continues to use the platform to project its growing regional role.

In a comment for AzerNEWS, a Professor of Erzincan Binali Yilidirim University Ainur Nogayeva noted that the gradual weakening of classical international institutions and the growing fragmentation of the global system have created a demand for more flexible, inclusive, and faster diplomatic channels.

As Nogayeva highlighted Azerbaijan has increasingly positioned itself as an influential diplomatic actor not only in the South Caucasus but also across the wider Eurasian region. A key milestone in this development is its hosting of COP29, a major global climate conference. This reflects Azerbaijans effort to combine its identity as an energy-producing country with green transformation, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development initiatives.

In addition, Azerbaijan has been playing a more central role within the Organization of Turkic States. Expert said that it serves as a critical hub in strengthening the Middle Corridor, improving transport links between Central Asia and Turkiye, and expanding energy connectivity. As a result, Azerbaijan is no longer only an energy exporter but also a transit hub, logistics center, and diplomatic bridge between regions.

She recalled Azerbaijans chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to 2023, stating that during this period the country strengthened the organizations relevance, supported global solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and consistently defended principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Analyst added that Azerbaijans current role in European energy security and regional normalization further enhances its diplomatic capacity.

On the question of whether multilateral platforms can reduce tensions between rival states, she stated that while such platforms cannot fully resolve conflicts on their own, they are extremely important tools for de-escalation. According to her, they provide neutral spaces where communication becomes possible even when direct diplomatic relations are absent, allowing confidence-building measures and informal dialogue to take place.

Speaking about Turkiye - Azerbaijan relations, she told that the partnership has gone beyond traditional alliance and is now moving toward strategic integration.

Nogayeva also noted that joint participation in platforms such as the Antalya Diplomacy Forum strengthens not only bilateral relations but also contributes to the institutional development of the broader Turkic world. Referring to projects such as TANAP, the Middle Corridor, post - Karabakh regional initiatives, and defense cooperation, she concluded that Turkiye - Azerbaijan relations now represent a strategic partnership influencing the balance of power across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the wider Eurasian region.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum has effectively highlighted a key trend of our time: the shift from global to regional problem-solving. In this evolving landscape, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are not merely adapting - they are actively shaping the rules of engagement in their neighborhood.
19 April 2026 15:48 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

There is a restaurant in Tsaghkadzor, a ski resort town an hour north of Yerevan, called Dahook. The restaurant specializes in Armenian food served in a lively setting, and in the last few months, many Europeans in their thirties and forties, all dressed in casual wear and not interested in talking about their office work, have been visiting the place. As Hraparak, a newspaper based out of Yerevan that knows how to embarrass institutions, reports, these individuals are members of the European Union Monitoring Mission to Armenia, and having been paid from a budget of 44 million, they spend most of their time in the saunas, restaurants, and other places in Martuni instead of the six Forward Operating Bases on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

There has been no such dereliction, according to the EU. The mission, launched in February 2023 and extended through 2027 with 209 international personnel, has recorded a genuine deterrent effect: border incidents with Azerbaijan decreased significantly after its deployment. That is a real achievement, and one worth noting before the criticisms. But coming right after the EU ambassadors in Brussels gave their approval, on April 15th, for a second parallel civilian mission to Armenia, the timing of the article in the Armenian newspaper seems to bring up a good point that Brussels still hasn't answered yet.

What Brussels is actually sending?

The fresh mission, known as the European Union Partnership Mission to Armenia (EUPM Armenia), differs both in its mandate and nature from the EUMA mission. While the EUMA mission watches out for threats in the border region through binoculars, the EUPM Armenia mission will work within the ministries of Yerevan and its security forces, providing advice on hybrid threats, cybersecurity, information warfare abroad, and illegal finance flows. It would have around 20-30 officers deployed for two years. Final endorsement is expected at next weeks EU foreign ministers' meeting, where the European Union's foreign policy head, Kaja Kallas, put her case forward.

What a great timing!.. June 7th marks Armenias first scheduled parliamentary elections since 2018, which is one of the most geopolitically significant elections in decades. Civil Contract, headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is pitted against not just one, but two, opposition blocs with evident links to Russia  the Strong Armenia Party of Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, and Armenia Alliance, led by former president Robert Kocharyan and board member of the Russian investment company RCI Holding. As reported by the Russian paper Vedomosti, Sergei Kiriyenko, the Presidential official in charge of overseeing elections in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Moldova, has been assigned by Moscow to oversee Russian involvement in the upcoming elections in Armenia. The EU internal justification memo for its mission to Armenia makes no bones about the task: the assistance should be aimed clearly at reducing and mitigating Russias destabilising activities.

But this actually is not the first time...

Brussels portrays the EUPM mission to Armenia as an example of the Moldova scenario. In 2024, the EU sent about 20 experts to Chisinau prior to parliamentary elections, working to identify disinformation and ensure the financial transparency of campaigns. This mission is generally seen, within EU circles, as helping Moldovas pro-European political majority maintain its majority. As Kallas put it, "Armenia has asked for similar assistance against the malign influence, just like we provided to Moldova." The comparison is quite real and the precedent positive, although it should be mentioned that, unlike Armenia, Moldova does not have any borders with Iran, nor is it currently implementing a peace agreement with a neighbouring state that opposes the involvement of a third country in the area.

The last issue, in turn, is the most sensitive one. The Washington Declaration, signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan in August 2025 and brokered under American patronage, includes provisions on the absence of third-party forces in the bilateral border area. Azerbaijan takes this provision quite liberally, while Armenia narrows it down to the deployment of military forces in question. EUPM Armenia, despite working within the territory of Yerevan instead of the border zone, may still remain unaffected by this clause, but it would certainly operate in the same politically charged environment and provoke the same resentment from Azerbaijan, which has dubbed EUMA "an anti-Azerbaijan propaganda tool."

Which brings the story back to the restaurants and the saunas of Yerevan. The Hraparak analysis needs to be treated with some skepticism because the publication has political leanings and oppositional publications in Armenia have strong motives to discredit EU-linked organizations. The EU refutes this claim outright. Nevertheless, the basic premise here, namely, that missions established in low-intensity conflicts often lose focus on their goals, that international personnel without any enforcement mandate become disillusioned, and thus their mere existence becomes symbolic as opposed to practical, is hardly an extreme position. This is indeed the main criticism of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) civilian missions found in academic critique, which holds true for Georgia, Palestine, Kosovo, and other places. The mission's failure to establish an enforcement mechanism "puts its entire credibility at risk, especially when expectations outrun its actual capacity to act."

The EUPM Armenia, to its credit, is a different type of deployment, advisory, embedded in institutions, focused on cyber and information infrastructure rather than border observation. Perhaps, this kind of work cannot be done from dining tables but requires serious technical engagement with Armenian interlocutors in office settings and data centers. Whether the EU bureaucracy will manage to assemble a 20-30 man team of such experts, especially under the pressure of the Iran conflict, is a reasonable operational issue which, to my knowledge, was never discussed by the ambassadors who authorized the mission.

Regarding this issue, the risks include internal political developments in Armenia, economic pressure from foreign entities, information manipulation, and the possibility of conflict with Iran. Armenia's border with Iran holds strategic importance for its communication lines and the "North-South" transport and trade corridor. Potentially, tension might increase Russia's influence over Armenia's economy and energy sector, especially during elections. It also highlights risks like migration, organized crime, and illegal activities.

So what is actually at stake?

The geopolitics of the Armenian vote in June are far too serious to be managed by an EU civilian mission alone. An electoral win by the pro-Russian opposition bloc(s) would likely mean the end of the trend, not just the peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, but also the visa facilitation talks with the EU and even the opening toward Turkiye. This would make Armenia another Georgian neighbor of the West that finds itself on the wrong side of a major divide in the region. Hopefully, the EU understands this perfectly. It has committed 200 million ahead of the elections, with Kallas coming along herself.

If done right, with experts who can distinguish between a fake media website and an opposition media outlet, and who recognize that dismissing all domestic criticism as hybrid warfare is itself a means of undermining democracy, it might serve as a small but valuable addition. If done wrong, it will become a metaphor for the European Unions habit of using its institutional footprint as a stand-in for real policy substance, for the proliferation of mission mandates, budgets, and personnel in hotel and restaurant settings without ever doing the substantive work. Armenia needs the former. Whether it receives it will depend on decisions yet to be taken.
19 April 2026 11:59 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Mukhtar Babayev, Presidential Representative of Azerbaijan on climate issues, met with Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Turkiye and COP31 President, in Antalya, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Babayev, who shared details on his social media account, the meeting took place within the framework of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

During the discussions, the sides emphasized the importance of joint efforts between Azerbaijan and the COP31 Presidency to support the climate agenda and ensure the sustainability of upcoming COP processes.
19 April 2026 09:50 (UTC+04:00)

The agenda of the visit also includes meetings with high-level officials aimed at discussing bilateral cooperation and regional issues.

During the visit, Bayramov is expected to participate in and deliver a speech at the 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which will be held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan.

Jeyhun Bayramov has left for an official visit to Thailand, AzerNEWS reports.

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19 April 2026 10:52 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico through the Institute of Mexicans Living Abroad, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the Committee, the document was signed during a meeting between its Chairman Fuad Muradov and Tatiana Clouthier, Head of the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad, as part of Muradovs working visit to Mexico.

The memorandum  strengthening support for Azerbaijani and Mexican communities living abroad, protecting their rights and interests, and establishing cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

Within its framework, the parties plan to hold regular consultations, expand exchanges of information and experience, and implement joint projects and training programs. The document is expected to enhance institutional cooperation in diaspora affairs and create a foundation for broader future initiatives.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed their approaches to engaging with citizens abroad and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
19 April 2026 18:45 (UTC+04:00)

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has released a summary video reflecting developments from the past week.

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Subscribe

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19 April 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to introduce a series of legislative measures aimed at protecting democratic debate from the challenges posed by social media, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking at a meeting with newly elected mayors, Macron described the current functioning of major digital platforms as a serious problem in terms of transparency.

Defending the upcoming legislative initiatives, he said the goal is to better regulate social media and safeguard democratic discourse against digital abuses.

Macron drew particular attention to the algorithms used by large digital platforms. Today, algorithms are not transparent, he stressed, adding that this phenomenon has already been scientifically documented. Algorithmic transparency is key to Europes efforts, he said.

He also warned about the widespread use of fake accounts in online influence campaigns. With fake accounts, content can be artificially amplified, Macron noted.

The French president proposed banning such practices across Europe. Europe should be the first region to implement such a ban, he said, describing the measure as a revolution in digital regulation.

Macron also described the issue of online anonymity as highly sensitive, suggesting that it could be addressed under judicial oversight.

In addition, he criticized coordinated influence operations on social media, particularly those conducted through automated or paid accounts. Hundreds of thousands of people can target you and say the worst things, he added.
19 April 2026 11:24 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Russia has expressed its readiness to assist Iran in removing and transporting its enriched uranium reserves, according to the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, AzerNEWS reports.

Likhachev stated that Moscow is prepared to provide the necessary technical support for such an operation, noting that the key challenge in any potential agreement between the United States and Iran lies not only in technical aspects but also in building mutual trust.

He emphasized that Russia has prior experience in this field, having participated in the removal of enriched uranium from Iran in 2015 at Tehrans request under the framework of international agreements.

Likhachev added that Russia remains ready to offer similar assistance again if required.

Earlier, Donald Trump stated that a potential deal with Iran was very close, claiming that Tehran had agreed to transfer approximately 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, though no official confirmation of such an agreement has been announced.
19 April 2026 12:58 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that purchases of Russian oil directly finance Moscow's war effort, AzerNEWS reports.

"Every dollar spent on oil from Russia is money for the war," Zelensky stated on Telegram, adding that easing sanctions "does not reflect the reality of the war and diplomatic efforts" and "fuels the Russian leadership's illusion that the war can continue." "More than 110 tankers from Moscow's shadow fleet are currently at sea. On board are over 12 million tons of Russian oil, which, thanks to the easing of sanctions, can once again be sold without consequences. That's $10 billiona resource that directly translates into new strikes against Ukraine," he noted.

"The aggressor's oil exports must be reduced," Zelensky stressed, calling for continued pressure on Moscow. "This week alone, the Russians have launched over 2,360 attack drones, more than 1,320 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 60 missiles," he stated.
19 April 2026 13:27 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Irans Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized the European Union, with spokesman Esmail Baghaei calling on Kaja Kallas to end hypocrisy amid escalating regional tensions, AzerNEWS reports.

Baghaei accused Europe of selectively invoking international law, arguing that it is used to lecture others while ignoring actions by the United States and Israel against Iran. He claimed the EU had effectively given a green light to what he described as a US-Israeli war of aggression, while overlooking violence targeting Iranian interests.

Describing the blocs position as blatant hypocrisy, the Iranian official said Europe is chronically incapable of upholding the legal principles it promotes.

He also stressed that, in Tehrans view, no international legal framework prevents Iran from taking measures to restrict the use of the Strait of Hormuz if it is used for military operations against the country.
19 April 2026 14:14 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Negotiations between the United States and Iran are said to be likely next week, with talks potentially taking place before Friday, according to two Pakistani security sources cited by Al Jazeera on Sunday, AzerNEWS reports.

"Two US heavy airlift aircraft, C-17 Globemasters, have landed at Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the sources said, adding that roads to Islamabad's Red Zone have been "temporarily closed," signaling heightened security. They also said hotels, including the Serena and Marriott in Islamabad, are "being cleared of guests with no new bookings allowed until Friday."

The reported plans come as Washington and Tehran move closer to a potential deal, with US President Donald Trump saying Iran agreed to halt uranium enrichment and that an agreement could come within the next "day or two." Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz has reopened before closing again during the ceasefire.
19 April 2026 16:45 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

A new luxury skyscraper project linked to Donald Trump is set to reshape the skyline of Tbilisi, as the Trump family company, in partnership with local developers, plans to construct a 70-story tower expected to become the tallest building in the city, AzerNEWS reports WSJ.

According to reports, the project will be developed in cooperation with Archi Group, associated with former Georgian Dream MP Ilya Tsulaia, Biograpi Living owned by the Pkhakadze brothers, and the Sapir Organization, led by Trumps former partner Alex Sapir.

The emergence of the Trump Tower project comes amid efforts by Georgia to restore strategic relations with the United States. Observers view the initiative as unfolding against a backdrop of strained ties following controversial domestic legislation.

This is not the first time Trump-linked developments have been proposed in Georgia. In 2012, the Trump Organization announced plans for a project in Batumi, which was later abandoned. The presentation at the time was attended by former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Reacting to that earlier project, Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili dismissed its seriousness, stating: What money did they pay Trump at that time, and Saakashvili, like a master of lies, used it. I did not take this project seriously, I am not interested in it.

Relations between Georgia and Western partners deteriorated after the ruling Georgian Dream party passed a foreign agents law, prompting the United States to suspend its strategic partnership and impose visa restrictions on members of the Georgian leadership.

However, recent diplomatic contacts  including a phone call between Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, followed by a visit from a senior US official  have fueled speculation about a possible reset in ties.

Analysts suggest Washington remains particularly interested in the strategic Anaklia Port project and is wary of increasing Chinese involvement, especially after a nearly half stake in the ports management was transferred to a Singapore-Chinese company by the Georgian government.
19 April 2026 23:28 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye has abolished visa requirements for citizens of Australia, marking a new step toward strengthening diplomatic and tourism ties between the two countries, AzerNEWS reports.

AzerNEWS reports that the decision was enacted by presidential decree and published in the Official Gazette, granting visa-free entry to Australian citizens holding ordinary passports.

Under the new regulation, Australians will no longer need a visa for tourist visits or transit through Turkiye. The exemption allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
19 April 2026 19:13 (UTC+04:00)

Syrian authorities announced on Sunday that they had thwarted a sabotage plot in the southern province of Quneitra, allegedly linked to Hezbollah and aimed at launching rockets across the border, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a statement from the Interior Ministry, the plan was uncovered during a joint operation between internal security forces and the General Intelligence Service.

The ministry said the cell had prepared a civilian vehicle modified to conceal equipment intended for launching rockets in an attempt to carry out a surprise attack, without specifying the intended target.

Authorities added that the plot was foiled following close monitoring and surveillance of the suspects, allowing security forces to seize the vehicle and equipment before the operation could be carried out. Several individuals were arrested.

The announcement came days after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect at midnight Friday, following Israeli attacks on Lebanon that began on March 2.

Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the latest allegations. However, last week the group denied links to a separate cell that Syrian authorities said had been planning to assassinate a religious figure.

In a statement at the time, Hezbollah said it is committed to Syrias security, stability, and the safety of its people.

The group had previously supported former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, deploying fighters during the conflict before later withdrawing to Lebanon after the fall of the government.

Syrias new administration has since intensified efforts to restore security and reassert control as part of broader plans to stabilize and rebuild the country after years of war.
19 April 2026 20:10 (UTC+04:00)

A potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran could be signed within the coming weeks, according to senior US officials, AzerNEWS reports.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in an interview with CNN that a deal may be close. "That's probably a reasonable timeframe," he noted when asked about the prospects of an agreement.

Responding to questions about the diplomatic process, Wright added that J. D. Vance has been leading the negotiations from the outset, amid speculation over a possible new round of talks in Islamabad.

The developments follow a sharp escalation earlier this year. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, carrying out airstrikes on several cities. During the strikes, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed.

Iran responded with missile strikes on Israeli territory and attacks on US military bases in the Persian Gulf.

A two-week ceasefire between Iran, the US, and their respective allies took effect on the night of April 8. Subsequent talks held on April 1112 in Islamabad, mediated by Pakistan, failed to produce a breakthrough.

On April 15, US President Donald Trump announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, despite the continued naval blockade of Iranian ports, a move seen as aimed at maintaining relations with China.

However, tensions remain high. On April 18, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy declared the closure of the waterway, citing violations of the ceasefire agreement and the ongoing US blockade.
19 April 2026 20:42 (UTC+04:00)

A Chinese military publication has suggested that China could deploy advanced stealth drones to counter a potential swarm attack by Taiwan involving unmanned combat boats across the strait, AzerNEWS reports via South China Morning Post.

According to a commentary in Defence Review, Beijing could rely on the GJ-21 drone, a ship-based stealth attack drone with long endurance and high manoeuvrability, to neutralize such threats.

Described as the worlds first operational carrier-based stealth combat drone, the GJ-21 is a naval variant of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword. It has reportedly been deployed on the decks of the Fujian aircraft carrier and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, both equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapult systems.

The discussion comes amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, as Taiwan continues to emphasize an asymmetric porcupine defense strategy. This includes developing large numbers of low-cost, high-speed unmanned surface vessels such as the Sea Shark and Manta Ray, designed to overwhelm amphibious landing forces through saturation attacks.

The approach draws on lessons from the war in Ukraine, where drone boats have been used effectively against Russian naval and aerial assets in the Black Sea.

The Chinese analysis notes that earlier generations of slower unmanned aerial vehicles could be vulnerable to such tactics, particularly if Taiwanese drone boats are equipped with air-defense systems. However, it argues that the GJ-21s stealth and speed would allow it to evade interception while conducting surveillance and precision strikes against maritime drone swarms.

The GJ-21 is not only capable of conducting penetrating reconnaissance and stand-off strikes in amphibious assault operations but can also effectively counter emerging maritime threats such as unmanned boat swarms, serving as an aerial shield for the landing fleet, the commentary said.

Moreover, the GJ-21s long range can be translated into extended loiter time over the landing zones, which is a capability of critical importance.

The original Sharp Sword drone first flew in 2013 and was publicly unveiled in 2019, with an estimated endurance of around six hours and a combat range exceeding 1,500 km. The newer GJ-21 variant, introduced during a recent Victory Day parade in Beijing, is believed to feature improved stealth materials and aerodynamics, enhancing its role in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

The report also noted that the Type 076 amphibious assault ship could carry up to 19 GJ-21 drones, potentially allowing a small number of vessels to maintain effective operational control while freeing up aircraft carriers for other missions.
19 April 2026 19:44 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Nikol Pashinyan was reported to have traveled to the city of Gyumri accompanied by his ex-wife, Anna Hakobyan, AzerNEWS reports via the RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

The report did not specify in what capacity Hakobyan accompanied or represented Pashinyan during the visit.

The couple had previously announced their marriage after many years of living together, before later stating that they had divorced shortly thereafter, drawing public attention to the unusual sequence of personal announcements.
20 April 2026 01:06 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The Strait of Hormuz, the worlds most critical maritime chokepoint, has once again become the epicenter of global instability. President Trumps post on April 19, 2026, highlights a sharp discrepancy in the perception of the "deal" supposedly reached via Pakistani mediation.

While a two-week ceasefire was announced on April 8, it appears to have been dead on arrival due to conflicting interpretations:

Here, we can observe the situation from two perspectives; US and Iran

From the U.S. perspective President Trump insists that the agreement required Iran to immediately reopen the Strait to all traffic while the U.S. maintained its "BLOCKADE" on Iranian-linked shipping. He views any Iranian military activity, such as the "firing of bullets" at British and French vessels, as a "Total Violation."

And from the Iranian perspective Tehran contends that a ceasefire must be reciprocal. The IRGC has stated that it will not ensure freedom of navigation for the world if its own ports remain under a U.S. naval siege. For Iran, the "Hormuz Knot" is simple: if they cannot export oil, no one can.

Discrepancy in the "Deal"

Trumps claim that Iran is "helping us without knowing" by closing the Straitarguing it costs Iran $500 million a day while the U.S. "loses nothing"masks a deeper tactical deadlock.

Economic Leverage vs. Military Might: Trump is betting on "unconditional surrender" through economic strangulation and the threat of total infrastructure destruction ("knock out every single Power Plant").

The "Pakistan Track": Negotiations are set to resume in Islamabad tomorrow. However, the rhetoric remains maximalist. Trumps "No More Mr. Nice Guy" stance suggests that the U.S. is less interested in a middle-ground settlement and more focused on using the current blockade to force a permanent end to the "Iran Killing Machine."

IRGC intelligence: The specter of surprise attack

Compounding the maritime tension is a chilling report from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Tehran has officially claimed to have received intelligence that the United States and Israel are preparing for a surprise attack on Iran.

"Tehran claims it has received intelligence information indicating that the United States and Israel are preparing for a surprise attack on Iran."

This report serves as the Iranian justification for the "bullets" fired in the Strait. The IRGC views the U.S. naval presence not as a policing force, but as a precursor to an "Operation Epic Fury"-style strike, similar to the devastating opening salvos of February 28. By claiming an imminent threat, the IRGC justifies its "strict management" of the Strait as a defensive necessity rather than a violation of the truce.

Photo: Upstox
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Seven TDs and senators were found to have claimed expenses totalling over 7,000 for which they could not provide supporting evidence to show the payments were for allowable expenditure, according to the findings of an audit.

A newly published audit report by the Houses of the Oireachtas on the payment of over 286,000 under the Public Representation Allowance (PRA) to a sample of politicians during 2023 detected payments totalling 7,088 for which insufficient supporting documentation had been shown.

The previous years audit had detected payments for ineligible expenses totalling 1,524 to three Oireachtas members which was the lowest level of disallowed claims under the PRA in recent years.

The amount of ineligible expenses peaked in 2017 when claims totalling almost 10,000 by six TDs and senators were disallowed.

The latest report by independent auditors commissioned by the Houses of the Oireachtas confirmed that all the money had subsequently been refunded to the State.

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It also noted that a total of 115,593 in claims by the seven politicians were considered eligible and approved.

The audit was carried out to determine if TDs and senators had provided valid evidence of vouchers, receipts and bills in relation to the amounts claimed for allowable categories of expenses.

A sample audit of 10 per cent of Oireachtas members  22 TDs and senators chosen randomly  is carried out annually.

The largest amount of expenses claimed which was disallowed was 3,060 by the then Cavan-Monaghan TD, Pauline Tully, who is now a Sinn Fein member of the Seanad.

The second highest level of claims deemed ineligible was 1,729 by her party colleague, the former Tipperary TD, Martin Browne.

The third largest amount was 1,256 was by Fianna Fail senator, Fiona OLoughlin.

Former Green Party TD, Francis Noel Duffy was found to have wrongly claimed 470.

It was the second year in a row that the former Dublin South-West TD and husband of then Green Party deputy leader, Catherine Martin was audited and found to have made ineligible expenses claims. The 2022 audit found Mr Duffy had expenses of 135 disallowed.

Smaller ineligible expenses were also claimed by former Green Party TD, Patrick Costello (266); the Minister for State for Migration, Colm Brophy, (168) and former Fine Gael minister, Richard Bruton (140).

The report revealed that 5,793 worth of expense claims was disallowed as the cost did not fall within an allowable expenditure category.

Another 735 was wrongly claimed because the claimant had not correctly apportioned their cost of utilities, advertising and newsletter distributions with other politicians who featured in the same newsletter.

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A further 560 was disallowed because insufficient supporting documentation was provided for the expenditure incurred,

The latest audit found 15 elected representatives were able to show receipts and other relevant documentation in relation to 279,124 claimed in expenses.

They included current Government ministers, Jack Chambers and Dara Calleary and former minister, Heather Humphreys as well as Government chief whip, Mary Butler.

Others were Fianna Fail TDs Willie ODea and John McGuinness and Independent TD Michael Lowry.

The PRA allows for expenditure on rent, rates and other charges in relation to running an office and related utilities.

It also covers office furniture and equipment and improvements to office accommodation, signage, stationery as well as insurance, clearing and telephone charges.

Other expenses which can be claimed under the PRA include web hosting, hiring rooms for clinics, leaflet and newsletter distribution and advertising related to their work as an elected representative as well as secretarial support, PR, information technology and training services.

While PRA guidelines provide clear information to TDs and senators, the auditors noted there were recurring instances where ineligible advertising expenses were being claimed.

They pointed out that members of the Oireachtas are failing to claim expenses on a pro-rata basis where newsletters and advertisements include other TDs, senators and councillors.

The report said a similar issue in relation to pro-rata calculations was also arising when claims were being made for annual charges such as utilities, computer maintenance, licences and insurance.

The auditors also recommended that Oireachtas members be continuously reminded that allowance claims must be wholly and exclusively incurred in the performance of the members duties and be supported by appropriate back-up documentation.

They also advised that consideration should be given to the eligibility of expenditure for AI tools and platforms.
Stormont is in talks with the UK Treasury to secure a proper financial package for Northern Ireland.

The regions Finance Minister John ODowd said the decision by the Stormont Executive last week to allocate money towards helping families struggling with rising energy costs will place further pressures on the Executive budget.

He said he has had two meetings with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn over the last week, adding there is a united front from the Executive over the budget.

I have presented two papers to the Executive in relation to the budget for the next three years, all my Executive colleagues are telling me that they cant deliver the services that are required within the confines of that budget, we wont be able to support the economy to the level that the economy needs supported either, he told the BBC.

So on behalf of the Executive, I have been engaging with the British government over this week as have my officials

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I am satisfied that the British government are now listening to us but we now need to move quickly into the mode of where they giving the financial whereforall to this Executive to do the job that the Executive needs to do.

Stormont ministers pledged 19.2 million (22 million) to go with 17 million (19.5 million) already set aside for the scheme from the UK government.

The scheme will see up to 340,000 lower-income households receiving a 100 (115) payment to go towards their heating oil bills.

We are talking directly to the British government about securing a proper financial package for the Executive to allow us to fund public services, to support our economy and see us through what is going to continue to be a significant cost of living crisis for several months if not longer, Mr ODowd said.

Speaking on the BBCs Sunday Politics Northern Ireland, Mr ODowd said that despite the financial pressure the Stormont Executive is under, they made the decision that it is vitally important to support those families on low incomes.

We have received a 17 million pot from the British government, and the decision was made collectively at the Executive that given the scale of pressures bearing down on families that we would inject a further, up towards 20 million into that fund, he said.

That funding will come directly from our budget allocation, there is no other separate pot where that money can from, its about decisions, and politics is about making decisions, and the Executive has made a decision in this instance that given the scale of pressures we will supplement that 17 million.

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Mr ODowd went on to say the Executive deserves recognition for making the decision to support families in terms of rising energy costs.

We cannot plug every gap the British government creates, the Executive cannot afford to bail out the British government, that is the reality of the situation, and thats why Im involved in discussions with the British government about securing a proper funding package for this place so we can support our community and voluntary sector, so we can support our public services and we can support our economy, he said.
Iran doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, as mediators scrambled to secure further talks before the ceasefire expires this week.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in a televised interview that Tehran would continue to threaten commercial vessels transiting the critical waterway, after it fired on ships attempting to pass on Saturday.

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, Mr Qalibaf, who is Irans chief negotiator in talks with the US, said.



For Iran, the straits closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Donald Trump (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Irans navy has warned ships against transiting the strait, a chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil normally passes.

After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn back.

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Their retreat returned the strait to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict as the war entered its eighth week.

With days until the ceasefire in place between the US and Iran runs out on Wednesday, Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the US, and Pakistani mediators were working to arrange another round of direct negotiations in the coming days.

Pakistani authorities began tightening security in the capital, Islamabad.



A women member of the Basij paramilitary, affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, holds a machine gun during a state-organised rally in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

While there were no formal announcements, a regional official involved in the mediation efforts said mediators were finalising the preparations and that US advance security teams were already on the ground.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the preparations with the media.

For Iran, the straits closure  imposed after the US and Israel launched the war on February 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear programme  is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on US President Donald Trump.

For the US, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.

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Though the ceasefire has held, the standoff in the strait threatens to plunge the region back into a war that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.



(PA Graphics)

Thirteen US service members have also been killed.

Iran announced the straits reopening to commercial vessels after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But after Mr Trump said the US blockade of Irans ports will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, Iran said it would continue enforcing its restrictions on ships attempting to pass.

Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker and a projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

Indias Foreign Ministry said it summoned Irans ambassador over the serious incident of firing on two India-flagged merchant ships, especially after Iran earlier let several India-bound ships through.



Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP)

Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations, Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press, adding that the US is risking the whole ceasefire package.

Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait.

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The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

Since most supplies to US military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, the council said.

That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.



Irans deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh talks during an interview with the Associated Press in Antalya, southern Turkey (Riza Ozel/AP)

The renewed standoff over the strait came hours after Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar said his country was working to bridge differences between the US and Iran.

Pakistan is expected to host a second round of negotiations early next week.

Irans Supreme National Security Council said new proposals from the US had been put forward during a visit to Iran by Pakistans army chief and were being reviewed.

But Mr Khatibzadeh said the Iranians were not ready for a new round of face-to-face talks because the Americans have not abandoned their maximalist position.

He also said Iran will not hand over its stock of 440 kilograms of enriched uranium to the US, calling the idea a nonstarter.

Mr Khatibzadeh did not address other proposals for the enriched uranium, saying only that we are ready to address any concerns.

Mr Trump said on Saturday that Iran got a little cute but that very good conversations were happening, and more information would come by days end.

They cant blackmail us, he added.
A crunch week for Keir Starmer is set to continue on Monday as he updates the House of Commons on the latest revelations about Peter Mandelsons appointment.

No 10 on Friday night released a readout of a meeting between the British Prime Minister and senior civil servants that appeared to corroborate that Starmer only found out on Tuesday that Mandelson was cleared for his role as Britains representative in Washington against the advice of security officials.

The British Foreign Office has been blamed for clearing the peer in January 2025 to begin as US ambassador, despite him failing a secure vetting process.

The British Prime Minister has said he was absolutely furious, and described the failure to inform him as staggering.

Olly Robbins, who was only weeks into his job as Foreign Office permanent secretary at the time, was sacked on Thursday as he had lost the confidence of Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

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He is expected to speak to the Foreign Affairs Committee as early as next Tuesday, a day after Starmer will update the Commons on the latest twists in the saga.

The committee on Saturday published correspondence showing that Cooper had asked the FCDO to conduct a full review of all the information the department had provided to the committee.

Simon McDonald, permanent secretary at the Foreign Office from 2015-2020, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that Sir Olly was thrown under the bus and that Number 10 wanted a scalp and they wanted it quickly.

Peter Mandelson outside his home in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The Guardian reported on Friday that Antonia Romeo, the head of the civil service, and British Cabinet Office permanent secretary Catherine Little, had found out before the British Prime Minister about Mandelsons failure to gain vetting.

The readout of Tuesdays meeting gave credence to this, as Ms Little had received information about the vetting as part of the process to release files related to Lord Mandelsons appointment, which MPs voted for in February.

On reviewing the file she had therefore learned that the recommendation from the vetting officer had been that DV (Developed Vetting) should not be granted to Peter Mandelson, the readout said.

The Cabinet Office denied that this meant the senior civil servant had sat on the details, while a Government source said: Cat has been the one doggedly fighting Olly Robbins to get the documents out of his clutches and into the public domain.

This is a laughable attempt to shift blame from the actual person who kept the PM in the dark.

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The leaders of the major opposition parties have all called for Starmer to resign over the latest revelations, with Kemi Badenoch claiming the British Prime Minister had misled Parliament and the public.

Scotlands First Minister John Swinney said it was the British Prime Ministers incompetence that was staggering.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said that Starmer must publish the advice he received on Mandelsons appointment.

Former foreign secretary James Cleverly told The Independent it is inconceivable that the British Prime Minister and David Lammy were unaware of Mandelsons failed security vetting.

Peter Mandelson, a political appointment rather than a career diplomat, was sacked from his Washington role last September when more details emerged about his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.

Starmer was already under fire over the decision to give Mandelson the job, despite it being known that his dealings with Epstein continued after the financiers conviction for child sex offences.
Russian strikes killed at least two people in Ukraine, officials said on Sunday, as Ukraines military struck a drone factory in south-western Russia.

A 16-year-old boy died and four others were injured in a massive night time drone strike on Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, according to the head of the citys military administration.

Rescuers found the teenagers body as they cleared away rubble, Dmytro Bryzhynskyi reported on Telegram on Sunday morning.

He said the drone strike also injured three women and one man.

Several houses were set on fire, he added.



Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attacks (Peter Dejong/AP)

On Sunday morning, Russian drones also attacked the southern city of Kherson, local officials reported.

A man died of his wounds after a drone hit a van driving through the city centre, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional administration.

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A second man was taken to hospital with blast injuries, regional authorities said.

Russia launched 236 drones into Ukrainian territory overnight into Sunday, Ukraines air force reported.

Of those, 203 drones were shot down while 32 hit targets in 18 separate locations, it said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine hit a drone factory in the city of Taganrog, Ukraines General Staff reported.

The site lies some 55 kilometres (35 miles) east of Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine in south-western Russia.

According to the military, Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at the Atlant Aero factory, which designs and produces strike and reconnaissance drones, as well as components for more powerful UAVs that can carry guided bombs weighing up to 250 kilograms.

Three people were injured in a night-time air attack on commercial infrastructure in Taganrog, according to the Russian regional governor, Yuri Slyusar.

He did not specify what facility was hit, but said warehouses were set on fire following the strike.

Taganrog mayor Svetlana Kambulova said the strike damaged commercial enterprises in the city, as well as a vocational school and multiple cars.

Russias Defence Ministry said that its forces shot down 274 Ukrainian drones during the night, as well as guided aerial bombs and a Ukrainian-made Neptune missile.

Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war Volodymyr Zelensky

The ministry did not say how many struck targets.

Meanwhile, Ukraines Interior Ministry on Sunday launched an official inquiry into a mass shooting in Kyiv the previous day that killed six people and wounded at least 14 others.

A gunman wielding an automatic weapon killed six people and barricaded himself inside a supermarket with hostages in the Ukrainian capital before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.

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Interior minister Ihor Klymenko described the attackers mental state as clearly unstable.

The 58-year-old gunman has not been named, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said he was born in Russia.

Authorities worked to piece together a motive for the violence.

Several police officers were suspended for allegedly failing to respond appropriately in the initial stages of the shooting.

Mr Klymenko described their behaviour as shameful and unworthy of their role as police officers.

He said there was no plan to toughen gun ownership laws, arguing that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens had helped the countrys defence against Russia.

The mass shooting  unheard of in wartime Kyiv following Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022  took place in a busy central district of the city, outside an apartment block and a nearby shopping centre, leaving bodies on a crowded street as bystanders fled for safety.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw victims bodies in the street covered with emergency blankets before they were taken away.





The continued easing of sanctions against Russia does not reflect the real situation in the war or in diplomacy and fuels the Russian leaderships illusion that they can continue the war. This week alone, the Russians have launched over 2,360 attack drones, more than 1,320 guided pic.twitter.com/XmVz4e07Aq  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2026

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky responded with dismay to the Trump administrations decision on Friday to extend its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments.

Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war, Mr Zelensky wrote in a post on X, arguing that any additional revenue the Kremlin gets from oil sales is directly converted into new strikes against Ukraine.

That is why it is important that Russian tankers are stopped, not allowed to deliver oil to ports. The aggressors oil exports must decrease, and Ukraines long-range sanctions continue to work toward that goal, he added.

The so-called general licence, intended to ease supply constraints resulting from the Iran war, means US sanctions will not apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil that has been loaded on tankers as of Friday. It extended a similar 30-day licence issued in March for Russian oil that had been loaded by March 11.
Keir Starmer would not have appointed Peter Mandelson as US ambassador if he had known security officials did not grant the peer a high-level vetting status, a senior minister has said.

The British Prime Minister is under fire amid the latest revelations in the scandal related to Mandelsons appointment to the Washington DC posting, perhaps the most coveted role in British diplomacy.

Mandelson was sacked last year, less than a year into the job, because details of his association with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein emerged in files published by the US government.

The Guardian this week revealed that Mandelson was not granted a special security clearance status, Developed Vetting (DV), by officials during the appointment process.

But this was overruled by the Foreign Office, the newspaper reported, and the Government departments chief civil servant Olly Robbins has been sacked after ministers blamed him for not telling Starmer about the vetting failure.

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Ministers have lined up to defend Starmer before his appearance on Monday before the House of Commons to explain the latest twists in the scandal.

Speaking on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: He (Starmer) was told that hed (Mandelson) been granted developed vetting status.

Thats the objective of all of this, and if he had known that UK Security Vetting hadnt cleared him, he would not have made that appointment.

I think its just really important to be clear about it.

Liz Kendall defended Keir Starmer amid the latest revelations in the Mandelson scandal (Jeff Overs/BBC)

Kendalls claim echoed the words of Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who said the same to the Guardian on Saturday night.

Starmer is facing calls to resign from the Conservatives, and to subject himself to an investigation by the Lib Dems, over suggestions he misled the Commons about Mandelsons vetting.

In February, the British Prime Minister told the Commons that the vetting process gave Mandelson clearance for the role, adding that full due process was followed.

A memo released by Downing Street on Friday revealed two senior civil servants, including the head of the Civil Service Antonia Romeo, had learned of a discrepancy in Mandelsons vetting as part of an evidence gathering exercise triggered by MPs voting for the release of files related to the peers appointment.

A memo released by Downing Street shows the head of the Civil Service Antonia Romeo, left, learned of a discrepancy in Mandelsons vetting as part of an evidence gathering exercise triggered by MPs voting for the release of files related to his appointment (Kin Cheung/PA)

The document also reinforced No 10s claim that the British Prime Minister had only learned about the vetting failure on Tuesday night.

Asked why Starmer had not come to the Commons as soon as possible to correct any possible errors in his previous statements to MPs, Ms Kendall suggested the British Prime Minister had wanted to establish the facts.

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She told the BBC: I think one thing weve learned from this whole torrid episode is the need to get the facts absolutely clear and right. Thats really important.

I certainly want it as a member of the Government, but the public much more importantly want that, which is why the Prime Minister, on Monday  tomorrow  will go to the House.

Earlier, she was asked why Starmer was not losing his job over the scandal, as a growing list of civil servants have done.

Kendall replied: Because the Prime Minister on the big calls facing this country has made the right calls.

She also insisted to Sky News that the British Prime Minister had not gambled with Britains national security by appointing Mandelson as US ambassador.

I completely refute that the Prime Minister would do anything to put the UKs security at risk. The precise opposite, she said, adding: And of course people knew that Peter Mandelson had been sacked from the Cabinet twice. I mean, thats a statement of the fact.

Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said the Prime Minister has got to take responsibility for Mandelsons appointment.

Shadow Cabinet Office minster Alex Burghart said Starmer needed to take responsibility for Mandelsons appointment (Jeff Overs/BBC)

Asked if the Tories would be laying a no confidence motion in Starmer , he replied: Well, we have a number of tools in our parliamentary arsenal, and we will choose our moments appropriately.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said Starmer has shown catastrophic misjudgment on many levels.

He told Sky News: The thing that I think Labour MPs should think about quite carefully now is their Government has been a bit of a failure, frankly, on the economy, on so much, and its in chaos, in the way that Conservatives were in chaos, in perpetual crisis, and I dont think they can get out of that unless Keir Starmer moves aside.

Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick, meanwhile, said the British Prime Ministers judgment is terrible, adding: He (the Prime Minister) should be gone.
President Donald Trump said that US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran, lifting hopes of extending a ceasefire set to expire this week even as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.

The prospect of talks on the horizon, which Iran did not immediately confirm, came as ships remain unable to transit the critical waterway amid threats from Iran and a US blockade on ships heading to and from Iranian ports.

Iranian officials said earlier on Sunday that they remained open to negotiation, but held firm that ships would not pass the strait while the US blockade remained in effect.



Displaced people cross a destroyed bridge as they return to their villages following a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, in Tayr Felsay village, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late on Saturday.

In his post announcing official travel for another round of talks, Mr Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing at ships passing the strait and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran, if it does not take the deal that the US is offering.

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If they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, Mr Trump wrote.

He did not detail which officials that the US would be sending to a second round of in-person talks with Iran is Islamabad.

The White House and office of US vice president JD Vance, who led the first round of talks, did not immediately respond to messages on Sunday morning.

It remained unclear whether either side had shifted their stances on unresolved issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Irans nuclear enrichment programme, its regional proxies and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Qalibaf, who is Irans chief negotiator in talks with the US, said before Mr Trumps latest comments that Iran still was seeking peace despite the blockade and deep-seated distrust of Washington.

There will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy, he said, acknowledging that the gap between the two sides remained wide.



Tankers and bulk carriers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz (AP)

Iran had announced the straits reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But after Mr Trump said that the US blockade of Irans ports will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, Iran said it would continue enforcing its restrictions in the strait.

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After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn around.

Their retreat returned the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil trade normally passes, to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict as the war entered its eighth week.

With days until the ceasefire in place between the US and Iran runs out, Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the US, and Pakistani mediators were working to arrange another round of direct negotiations in the coming days.

Pakistani authorities began tightening security in the capital, Islamabad.

A regional official involved in the mediation efforts said that mediators were finalising the preparations and that US advance security teams were already on the ground.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the preparations with the media.



(PA Graphics)

For the Islamic Republic, the straits closure  imposed after the US and Israel launched the Iran war on February 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear programme  is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Mr Trump.

For the US, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.

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Though the ceasefire has held, the standoff in the strait threatens to plunge the region back into a war that has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.

Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have also been killed.

Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker and a projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

Indias Foreign Ministry said it summoned Irans ambassador over the serious incident of firing on two India-flagged merchant ships, especially after Iran earlier let several India-bound ships through.

Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations, Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press, adding that the US is risking the whole ceasefire package.

Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait.



Irans deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh adjusts his glasses as he talks during an interview with the Associated Press in Turkey (Riza Ozel/AP)

The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.

Since most supplies to US military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, the council said.

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That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The renewed standoff over the strait came hours after Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that his country was working to bridge differences between the US and Iran.

Before Mr Trumps latest post on Sunday, Irans Supreme National Security Council said that new proposals from the US had been put forward during a visit to Iran by Pakistans army chief and were being reviewed.

Mr Khatibzadeh said that Iran will not hand over its stock of 440 kilograms of enriched uranium to the US, calling the idea a nonstarter.

Mr Khatibzadeh did not address other proposals for the enriched uranium, saying only that we are ready to address any concerns.
Over the last two decades, Colombian drug cartels have been moving illegal drugs to European and Asian countries using submarines of various types. A recent innovation was unmanned submarines carrying drugs and controlled via an onboard Starlink satellite link. The smugglers back in Colombia operate these drone subs remotely. While each of these subs cost between one and two million dollars to build, each carries up to three tons of drugs, worth over $160 million wholesale. The drone subs are here to stay because they are cheap and none of the cartel members have to risk death or capture while operating the older manned submarines.

The United States has been dealing with these submersibles since 2000 because most of them were used to move cocaine to the United States. About 80 percent of the submersible traffic was in the Pacific, from South America to Mexico and, less often, to Central America. Another 15 percent operated in the Caribbean and a growing percentage of the boats were moving cocaine to Africa and Spain.

Most of these narco-subs are still semi-submersible type vessels. These are 10 to 20-meter fiberglass and wood boats, powered by one or two diesel engines, with a very low freeboard and a small conning tower, providing the crew of 3-5, and engine, with fresh air and the ability to safely navigate. A boat of this type was, since they first appeared in the early 1990s, thought to be the only practical kind of submarine for drug smuggling. After 2000 some drug gangs developed real submarines, capable of carrying 5-10 tons of cocaine. These boats were not true submarines because they did not have batteries so they could operate submerged with the diesel engine turned off. Instead, these subs used a World War II innovation, the snorkel. This looked something like a periscope, but thicker in diameter. For narco-subs, the snorkel mast was not retractable, as it is on military subs, but operated on the same principle.

In the smaller narco-subs, the snorkel proved to be more trouble than it was worth. In bad weather, waves constantly washed over the snorkel and forced its water valve to close, so water did not get into the sub. This often caused the diesel to shut down because of insufficient fresh air and too much exhaust unable to vent. The crew had a separate air supply but that supply was not sufficient to keep the diesel going, even for short periods. The snorkel was largely gone by the late 1990s. Instead, the designs of the semi-submersibles were improved by using better methods to cool the exhaust via more pipes outside the sub hull where the colder water absorbed heat before venting into the air via a curved pipe that sent the exhaust down towards the water rather than straight up. By reducing its heat signature this way, the sub reduced its vulnerability to the heat sensors search aircraft used. At that point the semi-submersible subs were very difficult to spot using radar, heat sensors, or even visually, from the air or a surface ship. With these reduced heat emissions, the snorkel was no longer an attractive alternative. The police and military have since obtained better sensors for detecting these narco-subs. The American military is a leader in this field and that is why the one percent detection rate increased to about ten percent of all narco-subs being detected and caught.

The snorkel subs also cost more than semi-submersibles and required a more highly trained crew. For a long time, there were efforts to borrow a lot of technology and ideas from the growing number of recreational submarines being built. That led to the construction of a few true subs, based on recreational subs. These proved to be more expensive to build and operate and some were still detected at sea or during construction. That meant the true subs were not sufficiently more effective to justify their higher cost. Semi-submersibles cost about $2 million to build, which takes about a year. The true submarines take several years to build and cost over $5 million.

That has led to drug gangs changing their tactics and building smaller narco-subs that carry one or two tons of cocaine at $24 million a ton so that, if one of these subs is caught, its loss is just considered a cost of doing business and not a significant financial loss.

Despite losing over a hundred semi-submersibles to the U.S. and South American naval forces, plus hundreds more to accidents and bad weather plus hundreds more to heavy use, the drug gangs have apparently concluded that the subs are the cheapest and most reliable way to ship the drugs. Early on, several hundred of these narco-subs were built and used on one-way trips to Mexico or the United States. Most of them got through. As new ones were built, their designs and durability improved to the point where the semi-submersibles were capable of multiple round-trips. Some have apparently been refurbished or rebuilt so they can undertake even more voyages.

It was these sturdier and more reliable vessels that made the trans-Atlantic routes possible. The more reliable boats also made it possible to obtain more experienced, and effective, crews. The early designs were dangerous and although high fees were paid to crew, usually operators of offshore fishing boats, it was very dangerous. Some of the early crews were recruited by threats against their families or even by kidnapping of family members. With the reusable boats more crews were making a career out of this well-paying job. Moreover, the trans-Atlantic voyages meant covering about 8,000 kilometers, which could take 15-20 days. The trips to Mexico were less than half that and the ones to Central America, or via the Caribbean, even shorter. The early trans-Atlantic voyages went only as far as some islands close to Europe and Africa but these were still about 75 percent as long as going all the way to Spain.

A detection network, run mainly by the United States, located a lot more of these cocaine subs than there were police or coast guard or navy ships available to run them all down. This was a problem that has yet to be solved. It is complicated by the fact that these aerial contacts can be lost even if you keep the search aircraft in the area for a long time so a surface ship can arrive. One possible solution to this was more international cooperation. Since the early 1990s the United States has used a special interagency group of the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Defense, plus international ones in which over a dozen nations participate in intelligence sharing/analysis operation, called the Joint Interagency Task Force-South, to track drug smuggling from South America. After 2001 the task force became quite expert at tracking the submarines and submersibles built in South America for smuggling cocaine to North America and, in a few cases, all the way to Europe. Some of these long-range subs are apparently going all the way from Ecuador to the United States, bypassing the Mexican cartels, who have been fighting each other in a big way since 2008. Trips directly to the United States proved too dangerous and most of the narco-subs now go to Mexico or Central America.

There was always a concern that larger boats would eventually head for Europe. For years little was known about this effort, except that it existed. Then verifiable reports, from informants, electronic eavesdropping and interrogations confirmed that cocaine was coming in via semi-submersibles. It was believed that these subs would be more at risk of being lost because of an accident or bad weather than being spotted. It turned out that the new designs were even capable of making the trip and usually returning under their own power. European navies, especially Portugal and Spain's, and coast guards were alerted and began searching regularly but until 2019 had never actually caught one of these semi-submersibles. At first, it was thought that the risk of failure was so high for these trans-Atlantic narco-subs that few were built and not on a regular basis. That was not the case and the captured gangsters and overheard electronic communications indicated that the subs had become a regular method for moving the cocaine. Then the drone submarines came along and changed the drug smuggling efforts in unimaginable ways.
Eight children, with ages ranging from one to 14, were killed in a mass shooting on Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the suspected gunman was later fatally shot by police during a vehicle chase, local authorities said.

The incident was the latest mass shooting in the United States. Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said at a news conference that some of the children were related to the suspected gunman, and that the shootings occurred in three residences.

Bordelon said at least 10 people total were shot, but did not provide details on the status of surviving victims.

The shooting occurred just after 6am on Sunday and is considered a domestic disturbance, Bordelon said.

The suspected gunman carjacked a vehicle after the shooting and died after police fired at the vehicle during a chase that went into neighbouring Bossier Parish, Bordelon said.

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Louisiana State Police are investigating the officer-involved shooting of this individual, spokesperson Kate Stegall said.

Bordelon said the name of the suspected gunman would be released once the department has notified families of the victims.

"We do know that some of the children inside were his descendants," Bordelon said.

"This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had," Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said.

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a Shreveport native, posted on social media that his team was in touch with local police about the "heartbreaking tragedy."

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted to social media that he and his wife "are heartbroken over this horrific situation, and we're praying for everyone affected."

Not including this weekend's incident in Shreveport, the Gun Violence Archive lists at least 119 mass shootings in the United States this year, resulting in 117 deaths, including 79 children, and 458 people injured.

The archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people, not including the shooter, are injured or killed by gunfire. The United States had 407 mass shootings last year, according to archive data.
The United States said it attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first interception since its blockade of Iranian ports began last week.

Iran will respond soon, its state broadcaster said later, calling the armed boarding an act of piracy.

The events threw into question both the fragile ceasefire and President Donald Trumps earlier announcement that US negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran.

The ceasefire is set to expire by Wednesday, and Washington and Tehrans stand-off over the strait has now sharpened.





Mr Trump on social media said a US navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the ship, the Touska, to stop and then stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom. US marines had custody of the US-sanctioned vessel and were seeing whats on board!.

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The US Central Command said the destroyer had issued repeated warnings over a six-hour period.

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There was no comment from Iranian officials on Mr Trumps announcement of the talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkians phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier Sunday.

US actions have led to increased suspicion that the US will repeat previous patterns and betray diplomacy, the reports cited Mr Pezeshkian as saying.

Separately, Irans state broadcaster said foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart on a phone call that recent US actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy.



(PA Graphics)

Pakistan did not confirm a second round of talks, but authorities began tightening security in Islamabad. A regional official involved in the efforts said mediators were finalising preparations and US advance security teams were on the ground.

The White House said vice president JD Vance, who led the first round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the US delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Irans chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy, he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.

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It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Irans nuclear enrichment programme, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trumps announcement on new talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran does not agree to the US-proposed deal the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran, he wrote.

Ships remained unable to transit the critical waterway amid threats from Iran and the US blockade of ships heading to and from Iranian ports. Hundreds of vessels were waiting at each end for clearance.





"...Were offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they dont, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY..." - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/L4wQMJfGE6  The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 19, 2026

One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen. Roughly one fifth of the worlds oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertiliser for the worlds farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need such as Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the straits reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But then Mr Trump said the US blockade will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States, and Iran said it would again enforce the restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran fired at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the straits closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, inflicting political pain on Mr Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Irans already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

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Since most supplies to US military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends, Irans Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.

The council has recently acted as Irans de facto top decision-making body.



Displaced people cross a destroyed bridge as they return to their villages following a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, in Tayr Felsay village, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

The war is now in its eighth week after the US and Israel launched it on February 28 during talks over Tehrans nuclear programme.

At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have been killed.
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NationalQueenslandStradbroke Island Boy, are we glad to see you guys: Divers saved after nearly 24 hours in rough sea Marissa Calligeros April 20, 2026  9:22am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

All day and all night, two divers were stranded in the ocean off the south-east Queensland coast with no life raft and only their twin air tanks and each other to cling to. Daniel Fitzgerald, a 45-year-old technical diving instructor, and his student, 43-year-old Stu Fillman, left North Stradbroke Island in a group of four on Saturday morning for the Flat Rock dive site, kilometres north of Point Lookout. Loading But only two divers returned to the boat after strong currents pulled Fitzgerald and Fillman away from the site. The pair drifted 25 kilometres from the boat.

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A massive search and rescue operation began at 10.30am, about two hours after the divers entered the water. It was called off overnight, leaving the pair to cling to their air tanks and rely on their dry suits to keep them warm. An image of the pairs rescue off the Gold Coast. Queensland Police Then, just before 7am on Sunday, an Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet spotted the men drifting about seven kilometres off Main Beach on the Gold Coast. The aircraft dropped a life raft to the pair before Water Police and the Westpac Rescue helicopter arrived.

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Boy, are we glad to see you guys, one of the drivers said as the Water Police boat reached them. They were winched to safety almost 24 hours after entering the water, both relieved and in remarkably good condition. You could see the weight come off their shoulders and think, Thank god youre here, Westpac rescue crewman Alex Carroll told Nine News. Obviously my first question was, How did you end up here? The AMSA aircraft dropped a life raft down to the pair. Queensland Police

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Acting Sergeant Matt Boswell said it was a relief to find the two men safe and well. Its a great outcome, the officer in charge of the Dunwich police station said. Water conditions were pretty rough  and obviously, just being out in the ocean for so long, the exposure. An image of the men in the life raft. AMSA Fitzgerald said he was spending time with his family at home after the dramatic rescue, while Fillman thanked those who saved them.

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Thank you ... to our emergency services teams in aircraft, on the water, or on land for turning this into a happy ending, he told Nine News. with AAP Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Stradbroke Island

Brisbane Marissa Calligeros is a journalist at Brisbane Times. She was previously an editor at The Age. or email. Connect via X
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NationalQueenslandQueensland government LNP names former city councillor as candidate in Stafford byelection Courtney Kruk April 19, 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

The Crisafulli government has endorsed former Brisbane City councillor Fiona Hammond as the LNPs candidate for the inner-north seat of Stafford, days after announcing a snap by-election to be held on May 16. Labor announced Luke Richmond  a lawyer with a background in health policy  as its candidate on Saturday. The byelection follows the recent death of independent member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan, who was found dead in his home less than a year after he was expelled from the Labor Party amid highly publicised personal battles. Premier David Crisafulli announces former Brisbane City councillor Fiona Hammond (left) as the LNPs candidate for the Stafford byelection. Courtney Kruk Premier David Crisafulli described Hammond as an amazing community champion with a track record of delivering for the northside electorate during her time as councillor, and said she was an ideal candidate to challenge the Labor-dominated seat.

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This byelection is a choice between the progress that we [the LNP] are making in dealing with youth crime  and health, and housing, and cost of living  and the contrast with the decade of decline and the chaos and crisis under the former government, Crisafulli said. Related Article Queensland votes One Nation, Greens, fuel  the factors weighing on Stafford byelection He continued that the byelection would be an opportunity to test voters appetite for the LNPs fuel agenda  a strong focus of recent weeks  touting his vision to drill, refine and store fuel in Queensland. Im really keen to make sure that the residents in this local area do have an opportunity to be able to have a say on that, he said. Hammond, who unsuccessfully ran at the October 2024 state election, was pressed on her endorsement in the wake of Sullivans death, but refused to be drawn on questions about his treatment by members of the LNP.

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This is a tragic day for the Sullivan family, and thats what Ill be focused on, Hammond said. Related Article Queensland government Queensland parliament under fire after MPs death As a community leader, you have to live by example. So youve got to remember it was not the LNP that kicked Mr Sullivan out of the party, it was the ALP that kicked him out and left him in the wilderness again. Pollsters and strategists expect Labor to win the byelection but are eagerly anticipating which party will suffer most from a rise in support for Pauline Hansons One Nation party. One Nation secured a primary vote of just 3.2 per cent in Stafford at the 2024 election, and while it is not expected to attract the support needed to join the crossbench, a vote in the mid-to-high teens was likely.

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Its highly likely that One Nation hits the LNP, and that Labors primary doesnt move, because Labors primary is largely made up of the type of constituencies that are not moving to One Nation in these parts of the country, RedBridge group director Kos Samaras said. Labor deputy leader Cameron Dick said the byelection would be a test for Crisafulli, who hasnt ruled out doing a deal with One Nation. A One Nation-LNP alliance is bad for Stafford and its bad for Queensland, Dick said. With Matt Dennien and James Hall. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
When I read that Nicole Kidman has decided to become a death doula, I immediately hit the family WhatsApp group to let them know that under no circumstances were they to employ her when Im flickering from this life to the next.

If not Nicole, then who? Which thespian would I choose to be my death doula? FilmMagic

My children are well-used to funeral instructions from me, namely: no ladies in burgundy hats and gloves and also if a word of the hymn Here I am Lord is uttered, I will climb out of the coffin and strangle the organist. Also, in the obituary, they are not to mention that, even though Im in my 60s, my favourite drink is Coca-Cola and that the reason I decline any Saturday morning invitations is that Im watching Rage.

A reply came back to my message  from the one child that responds  asking: if not Nicole, then who? Which thespian would I choose to be my death doula? I replied that as a starter, Id like someone who has more than one facial expression. I then spent the rest of the day compiling a list of death doula qualities and matching them to celebrities to see who came out as my preferred choice.

To start, they would need to have their full focus on me. I have two gorgeous daughters in their 20s who would be bedside, so this rules out Leonardo DiCaprio. The last thing I want to hear as Im drifting off is Leo flirting. I imagine years of zero effort have reduced his flirting skills to clumsy at best. How horrible would it be to take your last breath to the sound of Leo asking my daughters, What did you say your names were again? Equally, I have a handsome son who would also be there, so lets rule out JLo as well.
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Analysis WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Irans navy is far from finished at the Strait of Hormuz, and the US knows it Neil MacFarquhar April 19, 2026  12:33pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Iranian warships sunk by US and Israeli attacks litter naval harbours along the Persian Gulf coast, but what is sometimes called a mosquito fleet lurks in the shadows. The flotilla  small, fast, agile boats designed to harass shipping  forms the heart of the naval forces deployed by the Revolutionary Guard, separate from Irans regular navy. These boats, and especially the missiles and drones that the Guard navy can launch from them, or from camouflaged sites onshore, have been the main threat stymieing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Irans boats are often too small to appear on satellite imagery. Getty Iran had vowed to keep the strait closed until there was a ceasefire in Lebanon. On Friday, senior Iranian officials made conflicting statements about whether that truce had prompted Iran to open the strait. On Saturday, Irans military said the waterway had returned to its previous state and was under strict management and control of the armed forces.

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Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war The price of peace: what kind of deal with Iran would Trump accept? Welcoming the initial Iranian announcement of the opening, US President Donald Trump pronounced the Hormuz situation over while stressing on social media that the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a peace deal was reached. The task of keeping the strait closed would fall to the Guard navy. The IRGC navy works more like a guerrilla force at sea, said Saeid Golkar, an expert on the Guard and a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. It is focused on asymmetrical warfare, especially in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, he added. So instead of relying on big warships and classic naval battles, it depends on hit-and-run attacks.

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Loading During the war, at least 20 vessels were attacked, according to the International Maritime Agency, a United Nations agency. The Guard navy rarely claimed the attacks, which analysts said were most likely carried out by drones fired from mobile launchers on land, generating a faint footprint that is difficult to trace. On April 8, after a two-week ceasefire in the war was announced, General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 90 per cent of the regular navys fleet, including its main warships, sat at the bottom of the ocean. An estimated half of the Guard navys fast-attack boats were also sunk, Caine said, but did not specify how many. Estimates of the overall number range from hundreds to thousands; it is difficult to count them. Loading

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The boats are often too small to appear on satellite images, and they are moored along piers within deep caves excavated along the rocky coastline, ready to be deployed in minutes, analysts said. Their arsenal poses a major threat to commercial shipping. It remains a disruptive force, said Admiral Gary Roughead, a retired chief of US Naval Operations. You never quite knew what they were up to and what their intentions were. The Guard land forces were formed soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution because its leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, did not trust the regular army to protect the new government. The Guard navy was added in about 1986. The regular navy had proved reluctant during the Iran-Iraq war to attack oil tankers from Iraqs financial backers, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, said Farzin Nadimi, a specialist on the Guard navy at the Washington Institute, a policy think tank in the US capital. Eventually, those attacks were ratcheted up, and the US then deployed warships to escort tankers. One of them, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, almost sank after hitting an Iranian mine. In a subsequent battle, the US Navy scuppered two Iranian frigates and several other naval vessels.

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Three years later, the Iranians watched as the US laid waste to the Iraqi military during the first Persian Gulf War. That combination of events convinced Iran that it could never prevail in a confrontation with the US military, so it developed a stealth force to harass ships in the gulf, Nadimi said. The Guard navy has an estimated 50,000 men, he said, and divides its forces into five sectors along the gulf, including some presence on many of the 38 gulf islands that Iran controls. Overall, it has constructed at least 10 well-hidden, fortified bases for attack boats. One, Farur, is the centre of operations for the naval special forces, whose equipment, down to their sunglasses, is modelled on that of US counterparts. The IRGC navy has always believed that it is at the forefront of the confrontation with the Great Satan, and has been in constant friction with the Americans in the gulf, Nadimi said.

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Irans navy relies on mini submarines, such as the Ghadir-942, to menace ships. AP Iran started by using recreational boats mounted with rocket-propelled grenades or machine guns, naval analysts said. Over the years, it built a range of specially designed small boats, as well as miniature submarines and marine drones. Iran claims that some of those boats can exceed 100 knots, or 180km/h, experts said. The Guard navy also recently developed larger, more sophisticated warships, many of which were targeted in the war, said Alex Pape, the chief maritime expert at defence analyst Janes. Those damaged included its largest drone carrier, the Shahid Bagheri, a converted container ship that could also launch anti-ship missiles. To counter a potential swarm of smaller boats, US warships have high-calibre cannons and other weaponry, experts said. Commercial vessels have no way to fend off such attacks. But the Iranians have never tested swarm attacks of small boats in combat, said Nicholas Carl, an Iran expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank.

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Weapons, like this 20mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) cannon are being used by US Navy vessels to counter Iranian gunboat and drone threats. AP Since Trump on Monday imposed a naval blockade on ships travelling from Iranian ports, even the most powerful US warships are avoiding spending any time patrolling near the narrow Strait of Hormuz. There is little room to manoeuvre and almost no warning time to ward off a drone or a missile fired at close range, experts said. The US warships enforcing the blockade are likely to remain outside the strait, in the Gulf of Oman or even farther, in the Arabian Sea, where they can monitor shipping traffic but are far more difficult for the Guard to attack, experts said. On Wednesday, Iran warned that it could expand operations into the Red Sea, another key shipping route in the region, through its proxy force in Yemen. A long history of confrontation The Guard navy has long played games of cat and mouse with the US military inside the Persian Gulf. Roughead recalls that in the 1990s and 2000s, the small attack craft would approach American warships at high speed, then veer off when 800 metres away.

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Drone warfare has amplified the danger level, he said. Cheap and sometimes hard to detect, drones can inflict significant damage on a warship worth billions of dollars. Occasionally, the Guard navy has engaged directly with American or other forces. In early 2016, it captured two small US naval boats. The 10 sailors, filmed on their knees, were later released unharmed. The episode caused an uproar in the United States. Brigadier General Mohammad Nazeri, a founder of the Guard naval special forces, who led that attack, achieved cult-like status in Iran. He inspired a reality show on state television, The Commander, which ran for five seasons. Each season, about 30 contestants competed for the chance to become a naval commando. They demonstrated their survival skills or such feats of daring as jumping off cliffs into the gulf. After each round, viewers voted for their favourite hero.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Analysis WorldMiddle EastIran Irans secret weapon in its war against the US is also its biggest bargaining chip Mark Mazzetti , Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes April 19, 2026  4:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on the argument that if Iran one day got a nuclear weapon, it would have the ultimate deterrent against future attacks. It turns out that Iran already has a deterrent: its geography. Irans decision to flex its control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic choke point through which 20 per cent of the worlds oil supply flows, has brought global economic pain in the form of higher prices for petrol, fertiliser and other staples. A boat sails past a tanker anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on Saturday. AP It has upended war planning in the US and Israel, where officials have had to devise military options to wrest the strait from Iranian control.

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The US-Israeli war has significantly damaged Irans leadership structure, larger naval vessels and missile-production facilities, but it has done little to restrict Irans ability to control the strait. Iran could thus emerge from the conflict with a blueprint for its hard-line theocratic government to keep its adversaries at bay, regardless of any restrictions on its nuclear program. Everyone now knows that if there is a conflict in the future, closing the strait will be the first thing in the Iranian textbook, said Danny Citrinowicz, a former head of the Iran branch of Israels military intelligence agency and now a fellow at the Atlantic Council. You cannot beat geography. Loading In several social media posts on Friday, President Donald Trump said the strait  which in one post, he called the Strait of Iran  was completely open to shipping. Irans foreign minister made a similar declaration. On Saturday, however, Irans Revolutionary Guard said the waterway remained closed, suggesting a divide among Iranian military and civilians on the issue during negotiations to end the war.

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Whereas just the prospect of sea mines is enough to scare off commercial shipping, Iran retains far more precise means of control: attack drones and short-range missiles. US military and intelligence officials estimate that, after weeks of war, Iran still has about 40 per cent of its arsenal of attack drones and upwards of 60 per cent of its missile launchers  more than enough to hold shipping in the Strait of Hormuz hostage in the future. A central goal of the US-led military campaign in Iran is now reopening the strait, which was open when the war began. It is a precarious position for the US, and its adversaries have taken notice. Its not clear how the truce between Washington and Tehran will play out. But one thing is certain  Iran has tested its nuclear weapons. Its called the Strait of Hormuz. Its potential is inexhaustible, Dmitri Medvedev, a former president of Russia and deputy chair of the countrys security council, wrote on social media last week. Tankers trying (and apparently failing) to make a run through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran declared it open. X/Osinttechnical Irans control over the strait forced Trump to announce a naval blockade of his own, and this week the US Navy began forcing cargo ships into Iranian ports after they transited the waterway.

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Iran responded with anger, but also taunting. The Strait of Hormuz isnt social media. If someone blocks you, you cant just block them back, one Iranian diplomatic outpost, which has posted snarky messages throughout the war, wrote on the social platform X in response to Trumps move. The dispute over the strait has been the focus of numerous AI-generated videos depicting American and Israeli officials as Lego characters. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war Pocketing billions: How the Iran war has thrown Putin an oily lifeline Still, the impact of the US blockade has been real. Seaborne trade accounts for roughly 90 per cent of Irans economic output  about $US340 million ($475 million) a day  and that flow in recent days has largely ground to a halt. Iran considers the blockade an act of war and has threatened to attack it. But so far, it has not, nor has the US tried during the current ceasefire to reduce Irans grip over the strait when the conflict finally ends.

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It may be that both countries see there is a real window to have negotiations and didnt want to escalate the conflict right now, retired Admiral Kevin Donegan, who once commanded the US Navys fleet with responsibility for the Middle East, said during a seminar hosted by the Middle East Institute this week. Iran tried to block the Strait of Hormuz once before, mining it and the Persian Gulf during the conflict with Iraq during the 1980s. But mine warfare is dangerous, and decades later Iran has effectively harnessed missile and drone technology to threaten both commercial and military maritime traffic. The Iranian regime has put drones to good use in its retaliation against the strikes carried out by the US and Israel. AP While the US and Israeli war significantly damaged Irans weapons-manufacturing capability, Iran has preserved enough of its missiles, launchers and one-way attack drones to put shipping in the strait at risk. US intelligence and military estimates vary, but multiple officials said Iran had about 40 per cent of its prewar arsenal of drones. Those drones have proved to be a powerful deterrent. While they are easily shot down by US warships, commercial tankers have few defences.

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Iran also has ample supplies of missiles and missile launchers. At the time of the ceasefire, Iran had access to about half its missile launchers. In the days that immediately followed, it dug out about 100 systems that had been buried inside caves and bunkers, bringing its stockpile of launchers back up to about 60 per cent of its prewar level. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war The next big Iran war question: Who will lose from the missile shortage? Iran is also digging out its supply of missiles, similarly buried in rubble from US attacks on its bunkers and depots. When that work is done, Iran could reclaim as much as 70 per cent of its prewar arsenal, according to some American estimates. Officials note that the counts of Irans weapon stocks are not precise. Intelligence assessments offer a broad look at how much power Iran retains. But while estimates of Irans missile stockpiles differ, there is agreement among officials that Iran has enough weaponry to halt shipping in the future.

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Irans government chose not to block the Strait of Hormuz last June, when Israel launched a military campaign that the US eventually joined to hit deeply buried nuclear sites. Citrinowicz, the former Israeli official, said that decision probably reflected the cautious approach of Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who might have been concerned that blocking the strait could have led other countries to join the military campaign against Iran. Khamenei was killed during the first day of the current war, a move that signalled to Iranian officials that American and Israeli goals for this conflict were far more expansive. Editor's pick Magazine

Sunday Life The April 19 Edition April 19, 2026 Iran saw the June war as an Israeli war for their own strategic objectives, Citrinowicz said. This is a regime-change war. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
After the Cold War ended some countries continued to develop fifth generation aircraft, the following included:

F-22 Raptor 2005 - Advanced stealth air superiority fighter with supercruise capability.

Eurofighter Typhoon 2003 - Multirole fighter designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

F-35 Lightning II 2015 - Stealth multirole fighter with advanced avionics and sensor fusion.

Sukhoi Su-57 2019 - Russian stealth fighter with super maneuverability and advanced avionics.

Chengdu J-20 2016 - Chinese stealth fighter designed for air dominance and precision strikes.

Dassault Rafale 2001 - French multirole fighter capable of conducting a wide range of missions.

The latest American warplanes, the F-22 and F-35, are often called 5th generation fighters. This leaves many wondering what the other generations were. The first generation of jet fighters were developed during and right after World War II, German Me-262, British Meteor, U.S. F-80, and Russian MiG-15. These aircraft were, even by the standards of the time, difficult to fly and unreliable, especially the engines. The 2nd generation 1950s included more reliable, but still dangerous to operate, aircraft like the F-104 and MiG-21. The 3rd generation 1960s included F-4 and MiG-23. The 4th generation 1970s included F-16 and MiG-29. Each generation has been about twice as expensive on average, in constant dollars as the previous one. But each generation is also about twice as safe to fly and cheaper to operate. Naturally, each generation was more than twice as effective as the previous one. The Russians developed and put into service the Su-57. Russia is developing a 6th generation warplane which will be unmanned and largely robotic.

The F-16 thus follows the path of previous best selling fighters. During The Cold War 1947-91 Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s, and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s, but since 1991 warplane manufacturing has plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong until now. The U.S. still has about 1,200 F-16s in service, about half with reserve units. F-16s built so far went to 27 countries. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used warplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 will be replacing all U.S. F-16s in the next decade. So, the U.S. has plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, and many allies in need of low cost jet fighters.

Sixth generation aircraft in development include the American F-47, the Chinese J-36 and J-50.

The F-47 specifications are unknown. No data has been released on how much it weighs, what weapons it carries, max altitude or much else besides a top speed of Mach 2 and a range of 1,900 kilometers. The air force plans to buy up to 200 aircraft that will enter service before 2029. The F-47 will cost three times as much as the F-35.

China also has sixth generation aircraft. The J-36 is a tailless three engine fighter

The J-50 is smaller and, like the J-36, still in development

China has also developed carrier based aircraft and is seeking to adapt the J-36 for use on aircraft carriers.
THE vast majority of issues with heat pumps in new social housing units in Carlow are because people are fiddling with the controls, Tadhg Madden, housing officer, Carlow Co Council, told councillors at this months Bagenalstown municipal district meeting.

"Theyre meant to be left alone. People are turning them off and once theyre turned off, it takes a number of days to get the system back up, he explained.

Cllr Andy Gladney brought up the issue after a presentation of the councils annual service plan for housing by Mr Madden. He asked for an explanation on what happens when an air-to-water boiler breaks down and the council maintenance crew cant fix it.

Well fix them if we can, replied Mr Madden. But if it requires actual work on them, theres warrantees on those units and if theyre touched by anyone other than the supplier, the warranty will be deemed void. So, it has to go back to the installer there.

Im not being awkward about this, but that's the same as buying a car. If you bought a car like a Toyota, thats based in Japan, when youre living in Ireland, and you cant hire anyone to fix it, you have to wait for someone from Japan to come to fix it, argued cllr Gladney.

Not entirely. If you buy off a garage, you have to go back to the garage you bought it from and that ensures your warranty is okay, said Mr Madden in reply.

After finding out the warranty on the heat pumps is seven years, cllr Willie Quinn asked: What do we do then, Tadhg, after the seven years? Ill talk to you in seven years about that Willie. Youll be gone somewhere else and you wont care, cllr Quinn posited.

Hopefully, Ill be here. You could be stuck with me a bit longer. Look, I appreciate what youre saying. Its not a great situation, but we are where we are and this is an EU directive and we have to follow that, concluded Mr Madden.
THE Fair Green park in Bagenalstown is one of only six places in the country which received government funding to develop an outdoor interactive space for teenagers.

The project, due to be completed in time for summer, will provide sheltered and accessible seating, outdoor gaming tables, a smart bench with WIFI and an in-ground trampoline on the southern side of the Fair Green, opposite the church.

Bagenalstown councillors learned of the project at a meeting of the municipal district on 1 April. In his presentation, Barry Knowles, director of services at Carlow Co Council, noted the project was a fantastic opportunity for Bagenalstown. Its a chance to have something specifically for them; a space that reflects their needs, their ideas of spending time. This space will provide teenagers with a flexible, safe place to spend time together. Minister for children Norma Foley made the funding announcement allocating 50,000 to Carlow Co Council for the project in Bagenalstown in June 2025. The funding was sourced from dormant accounts after research showed that more play and recreation spaces were needed for the nearly half-a-million teenagers in Ireland.

Carlow Co Council worked with Carlow Regional Youth Service and Comhairle na nOg to develop the application for the area in Bagenalstown. A further 20,000 in funding was secured from Michael Brennan, director of services for community affairs at Carlow Co Council. Mr Knowles said planning and preparation is complete, a contractor has been appointed, and works are due to start in early May 2026.

Cathaoirleach Daniel Pender said: Its a very positive development for a park in the centre of town. Its something thats different. Cllr Andy Gladney said the project was great for the kids, the teenagers as well. I hope theyll appreciate it and look after it 100%.
April 19, 2026: In March the United States Navy launched 850 Tomahawk missiles against Iran. This was the largest number of these missiles ever used in a military operation. Previously only 802 missiles were used during the 2003 Iraq war and 325 in 1998 for operations against Libya. The current high usage could be a problem because only a few hundred of these missiles are manufactured each year. The missiles cost over $3 million each and take about 20 months to build. Last year only 57 Tomahawks were delivered. About 200 are on order for delivery in 2027. Increasing production requires several years to build the production facilities and obtain all the explosive and other materials required.

While the exact number of missiles still available is classified, it is believed that only 3,000 missiles are held in service. That might not be enough to defend Taiwan in a war with China.

These 1.3 ton missiles are 5.56 meters long and have a 310 kg warhead containing 120 kg of high explosives. Top speed is 920 kilometers an hour and maximum range is classified but believed to be nearly 2,000 kilometers. They are launched from shipborne VLS/Vertical Launch System tubes used by American and many foreign navies. China is planning a new surface warship with 200 VLS cells.

The current version, the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, can be used against enemy ships and can loiter until a target is identified. This missile can detect targets and calculate how best to attack.

One of the most effective delivery systems for Tomahawk are the four SSGN/Cruise Missile Firing Nuclear submarines. These are Ohio class SSBNs converted to carry 154 missiles with additional space for a detachment of SEAL commandos and their equipment. Another effective delivery system is the Virginia Class SSN/Attack Submarine.

Then theres the new Tomahawk. The RGM-109E Block IV Surface Ship Vertical Launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missile weighs 1.2 tons, is six meters long, has a range of 1,600 kilometers, a speed of 600-900 kilometers an hour, flying at an altitude of 17-32 meters and propelled by a jet engine generating only 600 pounds of thrust. Accuracy of ten meters is on a par with JDAM guided bombs. The Block IV Tomahawk can be reprogrammed in flight to hit another target and carries a vidcam to allow a missile to check on prospective targets.

The latest class of Virginia has additional space to store and launch missiles and can carry 65 missiles and torpedoes, 75 percent more than earlier Virginias. This is accomplished by adding a VPM/Virginia Payload Module to the current design. This adds 25.6 meters to the length of the sub and increases displacement to 10,400 tons. The VPM adds four more large launch tubes that can hold different sizes of missiles. For example, each of the launch tubes can carry seven Tomahawk cruise missiles or a smaller number of new missile designs in development, like the hypersonic missile. Earlier Virginias have their vertical launch tubes forward of the sail\conning tower. The VPM is added behind the sail. The VPM design was not ready when the first block 5 began construction so the first two Block 5s will lack the VPM and be the same size as earlier Virginias. These two Block 5s will have all the other additional features common to all Block 5s. This includes improved electronics and sensors, and it is believed that the passive sonar in these model Virginias have much longer and more accurate detection ranges. Block 5 will also receive a large number of other equipment upgrades.

The additional missile capacity of Block 5 and subsequent Virginias is also meant to replace the cruise missile capacity being lost as the four Ohio-Class SSGNs are retired. The success of the Ohio SSGNs led to the VPM, although it will require 22 VPM equipped Virginias to replace the Tomahawk carrying capacity of the SSGNs. This was seen as an advantage because there were few instances where an SSGN had to fire all or most of their Tomahawks. The VPM does not turn Virginia into an SSGN because all Virginias are still attack boats.
During the March-April Israeli American attacks on Iran, the Israeli Mossad secret service had numerous operatives inside Iran reporting on the location and activities of Iranian leaders, scientists and the IRGC forces that guarded Irans most important facilities and personnel. This enabled Israeli and American air forces to destroy these personnel and their hideouts/locations quickly and efficiently. This included Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf attempting to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. So far, the passage has been blocked for six weeks while efforts continue to open the Strait for about 90 tankers seeking to pass. Iran allowed about twenty Chinese tankers to pass, because China is the only ally Iran has left and Iranian oil is vital for the Chinese economy.

The Israeli government continues its policy of going public with the accomplishments of Mossad foreign intelligence and Shin Bet domestic intelligence. Israel made it clear that the growing number of disclosures played an important role in deterring attacks. There was also the impact on foreign governments, and the enemy, because the disclosures made it clear what the enemy was up to and why international action was necessary. These disclosures, especially the identity and photos of foreign terrorist leaders, reinforced the personal danger these foreign terrorist leaders placed themselves in. Israel has gone after terrorist leaders in the past, usually after a particularly gruesome attack, especially when a lot of civilians were killed.

For Israels enemies, especially Iran, it is no secret that the Mossad remains a formidable organization. Israel has its own spy satellites and manned aircraft or UAVs that regularly obtain aerial photos to document Iranian efforts to do harm to Israel. For a long time Iran, and most other nations, believed Israel would not make public photos and other information Mossad had collected. It has long been customary for intel agencies to keep such material secret so as not to reveal methods and sources. The classic example was during World War II when the allies had a tremendous intel edge because they had cracked many German and Japanese secret codes used for wireless transmission of information to combat units and embassies. The Germans and Japanese believed that their cryptography secret codes were invulnerable to enemy decoding efforts. On paper they were correct, but the Americans and British cryptographers found ways to do it and as long as those discoveries were kept secret the intel advantage remained. To do that every use of secret enemy information had to have a plausible cover story and that worked. Post-war interrogation of enemy officials verified that those cover stories worked. So the secrecy policy continued after World War II.

Everything changed when the Internet and commercial satellite photos, available to all as in Google Earth in 2011, made it easier to go public with these revelations, because it was increasingly happening anyway as amateurs revealed the same data, often finding things that the intel agencies had missed.

Meanwhile governments began to reveal such secret data more and more after the 1960s. The U.S. revealed the aerial photos they had of Russian missiles in Cuba. While revelations like that did not become common, they did become more frequent. The Israelis were just the first to do it in a big way. Now it is common for Mossad to regularly make such revelations, because it is worth it.

For example, Mossad revealed how, during the last few years, it had provided key information that aborted fifty terrorist attacks, in twenty nations, being organized by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or Iran. Twelve of these attacks were against Turkey and the Turks reported arrests of the perpetrators and details of the attacks, but rarely mentioned that the key information came from Israel.

While European nations and even Russia will often mention the Mossad contribution, the current Turkish government will not. The Mossad revelation was aimed at Turkey which, until an Islamic government took over two decades ago, was an Israeli ally. The Islamic government was now losing elections and increasingly unpopular with most Turks. Mossad saw an opportunity to remind Turks who their real friends are.

The Mossad revelations also showed the worldwide reach of the Israeli intelligence agency. For example, some of the disrupted attacks were in Venezuela, where the Israeli help was appreciated. Interim Venezuelan president Juan Guaido said he wanted to work with Israel to identify and arrest or expel Iranian backed Islamic terrorist operations in Venezuela, along with any other criminal organizations Iran created and sustains. Hezbollah has been part of the criminal underground in Venezuela for decades and has been able to expand its operations considerably since the socialist government took power in 1999.

Israels main intelligence agency, Mossad, Hebrew for Institute, is officially known as ha-Mossad le-Modiin ule-Tafkidim Meyuhadim; The Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks. Mossad was established in 1951 and has always been a small organization, with fewer than 2,000 full-time staff. In its first few decades, Mossad had a major advantage over intelligence agencies in other nations. That was because in the first few years after Israel was founded in 1948 over a million Jews from all over the world moved to Israel. This proved to be a gold mine of candidates for an organization that analyzed and spied on foreign countries. All these immigrants spoke the language of their former home countries and understood the culture like natives. Thousands of these immigrants joined Mossad over the years, and some of them went back to the countries they were born and raised in to gather information and set up networks of spies. Mossad was exceptionally effective at what it did despite Israels small size. Mossad became the envy of much larger intelligence agencies in places like the United States and the Soviet Union. But the Israelis had to be careful because some of those spies were discovered and executed.

That first generation of Mossad spies is gone now and Israel has to work harder to maintain personnel standards Mossad has long been accustomed to. Mossad adapts and now uses the Internet to recruit Israelis with ethnic backgrounds useful for intelligence work. These recruits often have to undergo language and cultural awareness training that will please grandparents and be a lifesaver if the new agents find themselves operating in the Old Country. Israel has a growing number of Turkish Jews who are leaving the ancient world often since before Turkey became Turkey's homeland to escape the current governments hostility towards Israel.

Discussing past operations in foreign countries is usually something intel agencies abhor. Too much risk of revealing techniques still in use. But Mossad has found that degree of secrecy counterproductive because Mossad has always gotten a lot of usually ill-informed publicity and has found that this can be useful to unnerve opponents. Thus, Mossad revealed more details than usual about the daring January 2018 operation that got half a ton of top-secret Iranian nuclear weapons program documents out of Iran and back to Israel in less than 24 hours. Israel quickly sent a senior intel official to the United States to brief the American president about the operation and arrange for the Americans to get details as quickly as the documents could be translated. Mossad went public about the operation 90 days after it took place, if only to set the record straight and further embarrass the Iranians, who were trying to deny that the operation happened at all. Mossad also saw such an operation as providing a boost for recruiting and reminding other nations that it was better to have Mossad as your friend than your foe.

Mossad is deliberately public in other ways. In the last few years, Mossad has been using Facebook, as well as its various recruiting websites, to attract the few good men and women it needs to maintain the personnel quality that has made so many foreign operations possible and successful. Mossad has been recruiting via the Internet since the 1990s but apparently noted that a lot of potential Mossad recruits regarded Facebook as their primary Internet destination. While the Mossad website goes into detail about jobs available, the Facebook approach was more general, using a flashy video. Mossad notes that it has full and part-time jobs and is able to accommodate those with disabilities as long as they have the skills Mossad seeks. Some of the specific skills sought include leatherwork, an accountant willing to travel a lot and a master carpenter able to do custom work. Mossad and other major intelligence agencies have long used Facebook for collecting information about what is going on in other countries, including recruiting local agents or informants there. But recruiting staff is another matter.

Mossad has been a lot more active recruiting new staff as well as agents since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. In addition, there is the continuing threat from Iran and the radicalization of more Moslems in the West, where the left has declared Israel the new Nazis and actively supports Islamic terrorist groups. That has given Mossad more work. Not surprisingly Mossad has applied the imagination and inventiveness they practice in their work by developing new recruiting methods.

A large influx of migrants from Russia and Eastern Europe in the 1980s gave Israel more Mossad candidates expert in those countries, but the biggest danger is still from Arab countries plus Iran and Pakistan. Many Israelis still learn to speak Arabic, but they usually only know the Palestinian dialects. Every Arab country has a quite distinct dialect, and cultural customs as well. So, Mossad is recruiting more energetically than it ever has had to do in the past.

Once a qualified recruit is accepted it takes years of effort and millions of dollars to turn that new hire into a useful operative. It takes about two years to fully train a Mossad katsa field intelligence officer, with the recruit being required to learn covert entry burglary, foot and vehicle surveillance/counter-surveillance, how to approach potential agents for recruitment, Arab culture and info on the militaries and security services of the Arab world, report writing, and covert communications. Operatives also have to be taught how to defend themselves with pistols, requiring an intensive crash course in how to fight with a handgun in all kinds of settings, like in a car or sitting down in a restaurant. Firearms training is more important for Israeli operatives than in other countries since Israel is in a continuous state of war and thus their operators are at more risk for being ambushed while meeting a contact.

None of this is cheap, in terms of time and money. Furthermore, espionage itself is an extremely expensive game. Lots of local sources are bribed for the information they provide, and the better the intelligence provided, the higher the price, with some highly placed foreign sources making thousands of dollars per item they deliver. Lots of introductions and recruitments take place in restaurant or bar-type settings, with the case officer picking up the tab, another psychological tactic for befriending potential agents. Finally, equipment such as bugging devices, counter bugging devices, specialized vehicles, forged passports and documents, standard-issue handguns, and a multitude of other items are not cheap either, as they often have to be specially developed by technicians in an in-house spy gear department. As a result, Mossad not only needs more field agents but also those who can come with new gadgets or improvements on old ones to help keep the field agents alive and effective.

Mossad reveals these many details on its Internet-based recruiting sites and gives potential recruits a realistic view of what they face if they make it from acceptable candidate to new recruit and finally to field operative. Espionage isnt really glamorous, its more of a grind with lots of boring tasks which, if not done correctly, can get you killed or worse, as in extended and painful interrogation. The fact that Mossad has turned publicity into an asset, and not something that will get agents killed, encourages Mossad staff and frightens opponents.
Home News This week in Christian history: Maryland bans blasphemy; Pope Leo IX dies; Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati born

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, numerous events of lasting significance have occurred.

Each week marks anniversaries of milestones, tragedies, triumphs, notable births and deaths.

Some events, spanning more than 2,000 years of history, might be familiar, while others may be unknown to many.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events from this week in Christian history, including the birth of Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati, the death of Pope Leo IX and Maryland banning blasphemy.
Home Opinion If God is all-knowing, how can man have free will?

If God knows everything youre going to do, can you still be free?

Its one of the oldest questions in philosophy. For centuries, theologians and skeptics alike have wrestled with the tension between divine foreknowledge and human freedom. If God already knows every decision you will make, are your decisions real? Or is the future already written  unchangeable, mechanical, and determined?

For many, this leads to a fatalistic view of history: that every action, every thought, every choice is merely the outworking of a divine decree. Foreknowledge, they assume, demands determinism. But that only seems true if you start with a false assumption about time and an impoverished view of God.

The dilemma collapses when you stop imagining God as a cosmic spectator watching a chronological timeline unfold. Because the God of the Bible is not bound by time  time is bound by Him.

The problem lies not in foreknowledge itself, but in our insistence on mapping Gods knowledge onto human temporality. We picture God like a being ahead of us on the timeline, peeking around the corner to see what well do. But God is not ahead of us in time  He is outside of time, or better put, time is inside of God. He is not watching history like a surveillance reel. Time is not His limit. Its His creation.

Foreknowledge doesnt demand determinism when the Foreknower is not trapped inside the system. If time exists within God  rather than God existing within time  then His knowledge of the future does not erase our agency. He does not cause our choices simply by knowing them. He sees the whole canvas, but we are still brushing the strokes.

This is not merely philosophical  it is thoroughly biblical. Romans 8:2930 reveals a divine sequence that cannot be ignored: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The order is clear:

1. Foreknowledge

2. Predestination

3. Calling

4. Justification

5. Glorification

This is not just theological trappings  it is divine logic. As Pastor Cary Gordon succinctly puts it: Gods powers of predestination operate according to His foreknowledge. Gods foreknowledge does not operate subject to His powers of predestination.

To reverse that order  to make Gods knowing dependent on His decreeing  is to collapse moral agency into mechanical fate and reduce the sovereignty of God to a caricature of control. But Scripture is not vague. It presents foreknowledge as the fountainhead from which Gods redemptive plan flows.

This is especially evident in Scriptures treatment of redemptive history. The Bible does not treat time as a flat, forward-marching progression. It presents a view of time centered not on chronology, but on redemption. The cross of Christ is not merely an event within time  it is the axis of divine purpose. It is the center point of a redemptive structure that extends forward and backward.

Even in the act of judgment, God anchors time in redemption. As He cursed the serpent in Genesis 3, He declared: He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. This wasnt just prophecy  it was the planting of a redemptive timeline. God wasnt merely observing history from start to finish; He was initiating a story that flows from the cross outward.

Abraham, Moses, and the saints of old were saved by looking ahead to the cross, just as we are saved by looking back. Gods redemptive time flows from the center of His redeeming work, not from the beginning of the universe. This means salvation  and therefore moral agency  is not bound to the clock but to covenant. It isnt determined by sequence, but by submission. Time in Gods story is teleological, not mechanical  it moves toward purpose, not fate.

When we understand time as teleological and not mechanical, we soon realize that time flows strongest from the cross and empty tomb. This is how we can obey Ephesians 5:16: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Time can be redeemed when we place redemptive purpose within it. When we ignore the redemptive purpose of time, it certainly does become mechanical, unfolding our eternity toward Hell. But that isnt the purpose of time. Time is not merely something that moves us forward  it reveals the redemptive work of God.

And heres where the Scriptures go further than most philosophers dare. While God is omniscient, the Bible plainly records moments where God speaks as if learning, responding, or waiting. In Genesis 18, He says, I will go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry. In Genesis 22, after Abrahams obedience, God says, Now I know that you fear God.

These phrases are not divine gaps in Gods all-knowing nature. They are divine decisions to engage relationally within time. They reveal that omniscience is not surveillance. Gods power is not diminished by His restraint. He may choose not to know certain details in order to test, reveal, and relate without violating the moral agency of His creatures.

What the Bible is teaching is that God is so sovereign that even His knowledge is under His command. He governs His omniscience. He is self-sovereign in every area. God knows the end from the beginning.

Consider that a fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Self-control, simply put, is sovereignty over ones being. We are to be able to bridle ourselves. God is not lopsided in His attributes; rather, He is all of them all at once. This means that His love is a just love and likewise His justice is a loving justice. This is true of His omniscience and sovereignty as well  they are relational, redemptive, and transcendent.

This understanding safeguards what both the Bible and your own soul already testify: that your choices matter. You are not a puppet in a pre-written play. You are a moral agent acting in real time, accountable to the One who both sees and judges. And that God  infinitely wise, infinitely good  can foreknow the end without forcing your decisions.

His knowing is not your undoing. It is the backdrop against which your freedom gains its value.

Gods sovereignty doesnt cancel agency. It elevates it. And His foreknowledge does not nullify your choice. It gives it eternal weight. More than this, though, Gods foreknowledge and sovereignty are elevated in the presence of our legitimate moral agency. We do not elevate God  rather, it is His design and redemptive purpose that show off the pinnacle of His sovereignty.

Because while He knows the end from the beginning, He still says, Choose this day whom you will serve. And that choice isnt a figment of your imagination. It is the weight of eternal destiny.
Home Opinion Trans medicine receives another major blow

Trans activists loudly claim that medicalizing gender confused youth is settled science and saves lives. This is meant to shut down any doubt or debate on this critically important topic.

Thankfully, a few undeterred scholars are asking important questions and demonstrating just how false trans activists claims really are.

An impressive new Finnish study, published in the Swedish academic journal Acta Paediatrica, is extending the damning conclusions of the UKs 2024 Cass Review. The report was unequivocal in concluding that the so-called settled science of trans medicine is an area of remarkably weak evidence and the reality is that we have no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress.

The new Finnish study provides the good evidence. Its findings on long-term outcomes, based on extremely strong data sets, dont bode well for trans activists overconfident claims. Finlands government-run medical system has an extremely rigorous tracking system containing detailed medical and psychiatric records on all citizens dating back to 1994. Drawing from this, the study conducted an analysis of every patient under 23 who attended Finnish gender identity clinics from 1996 to 2019 and compared them with a matched control group.

This means their study population is uniquely comprehensive  it analyzed the entire gender treatment patient population in the country for years and years. Other studies have only included those who chose to take part, seriously undermining the validity of their claims. The Finnish school system also regularly screens students for mental health disorders. It consists of two timeframes: 1996 to 2010, and 2011 to 2019, the time when those trans identity numbers started exploding in many countries, likely from social contagion.

So, what did this comprehensive Finnish study find? Its a pretty direct conclusion: The whole basis of transgender ideology and practice is wrong. As the study revealed, Gender-referred adolescents showed significantly higher psychiatric morbidity than controls, and severe psychiatric morbidity increased substantially in two-plus year clinical follow-ups. Those who sought gender services in the second, larger cohort had greater psychiatric needs than earlier cohorts.

In fact, these medical researchers state,

Among adolescents who underwent medical gender reassignment, psychiatric morbidity increased markedly during follow-up  rising from 9.8% to 60.7% in feminizing gender reassignment and from 21.6% to 54.5% in masculinizing gender reassignment.

They add,

After adjusting for prior psychiatric treatment, all gender-referred adolescents had similarly elevated risks of psychiatric morbidity, with hazard ratios approximately three times higher than female controls and five times higher than male controls.

These findings directly challenge the assumption that gender transition is a natural, harmless occurrence and that taking sex-rejecting hormones and cutting off healthy body parts benefits patients. In fact, the researchers bluntly confess, This does not support the suggested improvement in mental health after medical GR [gender reassignment].

Thus, this research supports previous conclusions that those struggling with gender confusion suffer from other serious parallel psychological comorbidities. A group of Austrian scholars explained in the Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2025 that gender dysphoric adolescents presenting to specialized gender identity services experience varying degrees of co-occurring mental health problems.

They note that 71% of such patients suffer from moderate- to high-distress psychopathology (48% and 23% respectively) while only 29% suffer at low-distress levels. Most of these patients (77%) enjoyed high levels of social support in the midst of their struggles, belying another tired line of gay/trans rhetoric.

This Finnish study confirms that gender confused patients arent otherwise healthy people simply born in the wrong body, and if we just give them what they say they need, all will be well. Doing so actually appears to make things worse.



The Finnish research team, working from the same stellar population sample, also reported two years ago in the British Medical Journal that the Main predictor of mortality in this population is psychiatric morbidity, and medical gender reassignment does not have an impact on suicide risk. The Cass Review came to the same conclusion: Tragically deaths by suicide in trans people of all ages continue to be above the national average, but there is no evidence that gender-affirmative treatments reduce this.

The manipulative claims of trans activists continue to crumble, thanks to carefully done science by honest researchers.

This Breakpoint was co-authored by Glenn Stanton

Originally published at BreakPoint.
by Austin Bay April 18, 2026

In November 1979, as they seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took American diplomats hostage, Shia Islamic thugs loyal to the Ayatollah Khomeini screamed, "Death to America!"

Seizing an embassy is an act of war, so Khomeini's thugs intentionally started a war with the U.S.

Why? The ayatollah declared his movement had worldwide goals. He insistently called his thugs "global revolutionaries." To wage and win a global war, Khomeini knew he had to target and defeat the preeminent world power. He concluded he could defeat it by existing -- existing and resisting America with relentless, undefeatable defiance.

Resistance included degrading America economically. He had a handy territorial energy weapon: Persian Gulf oil flowing through Hormuz. He could undermine America by consorting with criminal gangs -- besides, narcotics and human trafficking made money.

Blood gets headlines. His thugs and proxies could wound America by launching spectacular but plausibly deniable terror attacks. These attacks would expose American cowardice, its lassitude, weakness and decadence, and demonstrate the limitations of American military power.

Khomeini's cultists would employ these criminal, guerrilla, terror and other gray area tactics until ... the moment their Iran acquired its own nuclear arsenal.

With their own nuclear arsenal, Iran's cultists could threaten the entire southwest Asian energy and natural resource zone with immolation.

A nuclear arsenal and its proximity to southwest Asia's resources would make Iran a Great Power. Sure, Khomeini's Islamic veneer was useful politically, but lurking behind his vision was a restoration of the Persian Empire.

Delusional? Insane? Sure, but delusions often spawn grim and deadly realities -- remember, Hitler wanted to establish a 1,000-year Reich.

If the Khomeini regime obtained deliverable nuclear weapons, the world would face several grisly scenarios:

1. Global economic blackmail as the regime threatens regional oil and gas exports.

2. Nuclear attacks in southwest Asia (possibly Europe).

3. Israeli preemption.

Decades ago, Ayatollah Iran dismissed Israel as a "one bomb state." Israel would face nuclear destruction -- unless Tel Aviv struck first. If Israel struck first, then the Israelis would be guilty of denying the world its daily oil ration, and that would justify Iranian retaliation and invasion by Iranian proxy armies.

Indeed. Obtaining nukes was and is central to the Khomeinist Death to America Cult.

So -- "Death to America!" is often howled in English. Why English? Media and propaganda purposes. Khomeini wanted to frighten and provoke Americans. In 1979 (before auto-translation applications), English had far more media impact than Farsi. Screaming death threats in English all but guaranteed coverage by the BBC and CBS.

In 2026, X and Truth Social trump the BBC. Forty-seven years after the Carter administration, Donald Trump's America is quite vibrant and unquestionably more powerful than it was in 1979, as President Jimmy Carter's years of malaise, dithering and guilt trips lurched into 1980.

The Trump administration understands nuclear weapons are central to the regime's strategy and existence. In June 2025, B-2 stealth bombers entered Iranian air space undetected and destroyed key nuclear facilities. U.S. and Israeli intelligence knew where the nuclear "dust" was stashed.

But as late as February 2026, Iran's relentlessly defiant thugs bet America lacked the will to finish the job. Rather than risk a major war in an election year, America would buckle. They fantasized the U.S., in lieu of protracted war, would ultimately accept a new version of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Obama-Biden faculty club administration's ridiculous name for appeasement of Iran's radical religious dictatorship. The JCPOA essentially permitted endless negotiation with the dictatorship rather than requiring verified inspection of nuclear facilities.

Then the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran on Feb. 28.

Now the U.S. Navy controls the Strait of Hormuz and the robed thugs face an embargo. Global powermongers? No. Wretched, murderous thugs who'll soon be fleeing lynch mobs.
US President Donald Trump holds a rendering of the East Wing modernization as he speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on March 29, 2026.

A federal appeals court is allowing President Donald Trump to continue building a $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling a day after a lower court judge continued to block above-ground construction on the site of the former East Wing.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit late Friday put on temporary hold the order by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon halting part of the project. The panel scheduled a hearing for June 5 to review the case.

In his ruling Thursday, Leon continued to block above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom addition while allowing only below-ground work to continue on a bunker and other "national security facilities" at the site.

Trump tore down the East Wing last fall to build the massive ballroom there. The National Trust for Historic Preservation later sued to block construction, arguing that Trump had overstepped his authority by proceeding with the project without first obtaining approval from key federal agencies and Congress.

Leon ruled in favor of the nonprofit group at the end of March but put his decision on hold for a brief period, allowing the underground work to continue. The administration appealed.

Trump has said the ballroom is a long-overdue addition to the White House complex and argues that he has the right to build it because the cost will be covered by donations from wealthy individuals and corporations, though taxpayer dollars will pay for security.
Boston University has paused the enforcement of a policy that led to the removal of Pride flags from campus offices, following weeks of protests from students, faculty, and alumni who criticised the action as a suppression of free expression and LGBTQ+ visibility.

President Melissa Gilliam acknowledged the impact of the policy in a letter to the university community, describing the situation as difficult and apologising for the distress caused. She characterised the decision as a temporary pause rather than a full reversal, signalling a review of the policy and its implementation.

What Is the Boston University Pride Flag Policy?

The controversy centres on a 2024 update to Boston University's 'time, place, and manner' signage policy, which governs outward-facing displays in campus offices. The administration has defended the policy as content-neutral, applying to all visible signage and decorations.

Flags, posters, and other displays must adhere to guidelines intended to maintain an orderly campus environment. According to the university, items such as Pride flags can be relocated inside offices if they violate the outward-facing requirements.

Critics argue that enforcement has not been consistent, with Pride flags disproportionately targeted, raising questions about the policy's neutrality in practice.

Faculty and Student Response

Faculty members were among the first to raise concerns about the flag removals. Professor Nathan Phillips told GBH News that he repeatedly rehung his Pride flag after it was removed from his office window, citing the importance of maintaining freedom of expression.

Leaders of the Boston University chapter of the American Association of University Professors wrote to President Gilliam warning that selective enforcement of the signage policy was chilling speech on campus.

Students responded with protests and petitions, gathering more than 2,000 signatures, while alumni, including a former plaintiff in a free speech case against the university, voiced opposition to the policy. Faculty and students emphasised the symbolic importance of Pride flags, describing them as markers of inclusion, safety, and belonging for LGBTQ+ members of the campus community.

National Context and Broader Implications

The debate over Pride flags at Boston University comes amid broader national conversations about free speech and diversity initiatives in higher education. Universities across the United States have faced scrutiny over the balance between maintaining neutrality and supporting inclusive environments.

Recent years have seen heightened tensions on campuses over protests, political expression, and institutional policies, including demonstrations related to Palestine and renewed examination of diversity programmes under federal oversight.

Other universities, such as Brown University, have reported that policy changes and federal pressure have left some students uncertain about their safety and belonging, highlighting the wider implications of such disputes.

University Administration Perspective

In her letter, President Gilliam acknowledged that the policy had sparked questions about expression, safety, and respect. She emphasised the distinction between reviewing the signage rules and upholding the university's core values, including ensuring that LGBTQ+ students and staff feel welcome and respected.

'I am temporarily pausing the removal of outward-facing signs. Our University and our policies exist within a larger social contextone that is dynamic and complex,' said Gilliam. 'Let me be unequivocal: LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff are an essential part of Boston University. You belong here and are needed here. You are valued and have our support. We remain committed to ensuring all members of this University feel welcome, feel respected, and can thrive.'

The administration maintained that the policy is not intended to target any viewpoint, noting that the rules apply broadly to outward-facing signage. The temporary pause allows for additional consultation and consideration, signalling an intention to review the policy's practical and symbolic effects on the campus community.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Wall Street's scorching rally off its wartime lows back to new highs faces a big test this week: a jam-packed earnings calendar. The list of companies reporting stretches from linchpins of the AI trade like Club name GE Vernova to battleground software stocks such as ServiceNow to companies with their pulse on the industrial economy like steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs and copper miner Freeport-McMoRan . Don't forget Intel , which is at the center of the AI compute shortage, or Elon Musk's Tesla . Both of those reports are always talkers. The market will look to these earnings reports for insights into what the Iran war meant for businesses and economic activity over the past six-plus weeks. But, just as important, investors want to understand the outlook from here. Over the weekend, Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz after a brief reopening that sent stocks soaring on Friday. President Donald Trump , while again threatening infrastructure bombing, said Sunday he dispatched U.S. negotiators to Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials on Monday. Stocks held up better than expected during the Iran war sell-off, which bottomed on March 30 , in large part because investors were betting that many companies could still grow earnings this year. That's why this earnings season carries such weight. As quarterly results and forward guidance from management teams continue rolling in, we will find out whether that was the right bet to make. In a busy week ahead, the one thing that should matter most to us is the six Club names reporting. Here's a closer look at what we're watching (all revenue and earnings-per-share estimates are from LSEG). Capital One kicks off the action Tuesday night. This report can essentially be broken up into buckets. The first is everything related to the health of the consumer. That includes Capital One's credit metrics, such as its net charge-off rate and reserve builds to cover potential loan defaults. It also includes CEO Richard Fairbank's general commentary on spending trends. The second is all about progress on its acquisitions of credit-card issuer Discover and, in a recent surprise move, expense management startup Brex. Some of Capital One's stock weakness this year is out of its control (namely, President Donald Trump 's credit card cap proposal and the economic concerns tied to the Iran war). But we won't give any free passes on what Fairbank and his team can control. That means we need to see more tangible benefits of the blockbuster Discover deal, which closed 11 months ago, and get more clarity on the vision for Brex. On paper, Brex helps Capital One look even more like a mini American Express . But there are some questions about Brex's competitive standing versus peers such as Ramp. The Brex deal also added additional execution risk on top of Discover. Revenue: $15.36 billion EPS: $4.55 Boeing is due out Wednesday morning, and we hope to see a cleaner report than the one that landed in January , when the aircraft maker unexpectedly booked a $565 million charge in its defense segment. Of course, hope is not a strategy , so we trimmed our position last week to protect against any disappointment this time around. Our two well-timed buys during the March sell-off gave us the cover to make the sale. With Boeing already releasing its first-quarter plane deliveries ahead of the quarter, one of the focuses on Wednesday will be on orders  both in its commercial and defense divisions  and the size of their backlogs. At the end of Q4, Boeing's commercial backlog was over 6,100 planes, valued at a record $567 billion. The other main focus will be Boeing's free cash flow performance because, at this point, it's among the best ways to grade CEO Kelly Ortberg's progress in fixing the troubled planemaker. Boeing has posted back-to-back years of outflows, but this year it's guiding for positive free cash flow in the range of $1 billion to $3 billion. Revenue: $21.93 billion EPS: $0.83 GE Vernova reports alongside Boeing on Wednesday morning. Orders will also grab a lot of the attention, as the AI buildout drives demand for all things electrical. GE Vernova sits in the middle of the frenzied action because it makes both gas and wind turbines used to generate electricity and electrical grid equipment like transformers and switchgear. In the final three months of 2025, GE Vernova booked orders worth $22.2 billion, up 65% organically. For the first quarter, the consensus for new orders is $14.4 billion, according to Bank of America. GE Vernova's total backlog ended last year at $150 billion, and the company will provide an updated figure on Wednesday, with additional color on where it stands for the gas turbine business specifically. CEO Scott Strazik made a convincing case last quarter that its pricing power will not collapse as more turbine production supply across the industry comes online. Nevertheless, GE Vernova's operating profitability, both companywide and in the power segment, will remain under close scrutiny. Our ears will be open for any discussion of its nuclear business, too. Revenue: $9.18 billion EPS: $1.88 On Thursday, Honeywell reports before the bell. Propelled by an upbeat earnings report in January, the stock had been cruising to a series of record highs. Then the Iran war happened. Shares are off their war-driven lows, but it hasn't been a trampoline bounce like we've seen in other stocks (we're looking at you, Broadcom ). One thing possibly keeping a lid on shares: CEO Vimal Kapur saying at a mid-March conference that the company's first-quarter revenue will be light due to issues shipping product to the Middle East. Kapur said it wasn't going to impact its full-year outlook, but some investors may want to see the actual numbers  and see Honeywell reaffirm the guide once more  before they're ready to put money to work. In general, industrials like Honeywell tend to be more sensitive to the economic whims because customers may delay orders if they're feeling less certain in the trajectory of their own businesses. Another big box for Honeywell to check: confirm its long-awaited Aerospace spin-off is still on track for the third quarter. That's the long-awaited catalyst that has kept us patient in this stock. As it gets closer, the "spin purgatory" overhang should dissipate bit by bit  just as DuPont has demonstrated since its two-way breakup last fall. Revenue: $9.3 billion EPS: $2.32 Joining Honeywell on Thursday's docket is Dover , another industrial conglomerate. Unlike Honeywell, Dover has not announced plans to dramatically reshape its constellation of businesses, which spans from refrigerator doors to liquid cooling components for AI servers to car lifts at the autobody shop. But we would welcome any such announcement by Thursday. The company ended 2025 with some $2.7 billion in dry powder that could be deployed toward M & A. As Jim Cramer explained at our April Monthly Meeting, Dover is at risk of landing on the chopping block if we see a better opportunity. Dover isn't a bad company, and order trends and organic growth are on track for a solid, accelerating 2026  something we want to see reaffirmed Thursday. But ultimately, there are only so many stocks we can own. Dover needs to prove its worth. Revenue: $2 billion EPS: $2.26 The key metrics for Procter & Gamble on Friday morning are organic sales growth and profitability (both gross and operating margins). In the Tide parent's January earnings report, its fiscal 2026 second quarter, P & G saw a 1 percentage point decline in volumes and a 1 point pricing benefit, leading to flat organic sales. Executives, however, were confident that stronger growth was ahead in the back half of its fiscal year  so, we want to see that come to fruition in the January-to-March numbers. The heightened focus on profitability follows the war-driven spike in oil and disruptions to petrochemical supplies, leading to higher plastic prices , too. Despite the Middle East situation calming down, investors will still want to know how P & G's input costs are faring and what that means for its earnings outlook. Jim said on Friday's Morning Meeting he wouldn't buy any additional shares ahead of the release, though we are still optimistic that new CEO Shailesh Jejurikar can rejuvenate P & G and win back market share with fresh innovative products . P & G is our hedge against an economic downturn. Revenue: $20.54 billion EPS: $1.56 Week ahead Monday, April 20 Before the bell: Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) After the bell: Alaska Air (ALK), Steel Dynamics (STLD), Zions Bancorp (ZION) Tuesday, April 21 Commerce Department's Retail Sales Report at 8:30 a.m. ET National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index at 10 a.m. ET Before the bell: UnitedHealth Group (UNH), GE Aerospace (GE), 3M (MMM), D.R. Horton (DHI), Danaher (DHR), Genuine Parts Company (GPC), RTX (RTX), Synchrony Financial (SYF), Atlantic Union Bankshares (AUB), Quest Diagnostics (DGX), Equifax (EFX), Forestar Group (FOR), Halliburton (HAL), MSCI (MSCI), Northrop Grumman (NOC) After the bell: Capital One Financial (COF), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), EQT Corporation (EQT), Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR), United Airlines (UAL), W.R. Berkley (WRB), Chubb (CB) Wednesday, April 22 Before the bell: Boeing (BA), GE Vernova (GEV), Vertiv Holdings (VRT), AT & T (T), Elevance Health (ELV), Boston Scientific (BSX), Philip Morris International (PM), BankUnited (BKU), First BanCorp (FBP), Moody's (MCO), TE Connectivity (TEL), Wabtec (WAB) After the bell: Tesla (TSLA), ServiceNow (NOW), IBM (IBM), Lam Research (LRCX), Texas Instruments (TXN), Hexcel (HXL), CSX (CSX), Pathward Financial (CASH), Century Communities (CCS), Kaiser Aluminum (KALU), Southwest Airlines (LUV), Molina Healthcare (MOH), Oceaneering International (OII), United Rentals (URI) Thursday, April 23 Initial Jobless Claims at 8:30 a.m. ET Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index at 10 a.m. ET Before the bell: Honeywell (HON), Dover (DOV), Nokia (NOK), Blackstone (BX), Dow Chemical (DOW), Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), American Express (AXP), Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), STMicroelectronics (STM), Texas Capital Bancshares (TCBI), American Airlines Group (AAL), Huntington Bancshares (HBAN), Infosys (INFY), Lockheed Martin (LMT), Comcast (CMCSA), Cemex (CX) After the bell: Intel (INTC), Baker Hughes (BKR) Friday, April 24 University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Survey (final reading) at 10 a.m. ET Before the bell: Procter & Gamble (PG) , Charter Communications (CHTR), Western Union (WU), Apogee Enterprises (APOG), First Hawaiian (FHB), Flagstar Financial (FLG), Gentex (GNTX), HCA Healthcare (HCA), Norfolk Southern (NSC), SLB (SLB), Sensient Technologies (SXT) (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Former President and opposition party leader Rumen Radev speaks to the press after voting in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 19, 2026. Bulgarians are voting in their eighth election in just five years.

Progressive Bulgaria, the party of Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev, was leading in Sunday's parliamentary election with 43% after 7% of votes were counted, official results showed.

An earlier exit poll in Bulgaria suggested that the center-left Progressive Bulgaria coalition would be the winner of the country's parliamentary election.

The poll conducted by Trend research group showed Radev's coalition earning 39.2% support, edging out the center-right GERB party of its veteran leader, Boyko Borissov, which is expected to capture 15.1%. Despite the huge gap between the two groups, the predicted percentage could not be enough for Radev to form a one-party government, and he will face the uphill task of looking for partners to govern.

The exit poll also predicted that voter turnout stood at 43.4%, and six parties could pass the 4% threshold to enter a fragmented parliament.

The election on Sunday was Bulgaria's eighth five years  a longtime political impasse that has gripped this Balkan country.

The snap vote follows the resignation of a conservative-led government amid nationwide protests last December that drew hundreds of thousands, mainly young people, to the streets. The protesters called for an independent judiciary to tackle widespread corruption.

If Radev's victory is confirmed in an official tally, it will potentially bring to power a left-leaning, pro-Russian leader just days after Hungarian voters rejected the authoritarian policies and global far-right movement of Viktor Orban, who cultivated close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Radev resigned from the mostly ceremonial presidency in January, a few months before the end of his second term, to launch a bid to lead the government as prime minister.

The 62-year-old former fighter pilot and air force commander has promised to give the nation a fresh start. His supporters are split on those hoping he will put an end to the country's oligarchic corruption and those lining up behind his Eurosceptic and pro-Russian views.

Radev has cast himself as an opponent of the country's entrenched mafia and its ties to high-ranking politicians. At campaign rallies he vowed to "remove the corrupt, oligarchic model of governance from political power."
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Iran on Sunday denied it would participate in new peace talks with the United States, its state news agency reported on Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said its negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for a second round of peace talks with Iran. Iran's official IRNA news agency cited no specific source in its report that Iran had rejected the talks. "Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire," IRNA wrote. Iran's decision to walk away from negotiations  specifically citing its demand to end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports  came as Trump said in a Truth Social post that the U.S. had intercepted a ship called the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, warning it to stop. When it did not, the U.S. Navy fired upon it and the vessel was seized. The U.S. has been operating a naval blockade of ships entering and exiting Iranian ports since last week. "Under these conditions, the outlook for constructive talks remains bleak," state news agency IRNA reported in a post on X. Earlier Sunday, Trump stated in a social media post that his representatives were heading for Pakistan to resume peace talks with Iranian negotiators on Monday, after an initial round of face-to-face talks last weekend concluded without an agreement to end hostilities. If the talks were to take place, the U.S. delegation to Pakistan would once again be headed by Vice President JD Vance, two senior U.S. officials told MS Now. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, also would be traveling to Islamabad for the talks, according to the White House. The apparent diplomatic setback came with shipping still blocked in the Strait of Hormuz and could set the stage for a renewed surge in oil prices when markets reopen after the weekend within a few hours. Iran has blocked the strait to ships other than its own since the U.S. and Israel attacked on Feb. 28. It announced on Friday that it would reopen the waterway. But it reversed that decision on Saturday after Trump declined to lift a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. "Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz  A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!" Trump wrote in Sunday's post. "That wasn't nice, was it?"

Iran ratchets up rhetoric

Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said talks to end the war with the U.S. and Israel are continuing but that his country stands ready to resume the conflict and warned the U.S. against using a naval blockade in the strait. "It is not the case that we think just because we are negotiating, the armed forces are not ready," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in televised remarks late Saturday according to a report on Iranian state media. "Rather, just as the people are in the streets, our armed forces are also ready." Ghalibaf also reiterated Iran's intentions to restrict traffic through the strait, a key energy chokepoint. "It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz but not us. If the U.S. does not abandon the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be restricted," he said. Trump announced the blockade on April 12, after complaining that Tehran has not appeared to reopen the strait, one of his conditions for agreeing to the fragile two-week ceasefire that is currently in effect.

Gunboat diplomacy

Two gunboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said Saturday. It reported the tanker and crew as safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination. Shipping sources told Reuters at least two other vessels reported coming under fire while trying to transit the waterway. The confusion over the strait's status has left ship operators in a state of limbo. Video footage from ship-tracking firm Kpler showed that several tankers and cargo ships attempted to exit the waterway on Friday but turned back.

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Oil prices plunged more than 10% on Friday to below $90 per barrel on hopes that energy supplies would start flowing again from the region. About a fifth of the world's crude supplies passed through the strait before the war. The closure of the sea lane connecting the Persian Gulf to global energy markets has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history. In Mumbai, India summoned Iran's ambassador after an Indian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil was attacked while trying to cross the strait, Reuters reported. In a White House event on Saturday, Trump declined to take reporters' questions about Iran but said, "We have very good conversations going on." He said Iran "got a little cute," later adding, "They wanted to close up the strait again," referring to the Strait of Hormuz. "They can't blackmail us," Trump said.

Iran rebuilds stockpile of missiles and drones

A senior Iranian military official said Iran has begun rebuilding its stockpile of weapons and munitions as the two-week ceasefire nears to expire, state media reported. Brig. Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force, said they have repaired missiles and drone launchers during the ceasefire which started on April 8, according to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. "Our speed in updating and refilling missile and drone launch platforms is even greater than before the war," he said. The broadcaster aired a two-minute video paired with uplifting music, showing missiles and drones in warehouses as well as mobile launches of missiles. The United States and Israel say they have degraded Iran's military capabilities over the course of the nearly six-week war.

Nuclear rights

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted as saying the U.S. can't deprive Iran of its rights to a nuclear program. "Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn't say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?" Reuters quoted Pezeshkian as saying via the Iranian Student News Agency. In an interview with the Associated Press on Saturday on the margins of a diplomacy forum in Turkey, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, rejecting claims made by Trump. "I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we're not going to accept things that are nonstarters." Trump on Friday said that Iran had agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium. He also said the U.S. will go into Iran and "get all the nuclear dust," referring to the 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by U.S. military strikes last year. Peace talks in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, between a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and Iranian negotiators headed by Ghalibaf failed to reach an agreement last weekend. Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that Pakistan's army chief, serving as an intermediary, presented the proposals to Iran during his recent visit to Tehran, and that they were still under review. It was not revealed what was in the proposals.
People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images)

"The North also appears to be exerting pressure preemptively and make a show of force before engaging in dialogue with the United States and South Korea," he said.

"The missile launches may be a way of showing that - unlike Iran - we have self-defence capabilities," said South Korean former presidential security adviser Kim Ki-jung.

Pyongyang's intense missile activity - this was the fourth such launch this month and the seventh of the year - is meant to display its self-defence capabilities while gaining international leverage, some experts said.

North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the sea on Sunday, accelerating its missile launches amid Iran war tensions and talk of possible meetings with the U.S. and South Korea.

The seven-week-old U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which has as one aim the curbing of Tehran's nuclear programme, could reinforce Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, experts and former South Korean officials say.

U.S. President Donald Trump, preparing for a summit in China next month, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have repeatedly expressed interest in holding talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. There are no publicly known plans for any meetings.

Lee recently conveyed regret to the North for drone incursions from the South, receiving rare praise from Pyongyang.

Sunday's missiles were fired from near the city of Sinpo on North Korea's east coast toward the sea around 6:10 a.m. (2110 GMT on Saturday) and flew about 140 km (90 miles), South Korea's military said in a statement.

Japan's government posted on social media that the missiles were believed to have fallen near the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, and no incursion into Japan's exclusive economic zone had been confirmed.

South Korea's presidential Blue House convened an emergency security meeting, calling the launches a provocation that violated U.N. Security Council resolutions, according to media reports. It urged Pyongyang to "stop the provocative acts".

It was not clear what kind of ballistic missiles were fired, but Sinpo has submarines and equipment for test-firing submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The North last fired a ballistic missile from a submarine in May 2022, and it flew as far as 600 km (370 miles).

North Korea has made "very serious" advances in its ability to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a new uranium enrichment facility, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.

In late March, North Korean leader Kim said Pyongyang's status as a nuclear-armed state was irreversible and expanding a "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" was essential to national security.
Crude oil prices rose Monday, as the U.S. and Iran teetered on the brink of a renewed war after attacks on commercial ships in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

West Texas Intermediate futures for May delivery rose nearly 7% to close at $89.61 per barrel. International benchmark Brent crude futures for June delivery advanced more than 5% to settle at $95.48.

The U.S. Navy on Sunday fired on an Iranian container ship in the Gulf of Oman, and the Marines later took custody of the ship, President Donald Trump said. The ship had tried to get past the U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports, Trump said in a Truth Social post.

The U.S. seizure of the ship came after Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Revolutionary Guard gunboats fired on the tanker and a container ship was hit by an unknown projectile, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre.

"Oil prices are being whipsawed by developments in the Middle East once again, with what appears to be de-escalation quickly turning to re-escalation," Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, said in a research note on Monday.

Trump on Sunday threatened again to blow up every power plant and bridge in Iran if its leaders do not accept a deal with the U.S. The ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran will expire this week. Trump called Iran's weekend attacks on ships a "total violation" of the truce.

It is unclear whether the U.S. and Iran will meet for a second round of peace negotiations in Pakistan.

Trump said the U.S. and Iran would hold talks in Islamabad on Monday. But Iran said it would not attend due to the ongoing U.S. naval blockade, among other grievances, according to state news agency IRNA.

The sudden escalation in tensions over the weekend came after the U.S. and Iran appeared to be nearing an agreement at the end of last week.

Oil prices tumbled on Friday after Iran suddenly declared the strait completely open to commercial traffic in response to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. But it quickly became clear that Tehran was imposing the same conditions for transit through the strait as before.

Trump, meanwhile, refused to lift the U.S. naval blockade of Iran. Tehran reversed course and said the strait would remain closed until the blockade is lifted.

WATCH: Shipowners cautious about sending vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
The logo of Dell Technologies at the Milipol Paris, the worldwide exhibition dedicated to homeland security and safety, in Villepinte near Paris, France, Nov. 15, 2023.

Conflict in the Middle East has sent the market on a wild ride, but investors with a long-term horizon ought to look past short-term disruptions to find compelling stocks.

Choosing the right stocks can be challenging due to the vast universe of equities available. Investors can consider the ratings of top Wall Street analysts as they make informed decisions on their portfolios.

Here are three stocks favored by some of Wall Street's top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.

Lumentum Holdings

This week's first pick is Lumentum Holdings (LITE), which provides optical and photonic technologies to power artificial intelligence data centers and next-generation communications. LITE shares have seen a phenomenal rise over the past year, driven by AI-led demand for the company's optical networking and related components.

Following the investor briefing at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference and related meetings, JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee reiterated a buy rating on Lumentum stock and boosted the price target to $950 from $565. The analyst said that the event and the meetings provided stronger-than-anticipated clarity into future demand across various growth drivers.

Chatterjee sees increased confidence across multiple fronts, with the company highlighting new deals and capacity expansions, strengthening belief in the upgraded financial outlook. Specifically, the analyst noted greater visibility into the impressive expansion of the opportunity for optics in scale-up networks, including significant growth drivers in co-packaged optics (CPO) and optical circuit switches (OCS).

The five-star analyst added that growing demand in scale-up networking is giving confidence in continued strength in future earnings, encouraging investors to look beyond 2027 and factor in these opportunities. Overall, Chatterjee expects 2027 earnings per share (EPS) of $24, with upside above $25. Looking ahead, he expects strength in scale-up networking to push earnings beyond $36 in 2028, with the potential for further upside from more OCS customers, higher margins, and controlled costs.

Also, Chatterjee feels that his upgraded price target and higher-than-historical average multiple is "justified given benefits from demand relative to AI investments."

Chatterjee ranks No. 8 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 71% of the time, delivering an average return of 44.8%. See Lumentum Holdings Financials on TipRanks.

Broadcom

Moving on to chipmaker Broadcom (AVGO), which is gaining from AI-led demand for its products. The company last week announced a multi-year deal with Meta Platforms to support the social media giant's rapidly growing AI compute infrastructure. Prior to this, Broadcom entered into expanded partnerships with Google and Anthropic.

Following the Meta deal, Benchmark analyst Cody Acree reiterated a buy rating on Broadcom stock with a price target of $485. Acree stated that the Meta deal significantly increased his confidence about AVGO's ability to surpass its prior target of delivering more than $100 billion in AI chip revenue in fiscal 2027, as it provides a clearer timeline and deployment visibility into one of the company's largest custom XPU (AI accelerators) programs.

The five-star analyst noted that increased conviction builds on management's prior commentary on AVGO's custom XPU business now spanning six customers, with further upside expected from Google's next-generation TPUs (tensor processing units) and Meta's MTIA (Meta Training and Inference Accelerator) roadmap. Also, AVGO's XPU business is expected to gain from Anthropic scaling from 1 GW this year to over 3 GW in 2027 and OpenAI's deployment of its first-generation XPU in 2027 at more than 1 GW of compute capacity.

Interestingly, Acree believes that the Meta partnership agreement is not just limited to a typical ASIC design win. Broadcom is now involved in multiple generations of AI accelerator chip designs, advanced packaging, and networking, which is expected to drive its content per deployment higher while making it harder for Meta to switch suppliers.

Additionally, Acree observed that the deal involves an initial 1 GW+ commitment, with plans to scale to multi-gigawatt deployment over time. This establishes that hyperscale AI infrastructure is now being built at utility scale, boding well for companies like Broadcom that offer both custom chips and rack-scale networking solutions.

Acree ranks No. 71 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 68% of the time, delivering an average return of 29%. See Broadcom Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks.

Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (DELL) is also benefiting from the demand for AI infrastructure. Notably, the ongoing AI boom is driving demand for the company's servers. Recently, Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh increased his price target for Dell stock to $215 from $180 and reaffirmed a buy rating.

While Rakesh acknowledges that Super Micro Computer (SMCI) is the leader in the AI server technology space, he expects Dell to gain from some shift in orders from SMCI amid the indictment of its former workers for illegal shipments of Nvidia -powered servers to China. Super Micro was not named as a defendant in the case. The five-star analyst expects this near-term headwind related to rival SMCI to benefit Dell, which has a 10-times larger AI server service and support team and a solid balance sheet to support its estimated $85 billion five quarter pipeline.

Rakesh now expects Dell's fiscal 2027 and 2028 server orders at $53 billion and $68 billion, respectively, up from the prior estimates of $50 billion and $61 billion. His revised estimates indicate that Dell could gain from a demand/sentiment shift around the AI server landscape.

Additionally, Rakesh expects Dell to gain from higher spending by major cloud service providers (CSPs) and CoreWeave . Notably, capex is now estimated at $689 billion for 2026, reflecting 64% year-over-year growth, with 2027 and 2028 capex projected to increase by 18% and 10%, respectively, to reach $888 billion.

The analyst also expects Dell's share in the AI server market to rise from 19% in 2025 to 25% in 2029. Rakesh expects the company's market share to be driven by its "scale, balance sheet, and well-developed supply chain."

Rakesh ranks No. 14 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 67% of the time, delivering an average return of 51.1%. See Dell Technologies Ownership Structure on TipRanks.
A high-cost private institution in Texas is making headlines this month by swapping traditional educators for artificial intelligence.

By implementing a high-tech 'guide' system, the school aims to personalise every student's journey through a radical new curriculum. While the move promises a glimpse into the next generation of education, it has sparked an intense debate over whether software can truly replace the human touch.

A Radical Shift in the Daily Schedule

Imagine a campus without books, assignments, or faculty. This is the new face of learning. At least, that is the promise of Alpha School, an expanding group of elite institutions that insists AI is completely transforming how kids study.

A network of private AI schools has expanded to 22 locations across the country.



Alpha Schools, founded by MacKenzie Price and private equity billionaire Joe Liemandt, uses AI guides instead of teachers.



Tuition goes as high as $65k a year.  More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) March 27, 2026

With campuses in major hubs like Austin and New York, this network asks for fees reaching $65,000 (49132.52) annually. Here, children devote only 120 minutes daily to primary topics such as literacy and logic, guided entirely by automated programs.

The Growing Appeal of AI-Centric Schools

This $65,000 (49132.52)-a-year academy is part of a broader shift. Throughout America, various institutions are fully embracing digital intelligenceincluding a state-funded site in Georgia billed as the first of its kind and a Hawaiian school that developed its entire lesson plan using these tools.

This approach appeals to households, frequently led by professionals in banking or software, seeking an escape from what they consider an old-fashioned schooling system. The institution's website notes that parents with multiple kids who sign up receive a 5% price reduction for each additional student after the first.

An investor named Sarah Cone started her child in the second year at the Manhattan branchwhich serves pupils from early years to mid-teensthis past autumn. She mentioned she had been 'waiting with bated breath for Alpha School to get to [Manhattan].' After only a few months, 'my child is, like, a different student,' Cone remarked. 'She's just completely engaged and motivated.'

Human Mentors in a Digital World

A CBS report notes that pupils 'learn from AI' for roughly 120 minutes each day, before joining a 'guide' for practical ability sessions. These mentors are actually humans, though they do not carry the title of instructor.

Linda McMahon: "The alpha school that I visited, the first two hours of every day, every student is getting AI instruction on different subjects. I mean, it's a real concentrated, focused effort. They're not replacing teachers. There is a teacher there who is monitoring what's pic.twitter.com/qlj119OWqj  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 20, 2026

'We are using the same curriculum that students in the classroom are learning from. This is not ChatGPT coming up with made-up questions,' founder Mackenzie Price told CBS. 'We take deep pride in hiring at Alpha,' the school's site notes detailing the recruitment strategy.

Nothing has made me more optimistic about our AI future than visiting Alpha School.



The dominant doomer narrative is that, even if we solve alignment, AI will automate so much that humans will be left with nothing but meaningless hedonism. As AI does more and more humans are pic.twitter.com/dump1Rydoe  Johnathan Bi (@JohnathanBi) January 9, 2026

The site adds that Guides are chosen for their skill in inspiring kids, their talent for designing interesting, practical seminars, and their knack for identifying the specific help a pupil needs. These individuals are recruited from elite colleges and possess impressive experience in sectors such as technology and entrepreneurship. Alpha Guides go beyond the typical roles of monitors or instructors; they offer much more.

Weighing the Benefits Against Potential Risks

Despite these ambitious claims, skeptics naturally exist who fear that hurrying to adopt AI might harm a child's interpersonal and mental growth. 'These are early days. Parents worry about AI's impact. But no one  educator or parent  is sure what to do about it yet,' Emily Glickman, a private school consultant in New York City, told The New York Post.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
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Australian superannuation platform MLC has discovered the peak month thousands of Aussies make one big life change - switching jobs.

According to their insights, the month most likely to see people make a career change is June, with Australians being five times more likely to change jobs during this month.

The MLC data found that a whopping 13% of people made a job switch in June, compared to the quietest month of December, which saw only 2% switch in 2025.

Plus, more than a third of all job changes last year, roughly 34%, happened between June and August.

And if you're secretly planning to join that statistic this year, there's never been more choice, as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that total job vacancies were up nearly 3% in February, compared to last November.

CEO of MLC Dave Woodall said: 'With MLCs data revealing that June is the highest month for job switches, it means that for those Australians considering a new role, theyre job hunting now.'

Vacancies are also at the highest level since November 2024, meaning plenty of options for those considering something new.

June is the month most Aussies are most likely to switch jobs, according to MLC, with a third of job changing happening between June and August

But there's also one big mistake job seekers are making when applying to new roles.

An increasing number of people are using AI to write cover letters and resumes.

Time-saving? Definitely. But employers say they are getting so many applications that sound identical, and it's often not difficult to spot the AI ones.

U&U Recruitment Partners CEO Craig Sneesby said: 'Too many people are using AI to write cover letters and resumes. We are getting so many that sound identical. Be the author of your own story and stand out from the crowd.'

He also has a few other useful tips for job hunters.

Sneesby said: 'Keep your resume succinct (max 4 pages) and really spell out the responsibilities and quantify the achievements.'

'If you are only applying through job boards you are a 1% chance of securing a role. Find the specialist recruiter to partner with for your career and build a relationship.'

Switching jobs comes with its own set of things to remember, and while your bank details and TFN might be a given, there's another thing people often forget.

One of the most important things Aussies forget when changing roles is checking reviewing their super fund which can negatively impact future finances

A new job is the perfect time to review your super, whether you've had the same one for years or it's time for a change, to ensure everything is on track.

Woodall said: 'Its the perfect time to check that super  one of the biggest assets most people will ever have  is in the right fund, invested appropriately and has the right insurances for them.'

'A quick fiveminute check now can make a fivefigure difference later.'

Job-switching checklist

1. Review whether your stapled fund is still right for you Your super follows you automatically, but that doesnt mean its the best fit for your new industry, salary or life stage. 2. Understand your new employers super benefits Many workplaces offer super benefits like contribution matching, paid insurance premiums, or access to financial education or advice. 3. Compare your existing fund to your new employers default Some employers negotiate lower fees, subsidised insurance or member benefits within their workplace super option. Make sure to do your research, as there are many things to keep in mind regarding your super fund and other investments when changing jobs.

MLC CEO Dave Woodall says reviewing where your super is held and comparing fees and insurance could make 'a five-figure difference'

He also noted that superannuation is one of the main things people miss when changing jobs, perhaps thinking there's no reason to check.

'Australians update their bank details and tax file number without thinking twice, but for many, their super isnt on that list. Its one of the biggest money blind spots during a career move.'

'Your superannuation is built day-by-day, decision-by-decision. Every time you start a new job, youre making one of those decisions  and it can have a compounding impact on your future financial security,' said Woodall.

If you're not sure what you should be looking for, Woodall has some advice.

'Set aside some time to make sure your super is in the right place, that your current fund suits your new role, and to compare fees, insurances and longterm investment returns with the fund your new employer offers,' he said.

So if you're already on the hunt for a new role or considering a career change, don't forget one simple super check could have a big financial impact.
This is the moment a cold-blooded killer in tactical-gear calmly walked through the hallway of a Texas church before killing a mom-of-three.

A decade later the elusive figure remains at large as police continue to hunt Terri 'Missy' Bevers' murderer.

Fitness instructor Bevers, 45, was found dead with puncture wounds to her head and chest inside Creekside Church of Christ in Midlothian around 5am on April 18, 2016, as she prepared to lead a Camp Gladiator fitness class.

Surveillance footage captured a suspect wearing what appeared to be police-style tactical gear, including a helmet, vest and gloves, wandering through the church and carrying a hammer, a tool consistent with the injuries Bevers suffered.

The suspect was also seen smashing windows in the building and going through offices, according to the original arrest warrant.

Despite years of scrutiny and national attention, no arrests have ever been made. In a fresh update marking the 10-year anniversary of the killing, Midlothian Police said the case remains active and ongoing, stressing that investigators are still pursuing leads and leveraging advances in forensic technology. They said no suspects have been ruled out.

Authorities revealed they have received more than 100 tips in the past year alone, with information continuing to pour in from across the US and even overseas.

Police also pushed back on widespread speculation surrounding the case, making clear that no individual has ever been fully cleared.

Terri 'Missy' Bevers was found with puncture wounds to her head and chest at the Creekside Church of Christ in Midlothian as she was setting up to teach an exercise class

Police released CCTV footage from inside the church showing the suspect wearing a SWAT uniform

'While some persons of interest receive more attention than others, no individual has been completely excluded as a suspect,' the department said.

Investigators added that the case is not considered cold and that every credible lead is still being reviewed and cross-referenced.

The mystery surrounding Bevers death has deepened over the years. Early search warrants revealed she received a creepy and strange LinkedIn message from an unknown man just days before she was killed.

Recovered messages also suggested Bevers and her husband, Brandon, were facing financial strain and marital difficulties, alongside evidence of intimate conversations with others.

Detectives identified one man who admitted messaging Bevers on LinkedIn from January until her death, describing their exchanges as flirtatious and familiar. Evidence recovered from both phones showed the interactions were intimate and had been deleted.

Authorities identified multiple persons of interest tied to a series of phone numbers, though none were officially named as suspects.

Investigators also explored whether the killer carried a cellphone during the attack that could have placed them near the church.

At the time, investigators said family members and close contacts were among those initially examined, as is standard in cases where no clear suspect emerges.

Bevers (pictured) received a creepy and strange message from an unknown man on LinkedIn three days before her death

Surveillance footage reportedly captured a suspect carrying tools consistent with Bevers' injuries walking through the the Creekside Church of Christ in Midlothian (pictured)

Warrants related to murder of trainer Terri Bevers reveal she and her husband Brandon (pictured) were having marital and financial struggles before her death

But the mother-of-threes husband said at the time of her murder that his wifes killer was no stranger and also revealed he spends his days trying to figure out how to make their young daughters feel safe again, People reported in 2016.

I think it was a woman, he told the magazine. I still think whoever this person was knew my wife and had a motive.

He also said at the time that he believed that the suspect went to great lengths to stage the scene to look like a robbery gone wrong.

He added: Theres no reason why an individual would break into a church, dressed in that type of clothing and stage a robbery, or what would appear to be a robbery  going through the building, breaking glass and opening doors.

If that person was really there to commit a robbery, why did they kill my wife and leave her wedding ring on her finger?

Adding to the intrigue, Bevers father-in-law, Randy was reported to have taken a blood-stained shirt to a dry cleaner just four days after the murder, claiming it came from an injured dog.

Police later seized the garment, though there was no indication the blood was human.

Meanwhile, surveillance footage captured a light-colored 20102012 Nissan Altima circling a nearby parking lot around 2am on the morning of the killing.

Surveillance footage captured a light-colored 20102012 Nissan Altima that pulled into the SWFA Sporing Goods (pictured) parking lot around 2am on the morning of the murder

Police said the car had an oval sticker on its bumper, but added that the driver is not necessarily a suspect

Police said the driver was not necessarily a suspect but described the vehicle as a key lead.

The suspect seen inside the church was estimated to be between 5ft 2in and 5ft 7in and appeared to have a distinctive gait, or way of walking, though authorities have never confirmed whether they think the individual was a man or a woman.

Police have previously said there were signs of forced entry and that the suspect may have attempted to clean up parts of the crime scene.

Investigators have urged the public to continue coming forward.

'We remain fully committed to identifying the person responsible, bringing them to justice, and providing answers to the Bevers family,' the department said.
In 2018 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first visit Down Under, Meghan, a newbie to the royal route march, was reportedly awed by the crowds who came out to greet them but flummoxed by what the point of it all really was.

'I can't believe I'm not getting paid for this!' she was overheard by staff saying.

Fast forward eight years and the Duchess of Sussex is most definitely getting paid. On Saturday she will be the keynote speaker at 'Her Best Life Retreat' hosted by the influential podcast. Promising to be 'A Girls' Weekend Like No Other' - tickets to the exclusive in-person conversation with Meghan are priced at nearly $2,000.

Estimates place the Duchess's fee for this swanky soiree at close to $250,000 while Harry, as the keynote speaker at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit which took place in Melbourne on Thursday, reportedly raked in for him a $50,000 speaker fee.

Yet blink and you might be forgiven for missing these cash for confession moments  and instead surmise that these ex-HRHs, now known simply as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were, once more, fully fledged members of the working royal world.

Basking in the crowds that have turned out to see them, the couple have reveled in the spotlight highlighting what, they believe, is their philanthropic platform.

They have bookended their trip with charitable engagements that included a visit to military veterans, a children's hospital, a homeless shelter and dialogues on mental health. They hoped, no doubt, that the focus would steer clear of the financials - some have accused them of using the Australian taxpayers, paying in part for their security as an ATM - and instead make their case that a 'half in/half out' approach is the way forward when it comes to the Royal Family at large.

Nowhere is this radical reinvention more clearly seen than in the clothes that Meghan has worn over the last four days - which have bridged the divide between past and present.

The clothes that Meghan has worn over the last four days have bridged the divide between past and present

Meghan and Harry have bookended their trip with charitable engagements that included a visit to military veterans, a children's hospital, a homeless shelter and dialogues on mental health

Meghan will be the keynote speaker at 'Her Best Life Retreat' hosted by the influential podcast, with tickets priced at nearly $2,000

While her tenure as working royal woman was relatively brief (just a little over two years), the Duchess was nevertheless schooled in the art of diplomatic dressing when it came to an overseas trip.

Paying homage to your host by choosing clothes that harkened to their story was a mainstay of Queen Elizabeth II's sartorial mission and continues to be championed by the current Princess of Wales. Meghan has clearly taken the same masterclass.

Stepping out for her first appearance of the tour, a visit to a Melbourne homeless shelter and then a children's hospital, she wore the 'Priscilla' dress by Australian designer Karen Gee.

In 2018, having just announced she was pregnant with her first child, the Duchess had chosen the white sleeveless 'Blessed' dress from the same brand. Clinging ever so slightly to her growing bump, the dress sent the designer's website into overdrive and almost immediately sold out. Meghan, with her eye for detail, was clearly taking note.

Returning to Gee for what was an elegant sleeveless tailored dress - whose gold buttons, belted waist and full skirt and $1,250 price tag screamed the type of 'quiet luxury' Meghan has championed, the Duchess is now a co-conspirator in a bid to make her wardrobe pay.

Gee's website immediately flashed images of the celebrity endorsement on its homepage with a cover image of the dress 'As Worn by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.'

The move startled veteran royal observers who had only to wait a few more hours to be further appalled by the launch of Meghan's very own spot on the platform 'OneOff.' The fact that Meghan just happens to be an investor in the site which lists shopping links to clothes and accessories as worn by their celebrity users did not pass without notice, or critique.

Clicking on the glossy headshot of 'Meghan' as she is identified on the website's homepage, would-be copycats can scroll through a series of glamorous stills each of which identify with clickable links the clothing components of her look.

Some of the pieces, like her nude Aquazzura 'purist pumps' which retail for just under $800 are sadly 'out of stock,' but the $13,150 Paspaley opal and pearl earrings worn to watch Harry deliver his InterEdge summit remarks are, so too is her $300 Posse linen vest and matching skirt which is still available for purchase.

The all-white ensemble with its nod to Australian creativity (both Posse and Paspaley are local) merges the prerequisites for royal travel dressing with a hawkish eye for maximizing and monetizing one's potential to the full.

For a visit to a Melbourne homeless shelter and then a children's hospital, she wore the 'Priscilla' dress by Australian Designer Karen Gee

In 2018, having just announced she was pregnant with her first child, the Duchess had chosen the white sleeveless 'Blessed' dress from Karen Gee

Meghan's all-white ensemble - a $300 Posse linen vest and matching skirt and $13,150 Paspaley opal and pearl earrings - worn to watch Harry deliver his InterEdge summit has a nod to Australian creativity (both Posse and Paspaley are local)

Yet for all this entrepreneurial ingenuity, Meghan remains seemingly unaware that as she undertakes her charitable endeavors to society's underprivileged, she invariably does so with little recognition of the multi-thousand-dollar accessories she sports.

While her gold Cartier tank may be a legacy gift from Diana, she would do well to remember that such a flashy symbol of Windsor wealth never saw the light of day for its original wearer on the fields of Angola or visiting a hospital for sick children.

Spooning out food at a homeless shelter, her wrists and ears twinkling with twinning gold jewelry, net value approximately $26,000, Meghan seems to have learned little from her 2021 misstep when, clad in thousands of dollars of Loro Piana cashmere, she rocked up to read to underprivileged students at a public school in Harlem. Her similarly tone-deaf material choice was her own book, The Bench  an ode to fatherhood delivered to an audience predominantly being raised by single mothers.

The second of three outfit changes for her penultimate day, Meghan furthered her ambassadorial credentials by the Friends with Frank (once more Australian brand) olive green 'Anya' mini dress worn for the couple's visit to a mental health engagement center.

Moments after its debut popped up on OneOff with a price tag of $389, along with the Wolford Neon 40 tights ($55) Meghan wore (remember when, as a full-time royal, she baulked at the late Queen's insistence on hosiery?).

Stepping out on her final morning of her trip  for a sail around Sydney Harbour, Meghan's semi nautical look once more paired diplomatic dressing (she was clad in all-Aussie designers) with her OneOff storefront which instantly flashed itemized links onto her profile page.

It was yet more proof, were any more needed, of how the Duchess has perfected the art of merging royal codes of sartorial conduct with the acumen of a woman with an eye to the financial prize.

An astute observer of her own press, Meghan has doubtlessly watched as the clothing she has worn has been dissected and parsed as fans clamored to replicate the style.

Spooning out food at a homeless shelter, her wrists and ears twinkled with gold jewelry, net value approximately $26,000

Meghan seems to have learned little from her 2021 misstep when, clad in thousands of dollars of Loro Piana cashmere, she rocked up to read to underprivileged students at a public school in Harlem

Meghan furthered her ambassadorial credentials by the Friends with Frank (once more Australian brand) olive green 'Anya' mini dress worn for the couple's visit to a mental health engagement center

Meghan's semi nautical look once more paired diplomatic dressing with her OneOff storefront

Websites have crashed and sellout frenzies have been frequent - yet until now without any cash advantage to the wearers who are serving as de facto models for the companies who in turn reap the revenue.

While convention but more importantly the vast resources of Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall make such monetization unnecessary for sister-in-law Kate, Meghan finds herself able to wield in full the lucrative nature of her influencer status.

While it is unclear how much the Duchess may be making from what by royal standards is a radical reinvention - the aim is clear as is the recognition of her own status as someone who shapes contemporary dress.

As discussions abound in Britain about the monarchy, how it is financed and how subsidiary members of the dynasty should be funded - the 'grey men in suits' as Harry's mother liked to refer to palace courtiers, might do well to monitor Meghan's motives.

The tactic has garnered criticism from some, who deemed her decision to sell that nautical look - worn not only for a jaunt around the Harbour but to embrace victims of the Bondi Beach massacre - in particular as, 'the starkest example yet of Harry and Meghan's efforts to commercialize their royal brand.' But there is perhaps something to be said for the transparency of her fund-raising efforts.

After all, devoid of any murky financial backing  it is clear how and from where Meghan and Harry are making their money. To their critics they are trading on the pseudo royal status of Brand Sussex, a self-serving bilk of the glamour of the institution they abandoned. To their fans they are showing the world what their half-in/half-out version of royal duty looks like.
There's a wild sex myth that's been doing the rounds for a while now and I've always laughed it off as something ridiculous.

Surely no one is actually participating in it.

But I was wrong, dear reader. Very wrong.

It first came to my attention while watching what I firmly believe is the best instalment of the franchise, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

Yes, the women who gifted us the timeless catch cry, 'Receipts! Proof! Timeline! Screenshots!', also introduced me to something far more scandalous a supposed sex loophole known as 'soaking.'

At the time, I assumed it was just another one of those internet myths. The kind that sounds outrageous enough to go viral, but not quite believable enough to be real.

So naturally, I did what I do best. I investigated.

Turns out soaking is very much a thing.

There's a wild sex myth that's been doing the rounds for a while now and I've always laughed it off as something ridiculous

According to Wikipedia, soaking is a sexual practice where penetration occurs, but without movement

For those of you blissfully unaware, let me bring you up to speed.

According to Wikipedia, soaking is a sexual practice where penetration occurs, but without movement. No thrusting, no rhythm, no anything, really.

The idea being that if nothing is technically 'happening,' then it doesn't count as sex. That's one hell of a loophole.

But here's where it takes a sharp turn into the absurd.

Because in some cases, a third person, often referred to as a 'jumper' or 'shaker,' is brought in to do the 'insertion' and then to bounce on the bed. Not involved directly, but just enough to create movement.

The practice is often linked to Mormon purity culture, where strict rules around sex before marriage have, clearly, led to some very inventive workarounds.

I say fair play to you, you saucy, naughty Mormons! I remember what my hormones were like as a teenager and so I understand the desperate need to bend the rules to snapping point.

There's no official doctrine endorsing it, and many within the church deny it outright, but speak to enough ex-Mormons and a pattern starts to emerge. I know because that's exactly what I did.

After putting out a quiet call-out to my followers, I wasn't expecting much. So, as backup, I slid into the DMs of a few social media identities who had shared their own experiences and... jackpot. My inbox lit up.

One woman, who has since left the church, shared her story anonymously.

She told me that growing up, she was taught that sex before marriage was as serious as committing murder. Sheesh, that's a bit of a stretch.

The pressure to remain 'pure' was intense, especially before her mission. Which is where the loophole comes in.

'Apparently, you had to actually do something for it to count,' she explained. 'So, what would happen is I'd stand there, completely naked and still, while a friend would physically move things into place and then they'd rock the bed.'

Yes. A third person. Fully present. Bouncing the mattress like some sort of morally approved metronome.

'Since I wasn't moving,' she said, 'we were technically doing nothing.'

She described the experience as feeling like 'a boring threesome,' more awkward than anything else, and worlds away from what most people would consider intimacy.

She eventually married within the church, believing she was doing everything 'right.' Following the rules and playing by the book.

'And then I found out he'd been cheating on me,' she said.

Not once but multiple times. She said her husband was doing this all while maintaining the same outward image of being devout, disciplined, and morally upright.

'There was this huge gap between how we were supposed to behave and what was actually happening behind closed doors,' she told me.

In the end, it wasn't just the cheating that broke her; it was the realization that all the rules and loopholes had just made everyone better at hiding things: 'It almost bred us to be great liars.'

And she wasn't the only one.

A man now living in Australia told me he dated a Mormon girl while studying at college in Utah. He wasn't religious himself, which made the whole thing even more surreal.

'She told me upfront that we couldn't have sex,' he wrote. 'But then one night, things escalated and she said we could "soak."'

At first, he thought she was joking. 'I genuinely thought I was being pranked,' he said. 'Like someone was about to jump out and film my reaction.'

But she wasn't laughing.

'She kept saying, "It doesn't count if we don't move."'

So, they tried it. And according to him it was awkward.

'It was just really quiet and still. I didn't know where to look or what to do with my hands. We were just there.'

He said it felt less like intimacy and more like both of them were trying very hard to stick to a rule that didn't quite make sense.

He 'tapped out' he said, when she told him her friend was outside waiting to 'help with the movement.'

'I may not be religious,' he told me, 'But I do have limits.'

Apparently, he insisted afterward that she had 'technically' had sex, and she got angry every time he teased her that she was no longer a virgin.

That was the part he couldn't quite wrap his head around.

I'm sure these stories don't represent everyone in the church; they do highlight something deeper: the gap between the rules people are given and the reality of being human.

When you make sex completely off-limits, people don't suddenly stop wanting it. They just find ways to bend the rules without technically breaking them. It's human nature.

And let's be honest, when it comes to 'soaking' I'd say the rule has been pretty clearly broken - I don't care which way you try to swing it (or, perhaps in this case, hold it still).

It's a bit like my love of bad boys. When friends tell me they're off limits, I'll make it my mission to smooch one.

Sigh, Jana. Get it together.

Anyway, the thing about soaking is it's all about justifying something to make yourself feel better. Which, if we're being honest, isn't unique to religious groups.

Modern dating is full of its own little loopholes.

People insist it's not cheating because there was no kissing. Or that it 'didn't mean anything' because it was just physical. We're all, in our own ways, capable of telling ourselves a story that makes us feel a little less guilty.

So, is soaking some kind of new sex trend sweeping the nation, as the internet would have you believe?

I'm not entirely convinced.

But I am convinced that the moment something like this hits TikTok, it takes on a life of its own. What may have started as a niche, culturally specific workaround quickly turns into curiosity. And eventually, for some, experimentation.

Because nothing travels faster than a bizarre idea that makes people say, 'Wait is that real?'

Call it soaking. Call it a loophole. Call it whatever helps you sleep at night.

But if the day ever comes when the generally accepted definition of 'not having sex' involves a third person jumping on the bed, I think we can all agree we've officially lost the plot.
As the Supreme Court's spring term winds down, Court watchers await opinions in several highly significant cases, with the justices set to rule on President Donald Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship, his termination of a Federal Reserve official, his immigration policies, prohibitions on transgender athletes, grace periods for mail-in balloting, and other flashpoints.

Yet inside the Marble Temple at 1 First Street NE, its people and secrets guarded by bronze front doors seventeen-and-a-half feet high, thirteen tons heavy, the decision most eagerly anticipated, generating the loudest buzz in the quietest of Washington's corridors, is more personal, captured perfectly in the eternal question The Clash posed in their 1981 hit: Should I stay or should I go?

'The speculation is that Justice Alito will step down this summer,' Fox News' Maria Bartiromo told President Trump in an interview that aired April 15.

The chief executive signaled readiness for multiple retirement scenarios.

'You just read the statistics  it could be two, could be three, could be one,' Trump said. 'I'm prepared You mention Alito; he is a great justice.'

Retirement speculation has centered on the Court's two oldest members, each appointed by a President Bush: Justice Samuel Alito, now serving, at 76, his twentieth full term on the great mahogany bench and Justice Clarence Thomas, seated on the Court since 1991 and soon to turn 78.

Similar conjecture swirls perennially around Justice Sonia Sotomayor, an Obama appointee, soon to turn 72, who has managed Type 1 Diabetes since childhood and required medical attention in 2018 for low blood sugar levels.

Publicly, of course, the justices themselves say little about such matters. But it is hardly lost on Alito and Thomas that with the midterm elections fast approaching, this summer may provide the last opportunity to step down under a Republican president and GOP-controlled Senate, nearly guaranteeing their successors would reflect their jurisprudence.

Retirement speculation has centered on the Court's two oldest members, each appointed by a President Bush

Justice Samuel Alito, now serving, at 76, his twentieth full term on the great mahogany bench (Pictured: President George W Bush and Alito in 2006)

Justice Clarence Thomas will soon to turn 78 (Pictured: President George Bush and Thomas in 1991)

At the same time, Justices Alito and Thomas are said by those familiar with their thinking to harbor a natural desire, if not a sense of duty, to sit on the momentous cases before the Court, to honor their oath and calling, to be in on the action in such a time.

Others have speculated that Thomas, whose ascension to the Court was marred by an unprecedentedly ugly confirmation process, aims to reach an important milestone: If he remains through May 19, 2028, Thomas will become the longest-serving justice in history, eclipsing the 13,358 days served by liberal lion William O Douglas, an FDR appointee.

Retirement soon thereafter would allow President Trump to nominate a successor, although the Senate might be under Democratic control by then, complicating the confirmation process.

Those close to Thomas say he bristles at the idea that he would chase a purely numerical goal, however. 'He's at the top of his game, in his element,' a source close to Thomas told me. 'I think he believes there is still much work to be done. He plans on serving on the Court for as long as he can.'

If Thomas's decision-making is guided by remnant bitterness from the 'high-tech lynching' he endured in 1991, it may be focused less on the Douglas record than on a remark from his earliest years on the Court. In November 1993, the New York Times' Neil A Lewis reported that, the year before, Thomas had told a pair of clerks he intended to remain on the Court until 2034.

Why then, they asked. Because that would ensure the justice a tenure equal to his age at the time of his appointment.

'The liberals made my life miserable for forty-three years,' Thomas reportedly vowed, 'and I'm going to make their lives miserable for forty-three years.'

And Thomas, as a Court insider reminded me, 'is a man of his word.'

Retirement conjecture swirls perennially around Justice Sonya Sotomayor, a Clinton appointee, soon to turn 72

Others have speculated that Thomas, whose ascension to the Court was marred by an unprecedentedly ugly confirmation process, aims to reach an important milestone (Pictured: Thomas sworn in during confirmation hearings in 1991)

James Rosen is chief Washington correspondent at Newsmax and author, most recently, of Scalia: Supreme Court Years, 1986-2001

There are also signs that Alito  despite a recent hospitalization for dehydration  is not considering retirement anytime soon, either.

Some have discerned Alito's intentions in the fact that he has hired clerks for the Fall 2026 term, which will end in June 2027. The hires do not obligate Alito to serve another term; but they suggest, on their face, a desire to remain on the Court.

'The past couple of years,' said a lawyer who knows the justice, 'he's been in a better mood.'

It was a reference to Alito's often dour public persona. I found this myself when, for a biography of Justice Antonin Scalia, I interviewed Alito in chambers last year. When I observed at the outset that he was serving in his twentieth term, he quipped: 'Don't remind me.'

It's no secret that the Supreme Court has not been immune to the decay of good manners and courtesy that has affected society as a whole.

'I joined the Court that dealt with differences as friends, as we respected each other,' Justice Thomas told a University of Texas audience on Wednesday. 'That civility  I don't know how you bring it back in the current environment, with social media and name-calling and all people accusing each other of various things, and animus.'

The same day, Justice Sotomayor released an apology to Justice Brett Kavanaugh over 'inappropriate' and 'hurtful' comments she had made at a University of Kansas event the week before, concerning a recent ruling on the scope of immigration agents' police powers.

Sotomayor had described Kavanaugh, obliquely, as 'a man whose parents were professionals and probably doesn't really know any person who works by the hour There are some people who can't understand our experiences, even when you tell them.'

The sharp tone adopted by President Biden's lone appointee to the Court, Justice Ketanji (pictured, top right) Brown Jacksonwho condemned the majority in the birthright citizenship case as 'an existential threat to the rule of law'prompted a rebuke from Justice Amy Coney Barrett (top, left)

Scalia: Supreme Court Years, 1986-2001 , by James Rosen

The sharp tone adopted by President Joe Biden's lone appointee to the Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson  who condemned the majority in the birthright citizenship case as 'an existential threat to the rule of law'  prompted a rebuke from Justice Amy Coney Barrett and has 'raised questions,' the New York Times' Adam Liptak reported, 'about her relationships with her fellow justices, including the other two members of its liberal wing.'

I interviewed Justice Thomas in chambers in July 2017. Twenty-six terms in, he was relaxed, erudite, funny, and contemplative, happy to pose for photos or discuss recent readings on the Ottoman Empire.

After the confirmation ordeal, Thomas found Scalia's hand outstretched to welcome him. The two swiftly bonded: Brothers for Life.

'There was a relationship there that has never been written about,' said Brian Lamb, the C-SPAN founder who knew both men for decades.

'Nino thought Clarence was a rock,' agreed the late Judge Larry Silberman, a confidante to both justices. 'He was impressed by Clarence's courage.'

Other justices and their clerks caught glimpses of Scalia and Thomas sneaking cigarettes in the lawyers' lounge or breaking away from the Court's marshals to attend an afternoon mass. Asked if he ever discerned any evolution or change in Scalia over the quarter-century they served together, the justice's reply, previously unpublished, was framed in terms that could apply equally to himself.

'I think [Scalia] and his jurisprudence,' Thomas said, 'is, in time, like a fine wine. I think you age with it. You become better.'

Then he turned wistful: 'I was looking at a picture of us when we  when I first got here, and we were so much younger and thinner, you know?'

With so many momentous cases ahead, not just in the Court's current term but across the remainder of the Trump era, many of the president's advisors believe that he and his legacy would best be served by the continued service of both Alito and Thomas, who are regarded by conservatives as the Court's most principled originalists and most intellectually courageous members.

James Rosen is chief Washington correspondent at Newsmax and author, most recently, of Scalia: Supreme Court Years, 1986-2001.
Nightly sleep troubles might be more than just frustrating; they could signal something deeper brewing beneath the surface, including dementia.

Neurologists believe the relationship between sleep and brain aging is a two-way street.

On one hand, chronic poor sleep raises the risk of dementia. On the other hand, early dementia can disrupt the brains sleep-wake circuits, meaning sleep problems may be one of the first signs that something is wrong.

When sleep hygiene breaks down, the brains ability to protect itself breaks down with it. A network called the glymphatic system, the brains cleanup system, only cleans during sleep.

Its primary job is to flush out toxic proteins, including amyloid beta. These clump together to form the plaques characteristic of Alzheimers disease, which affects roughly six million Americans.

Consistently poor deep sleep blocks the glymphatic system's ability to function as designed, and over time, that buildup of waste actively fuels dementias progression.

One of the most alarming red flags is a sudden, unexplained onset of insomnia, not just the occasional restless night. In Alzheimers disease specifically, the circuits that regulate the brains sleep-wake cycle gradually degrade.

Neurologists point to extreme difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings and intense daytime fatigue as potential indicators of deteriorating brain networks.

Aging slows the glymphatic system, reducing nightly toxin clearance. Chronic sleep loss worsens this deficit, potentially accelerating dementia-related plaque buildup (stock)

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Nighttime insomnia and daytime sleepiness

When neurodegeneration attacks the brain's internal clock, the body loses sync with day and night. The same toxic protein that erodes memoryamyloid betaalso affects this internal timekeeper.

As these proteins accumulate in regions that regulate arousal and sleep stability, the brain literally forgets how to transition properly into deep, restorative sleep. The result is a scrambled, random sleep-wake cycle rather than a rhythmic one.

This disruption presents as sudden, severe insomnia, characterized by extreme difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings and profound daytime fatigue. Some people feel wide awake at 2 am.

It also plays out as excessive sleepiness during normal waking hourslosing the ability to stay awake during alert hours, falling asleep during meals or even mid-conversation.

The brain tries to clear waste and consolidate memories at the wrong times, leaving a person drowsy when they should be alert.

These two problems often go hand in hand. Nighttime insomnia and daytime sleepiness are opposite sides of the same circadian breakdown.

This pattern is frequently accompanied by confusion, agitation or disorientation in the late afternoon and evening, a common dementia symptom known as sundowning.

Experts urge a neurological evaluation rather than assuming these issues are simply stress or a bad bout of insomnia.

Dr Chelsie Rohrscheib, a Michigan-based neuroscientist and sleep researcher advised people to see a sleep specialist for worsening insomnia, daytime sleepiness or unusual nighttime behaviors. See a neurologist for memory loss, confusion at nighttime, acting out in one's sleep or personality changes

CDC data shows that at least 14 percent of American adults struggle with insomnia. The problem is most acute in younger adults

Acting out dreams

Acting out dreams, including punching, kicking, swearing or jumping out of bed, is known as REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. This symptom can appear years before memory problems surface, particularly in Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.

A sudden onset in mid-to-late life, especially when accompanied by no obvious stressor or psychological cause, should raise clinical suspicion.

Normally, during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the brain paralyzes the body, a protective mechanism that keeps someone from physically responding to their vivid dreams.

In REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), that paralysis mechanism fails. People punch, kick, shout, swear or even leap out of bed, often reenacting action-filled or terrifying dreams. This represents a fundamental breakdown of brainstem circuitry.

RBD often precedes memory symptoms by years or even decades.

Researchers have found that the vast majority of people diagnosed with isolated RBD will eventually develop a synucleinopathy, or a family of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.

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'There are certain neurodegenerative diseases that are either Parkinson's or Parkinson's-plus syndromes that often start with sleep disturbances,' Dr Jeremy M Liff, a neurologist who specializes in blood flow to the brain at NYU Langone Health in New York City, told the Daily Mail.

'Because the brain is degenerating, especially in the brainstem area or some of the basal nuclei, this leads to REM sleep behavioral disorder. This can be a very strong predictor, if it starts in adulthood, that a neurodegenerative disease is taking place.'

Alpha-synuclein protein clumps first accumulate in the brainstem, precisely in the region that normally inhibits muscle activity during REM sleep. By the time memory loss or movement problems appear, the disease has already been quietly spreading for years.

That means what a person does when they sleep can forecast dementia long before any cognitive test would catch it.

If a previously calm sleeper suddenly begins thrashing, kicking or screaming in response to nightmares, a neurological evaluation is warranted even in the absence of any other symptoms.

Nighttime wandering

Nighttime wandering is a sign that the brains master clock has gone out of sync.

People in the early stages of dementia might roam through the house, sometimes rearranging objects or attempting to go outside, often in a confused or agitated state.

Dr Jeremy M Liff, a neurologist who specializes in blood flow to the brain, said that Sleep disturbances are often the first sign of certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Parkinson's-plus syndromes such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)

When a person wanders at night, they are not getting the deep, restorative slow-wave sleep that the glymphatic system requires to clear toxic proteins like amyloid beta.

Over time, this chronic deprivation creates a vicious cycle in which poor sleep allows more waste to accumulate, and more waste further degrades the brain regions that regulate sleep.

Additionally, nighttime wandering poses serious safety risks, including falls, injuries and leaving the home unattended.

If a loved one is regularly getting up and moving aimlessly through the house at night, especially when paired with confusion or agitation, it is time to consult a neurologist.

Dr Chelsie Rohrscheib, a Michigan-based neuroscientist, said: You should see a sleep specialist when sleep-related symptoms are prominent or worsening, such as insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, disrupted sleepwake cycles, snoring or pauses in breathing, or unusual nighttime behaviors.

A neurologist is more appropriate when there are clear signs of neurodegeneration, such as progressive memory loss, confusion, changes in behavior or personality, difficulty with language or movement, or concern for conditions like Alzheimers disease or Parkinsons disease.
Marcus Capone was a member of the US Navy's most elite force for 13 years, serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He underwent more than two years of rigorous physical training, sometimes spending a full 24-hour day completing exercises.

During the six-month Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training camp, recruits are expected to run on just five hours of sleep in a week and carry a 40lb log or boat over 35 miles.

In another exercise, they are dropped into a deep swimming pool with their hands tied behind their backs and told to use their teeth to retrieve a mask from the bottom.

Vice President JD Vance, who took part in a 90-minute training program in December, said it left him feeling 'like I got hit by a freight train'.

Capone, now 49, retired from active service in 2013, but stayed on for three years to help train new recruits. While Hollywood suggests that the recruits are all bedecked with highly sculpted, six-pack-style physiques, Capone said this isn't a hard and fast truth.

Instead, the force, which runs covert counterterrorism missions, focuses on building a strong and solid body - and mind - that does not break.

While he is no longer doing extreme workouts, Capone has continued a toned-down version to stay in top physical shape. He discouraged people from trying the extreme training exercises on their own, he has shared with Daily Mail three at-home challenges anyone can do to build strength like a Navy SEAL.

Marcus Capone, pictured above with his wife Amber, has revealed three at-home challenges for people to experience an exercise similar to that of a Navy SEAL

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Go rucking

In Navy SEAL training, there may be no activity that is more important than rucking.

The exercise, which typically involves walking over long distances carrying a 10 to 20lb backpack, has surged in popularity in recent years as a way to build muscles and burn calories.

But in the military, it has another function  to prepare someone to be able to carry 50 to 80lbs of body armor, kit and weapons over long distances.

Marcus Capone is pictured above. He was a Navy SEAL for 13 years

During training, Navy SEAL recruits may be required to carry this much weight over 10 miles or more, often mostly uphill and after an already grueling day of training.

Capone steered people away from trying this at home, warning that carrying this much weight for a long period could harm their back or lead to an injury.

For those looking to experience Navy SEAL training, however, or want to train for rucking events, he recommended trying the sport once a week.

He said people should move at a brisk pace and carry a weight they feel 'comfortable' with, starting with about 10 to 25lbs.

They should then walk over a flat surface for 30 to 40 minutes, or until they have covered two to three miles. Each week, he said they should then increase the distance by half-a-mile or the weight they are carrying by 5lbs.

Capone told Daily Mail: 'Walk up hills, walk on a treadmill, just get used to the heavy weight on you. Get used to your knees and hips, your back and shoulders, bearing that weight.'

He added: '[Rucking] sucks, it never gets easy. It's not fun to do it 10 times or 100 times. You might get really good at it, but it will always be difficult.'

JD Vance is pictured above training with US Navy SEALs. He said the 90-minute exercise left him feeling 'like I got hit by a freight train'

Cold plunge for five minutes

Wellness gurus are always espousing the alleged health benefits of a cold plunge, claiming it can 'reset the vagus nerve' or enhance recovery.

Some studies have suggested it may help with recovery.

And some say it can boost mental health, potentially improving cognitive function and mood because it triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline  hormones that help someone to feel more alert.

However, experts have also warned over the risks - saying humans are 'tropical animals' and warning that it may trigger hypothermia, which can be fatal within an hour.

During Navy SEALs training, to get recruits used to cold conditions, Capone said that in one exercise they are submerged in water at 50F (10C) for 35 minutes.

Their temperature is monitored throughout and, if they get too cold, they are removed and warmed up, before being placed back in until they complete the exercise. Often, they need to be pulled out every 10 to 15 minutes.

He strongly warned against trying to stay in an ice bath for this long at home, especially if someone is not supervised.

But, in a challenge, he said people could try to submerge themselves up to their necks in 50F water for three to five minutes while under observation.

Follow the '1-mile rule'

Capone is shown above with his wife Amber. He retired from the military in 2013 after 13 years of active service

Capone learned early that the limit on what he could do wasn't his muscles, it was his mind.

To get through long, grueling exercises, recruits are taught a simple mental technique: Focus on the moment.

Capone said: 'The main thing we always talk about is just to get through this evolution. That's the only thing that matters.

'For example, if I think about a 100-mile race, and if I think about mile 97 at the start of the race, that's a long way off, right? I want to think about mile one, then mile two, and so on.

'It's the same with training, you just want to think about the evolution that you are doing in that moment. Because, guess what, if you don't pass this one, you're not going to get to the next one. That's the trick.'

For the public, Capone challenged them to try a slightly longer workout than normal, but use this mental trick to get through it, and find out whether they were able to exercise for longer.

For example, on a 4-mile jog, he said that rather than immediately thinking about getting to the end, people should focus on the first mile only, then the second, then the third, until they get to the end.

How to take supplements like a Navy SEAL

Almost all of us now have at least one bottle of a supplement at home, which we hope may boost health, longevity, sleep, mood or even sex drive.

But amid dubious evidence to back many and the difficulty of remembering to take them daily, many of us push them to one side.

Not so for Navy SEALs. Capone said that, after training, there are five supplements that SEALs swear by.

These are Omega 3, to boost brain health and performance, vitamin D, to reduce the risk of infections and make up for lost sunlight hours while working at night, magnesium, to help speed recovery, and, in some cases, multivitamins for overall health.

Alongside this, he said they would also take electrolytes, protein powder and creatine.

Electrolytes can help to replace essential nutrients and salts lost during sweating, helping the body to function at peak performance. Creatine provides ready-to-use energy, also boosting the body, while protein supports muscle growth and recovery.

Capone said these supplements would regularly be taken to the field and on missions to keep soldiers in tip-top health.
The number of women being prescribed testosterone to boost flagging libido during menopause has risen eight-fold over five years.

A record 80,793 women were prescribed the hormone last year compared to 9,756 in 2020 following endorsements from celebrities including Davina McCall and Dame Prue Leith who credit testosterone for reinvigorating sex lives, boosting mood and easing brain fog and low energy.

The figures are thought to be just the tip of the iceberg as far more women may be accessing testosterone privately.

But menopause experts warn the huge leap in prescriptions for the 'male' sex hormone  which is also produced at lower levels in women  is a cause for concern, and many women taking it may not need it.

They say it is being driven by 'hype' about the benefits by high-profile doctors and celebrities.

And they say oft-repeated claims  such as it can restore a woman's mid-life joie de vivre, stave off dementia, improve bone strength and maintain muscle mass  are 'very misleading' longer term.

Dr Paula Briggs, a sexual and reproductive health consultant at Liverpool Women's NHS Trust and former chair of the British Menopause Society, said: 'It is very simplistic to say a woman's sex drive will improve with testosterone. I think really only about one woman in ten benefits from testosterone, and even that figure may be generous.

'Some of the claims made around the drug in relation to muscle mass and preventing dementia are very misleading.

'People are, I would say, cynically championing testosterone because there is money to be made with endorsements and promotion.'

The number of women being prescribed testosterone during menopause has risen eight-fold over five years following endorsements by celebrities such as Davina McCall

Menopause experts warn the huge leap in prescriptions for the 'male' sex hormone is a cause for concern, and many women taking it may not need it

Davina McCall is one of the most influential voices on menopause in recent years and has called for better understanding and access to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which restores waning oestrogen and progesterone.

But her documentary Sex, Mind And The Menopause, which called testosterone the 'missing piece of the puzzle' for women who still suffered from symptoms despite taking HRT, led to a huge surge in prescriptions  dubbed 'the Davina effect'.

Actresses Kate Winslet and Naomi Watts have also advocated testosterone, while former Great British Bake Off host Dame Prue said it was 'great for libido  you feel better and younger'.

NHS figures show the biggest increase in prescriptions has been for women in their 50s, where the number has risen from 4,513 to 44,575 in five years.

For women in their 40s, the number has surged from 2,365 to 20,747. The cost to the NHS has risen from 700,000 to 5.3 million.

Current NHS guidance is testosterone can be offered to women to treat low libido only if HRT alone is not effective, and only if other causes of low libido have been ruled out.

It is not specifically licensed for women in the UK, but can be prescribed off-label. For this reason, GPs can be cautious to prescribe it and it is more commonly prescribed privately.

The British Menopause Society says clinical trials of testosterone have not demonstrated that it can improve cognition, mood, energy and musculoskeletal health.

It also warns too much testosterone can cause problems such as excess hair growth, acne, weight gain and in rare cases alopecia and deepening of the voice.

Women who worry about climate change are less likely to have good sex, a survey has found

Not tonight, darling... the ice cap is melting

By Roger Dobson

Women who worry about climate change are less likely to have good-quality sex, according to a study.

Researchers asked 1,000 women aged 30 and above about the quality of their sex lives and found the more they worried about global temperature rises and melting ice caps the less likely they were to be satisfied in the bedroom.

Overall, the scores they gave their bedroom liaisons were one-third lower compared to women who were more relaxed about the future of the planet.

Researchers from Necmettin Erbakan University, Turkey, found not only that better-educated women were more likely to have greater concerns about environmental issues, but women worried more overall because of their 'reproductive burden'  anxiety over bringing children into a world facing environmental catastrophe.

Previous research has found men tend to be more optimistic about the planet's future.

Writing about their study in the journal Medicine, the researchers said: 'As climate change anxiety levels increased, their sexual quality of life levels decreased.

'Women are more susceptible to the expected consequences of climate change due to the reproductive burden they have.

'The effects of the concerns of women about this issue on their sexual and reproductive health are highly important in terms of the health of future generations.'

By gum! Should men really chew while they woo?

It's hardly the most attractive bedroom habit, but chewing gum during sex could significantly boost a man's staying power, according to scientists.

Men with premature ejaculation (PE) were able to last more than three times longer if they chewed gum before and during sex, their study found.

Urologists from the University of Health Sciences, Turkey, gave men with PE gum to chew for 20 minutes before they had sex, and encouraged them to use it throughout while timing them.

After a month of using this approach it took them three times longer to climax.

Researchers believe chewing gum may boost levels of serotonin in the brain, reducing anxiety and promoting a feeling of calm and focus. They said chewing gum could be a 'simple, discreet, lowcost option' compared to other treatments.

A non-surgical technique known as biofeedback is sometimes used to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles responsible for ejaculation.

In the study, published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, the men were divided into two groups who either chewed gum or had biofeedback therapy.

At the start of the trial, the average time it took for all men to climax was 40.75 seconds, but after one month it increased to 130 seconds in the gum-chewing group, and to 125 seconds in the biofeedback group.
Rowing with your partner could be the secret to a lasting relationship, scientists have found  as long as you make up afterwards.

Couples who argue openly then resolve their differences grow closer over time, according to researchers who tracked brain activity during disagreements.

When a listener stayed calm while their partner expressed frustration, the partner's anxiety fell almost immediately  evidence that one person's composure can regulate the other's distress directly.

The researchers said this is because 'synchronised partners better understand each other's emotional states and respond appropriately, enhancing connection while reducing misunderstandings and conflict'.

They found that when one person keeps their cool  taking a moment to think before reacting  it can stop a difference in perspective spiralling into a heated argument.

But if couples avoid conflict altogether, they may miss out on the feeling of togetherness that comes from resolving an argument, according to the research published in the Acta Psychologica journal.

Over time, these patterns matter. The idea is that arguing, done well, will help couples reach solutions more quickly, resulting in higher levels of relationship satisfaction.

This process 'allows them to resolve conflict more effectively, maintaining harmony and stability', rather than suffering in silence where resentment can grow.

Couples who argue openly then resolve their differences grow closer over time, according to researchers who tracked brain activity during disagreements (file image)

However, it's not about telling your partner what you think they want to hear, the researchers added.

Behaviours like taking a partner's perspective were not strongly linked to how satisfied couples felt in this context.

Rather the crucial factor was much more immediate: whether partners could control their emotions in the heat of the moment.

The team at Anhui University in China monitored couples during conversations designed to provoke conflict, measuring how closely their brain patterns aligned in real time.

They concluded relationships work less like two perfectly matching minds  where disagreements never arise  and more like a live system where partners constantly influence each other's emotions.

This process, they suggest, 'enhances adaptability and satisfaction', increasing the likelihood of couples staying together for the long run.
Extravagant destination bachelorette parties that swallow a month's rent, sometimes even more.

Unflattering satin dresses that will never be worn again. Group chats filled with passive-aggressive texts and tribalism.

Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars spent. And hours of emotional and unseen labor expended to meet the demands of a bride who wants everything just so for her big day.

Forget blood, sweat and tears (although there's plenty of those too) - these are the true costs of being a bridesmaid today.

And for Ruhama Wolle, a 31-year-old editor at New York Magazine's The Cut, the price was far too high. In her new book, I Hope You Elope, Wolle takes a clear-eyed look at the real work of being a bridesmaid when the wedding tradition has become increasingly commercialized and offers her hard-earned advice to anyone brave enough to undertake the role.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wolle was inspired to write this tome following an exhausting run of bridesmaid duties that she dutifully fulfilled for three weddings in the span of a year and a half, while also juggling a demanding job in fashion media and dealing with a family loss.

During this period, Wolle's spirit and bank account were depleted; she had forked over about $5,000 for dresses she would never wear again, bachelorette trips that ate up her PTO and a plethora of unexpected expenses all in the name of someone else's big day.

The biggest cost, however, was the heartbreaking dissolution of a best friendship with one of the brides, after a miscommunication about hair styling for the wedding triggered a deeper examination of the cracks in their friendship.

For Ruhama Wolle, a 31-year-old editor at New York Magazine's The Cut, the price of being a bridesmaid was far too high

Wolle was inspired to write her book following an exhausting run of bridesmaid duties that she dutifully fulfilled for three weddings in the span of a year and a half

Wolle takes a clear-eyed look at the real work of being a bridesmaid and offers her hard-earned advice to anyone brave enough to undertake the role.

Wolle had reached her breaking point. This wasn't what she had signed up for when she agreed to be in the wedding parties. She had reached bridesmaid burnout.

'Resentment grew across the board for all three weddings and when I walked away from it, the reality for me was: I don't like this feeling. I don't want to do this again. I don't think any of this is worth losing a friendship for,' she told the Daily Mail.

'I realized that if I had continued to say 'Yes' to folks in the future, I might lose a friendship again, so let me just say I'm never doing this again.'

Wolle channeled her frustrations and resentments into an open bridesmaid resignation letter for Glamour that went viral - striking a nerve with brides everywhere (she was dubbed the 'wedding Grinch' by one), but finding a huge audience of fellow bridesmaids who were sick and tired of the financial and emotional demands of the role.

The letter, and the outsized response to it, made Wolle realize the appetite for a book.

'I think the biggest pain point for me was that like me, they all truly did not know what they were getting themselves into and neither did the brides,' she said.

Wolle says that the book, which is both strikingly honest and bitingly funny, is the kind of guide that she wishes she'd had during her tenure as a bridesmaid.

Between shocking real-life anecdotes sourced from bridesmaids past and present (one bridesmaid shares that a bride requested that she dye her hair for 'uniformity' with the rest of the party, while another demanded that none of her bridesmaids get pregnant before the wedding), Wolle outlines the various duties and often unspoken demands that bridesmaids face.

She also offers ways to troubleshoot conflicts and have tough conversations when it comes to issues like selecting a bridesmaid dress, day-of obligations and, of course, the very real financial burdens of standing by your friend's side when she says: 'I do.'

'We have to have these conversations,' she said. 'The reality is that culture has convinced us that "It's her moment. You can't rain on her parade." But true friendship would say, "No, you can be honest and tell me where your boundaries are."'

Wolle wishes she was more vocal about her boundaries during her tenure as a bridesmaid, specifically her capacity to give emotion and time, as well as what she could afford to do financially.

Instead, she swallowed her feelings and racked up resentments and her credit card debt.

Unflattering satin dresses that will never be worn again. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars spent. Forget blood, sweat and tears - these are the true costs of being a bridesmaid today. (Pictured: Katherine Heigl, left, in 27 Dresses)

Being a bridesmaid multiple times over could be likened to the movie 27 Dresses (pictured)

She's clear, however, that having boundaries isn't an excuse for not showing up for your friend. She makes the case that giving what you can, without depleting yourself, is the best way to show care for someone you love.

She said: 'When I think of boundaries, it's very much about clarity and about having conversations early on, which allows us to show up for the people that we love.

'I'm a huge supporter of community and wanting to show up, but also of being realistic, because if the money isn't there, if you don't have the funds, then you just don't.

'You have to be truthful about what that looks like for you and for them as well.'

These conversations, Wolle says, are more necessary than ever as weddings become ever more over-the-top affairs, seemingly curated more for social media 'likes' than the attendees.

Gone are the days when matrimony meant a simple ceremony followed by a sandwich spread with friends and a few glasses of fizz.

Today weddings are part of a booming industry. According to The Wedding Report, there were over two million held in the US in 2025, amounting to a spend of nearly $70.5 billion.

And as the price tag has soared  with destination bachelorette parties to Jamaica or Colombia complete with custom social media hashtags and mandatory coordinated outfits, or towering flower arrangements and wedding cakes that are more for 'gram than for consumption  so too have the asks made of those 'lucky' enough to be part of the bridal party.

'This is a moment that's really celebrating a person you love and the person that they have found in this union and we've kind of lost sight of that,' she said. 'What used to just be being present and showing up has now tapped into this performance side. Social media has poured gasoline on that.

'We're no longer just showing up for a friend - we're showing up for a moment that's documented and remembered publicly. That raises the stakes. I just feel like we've lost the plot.'

Wolle is the author of I Hope You Elope, out on April 28

Wolle said: 'I just feel like we've lost the plot'

While splitting the bill to cover the bride's part for wedding festivities has been a longtime practice for bridesmaids in Western weddings, some bridesmaids may feel shy broaching the topic of money for fear of appearing gauche or unsupportive.

According to Wolle: 'Money, no matter what, is a hard conversation. The same request that felt manageable, or at least tolerable, starts to land differently when rent is higher, when people are thinking more seriously about savings, debt, stability. What used to be just one weekend is now a series of financial decisions.'

'In this time period, a lot of folks are losing their jobs,' she said. 'I think the economy now just removes the cushion that allowed people to ignore it. It forces clearer conversations.'

For Wolle, the financial cost is parallel to the unpaid labor that's expected of bridesmaids - something that she believes is unique to women's friendships.

She said: 'Women's friendships have carried this weight of emotional management, like the remembering, the anticipating, making sure everyone feels okay, it's a skill set we've been praised for having early on.

'We've been taught as women to confuse love with labor and weddings are where that confusion gets dressed up, photographed and applauded.'

To her, weddings are like the many tiered confection associated with them. She explained: 'The bridesmaids are essentially the pillars holding up the cake.'

And while Wolle isn't against the labor of showing up for a friend's big day, she questions why weddings have become the ultimate event to prove one's dedication and devotion.

She uses her book release party as an example; for the soiree, she's hosting a black-tie event but those attending will not be asked for anything other than to turn up.

'If I want my folks to be around me celebrating a monumental moment in my life, I want you to be participants in it,' she said with a laugh. 'I don't want you working!'

'The great wins of our lives aren't just our weddings, right?' she said. 'For the longest time in my childhood, I always thought that the biggest day in my life would be my wedding, but it might not. It might be the black-tie event for my book.

'I want us to celebrate and champion every moment of our friendships and milestones. It's sad that culturally, we think the only thing to celebrate is when we find a partner because my life is more than just who I end up with, even though that's huge.'

And when it is time for Wolle to walk down the aisle herself, rest assured she said, she will not be asking any of her friends to be bridesmaids. Nor, she said, does she have any intention of reprising the role herself.

She admitted: 'I will definitely never be a bridesmaid again, but I will always show up for my friends when it comes to their wedding season. I'm not a bad friend!'

I Hope You Elope by Ruhama Wolle is published by Simon & Schuster, April 28.
The Danish royal family is in mourning following the heartbreaking news of the passing of Queen Mary's father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson.

But it's not the only troubling issue weighing heavily on their minds.

Mary's father died aged 84 in Hobart, Tasmania, with the royal house confirming his death followed years of declining health.

Poignantly, Mary had only visited her father weeks earlier, at the conclusion of the wildly successful state visit to Australia with her husband, King Frederik.

A poetic but grief-stricken statement from Mary, shared by the royal household, confirmed that her 'heart is heavy' and 'thoughts are grey'.

'But I know that when the grief settles, the memories will brighten my day, and what will remain strongest is love and gratitude for everything he gave me and taught me,' Mary's statement continued.

With plans in the works for a 'private memorial service' to be held 'at a later date', for now the priority for the Danish royals  and particularly the Queen  will be to come to terms with the loss.

Yet behind this latest tragedy lies a far more sinister problem simmering beneath the surface - one that's rapidly becoming impossible to ignore.

Queen Mary is pictured with her father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson, who recently passed away following a period of ill-health

Queen Mary had recently visited her father at the end of a state visit to Australia. She is seen here delivering an emotional address on the final day of the tour in her hometown of Tasmania

The Danish royal tour wrapped up in the Tasmanian city of Hobart and memorably saw Queen Mary and King Frederik greeted by throngs of well-wishers

In neighbouring Norway, a royal closely linked to the Danish palace faces intense public scrutiny and mounting pressure.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit - godmother to Queen Mary and King Frederik's eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, the heir to the Danish throne - is now embroiled in a profound crisis of her own.

The latest scandal engulfing Norway's future Queen erupted when she was named in US Department of Justice files linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation - following years of denials from both her and the royal family about any substantial association.

Until the documents surfaced, the official stance had been that Epstein and the Crown Princess only crossed paths in social gatherings with others present.

But the files released on January 30 revealed a far closer relationship than previously admitted.

Norwegian newspaper VG reported that Crown Princess Mette-Marit was referenced in more than a thousand documents.

The wife of Crown Prince Haakon was found to have exchanged extensive correspondence with Epstein, unearthing what appears to be a prolonged friendship and association with the disgraced American financier, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Once the documents came to light, the Norwegian princess was forced to come clean. She issued an apology, admitting she 'must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly, and for not realising sooner what kind of person he was'.

Queen Mary and King Frederik have always enjoyed a close relationship with neighbouring royal families, such as the Norwegian royals. They are pictured here in 2024 with (from L to R) Denmark's Princess Astrid Fru Ferner, Norway's Queen Sonja, King Harald, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon

In a recent TV interview, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit said she regrets her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

'I deeply regret this, and it is a responsibility I must bear,' Mette-Marit's statement continued.

'I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing.'

She's also since given a teary TV interview with public broadcaster NRK, claiming she was 'manipulated and deceived' and regrets ever having met Epstein.

And this was only the most recent of a spate of scandals befalling Mette-Marit.

Before this, she was already in the headlines because her eldest son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hiby, is in the midst of a criminal rape trial.

Marius, 29, has been accused of around 40 offences ranging from four counts of rape and serious assault, to abuse, drug offences and traffic violations.

In court, defence lawyers acting on his behalf have denied the most serious charges including rape. They have, however, admitted he was guilty of some charges, including transporting 3.5kg of marijuana, breaching a restraining order, reckless driving, and other offences.

The judge's verdict is expected in June.

While there is no suggestion that the alleged criminal actions of Mette-Marit's adult son are a reflection on her, she is inevitably facing public scrutiny.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit is pictured with her eldest son Marius Borg Hiby, who is in the midst of a criminal rape trial

Furthermore, the episode has plunged the entire Norwegian royal family into crisis, as for many years Marius was raised alongside the royal family, without officially being a member of it.

Mette-Marit's eldest son was four years old when she married Crown Prince Haakon and Marius grew up with their two children, his younger half-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Princess Ingrid is of course now well-known to Aussies as she's currently living Down Under while studying a three-year degree at the University of Sydney.

Since the allegations against Marius emerged in recent years, Crown Prince Haakon and the family have moved to distance themselves, reminding the public that he is not a member of the Royal House, has no official role, and is autonomous.

They have expressed familial care as he is Mette-Marit's son and Haakon's stepson, but ultimately made it clear that he is not the responsibility of the royal household.

So why does all of this pose a major problem for the Danish royal family?

It all traces back to the longstanding ties linking the Scandinavian royal families - and, more pointedly, to Mette-Marit's ceremonial role as godmother to Denmark's future king.

It's an issue highlighted by royal commentator Trine Villemann, who told EkstraBladet that the Danish royals now face a 'dilemma' over whether or not they should continue to be associated with the scandal-plagued Norwegian Crown Princess.

Villemann speculated about major future events involving Christian, suggesting there could be problems if protocol calls for inviting a godparent or fellow royal - posing a dilemma for occasions where Mette-Marit would typically be expected to attend.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit is the godmother to Queen Mary's eldest son, Crown Prince Christian. Mary, Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway are pictured here in 2022

Queen Mary and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are pictured here together in 2024 during a state visit to Norway

The Danish royal family were last photographed all together in Copenhagen following church on Easter Sunday. Pictured (from L to R) Princess Josephine, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, Queen Mary, King Frederik and Crown Prince Christian

'Can you be in the same room with someone who has had such a close relationship with a convicted sex offender [like Epstein]?' Villemann questioned.

'She is the guest no one wants to see with royal eyes. And that can't change, I think.'

The current scandals surrounding Princess Mette-Marit are not something the Norwegian royal family can simply disassociate from. The fact remains that she is married to the future King of Norway.

But in Denmark, it might be a different story because she's not their princess.

Furthermore, Villemann suggested that the Danish public won't 'take kindly to the Danish royal couple associating with someone like Crown Princess Mette-Marit', referencing how her adamant denials of a relationship with Epstein eroded trust with the Danish public.

Accordingly, Villemann summed up that it was no longer 'a desirable situation' for the Danish royals to be associated with Mette-Marit.

'In my eyes, she has damaged her reputation so much that she serves no purpose whatsoever for either the Norwegian or any other monarchy,' the royal commentator scathingly added.

For now, Queen Mary and King Frederik have closed ranks to process the latest devastating family news  and no one would begrudge Mary, in particular, for taking as long as she needs.

But at some point, the Danish monarchy will have to face up to the situation involving their fellow royal Princess Mette-Marit, and the impact her scandals could potentially have on their own perception and image.

Will they take a stance and publicly cut ties with someone who threatens to tarnish the Danish royal family's otherwise sterling reputation? That remains to be seen.
Nicole Kidman was in true form Wednesday night, flashing her signature smize at the cameras as she slinked across the CinemaCon red carpet in a floor-length black gown.

There to promote her long-awaited Practical Magic sequel, it wasn't Kidman's ensemble nor even her reunion with Sandra Bullock that caught fans' attention. Instead, they were quick to criticize her so-called 'wig fail,' accusing the 58-year-old actress of wearing a poorly camouflaged hair piece and claiming that her 'real hair ends just above her collarbone.'

Though this wasn't a first for Kidman. The star, 58, has long been haunted by whispers of wig-wearing during public appearances  whether onlookers praise her seemingly fuller hairline, or condemn it. For her part she has always chosen to rise above the rumors, not commenting either way.

Truth be told we may never know for sure.

Because, as Kidman's hairstylist Ashley Wahler puts it, wigs are one of the 'best kept secrets in Hollywood.'

'I can tell a wig from a mile away, just because of the industry that I'm in,' Tennessee-based Wahler - who does not install wigs and tends to Kidman's natural hair - told the Daily Mail.

'I think a lot of people, they don't realize people are wearing wigs. And in a way, it's a wonderful compliment to the artist, but also it would be awesome if people were more vulnerable about the fact that they do wear wigs.'

Wigs have, of course, been around for thousands of years. Once worn as a class symbol, ornate, brilliantly white wigs (think: Marie Antoinette's sky-high hair pieces) were the style du jour.

On Wednesday night, Kidman was accused of yet another 'wig fail' at CinemaCon (pictured)

Kidman previously acknowledged that she did not, in fact, chop her hair off for her 2025 Met Gala look, where she rocked a dramatic pixie

Wig-wearing whispers have long haunted Kidman, seen at the 2025 Oscars

For her part she has always chosen to rise above the rumors, not commenting either way

As trends evolved, however, wigs began to look more authentic. Even the fluorescent, confection-hued wigs of the 2010s  worn by the likes of Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj  gave the illusion of sprouting from the wearer's scalp, even if a natural neon pink mane was inconceivable.

Now, with a market value of $2.68 billion as of 2025, wigs have evolved to their highest form: completely undetectable. Because, as Sex and the City's Samantha Jones once put it, some women 'just want to look like myself.'

'Wigs nowadays look so natural,' Wahler said. 'There are so many different kinds of hair that they offer ... Some wigs are only toppers, where, you can [add a wig only on] the top of your hair and have some of your hair in the front be shown, so that it feels more consistent.' That is something, she noted, celebrity stylist Chris Appleton does 'a lot' with high profile clients.

Wigs can be constructed a myriad of ways  beyond choosing between real or synthetic hair  and, according to New York Magazine's The Cut, can cost upwards of $15,000 depending on the style. Most of the total cost is due to the quality of hair used in the wig  with 'virgin' (never dyed) being the most coveted  and the rarity of the color. Then, of course, there's the hours-long construction.

Wahler said she's heard of wigs costing up to $50,000.

That pursuit of appearing natural is indeed what also makes wigs one of the last great Tinseltown taboos  now that Botox and a host of cosmetic procedures are widely accepted as the norm.

Because done right, a wig today is seamless. But, done wrong, the wearer falls victim to the dreaded 'wig fail' - even if the wig is off by only a hair.

At the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, Kidman's strawberry blonde hair appeared to peak out from behind a mismatched wig topper. Not only was the color seemingly off, but onlookers were quick to point out that the mesh of the wig cap could be seen along the part, and, earlier that day, the part of her natural hair did not align with that of the hair piece.

And in January this year, at the Chanel runway show at Paris Fashion Week, Kidman again seemed to suffer the same gaffe, as critics at home claimed her 'hair topper' was 'very obvious.'

At the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, Kidman's strawberry blonde hair appeared to peak out from behind a mismatched wig topper

Earlier that day, it seemed that the part of her natural hair did not align with that of the hair piece

Fans also speculated that Kidman was in a wig at the Chanel show in January

Kidman, however, is not the only star whose tresses are perpetually on trial. Indeed, the question of 'is she or isn't she?' has bubbled up for many.

This year, Marty Supreme's Odessa A'zion was asked if her red carpet curls were au naturale (as it turned out, she wore a wig to the Los Angeles premiere but not in New York). And when rapper Cardi B was grilled about her chameleon hair on the witness stand last year she giggled, admitting, 'They're wigs.'

Meanwhile, in response to the hair piece conspiracies that hung over her 2024 Short and Sweet Tour, pop star Sabrina Carpenter said, 'I don't even know what a wig is, but I also don't know what not a wig is.'

A-listers, Wahler said, wear wigs for a number of reasons. Most commonly, of course, actors don hair pieces for on-screen role, when it's often 'challenging to be able to get the perfect color' consistently with natural hair when filming over the course of many months.

But some women just want to have fun (look at Lisa Rinna).

For those who want to drastically overhaul their aesthetic every few weeks or months, the wear and tear of bleach and dye would almost certainly destroy the hair. As Wahler notes, 'it can be so damaging to go, obviously, from blonde to black or a red head' in a short time frame.

'As you know, I love changing my hair,' says Kidman

As Kidman's hairstylist Ashley Wahler puts it, wigs are one of the 'best kept secrets in Hollywood'

Wahler, for her part, remained tight-lipped about her high-profile client

'I know the Kardashians were very big on wigs,' Wahler said. 'I think they got to the point where they were changing their aesthetic so much, and their hair was completely fried, that they were like, "Okay, we got to do a different route, because we can't be walking around bald."'

Certainly, that doesn't seem to be the case for Kidman, whose natural auburn coils have been glimpsed by the world on the rare occasions she lets her hair down.

And Wahler, for her part, remained tight-lipped about her high-profile client, only telling the Daily Mail: 'Her whole family is lovely, and I love her... She's a wonderful person and a wonderful mom.'

As for Kidman, she's consistently coy.

While the actress admitted last year that her Met Gala pixie was indeed faux, when it came to her ever-changing mane, she said simply: 'As you know, I love changing my hair.'
In France, going to the pharmacy is part of everyday life. You visit for advice, for reassurance, and for skincare too. From the start, we are taught to look at the skin as an organ first: something to protect, support and respect.

I qualified as Docteur en Pharmacie nearly two decades ago, and when I moved to London in 2006 and opened The French Pharmacy, I realised how unique this approach is. The British women I meet are incredibly engaged with skincare, but often overwhelmed by faddish trends and complicated routines. But what you really need is relatively simple. The fundamentals of good skin are easy to follow, they just require consistency, patience and understanding.

French women are not doing more. In fact, they are often doing less, but better. They cleanse properly. They protect their skin daily. They invest in a few well-formulated products. Its not about perfection. Its about discipline, pleasure and understanding your skin.

What also defines the French approach is the importance of diagnosis. Skin changes with seasons, hormones, stress, and lifestyle. Before recommending a product, we observe, ask questions, take our time to understand the skin. There is also a strong focus on formulation. Products are not chosen for their marketing, but for their tolerance, their efficacy and ingredients.

A well-formulated product used consistently will always outperform a shelf full of trend-led ones.

Finally, something often underestimated: sensuousness. A product must feel and smell good on the skin, because if you enjoy using it, you will use it every day. Its this consistency that transforms the skin over time. Ageing well is not about chasing youth. It is about respecting your skin and embracing your perfect imperfections.

Skipping SPF  the biggest mistake

This is one habit that defines French skincare: protection comes first. In the UK, most people only apply SPF on holiday, but UV damage happens every day, no matter the weather and even when you are indoors near windows. UV exposure is responsible for the majority of premature ageing: pigmentation, fine lines, loss of firmness.

Dr Marine Vincent says the difference between the countries on skincare is not that French women are doing more, but that 'they are often doing less, but better'

Dr Vincent added that the French approach to skincare is 'about discipline, pleasure and understanding your skin'

SPF is not optional, it should be like brushing your teeth. The key is to find a formula you like. Lightweight textures, invisible finishes, products that sit well under makeup  these are what make consistency possible. Because ultimately, the best sunscreen is the one you use every day.

I recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+ (21) and Avene Very High Protection Fluid SPF50+ (23.95), both are designed to feel weightless on the skin while offering very high protection.

Overcomplicating skincare

Ten-step routines, multiple active ingredients layered together, constant switching between products: take it from me, skin does not thrive under stress.

In France, the philosophy is very different. We favour a small number of well-chosen products that work together. A gentle cleanser, a targeted treatment, a good moisturiser and daily SPF.

Thats it.

When you use too many actives (acids, retinoids, exfoliants), you risk disrupting the skin barrier. And once the barrier is compromised, the skin becomes reactive, dehydrated and more prone to ageing.

Id recommend stripping everything back and rebuilding a routine that supports the skin rather than overwhelms it. A simple micellar water like Bioderma Sensibio H2O (7) or a gentle cleanser such as CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (6.50) is often more effective than an aggressive routine.

Treating issues reactively

In the UK, many seek help only when a problem appears, such as breakouts, pigmentation and fine lines. French skincare is rooted in prevention. Its about maintaining balance before issues arise. Hydration, barrier support, gentle care, these are not glamorous steps but they are the foundation of healthy skin.

This is also why pharmacy skincare works so well. It is designed with formulations that prioritise tolerance and long-term results. For example, a daily antioxidant serum such as Caudalie Vinoperfect serum (52) can help protect from environmental damage, while promoting radiance.

In France, skincare is not rushed  it is a moment of care, of connection with yourself

Neglecting the barrier

If there is one concept I wish more women understood, it is the importance of their skin barrier.

The barrier is what keeps hydration in and irritants out. I often see clients using strong actives daily, exfoliating too frequently or combining ingredients that are simply too harsh together. The result? Redness, sensitivity, dehydration and ironically, accelerated ageing.

Barrier repair is fundamental, so ingredients like thermal spring water, ceramides, the nutrient powerhouse niacinamide, and soothing agents, are used not as an afterthought, but as a core strategy. Products like Avene Cicalfate+ Serum (38.95) or SVR Cicavit+ Creme Apaisante Reparatrice (18), are excellent at supporting and repairing the skin when it has been pushed too far.

Skincare should be a ritual, not a chore

In France, skincare is not rushed. It is a moment of care, of connection with yourself. The best routine is the one you will follow every day. A beautiful cleanser, a comforting cream, a texture you love: these small details matter. Using a sensuous moisturiser like NUXE Creme Fraiche de Beaute (28) or a few drops of NUXE Huile Prodigieuse (24) can transform your routine into a moment of pleasure rather than a task.

If there is one takeaway from French skincare, it is this: simplicity, consistency, and respect for the skin will always outperform trends. You do not need more products. You need better habits. And, perhaps most importantly, you need to enjoy the process. The more you love your routine, the more consistent you will be  and ultimately, the more effective it will be.
Every parent thinks their child is one in a million, but for Maddicyn Brokenshire, her son truly is a rarity.

Brokenshire, 38, and her husband, Daniel Brokenshire, 30, who live in Timaru, New Zealand, were over the moon when they found out they were expecting their first baby.

But their joy was eclipsed by worry in just an instant as doctors warned them of pregnancy complications.

During a trip to the hospital, doctors informed Brokenshire that she had experienced a subchorionic hemorrhage - bleeding between the uterine wall and the gestational sac in early pregnancy that occurs in about one percent of pregnancies and usually resolves on its own.

The most common symptoms are vaginal bleeding and mild cramping, and scientific research is inconclusive on whether it can cause pregnancy complications.

'When we first found out, it was incredibly overwhelming,' she told the Daily Mail, adding that they worried it may affect the fetus. 'There was a lot of uncertainty and the initial prognosis wasn't very clear.'

The mom said she and her husband didn't know what to expect, which made the situation even scarier. All they could do was try to focus on taking things 'one step at a time.'

But the prognosis worsened at Brokenshire's 20-week scan.

Maddicyn Brokenshire was overcome with worry after finding out her son, Ollyver, was battling Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS)

Doctors identified that little Ollyver was battling amniotic bands - fibrous strands of tissue detached from the inner amniotic sac. The bands can remain free-floating, but they can also wrap around developing limbs, digits or other body parts and restrict growth. The latter is known as Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS).

Brokenshire's doctors initially believed the bands were 'floating' and may not cause any issues.

But the mother-to-be, who formerly worked as a nurse, said her instincts told her otherwise.

She began extensive research on ABS and had a haunting feeling that her baby would suffer complications. ABS is a rare condition that affects just one in 15,000 births and occurs when the inner layer of the placenta is damaged during pregnancy.

At 33 weeks pregnant, Brokenshire was rushed back to a hospital in Christchurch that she called larger and better-equipped than the first one she visited.

'That's where they discovered that he was suffering,' she recalled. 'The amniotic bands were attached. He had an indentation on his nose bridge and his right eye orbit was smaller than the other. They didn't know how severe it was going to be.'

When Brokenshire's water broke just one week later, she and her husband were told the bands were still attached to baby Ollyver.

He was born via cesarean section at Christchurch Hospital, but wasn't breathing as doctors tried to resuscitate him. Thankfully, he recovered.

The newborn was plagued with health concerns as a result of the ABS, which has impacted his sight

He was also born with an open wound on the back of his head as a result of Aplasia Cutis Congenita

But the newborn was plagued with health concerns as the ABS had been severe, causing 'deformities and loss of function,' Brokenshire told the Daily Mail.

He had a massive open wound on the back of his head as a result of Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC), where some areas of skin could not fully form before birth.

'It can happen anywhere on the body but in Ollyver's case, it is on his scalp where his hair grows,' she explained.

Ollyver's eyelids also did not develop. Brokenshire told the Daily Mail he is 'fully blind' in his right eye and will eventually need a prosthetic.

Now, at eight months old, the infant has undergone several surgeries to release the amniotic bands and surgically create eyelids.

'Surgeons attempted to correct his ability to close his eyes by pinning and suturing the eyelid higher,' Brokenshire said. 'But it wasn't successful, so they will continue to adjust this over time.'

Despite some setbacks, Ollyver is continuing to hit milestones

Despite some setbacks, Ollyver is continuing to develop on schedule.

His doting mom happily reported her little boy is crawling and 'on the move constantly.'

'Neurologically, Ollyver has been incredibly lucky,' Brokenshire said.

'His brain was not affected. He is meeting all of his milestones and is even ahead in some areas.'

Although Ollyver may have challenges with balance and depth perception, the family has already enlisted support services to help him.

His mother is proud of all he has accomplished so far, and called Ollyver 'such a strong, resilient little boy.'
A man who lives in a remote Alaskan village has lifted the lid on what life is really like in the secluded town.

Conner Johnson, 27, grew up in Soldotna, Alaska, which only has a few thousand residents.

While he moved away briefly during college, he and his wife decided to return to the area in 2020.

But calling the snowy state 'home' is certainly very different from living in other parts of the US.

From only getting five hours of daylight and battling -60F temperatures during the winter to having to fend off wild moose and bear daily, it comes with a slew of challenges.

Johnson broke down the highs - and lows - of living in Alaska exclusively with the Daily Mail.

He explained that winters are extremely rough and are made up of very little sunlight and a lot of snow.

'It is hard to describe the impact that it has on people that have never lived through it,' he dished about the intense weather.

Conner Johnson, 27, resides in a remote Alaskan village called Soldotna, Alaska, with his wife, and he lifted the lid on what life is really like in the secluded town

He explained that winters are extremely rough and are made up of very little sunlight and a lot of snow

'Seasonal depression is a huge issue in Alaska due to the decline in daylight. On average we only get about five hours of daylight in the winter where I live.

'In more northern parts of the state they will go a full month without seeing the sun over the horizon.'

Johnson revealed that temperatures usually sit below zero degrees F during the winter and the lowest recorded temperature he has seen is -60F.

They have to take 'a lot of precautions' to stay safe throughout the colder months, like using heaters to ensure that their car engines don't freeze.

Johnson explained: 'When you park at home you plug your car into an exterior outlet and the block heater helps keep your engine bay warm so your car will start in the morning.'

Another difficult part about living in Alaska, according to Johnson, is the constant feeling of being 'isolated.'

'[Most families if] they do not live in the same state as each other, they are able to drive to visit their family within a day,' he said.

'In Alaska that is simply not possible because you have to fly all the way down to the states.'

He said: 'We see moose almost every day in and around town and as long as you give them their space, they don't usually mess with you. Bears are about the same'

In the summer, he spends his days hiking, biking, camping or fishing, and in the winter he's usually snowmobiling in his free time

To get to Colorado, where his wife's parents live, for example, Johnson explained that it's an immense journey made up of a three-hour drive to the closest airport, two flights and another three-hour drive to their hometown.

Johnson also criticized the 'terrible economy' and 'housing market' in Alaska.

'The cost of living is very high, and the housing market is extremely saturated with Airbnbs and what we call snow birds, people that own a home but only live here for the summer months and then their house sits empty for the rest of the winter,' he added.

Despite the drawbacks, Johnson explained that there are also a slew of positives to their lifestyle that ultimately make it all worth it.

First, he gushed about the strong sense of community, explaining: 'It is hard for people who have never lived in a small community to understand what it really means to truly know everyone [in your town].

'The people that worked at the local stores when I was growing up, still work there. The owners of the family diner, are still the owners of the family diner.

'It is not an exaggeration to say that when I leave my house I budget an extra hour for errands simply because I will see people and have to catch up.'

He said everyone in town 'truly cares for each other' in a way that's different from other places in America.

Johnson revealed that temperatures usually sit below zero degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and the lowest recorded temperature he has seen is -60F

'If a family business is struggling to make ends meet, people will go out of their way to eat or shop there,' he said.

'If someone's car breaks down on the side of the road, you will see 4-5 other vehicles stop to help.

'The connectedness of my town is something that is very hard to find outside of Alaska.'

He also praised having 'access to the outdoors' and being surrounded by a 'plethora of different animals' at all times.

'Every single day [I come face to face with dangerous wildlife],' he shared.

'We see moose almost every day in and around town and as long as you give them their space, they don't usually mess with you. Bears are about the same, give them space and they don't bother you.'

He revealed that kids are taught to fend for themselves from a young age, as schools offer 'hunter education courses' and 'archery classes.'

In the summer, he spends his days hiking, biking, camping or fishing, and in the winter he's usually snowmobiling in his free time.

Every day is an adventure, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Buckley Carlson, the son of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, has stepped down from his role as deputy press secretary to Vice President JD Vance, leaving the White House as his father's escalating feud with President Donald Trump continues to escalate.

Carlson's departure, first reported by Politico, comes amid a widening rift between Trump and the elder Carlson.

The clash appears to have been fueled by sharp disagreements over the war with Iran and has only intensified by the pundit's extraordinary suggestion that the president could be the 'antichrist.'

Carlson is leaving to launch his own political consulting firm.

'Buckley first informed the VP's office of his intention to depart in December, but stayed on for several months to ensure a smooth transition,' a Vance official told the website.

His departure comes as his father, who was once one of Trump's most influential media allies, has turned into one of his fiercest critics, particularly over the administration's military campaign against Iran.

Behind the scenes, Tucker Carlson had attempted to stop the war days before Trump launched attacks.

According to The New York Times, he was among the 'few voices lobbying against military action' and personally warned Trump of the consequences.

Buckley Carlson has left his role as deputy press secretary to Vice President JD Vance after months of planning his exit

Tucker Carlson called out a Truth Social post from Trump showing him being embraced by Jesus, which Carlson said mimicked warnings from the Bible

Buckley Carlson's exit comes as his father Tucker Carlsons feud with Donald Trump intensifies

The outlet reported on March 2 that Carlson 'outlined the risks to US military personnel, energy prices and Arab partners in the region if the United States went to war with Iran,' and urged the president not to be 'boxed in by Israel,' arguing that its push for confrontation was driving US policy.

Carlson's advice was ignored and in the weeks since, the former Fox News host has unleashed a barrage of criticism, accusing the administration of waging war on behalf of Israel and denouncing the joint US-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as 'absolutely disgusting and evil.'

Trump has responded with characteristic fury.

In a series of public attacks, the president has repeatedly mocked Carlson, calling him a 'low IQ' person and, in a Truth Social post earlier this month, lumped him together with other conservative commentators.

'I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years,' Trump wrote. 'Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs.

'They're stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!  They've all been thrown off Television they're NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS.'

Days later, Trump doubled down, calling Carlson a 'LOSER' and suggesting he 'should see a good psychiatrist.'

But it was Carlson's own words that detonated the most extraordinary escalation yet.

Carlson was previously a fervent Trump supporter, but has recently emerged as a leading critic of the president

Pope Leo has also become a vocal critic of Trump's war with Iran in recent weeks

Buckley Carlson, the son of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, had been the deputy press secretary to Vice President JD Vance

On a recent episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, the conservative firebrand broke sharply with the president over religion, accusing Trump of 'mocking' Christianity after sharing AI-generated images depicting himself alongside Jesus.

Carlson pointed to biblical warnings about a future figure described as a 'man of lawlessness,' often interpreted by some Christians as the antichrist - someone who 'will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is worshipped.'

'He will pose as God,' Carlson said on the show. 'He will mock other Gods, and put himself in their place.'

Referencing those passages, Carlson posed a question that sent shockwaves through conservative circles: 'Could this be the antichrist?'

'To a lot of Christians, these predictions in both the Old and New Testament seem to fit what we are watching Here is a leader who is mocking the Gods of his ancestors and exalting himself above them,' he added.

Trump's post showing himself with Jesus came days after the president also sparked backlash by sharing an image appearing to depict himself as Christ.

The image showed Trump in a white cloak healing a man in a hospital bed, which Trump later claimed was meant to show him as a doctor and not as Jesus.

Carlson was one of Fox News's biggest stars until his abrupt firing in 2023 and was once close to Trump, whose views he was credited with strongly influencing.

The star has gone on to host a successful podcast and blasted Trump over his support of Israel and the bombing of Iran.

The remarks marked a dramatic break from a commentator who once championed Trump and was widely seen as helping shape the populist wing of the Republican Party.

While there is no indication Buckley Carlson's departure was directly tied to his father's comments, the overlap in timing, between his exit, the intensifying Trump-Carlson feud, and the incendiary 'antichrist' remarks underscores the growing instability within a movement once defined by its alignment behind Trump.

Trump also sparked furious backlash after he posted an AI-generated image seemingly depicting himself as Jesus Christ earlier this week

The fallout has rippled through the conservative ecosystem and placed Vice President JD Vance in an increasingly delicate position.

Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro, who has his own ongoing feud with Carlson, said last week that people should 'feel a little bit bad' for Vance, noting that Carlson 'helped' him rise politically.

But Shapiro argued Vance must now distance himself, warning that continuing to 'honor garbage' like Carlson risks fracturing the coalition Republicans need to win upcoming elections.

That fracture now appears to have reached inside the administration itself.
Hiring a top interior designer to give your home a makeover can cost up to 1,800 a day  and buying the luxury items they recommend can reach into the hundreds of thousands.

But there are ways to give your home a high-end feel at a fraction of the cost. And if you're looking to sell in the near future, a few clever buys could more than pay for themselves with the value they add to your property.

Rachel Allen has designed homes across the country and abroad. When working for clients who want the best of the best, she has spent close to 20,000 on a shower screen, but she also knows some low-cost tricks to achieve that luxury feel.

Curtains

Well-made curtains and curtain poles are a hallmark of a great interior and can transform a room, she says. But curtain poles can be extremely expensive and for an average-sized window, the pole, rings, brackets and finials can cost 1,000 a window.

Instead, she says Suffolk-based retailer Jim Lawrence sells heritage-looking curtain poles at just a fraction of the price. You can buy a 1.2m pole for less than 27.

If your budget is even tighter, Allen says you could also approach a local ironmonger about simple forged poles.

A well-made pair of curtains, with a good curtain pole, can transform a room

Sofas

The sofa is typically the largest piece of furniture in your sitting room and the one that gets used the most. Allen recommends spending a bit more of your budget on it.

You want to have something with a feather or down filling  but these can come with a hefty price tag, she says.

To get the best at a fraction of the price, Allen recommends buying a second-hand sofa from a heritage designer such as George Smith, with prices ranging from a few hundred pounds.

George Smith are good quality and their pre-owned website has great stock so you can get the right colour for your sitting room, she says.

Buying pre-owned furniture from a company such as George Smith can help save money

If you find that it has lost its squish, Allen recommends taking it to an upholsterer to add extra feathers  which can cost up to 900.

While this may sound expensive, a three-seater sofa from Ikea can cost 1,000  without any feather or down filling.

So for just a little extra investment you can have a designer-quality centre piece for your living room that will last for many years.

Kitchens

A smart kitchen can be the star attraction in a house. But instead of paying tens of thousands to upgrade, spend on new cupboard doors, a new countertop or handles.

Allen recommends an elegant marble countertop if your budget allows. You can spend anywhere between 150 to more than 1,000 per square metre.

Antique furniture can add a classic touch and prices are often cheaper than flatpack alternatives.

Replacing kitchen cupboard doors, rather than fitting a whole new kitchen, can give the room a lift that doesn't break the bank

A new marble worktop is another way of breathing new life into your kitchen

Antiques

Allen recommends antique markets, such as Kempton in Sunbury, or Shepton Mallet in Somerset, to buy a bargain. Prices are a fraction of the cost of antique shops.

And if youre willing to buy items that need sprucing up, such as repolishing, sanding, or replacing missing handles, you may be able to get a quality item for just a few pounds.

Adam Hills, owner of design company Retrouvius, says: Auctions have great bargains, and it's worth looking at Facebook marketplace.

Antique mirrors often cost less than new ones and can add a quality feel to your bedroom or bathroom.

At an antique market you can pick up a bevelled mirror for around 25, says Allen.

An antique mirror can help create a high-end feel in your home but at a fraction of the cost

But remember to not overload your room with antique furniture.

Joanna Cocking, at estate agency Hamptons, says: 'The most successful schemes respect the age and character of the property while introducing a modern twist.'

Repainting the interior of your house can help to freshen it up and make it easier to sell, adds Cocking. Where colour has been used confidently it generates stronger emotional engagement.

Marc von Grundherr, of estate agency Benham & Reeves, says: We have seen a big uptick in people designing their houses to sell.

If you want something to sell at a decent price, it needs to present well. Theres a reason the top new projects around London are hiring interior designers for their show houses. Its because it increases value.
A distraught widow has blasted a massage chain for refusing to transfer $1,700 worth of prepaid services purchased by her late husband after he died suddenly at just 52.

Walter William Clark III, known to friends and family as Bill, suffered a fatal heart attack on March 3 while on vacation with his wife, Chelsey Clark.

'We were traveling trying to get out of the cold winter weather,' said Chelsey. 'I woke up because the light was still on, and he was on the couch gone.'

The Kansas couple, longtime members of Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Leawood, had built up 23 prepaid massage credits on Bill's account that were worth about $1,700.

But after his death, Chelsey said the franchise owner refused to transfer the credits into her name, leaving her stunned as she navigated life without her husband.

According to Hand and Stones membership terms, services are non-transferable and non-refundable, though the policy does not appear to address what happens when a customer dies.

The company does allow limited transfers of up to three service credits within a 12-month period for a fee, but Chelsey said she was unable to move the 23 credits on her husbands account.

The terms also state that unused services can expire and are non-refundable after a membership ends.

Chelsey Clark has blasted their local Hand and Stone Spa location for refusing to transfer $1,700 worth of prepaid services purchased by her late husband after he died unexpectedly

Walter William Clark III, known to friends and family as Bill, suffered a fatal heart attack on March 3 while on vacation with his wife, Chelsey Clark

Chelsey, who returned home alone after the trip, said she had been met with compassion from most businesses while handling her husband's affairs, but not the spa.

'Everybody from his employer [and] my employer has been so great and just sensitive and accommodating,' she told FOX4. 'His gym membership that I had to cancel, they were very sensitive to the situation.

'[With] everything that you hold into your body when you go through something so traumatic, I think massage is going to be a part of that recovery and healing process,' she said.

At one point, she was told the issue was due to system limitations, and at another that it was company policy, she said. The company's website does not outline what happens to unused credits when a customer dies.

Chelsey added that other Hand and Stone locations she had contacted indicated they would have handled the situation differently.

As a franchise, individual locations are independently owned, meaning policies can vary.

The Leawood branch where the couple held their membership was responsible for approving the transfer.

However after she spoke with local outlet FOX4 and it began investigating the dispute, the branch ultimately backtracked and decided to transfer the full $1,700 worth of credits to Chelseys account.

Chelsey, who returned home alone after the trip, said she had been met with compassion from most businesses while handling her husband's affairs, but not the spa

Bill, who was born and raised in Olathe, Kansas, loved adventure and felt most at home in the water, his wife said

Bill, who was born and raised in Olathe, Kansas, loved adventure and felt most at home in the water, his wife said.

He was remembered by loved ones for his sharp humor and adventurous spirit, with friends saying he had a way of making anyone laugh and feel instantly at ease.

The Kansas native built a career in cybersecurity but was happiest exploring the world, particularly underwater as a passionate diver.

He and Chelsey had moved to Conifer, Colorado, where they embraced the outdoors and planned for the future together.

Above all, he was a devoted father to his two sons and a husband Chelsey described as her home and best friend.

I never imagined I would have to write something like this, she wrote in a tribute. He was my husband. My home. My person. My best friend.

She added: Some people search their entire lives for a love like ours and never find it. We did. We found it, we built it, and we lived it fully but it didnt last nearly long enough.

Bill is survived by his wife, his two sons, and a large extended family.

Daily Mail has contacted the Hand and Stone Spa Leawood location for further comment.
Australian drivers are battling soaring fuel prices courtesy of the Iran War, but the commodity still remains one of the highest-taxed purchases in Australia, despite Anthony Albanese's temporary halving of the fuel excise.

The oil crisis looks no closer to being resolved with Iran declaring this weekend it will once again close major shipping route the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US was blockading its ports.

The Albanese government has halved the fuel excise until June 30, which makes fuel 26.3 cents per litre cheaper, but economists have warned the fallout from the conflict is likely to last at least six months.

Petrol is one of three primary products subject to excise in Australia, with the other two being tobacco and alcohol. The excise on the latter two serve as a deterrent to over-consumption and a general revenue stream for the government.

The fuel excise was introduced in 1929, with documents from the Parliamentary Budget Office stating it was introduced to 'finance road funding', effectively a road user charge.

These days it also functions as a fossil fuel disincentive, with electric vehicles exempt from the charge.

But the excise isn't the only tax applied to fuel purchases. There is also the GST, with that 10 per cent hit applied to the cost inclusive of the excise - a tax on a tax.

Technically, fuel in Australia is taxed an astonishing five times before motorists drive off with it in their vehicle.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (above) has boasted about cutting the fuel excise

Detailed data from 2023 (above) showed tax made up 31 per cent of the price per litre of fuel

About 90 per cent of Australia's fuel supply is imported and when it arrives at the border it is subject to an excise equivalent customs duty (tax one) and the goods and services tax (tax two), both of which the importer pays .

The importer's taxes are then passed on in the fuel price at the pump, so a driver pays an excise (tax three) but this repays the importer so they're not out of pocket.

It's done this way because it's easier for the government to deal with a handful of importers than millions of motorists.

The driver also pays a GST at the pump (tax four).

Finally there is also another round of GST when it's bought by a service station from the importer (tax five), but servos are able to claim that tax back, so it doesn't count.

Taxes one, two and five are recouped, so what's left is the excise and GST the driver pays at the pump, which accounts for more than one-third of the price.

For example, let's say an importer is bringing 100L of fuel into Australia valued at $1 per litre.

As that fuel crosses into Australia it is subject to customs duty equivalent to the fuel excise, which has been lowered to 26.3c per litre from 52.6c, and an estimated GST of 10 per cent. So the $1 litre of fuel now costs $1.39.

Imported fuel is subject to customs duty and GST at the border, as well as the fuel excise and GST paid by customers at the pump

Data for 2025 (above) showed the cost of tax was almost equivalent to the cost of producing fuel

Then when a customer puts that fuel in their tank, they pay to cover the cost of fuel excise and another 10 per cent in GST.

This doesn't factor in the markup from suppliers and service stations to turn a profit.

And with fuel prices a lot more than $1 per litre these days, it's easy to see why Albanese's temporary price-cut isn't all that impressive.

'Up until the first of April, 52.6 cents of every litre of fuel was excise,' Rowan Lee, the Chief Executive Officer of The Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association, told Daily Mail.

He said it's an issue the Australian Institute of Petroleum has been flagging for years, but Aussies have only recently started paying attention.

Data collected throughout 2025 found that the amount of tax Australians paid per litre of unleaded petrol was more than half of its production cost.

Detailed analysis from 2023 found 31 per cent of the cost per litre of fuel was government tax, compared to 57 per cent for production cost and 11 per cent operational costs.

'It's pretty well been swept under the carpet until now,' Mr Lee said. 'People just accepted it (expensive fuel) as a fact of life and resigned themselves to it.'

Excise in Australia is an additional tax only applied to three goods: fuel, alcohol and tobacco

The effects of the fuel crunch are expected to peak next month as the drop in supply reaches the market.

Albanese has been jetting off to Asian neighbours such as Brunei and Malaysia to shore up Australia's imported supply.

Domestically, the country only has two working oil refineries, one of which at Geelong suffered a major fire just a few days ago that will likely stunt its supply for months.

That refinery supplies about 50 per cent of Victoria's fuel.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the US, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a peace deal remained 'far' off despite some movement in negotiations.

As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in Pakistan that failed to reach a deal, Iran said it will not allow the crucial maritime trade passage to re-open until the United States ends a blockade of Iranian ports.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address on Saturday night that there had been 'progress' with Washington 'but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain'.

'We are still far from the final discussion,' said Ghalibaf, one of Tehran's negotiators in the talks aimed at ending the war launched by Israel and the United States against the Islamic republic.

A two-week ceasefire is set to end on Wednesday unless it is renewed.

US President Donald Trump said 'very good conversations' were going on with Iran but warned Tehran against trying to 'blackmail' the United States.
Jane Brown had spent her entire life feeling that something was missing.

Adopted as a newborn and raised as an only child, her relationships always felt incomplete, as though she were searching for a connection she could never quite name or find.

A reunion with her birth mother and siblings in her late 20s brought some comfort, but it did not fill the void.

It was only in her late 40s when she connected with her birth father and subsequently met her half-brother that everything changed in ways she had never anticipated.

The bond with her sibling was immediate, powerful and unlike anything Jane had experienced in her life before.

There was an ease to it, a sense of deep familiarity and recognition that felt both natural and overwhelming.

'Our connection was just easy  I felt seen by him,' said Jane, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. 'I had found the missing piece.'

But alongside the joy of that discovery came something far more complicated and destabilizing  a fierce and unwanted physical attraction that Jane could not contain or explain.

Victoria Hill, 41, a married mom-of-two, has been on an emotional rollercoaster since she used an at-home DNA kit in 2020

Colorado couple Joseph and Celina Quinones after 10 years of marriage and three children, discovered through a DNA test that they were actually cousins

'I was struggling with a feeling of really wanting to be close to him  in a physical way,' she said.

Jane declined to describe exactly how far the relationship went, calling it natural but also deeply unsettling and one that brought profound feelings of shame to them both.

For the clinicians who have studied cases like hers, it was a textbook example of what is known as genetic sexual attraction, or GSA.

It describes the intense romantic or sexual feelings that can arise between close biological relatives such as siblings or parent and child who meet for the first time as adults.

It is thought to be extremely rare  in fact, some experts contest the concept entirely.

But it has been reported across different cultures and usually occurs in adoption reunions, where those involved did not grow up together and never developed the natural psychological barrier that prevents attraction between family members, known as the Westermarck effect.

When relatives are separated at birth or in infancy and reconnect in adulthood, that biological mechanism never forms  leaving them, in neurological terms, as strangers who happen to share DNA.

Such relationships are universally taboo, and in the case of sexual contact, illegal in all 50 US states regardless of whether those involved were raised together.

That means those affected rarely come forward.

When Jane confided in a close friend about her own experience, the reaction was immediate and crushing  strongly negative, leaving her feeling isolated and ashamed.

But she learned to reframe their bond as a deep and committed friendship of enduring emotional intensity.

Jane revealed they remain in regular contact and support one another as they work to establish boundaries and pursue conventional relationships elsewhere.

Jane shared her story with Adoptees On, an award-nominated podcast where adult adoptees share frank stories about how adoption affected their lives.

Its founder Haley Radke, a Canadian who reunited with her birth parents in her twenties, launched the podcast in 2016 and it has had more than 1.5 million downloads.

Radke told the Daily Mail that after releasing episodes featuring adoptees who experienced GSA, she said she received a wave of private messages from listeners sharing similar stories.

Monica Mares of New Mexico bared all about her sexual relationship with her son in 2016

Caleb Peterson and his mother were convicted for third-degree felony incest and disappeared from the spotlight afterward

'It was more common than I anticipated when I went into researching it. It's so taboo that most people never talk about it,' Radke said, describing an issue that often remains hidden, even within the adoptee community.

She does not see it as deviant, but rather as a misdirected form of curiosity, longing, and the desire for connection.

'When you meet someone who has some kind of similarity to you it's what you've wanted your whole life,' she said.

'I think that it's just kind of this offshoot of misdirected curiosity and attraction and hope for closeness.'

But GSA is even more uncomfortable when it affects parents and their biological children.

Sophia, who was adopted at birth and raised in California, finally met her biological parents at 21.

But within weeks of meeting her father, Sophia found herself grappling with overwhelming and confusing feelings toward her father, despite her being gay.

'It was like our hearts just matched,' she said, describing a bond she calls both 'openhearted' and 'otherworldly,' amplified by eerie similarities in their personalities, shared trauma and parallel struggles with addiction.

'I felt like I was falling in love with the man of my dreams and it was my father,' said Sophia, using an alias to protect her identity.

'I wanted to go off and have a child with him  and I knew that was entirely unrealistic,' she told the podcast.

The emotional whirlwind soon collided with reality and Sophia found others with similar experiences and never acted on her desires.

But some do.

Monica Mares and Caleb Peterson, from New Mexico, are among a tiny number of parent-child couples to go public about their romance.

Mares had Peterson at 16 and placed her son  who was then named Carlos - up for adoption.

They reconnected on Facebook roughly 18 years later, quickly developed romantic feelings and began a sexual relationship that resulted in third-degree felony incest convictions.

Kim West and her biological son Ben Ford from Michigan also made international headlines in 2016 after reportedly reuniting after three decades apart and entering into a sexual relationship.

The Daily Mail tried to contact both couples, but they appeared to have stopped sharing about their personal lives.

Kim West and her biological son Ben Ford reunited after three decades apart and entered into a sexual relationship

GSA is 'so taboo that most people never talk about it,' says Haley Radke, host of the Adoptees On podcast

Radke's advice to adoptees is to seek support before reconnecting, warning that reunions can be emotionally intense and unpredictable.

'Preparedness is the best advice I can give. If you're picturing that Hallmark airport reunion, it's not always like that,' she said.

'Just because you make first contact doesn't mean you're going to get the reunion of your dream.'

Experts warn GSA could become more common due to the rise in at-home DNA tests like 23andMe and AncestryDNA.

These tests do not merely reveal ancestral origins, they identify siblings, parents and cousins and allow users to contact them instantly.

As of 2025, roughly one in five Americans - around 60 million - has taken a consumer DNA test.

Betsie Norris, 65, an adoptee who reunited with her own birth family in 1986 and went on to found the Adoption Network Cleveland, described the advent of at-home DNA testing as a 'complete gamechanger.'

'People are finding each other left and right,' Norris told the Daily Mail.

She sees it as a net positive overall  but one that has also opened what she calls a 'Pandora's box' of family secrets for millions of unsuspecting people.

DNA tests revealed that Victoria had dozens of half-siblings she had never known existed

Victoria has pushed for changes to the laws governing fertility clinics

A teenage Victoria, pictured with her high school boyfriend, and half-brother, who does not wish to be named

Reunions can carry the emotional rush of 'new relationship energy,' mirroring the dizzying highs of romantic infatuation, she said.

Usually the root is not sexual desire  it's something deeper: a long-buried hunger for connection, identity, and belonging, easily mistaken for romance.

That's where the danger lies. For therapists, the challenge is not denying these feelings, but managing them before they spiral.

Victoria Hill of southern Connecticut was 35 when an at-home DNA test revealed that her ex-boyfriend was actually her half-brother.

'I instantly gravitated towards him,' Victoria, now 41 and a married mother of two, previously told the Daily Mail.

The emotional fallout has been profound and ongoing.

'Those feelings were present before we knew this information,' she said, 'and they don't just go away.'

She described the experience as surreal, marked by cognitive dissonance and deeply difficult to navigate.

'We have to figure out how to turn that into a sibling sort of love,' she said. 'But we both struggle with it.'

It is a struggle, experts say, that is only going to become more familiar as DNA databases grow, reunions multiply, and the full human consequences of the testing boom continue to unfold.
Plans for another stretch of wall across the southern border has sparked fury among environmentalists, as the proposal would tear through more national park and wildlife refuge land.

The construction of the wall in 2019 saw two national park sites in Arizona utilized for their desert land, and now the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge will take another hit as plans for more wall construction have been revealed.

But the plans, which are being quietly pushed ahead by officials, would cause irreparable damage to the nature and limit wildlife migration, environmentalists say.

Russ McSpadden, the southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, told SFGate: 'These are absolutely beautiful places that were set aside to protect landscapes that you just dont see anywhere else.

'Theyre not as high-profile as some of these other national park sites, but theyre absolutely critical to the people and ecosystems in this area, and anyone who visits can see that theyre special.

'The deep scar of the first wall has already changed the character of the place incredibly, and now were contending with the effects of a second wall.'

The plans follow President Donald Trump's promise from his first term in 2016 to build a wall stretching 2,000 miles long across the southern border, which has faced numerous roadblocks from those opposing the construction through public land.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument already saw a 30ft tall stretch of steel wall, and sporadic sections of barrier crop up across the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.

Environmentalists are in uproar as plans for a second wall through the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge are being quietly pushed through by the Department of Homeland Security

The plans follow President Donald Trump's promise from his first term in 2016 to build a wall stretching 2,000 miles long across the southern border

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument already saw a 30ft tall stretch of steel wall (pictured), and sporadic sections of barrier crop up across the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

This year, however, plans to move and cut off the border from even remote sections of land are underway. While such proposals have been staunchly opposed, the Department of Homeland Security is lawfully much more freely able to fast-track such measures following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The first major sections of barrier along the southern border cropped up in the 1990s, but were typically discrete and in or near urban locations. However, following the 9/11 attacks, funding significantly increased to around $270 million from $92 million, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

The rise in funding was followed by the 2006 Secure Fence Act, which saw huge increases in border security measures and allowed DHS operation control of near the entire 2,000 mile stretch of border to prevent 'all unlawful entries into the United States' including for the purposes of blocking terrorists, MPI said.

For construction proposals of the border wall through public land, such as through national parks, DHS also has the ability to waive around 50 laws due to the 2005 Real ID Act, SFGate reported.

This includes environmental protection laws such as the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air Act.

The newest proposal to continue updating the southern border wall would see more technological advancement updates to the current wall as well as the construction of a second wall stretching up to 200ft, US Customs and Border Protection documents and comments made by officials to the Washington Post show.

Organ Pipe and Cebza Prieta's second wall would reach around 30ft high as officials have also put forward the idea of installing thousands of LED lights, SFGate reported.

The outlet reported that the plans include potential construction through Indigenous land, including a burial site, as well as a spring offering the only surface water for miles.

The newest proposal to continue updating the southern border wall would see more technological advancement updates to the current wall

Organ Pipe and Cebza Prieta's second wall would reach around 30ft high as officials have also put forward the idea of installing thousands of LED lights

Eamon Harrity, the wildlife program manager at the conservation nonprofit Sky Island Alliance, told the outlet that placing the wall through the Quitobaquito spring would harm surrounding wildlife by cutting off their only water supply.

Quitobaquito is also home to two endangered species, the Quitobaquito pupfish and Sonoyta mud turtle, which are only found in the area.

Harrity pointed out that previous border wall construction has led to water supplies ceasing to exist, such as in Arizona's San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge where artesian wells stopped flowing.

The park was forced to install solar-powered pumps to preserve the land, Harrity told the outlet.

'Border wall construction is well documented to suck up a lot of groundwater, and this wall will have dire consequences,' he said.

'The whole system would be negatively impacted, and all the resources and investment that went to protecting and preserving this habitat already would be thrown away.'

However, both Harrity and McSpadden recognized the helplessness they felt while the law continues to protect the DHS construction, as opposition can only be made on constitutional grounds, the outlet reported.

One measure that has been made to help with wildlife and their migration has been adding small doors to the wall to help animals get across the southern border.

There has been an average of around 245 apprehensions per day on the Southwest border of people trying to get into America

Small doors have also been implemented across the border wall to help animals migrate across the southern border, but the 'doggy doors' faced backlash from environmentalists who branded the effort a 'joke'

Wildlands Network researcher Myles Traphagen said the openings are 'the size of your doggy door' and despite being a 'proactive' measure for many animals, they will limit bigger animals from migrating

However these 'doggy doors', as they have been nicknamed, have faced backlash from environmentalists who branded the effort a 'joke.'

Wildlife experts argued that the 'doors' are too small for larger animals, such as sheep, jaguar and deer, and too infrequent in such a long stretch of fence.

'This has got to be an obscene joke,' Laiken Jordahl, public land and wildlife advocate with Center for Biological Diversity, told the New York Post.

Activists expressed concern over the negative affects on biodiversity and animal resources, including water, food and mates, caused by the wall blocking animals from migrating across the border.

Wildlands Network researchers Christina Aiello and Myles Traphagen recently surveyed the area where new sections of the fence are set to be installed in San Diego and Baja California.

Concerns over the gaps being exploited by migrants looking to illegally cross the border have been raised, while Traphagen claimed that there have been no reports people taking advantage of the gaps.

'Weve documented no humans ever using them,' he told KTSM El Paso News in a Border Report. 'Sometimes you see people looking at them curious about it, but its obvious youre not going to be able to get through this,' Traphagen said.

'We can't be simply be throwing away all of our biodiversity, natural and cultural history, and heritage to solve a problem we can do more constructively by overhauling our immigration programs, so what we're examining are places where we can suggest mitigation measures like small wildlife openings.

Eamon Harrity, the wildlife program manager at the conservation nonprofit Sky Island Alliance, said that placing the wall through the Quitobaquito spring would harm surrounding wildlife by cutting off their only water supply

Matthew Dyman, a spokesperson for CBP, claimed that the agency has worked with the National Park Service and other federal agencies to best map out passages for optimal migration routes

'If we extend the border wall completely, those sheep are not going to have an opportunity to go back and forth,' Traphagen added.

In a statement, DHS defended the construction with a waiver, signed by former DHS secretary Kristi Noem.

It marked the seventh waiver signed by the former secretary for border barrier construction projects along the southern border, according to the statement.

'The secretary's waiver authority allows DHS to waive any legal requirement, including environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, to ensure the expeditious construction of physical barriers and roads,' the statement added.

'Projects executed under a waiver are critical steps to secure the southern border and reinforce our commitment to border security.'

Matthew Dyman, a spokesperson for CBP, claimed to the Post that the agency has worked with the National Park Service and other federal agencies to best map out passages for optimal migration routes.

DHS said in a December release that there were a 'record low' number of 'encounters' at the border across November last year.

The department documented 60,940 total encounters nationwide in October and November, which they claimed was lower than any prior fiscal year to date. Around 245 average apprehensions were recorded per day on the Southwest border.

The Daily Mail reached out to Russ McSpadden, Eamon Harrity, the National Park Service and the Department of Homeland Security for further comment.
A judge has lambasted police after a Sydney man who was wrongfully accused of firing a rifle at his neighbour's shed was left to languish in jail for three weeks.

Fencing contractor Luke Borton developed PTSD and anxiety following the ordeal and became 'obsessive' in his pursuit of justice, with the NSW Supreme Court on Monday awarding him $755,000 in damages over the bungled case.

The court heard Mr Borton, a licensed firearm owner, was on his 15-acre property in the rural suburb of Glenorie, 44km northwest of Sydney, when the drama unfolded.

His neighbour's son, Nicholas Everson, rang triple zero to report shots had been fired into his parents' shed about 9.30pm on March 29, 2020.

Justice Richard Cavanagh said the call, played in court, showed Mr Everson was not panicked but appeared 'amused' and was merely offering an opinion when he identified Mr Borton as the likely source of the shots.

He added it was 'surprising' Mr Everson appeared to be standing so close to the shed when he called emergency services.

'In fact, Mr Everson said to the operator that there were three people standing next to the shed and there had already been two bullets that hit the shed,' he said.

'Why the three people continued to stand next to the shed into which bullets were being fired whilst the triple zero call was made is unclear. It might be thought that they might have moved out of harm's way rather quickly.'

Justice Richard Cavanagh (pictured) has lambasted a senior NSW police officer for pursuing the case despite there being no evidence

Luke Borton was living with his wife on 15 acres in the rural suburb of Glenorie (pictured) around 44km north west of Sydney when the drama unfolded

Just after 1am, police stormed the Glenorie property with an armoured vehicle, declared a siege and called in the Tactical Operations Unit.

Mr Borton, believing he had done nothing wrong, went to the front door, raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glare and found an officer in all black behind an armoured vehicle aiming a rifle at him.

He was arrested and his wrists were bound with cable ties.

The cable ties were later swapped for handcuffs and paper bags were placed over his hands to preserve potential gunshot residue.

Justice Cavanagh said it was obvious from the police body-worn camera footage that Mr Borton was surprised and bewildered by the situation.

He was taken to the station in a caged police vehicle and maintained during his initial interview that he had not fired any shots at the Eversons' shed. After fronting Liverpool Local Court he was denied bail and remained in a cell for three weeks.

Justice Cavanagh found there was no reasonable and probable cause to pursue Mr Borton's prosecution, saying the officerincharge, Detective Senior Constable Jason Blackbourn, was 'instrumental' in pressing the charge.

He said while police may have been justified in arresting Mr Borton, once forensic and ballistic evidence showed no bullets had hit the shed and there were no witnesses, the proceedings should have been terminated.

In the early hours of the morning police rolled in with an armoured vehicle, declared a siege and called in the Tactical Operations Unit to arrest Mr Borton (stock image)

'This was the situation within a day of him being arrested,' he said.

'It must be that within hours of (Mr Borton) being charged, (DSC Blackbourn) knew that ballistics did not support his view about the indentations and that forensics had not turned up anything of significance at the scene.

'It should have been apparent to an experienced police officer such as DSC Blackbourn not just that the case was not strong, but that there was really no evidence at all to support the charge that had been laid.

'A decision should have been taken very quickly to withdraw the charge.

'Instead, (Mr Borton) wallowed in prison for 21 days and the proceedings were not discontinued for nearly five months.'

The charge was finally withdrawn on September 3, 2020.

Justice Cavanagh determined DSC Blackbourn was 'acting with malice' in pursuing the case despite no evidence to support it.

He said it was 'curious' that the senior cop had said in his evidentiary statement he had obtained statements from John and Janice Everson, however under cross-examination he admitted he actually had not.

Luke Borton developed PTSD following the ordeal and became 'obsessive' in his pursuit of justice

Following an earlier incident between the neighbours, DSC Blackbourn also wrongly believed it was Mr Borton who had threatened to put an axe through John Everson's head, rather than the reverse.

The neighbours' relationship had soured after the Eversons installed a spotlight that shone directly into Mr Borton's bedroom at night.

Despite Mr Borton's complaints, the light remained, and when he confronted the Eversons, they allegedly insulted and threatened him.

Justice Cavanagh awarded Mr Borton $755,236 in damages.

That sum included $220,000 in general damages including for loss of reputation, $1,300 for each day in prison totalling $27,300, $50,000 in aggravated damages, and $262,000 for lost earnings.

Mr Borton said he has been unable to work since April 2020 because of his PTSD from the incident. He and his wife Angelique Borton sold their home in Glenorie.

Mr Borton told the court: 'If this is allowed to happen without consequences I can't live here. Because this could happen to me again at any stage and I cannot allow that to happen again. I need to get out of the country.'

DSC Blackbourn no longer serves in the NSW Police Force.

The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Borton's legal representative for comment.
Marina Lacerda was raped by Jeffrey Epstein between the ages of 14 to 17, but throughout that time she was never allowed into his bedroom.

The paedophile financier would ritually abuse her in the massage room of his $77million Manhattan mansion, not trusting the Brazilian immigrant, now 37, to venture into his chamber.

But there was at least one time the teenager - aged 16 or 17 - was ushered into those forbidden four walls to meet Epstein, and on this occasion, he wasnt the only adult in the room.

Lacerdas memories of the ordeal are patchy, because she says her brain has blacked out a lot of the trauma. But she can recall his soft, white, cotton sheets and his enormous bedframe - a far-cry from the mattress on the floor she was accustomed to at her home in Astoria, Queens.

She was ordered into the room with another 18-year-old girl - a Brazilian model who she says Epstein was in love with - and told: We're going to have a special day today. We're going to have some fun in my bedroom.

Once the two girls were in the bed and the abuse began, Epstein had another unusual announcement: My friend will be joining us today. After this his jailed co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell entered the room, Lacerda told the Daily Mail.

A lot of things happened in that bedroom. They both raped me and this girl. They had sex toys. They did a whole bunch of things, she said.

I remember the white sheets - everything being white - and just me sitting on my knees, Jeffrey playing with me and the girl, and then Ghislaine walking in and playing with us, and after that, I just blacked out.

But I know they played with us, and they brought sex toys, and I know that they definitely raped me and this girl.

For years, Lacerda was only known as Minor-Victim 1 but she waived her anonymity in September 2025 to be a voice for hundreds of other victims

Ghislaine Maxwell, 64, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls so that Epstein could abuse them

It took Lacerda years to recall the memory and she did not even realise who Maxwell was until she started appearing in the media after her arrest by the FBI on July 2, 2020, at a luxury hideaway in a small town in New Hampshire.

The alleged incident occurred around 2005, when the disgraced British socialite would have been in her early-to-mid 40s and Epstein in his early 50s.

Lacerda is desperate to remember the full extent of the rape, and is eager to reach out to the model also present in the room to jog her memory. But not all survivors of Epsteins abuse have the ability to spend time recalling the darkest chapter of their life.

She adds: I can't remember if Ghislaine went down on us, or if she had a strap-on. I really want to talk to this girl, because a lot of things happened in that bedroom. I know sex toys were used, I know they raped us, but I can't remember the detail.

Maxwell, 64, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls so that Epstein could abuse them.

Even so, victims have criticised the US Department of Justice for its perceived soft touch approach to Maxwell, especially after she was transferred from a prison in Florida to a minimum-security facility in Texas last August, where she is reportedly much, much happier.

Shes one of 650 female inmates at the Federal Prison Camp Bryan, where most of the prisoners are serving time for non-violent offences and white-collar crimes.

At the time, the family of the late Virginia Giuffre - one of Epstein's victims - expressed their horror and disgust at what they described as the preferential treatment given to Maxwell.

Lacerda isnt alone in alleging that the former socialite took part in sexual abuse. At her historic trial, three of her accusers - Jane, Carolyn and Annie Farmer - gave testimony about how Maxwell touched them inappropriately on their breasts and buttocks, with some as young as 14.

Maxwell's lawyer, attorney David Oscar Markus, is trying to push the Trump administration into granting her clemency, claiming that only then will his client speak fully and honestly about the scale of Epsteins trafficking network.

Unsurprisingly, Epsteins victims resolutely oppose this ever coming to fruition.

Maxwell is 100 per cent a paedophile, Lacerda says. She was going out to different schools and recruiting girls for Jeffrey and then taking advantage of them. She wasn't just a madam getting him girls. She was participating full on in these abuses.

She adds: Some of the victims say that Maxwell was worse than Jeffrey Epstein, because not only was she an abuser, but she was very mean. She was jealous that Jeffrey liked some of these girls.

Maxwell was transferred from a prison in Florida to a minimum-security facility in Texas last August, where she is reportedly much, much happier

Lacerda now lives in Florida with her daughter and four dogs

Epstein knew Lacerda came from a poor family and took advantage of her vulnerability as part of the grooming process, she told the Daily Mail

Every time an Epstein victim comes forward into the public with her story, she is taking an enormous personal gamble.

For every one person who offers a kind word of support, theres another ten on the internet accusing her of being a liar who just wanted to steal the financiers millions.

People seem to forget that these stories are not only about children - who dont have the ability to consent - but deeply vulnerable minors, many of whom heralded from poverty and broken homes, where sexual abuse was already sadly normalised.

Lacerda knows the risks inherent in being honest, but shes proud of her story - for ultimately surviving a challenging childhood and building a vibrant life for herself and her daughter today.

She came from humble beginnings, which is exactly why Epstein targetted her.

Aged 14, her stepfather had just gone to jail for sexually abusing her between the ages of eight and 12, and her relationship with her mother was strained as a result.

When another young girl recruited her to work for the financier, telling her she could earn $300 for a 30-minute massage, it was a no-brainer to step into the orbit of the man who knew everyone worth knowing in New York City, whom she thought might help her accomplish her dreams of being a ballerina on Broadway.

And so began years of abuse at the hands of the serial paedophile, who preyed on her youth, economic insecurity and wide-eyed hopes for the future with tactical precision.

The first time she gave Epstein a massage, she was told by the girl shed have to take off her top but keep on her bra - just like a bikini, just like you'd be going to the beach - and at the time to Lacerda, that seemed okay.

When Epstein told her to take her bra off too, she was horrified and immediately froze. Feeling pressured, she eventually obeyed and he started masturbating.

The grooming happened very slowly as Epstein gained her trust over the coming months. 'And then next thing you know, he's raping me. I would say sex, but I guess at 14, you're not having sex, you're getting raped,' she added.

As the years went on, he repeatedly begged her to introduce him to her little sister, who he knew was ten or 11. Lacerda refused.

He knew everything about me. The only thing I think Jeffrey did not know was that I got abused by my stepfather, but he knew where I was living, that I had a boyfriend and I was taking care of my sister. He knew all of this, Lacerda adds.

One way he kept in the know was through his intricate system of hidden cameras, which Lacerda said were installed all over his New York mansion, even in the bathrooms.

One time, she was wandering around his house and spied an open door to the right side of the propertys entrance, which she deduced was a CCTV control room.

Lacerda said: I was able to see that he had multiple monitors, displaying everywhere in the house. I couldnt stay there long, but I just peeped into it.

She was completely floored, adding: This man is not only videoing the front door, hes videoing the whole house. He definitely had cameras everywhere.

It was because of this intricate network of cameras that Epstein knew when Lacerda and a fellow victim took drugs one day in his massage room.

Throughout her teens, alcohol and drugs became a way Lacerda could cope with her multiple struggles. She came to the US when she was aged eight and by the time she was a freshman in high school was already balancing three jobs to support her family.

She started smoking weed from the age of 12, after her stepfather went to jail. At 15, she was prescribed Xanax by a doctor, triggering a slippery slope into her taking Percocet, cocaine and eventually drinking heavily.

If she had an 'appointment' with Epstein at midday, shed arrive under the influence of a cocktail of substances as a way of numbing' herself out so she couldnt feel the pain.

One time, when Epstein had been away for a week, he called on Lacerda and another girl to meet him together - which was unusual, because he rarely met two victims at the same time, preferring to abuse them on a kind of rolling rota.

He came up to us, and he was like: "Are you using drugs?" And we were like: "No, we're not."'

Epstein responded: Let me tell you something. I'm going to give you a week to straighten out. I know you're using, and I'm going to tell you right now, none of my girls use any drugs. I'm going to give you a week, and if I feel like you're using, I'm going to take a hair sample to the lab, and I'm going to find out.

It was then that Lacerda discovered Epstein was watching all their behaviour, all the time, and nothing could be hidden from the financier if you were in his mansion.

Epstein wasnt just the richest man they knew. He also convinced them he was a brain surgeon, a top scientist in his field. When the victims would see young girls at his mansion, they would immediately assume they were just students from Yale he must be mentoring.

But over time, Lacerda realised he wasnt going to offer her anything for the betterment of her career and that he was only exploiting her, using her to teach other victims how to act in the bedroom.

'He would use me as a doll, prompt me to say to the girls, "this is how you're supposed to do things, this is how you're supposed to move your body". He would say: "This is what a good girl would do."'

One day, aged 17, she was walking home and spotted a coffee shop with the phrase help wanted plastered on the door. She took her chances and applied for the job, gradually meeting a new network of friends her age.

Day by day, she left Epsteins orbit, embarking on her new life.

Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda was abused by the paedophile between the ages of 14 to 17 at his New York Mansion

Epstein with Maxwell in a photograph provided by the US Justice Department

On April 9, the Epstein saga took an unexpected turn when Melania Trump made an unprecedented statement that shook and confused the White House in equal measure.

In a speech Donald Trump said he didnt know anything about beforehand, the First Lady denied she ever had a relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, denied she was his victim and claimed he didnt introduce her to the US President.

It came after the justice department released a trove of more than three million files related to the late sex offender earlier this year, including an email that was sent to Maxwell in late October 2002, signed Love, Melania.

One email, sent on the evening of October 23, 2002, with the subject line HI! begins Dear G!

The sender explains there is a nice story about JE in NY mag, before asking the recipient about future travel plans and to call them when theyre back in New York.

G Max responds by saying they wont have time to see the sender when back in the city, but promises they would try and call.

In her speech, Melania called on Congress to give a hearing to victims of Epsteins crimes, giving them their opportunity to testify under oath.

That suggestion enraged victims like Lacerda, who felt the First Lady was shifting the burden of responsibility to the abused, when in fact it was high time for perpetrators to be investigated and have their own day in court.

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, said a statement signed by 13 survivors, along with the family of Giuffre.

For Lacerda, a public hearing full of survivor testimony, broadcast on television, would just be re-traumatising, especially when so many of the victims have already told their stories countless times to the press and the authorities - securing the 2019 indictment against the financier before he killed himself in jail awaiting trial.

Im going to speak for myself: I will testify under oath in front of the whole world and Congress, again, with no problem - as long as the men that are on the files will testify and there will be criminal charges put against them, she told the Daily Mail.

Now in Florida, Lacerda is busy. In the week of our interview, she already has five podcast sit-downs scheduled in an extraordinary effort to keep the worlds attention from shifting away from Epstein.

Before making the decision to waive her anonymity in September, Lacerda was known for years only as Minor Victim-1 - just another anonymous child whose innocence was snatched away by the notorious paedophile.

Now, shes a mighty force for change, having shrugged off the mantle of shame that so many survivors carry, replacing it with a sense of unapologetic pride.

Many aspects of her childhood were traumatising, and those memories will never go away. Some days she spirals and the panic sets in. But every year of difficulty was also a year of survival for Lacerda, who has come out the other side with an addictive zeal for life.

She adds: I'm just not the type of person who's going to live in the past. I have a life today. I have a daughter. I have my four dogs. I have my health. I have the opportunity to help people break their silence and share my story. Why am I going to be sad?

I love my life. I'm scared of dying. I want to live for a long time. And while I'm here, I want to enjoy it.
A receptionist who tripped on a speed bump in a car park and broke her arm has seen her six-figure payout reduced on appeal.

But she has still kept most of her compensation windfall, despite having driven and walked over the hump multiple times.

Grace Balacco, 67, fell while walking in a Bondi Junction carpark in May 2023 and sued the building's owners corporation, which was ultimately found liable for negligence in the NSW Supreme Court.

Ms Balacco said the incident occurred at about 5.15pm as she was walking back to her car after finishing work as a receptionist at an adjacent medical practice in the same building, where she worked for neurologist Dr Ron Granot.

Although she had driven over the concrete speed hump and walked across it earlier that day, she said she was an infrequent user of the car park and it was 'darkish' at the time.

The speed bump was unmarked. Ms Balacco noted other tripping hazards in the car park were painted yellow, but the speed hump was only painted after the incident.

Ms Balacco said she had parked there after the Australian Federal Police asked her to move her car because roadworks were being carried out nearby.

She said due to a lack of available parking on the street she drove into the car park in question.

Grace Balacco was walking back to her car after finishing work as a receptionist at an adjacent medical practice in the same building in Bondi Junction when she tripped over a speed hump

The speed hump (pictured) which Grace Balacco fell over breaking her arm

There were two speed humps in the carpark, in addition to the one Ms Balacco slipped on. There is another nearby, straight ahead of Ms Balacco's parking spot which she would have driven over twice in order to reverse into the spot

The original trial judge found in favour of Ms Balacco, largely due to the carpark's inadequate lighting, and awarded her $385,484 in damages back in December 2024.

During cross-examination, she accepted that she had driven over the first speed hump, then driven over the second one twice as she reversed into the parking space and was aware they were there.

The owners corporation denied negligence, arguing the risk of tripping over the speed hump was known to Ms Balacco and constituted an obvious risk.

It also submitted she would not have acted any differently even if the hump had been painted or marked.

Ms Balacco's win was later scaled back, with an appeal decision last week reducing the amount of compensation she will receive.

The Court of Appeal found the trial judge had awarded too much in damages, ruling Ms Balacco had been overcompensated by including about $85,000 for future economic loss and roughly $50,000 for future domestic assistance.

However, the court rejected the owners corporation's argument that the judge had misunderstood the lighting conditions, or that the speed hump was an 'obvious risk' that did not need to be marked.

The Court of Appeal noted other tripping hazards in the car park had been clearly painted yellow, while the speed hump was not.

Ms Balacco was originally awarded $385,000 but this was reduced to $250,000 on appeal

It found that once some hazards are marked, people are entitled to expect that all similar hazards will be treated the same way.

Leaving the speed hump unmarked meant it was less obvious than it would otherwise have been.

As a result, the court upheld the finding of negligence, meaning the owners corporation remained liable despite its appeal.

Sydney property lawyer Fadi Chahine said the speed hump had been in place unmarked in the car park since 1987.

'She was the first reported fall,' he told the Daily Mail.

'But the court had to decide whether leaving one hazard unmarked when others were clearly marked made it less obvious.

'Fair outcome or people should just watch where they're going?'

Gilchrist Connell principal Nicole Norris said the decision raises the bar for owners corporations and controllers of carparks.

She said the bottom line is that inconsistent safety measures can make areas more dangerous, not less.

'Where other 'irregularities' in carparks are identified with paint markings, a speed hump may not be found to be an obvious risk unless similarly identified,' she said.

'If an occupier is going to create any paint markings as warnings, it should be prepared to mark all potential hazards.'
A frozen world, sealed in time. Earth, as it was known, changed on April 26, 1986, at 1.23am, when the night split open.

Inside Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a routine safety test spiralled into catastrophe.

What followed was the worst nuclear disaster in history. Nearly 50,000 residents of nearby Pripyat were evacuated within hours, many told they would return in a few days. Most never did.

Today, four decades on, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ)  a vast, restricted area spanning roughly 2,600sq km  remains one of the most haunting places on Earth.

Nature has crept back in. Forests swallow crumbling tower blocks. Classrooms sit exactly as they were left, with schoolbooks still open, desks still aligned, chalk on the blackboards.

The silence is total, broken only by wind and the distant crackle of Geiger counters.

And yet, despite the eerie stillness, the zone is not entirely empty.

The people who refuse to leave the radioactive site, known as the 'samosely', are self-settlers who returned illegally to their homes following the catastrophe.

Damaged pool in Pripyat after the Chernobyl Power Plant accident in 1986. Nearly 50,000 residents of the town were evacuated within hours of the incident

Abandoned bumper cars in the unfinished amusement park frozen in time since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Greenery surrounds the structure as nature has begun creeping back in

Dogs passing by a Ferris wheel in background in the ghost town of Pripyat near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on May 29, 2022. There are now hundreds of semi-feral dogs living among the ruins, clustered around the power plant, checkpoints and abandoned towns

Dolls and stuffed animals lie in the 'Zlataya ribka' ('Golden little fish') abandoned kindergarten on September 30, 2015 in Pripyat, Ukraine

Chernobyl nuclear power plant a few weeks after the disaster, in May, 1986. Inside Reactor No. 4, a routine safety test spiralled into catastrophe. What followed was the worst nuclear disaster in history

The Pripyat hospital, where the first firefighters were treated, is among the most contaminated buildings, with abandoned medical equipment and protective gear left behind in the chaos.

Deep inside the power plant complex itself, corridors once bustling with engineers are now dim and heavily controlled, with peeling paint, exposed wiring and lingering radiation hotspots.

The control rooms, once filled with blinking lights and urgent voices, are today eerily silent, preserved as stark reminders of the moment everything went wrong.

They have refused to abandon the land they had lived on for decades.

Most are elderly. Many live without modern utilities, surviving off small-scale farming and supplies brought in from outside.

As of recent counts, fewer than 200 remain, their numbers dwindling with time.

Around 80 per cent of the re-settlers are women, now aged in their 70's and 80's.

Authorities once tried to remove them. Now, they are tolerated  ghosts living among ghosts.

In nearby villages, deserted hospitals and schools loom over the empty streets. They remain untouched since the chaos of the nuclear meltdown.

Inside the abandoned city of Pripyat, the Ferris wheel in the amusement park stands motionless, its yellow carriages rusting in silence, never having carried a single rider after it was due to open just days after the disaster.

Apartment blocks loom like hollow shells, their windows blown out or clouded with grime, while curtains still hang in places, gently shifting with the drafts that move through broken glass.

In kindergartens, rows of tiny metal beds remain neatly arranged, and gas masks are scattered across the floor  haunting relics of preparations that came too late.

Schoolrooms are littered with decaying textbooks, Soviet propaganda posters peeling from the walls, and exercise books still marked with children's handwriting frozen in time.

In the nearby town of Yaniv, the railway station sits deserted, its platforms empty and tracks overgrown, a silent witness to the mass evacuation that unfolded in hours.

The scene of the world's biggest nuclear disaster, still bear the traces of the explosion 40 years later

Schoolrooms are littered with decaying textbooks, Soviet propaganda posters peeling from the walls, and exercise books still marked with children's handwriting frozen in time

In kindergartens, rows of tiny metal beds remain neatly arranged, and gas masks are scattered across the floor  haunting relics of preparations that came too late

Pool in abandoned city of Pripyat from where all dwellers were evacuated after disaster on Chernobyl nuclear plant

Neonatal ward in abandoned hospital of Pripyat city, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine

Villages such as Zalissya and Opachychi stand half-reclaimed by woodland, where houses collapse inward, and fruit trees still bloom each spring with no one left to harvest them.

Roads that once connected communities are cracked and warped, with trees forcing their way through the asphalt as nature steadily reclaims the land.

Street signs remain in place, pointing towards towns that no longer function, their names faded but still legible beneath layers of rust and moss.

Inside abandoned shops, shelves lay bare except for the occasional fragment of packaging, a reminder of lives interrupted mid-routine.

Personal belongings  shoes, toys, photographs  are scattered across floors, often exactly where they were left in the rush to evacuate.

The swimming pool in Pripyat, once a hub of activity, remained in use for years after the disaster for cleanup workers, but now sits empty, its tiles cracked and its roof partially collapsed.

In some buildings, Soviet-era murals still cling to the walls, depicting an optimistic future that never came to pass.

Elevators are frozen mid-shaft, stairwells choked with debris, and entire floors have collapsed in places, making many structures dangerously unstable.

Chernobyl's unfinished giants  two cooling towers  are also visible from miles around.

The large concrete cylinders protrude from the dead ground, strewn with chunks of metal of varying shapes and sizes.

At the very top, four levels of scaffolding cling to the rim. The complex structure has somehow managed to survive despite the years of extreme weather it has endured.

Yet, far from being completely deserted, life enters the Exclusion Zone on a daily basis.

Around 3,000 workers rotate in and out  engineers, scientists and technicians overseeing the slow dismantling of the ruined reactor and maintaining the vast steel confinement structure that now cages it.

School hall in Pripyat being destroyed after Chernobyl accident

Gynecological examination table in an abandoned hospital building in Chernobyl

The remnants of beds are seen abandoned in a pre-school in the deserted town of Pripyat on January 25, 2006, in Chernobyl, Ukraine

A doll and gas masks are pictured on a bed in one of the kindergartens of the ghost city of Pripyat on April 18, 2011

An abandoned ferris wheel stands on a public space overgrown with trees in the former city center of Pripyat, Ukraine, on September 30, 2015

Damaged murals sit on the wall of an abandoned building in the evacuated city of in Pripyat, Ukraine

The concrete sarcophagus that entombed Reactor No. 4 is surrounded by the New Safe Confinement (NSC), which houses the containment operations and nuclear waste management conducted by the Ukrainian government.

During the cleanup after the explosion, teams of men called liquidators tested and washed everything inside the Exclusion Zone.

Anything deemed too contaminated to be washed  such as the entire Red Forest, which was given its name as the pine trees absorbed so much radiation they turned red, and all of the houses in the town of Kopachi  were razed and buried beneath the ground instead.

Nobody lives there permanently  except those who chose to return.

When Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, they did so through the Exclusion Zone surrounding the ruins of Chernobyl.

The Russian army occupied the immediate area surrounding the defunct plant for over five weeks, causing an estimated $54million in damage to the Exclusion Zone and the New Safe Confinement.

The site of the disaster was a logical base for over 1,000 Russian troops, as the NSC houses electrical operations that connect to Kyiv's main power grid, and aerial attacks from Ukraine would be unlikely.

The regular movement of troops and vehicles within the CEZ caused disturbance to the nuclear radiation of the site, stirring up dust and soil that would release more radioactive particles into the air.

In addition to looting and destroying much of the lab and computer equipment located inside the NSC, the Russian army also cut electrical power to the plant, making the cooling of the deteriorating nuclear material unreliable.

But perhaps the most unsettling legacy of Chernobyl is not the reactor, nor the ruins, but the animals left behind.

When residents fled in 1986, they were forced to abandon their pets. Many were later culled to prevent the spread of contamination.

But some survived, and their descendants still roam the zone today.

There are now hundreds of semi-feral dogs living among the ruins, clustered around the power plant, checkpoints and abandoned towns.

Stories of mutant dogs have become Chernobyl folklore, images of glowing eyes, twisted bodies, animals warped by radiation.

The reality is more complex, and in many ways, more unsettling.

The concrete sarcophagus that entombed Reactor No. 4 is surrounded by the New Safe Confinement (NSC), which houses the containment operations and nuclear waste management conducted by the Ukrainian government

The old control room inside reactor No.4 in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, pictured on November 10, 2000

The Chernobyl Nuclear power plant after the explosion on April 26, 1986

Studies have found that these dogs are genetically distinct from populations outside the zone, shaped by isolation, inbreeding and environmental pressure.

Some show signs of evolutionary change  genes linked to DNA repair and survival in harsh conditions  but scientists are cautious.

There is no clear evidence of dramatic radiation-driven mutations in the way popular myth suggests.

Instead, what is happening is slower and quieter  natural selection at work in one of the most contaminated environments on Earth.

Even the viral images of blue dogs seen in recent years were not the result of radiation, but likely caused by chemicals they had rolled in.

Still, the idea lingers as Chernobyl feels like the kind of place where such things should exist.

The exclusion zone has become an accidental experiment. With humans gone, ecosystems have rebounded. Yet radiation remains embedded in the soil, in the water, in the very fabric of the landscape.

The area behind the power plant, called the 'Red Forest' is one of the most radioactive places on Earth.

Some estimates suggest part of the Exclusion Zone may remain unsafe for hundreds to thousands of years.

But animals live, breed and die here regardless.

The dogs  descendants of abandoned pets  are perhaps the most poignant symbol of that contradiction. Life persists in a place defined by catastrophe.

Next Sunday marks another year since the explosion that changed everything.

Chernobyl is no longer just a disaster site. It is a warning, a wilderness, a graveyard  and strangely, a refuge.

A place where humans vanished, but life did not.
Curled up on the sofa, my daughter Savannah excitedly told me about her new boyfriend.

'Mom, he's so handsome,' she gushed.

I was happy for her.

Youngest of my three grown-up kids, Savannah, then 27, was a single mother to three boys. She lived in a self-contained apartment at my place and had her boys on alternating weeks. They were her whole world.

'I just want to be the best possible mom I can for them,' she often said.

And in 2022, she introduced me to her new man, Anthony Deschepper, then 36.

They were clearly crazy about each other: Anthony couldn't take his eyes off of her and was affectionate.

I liked him  and so did my grandsons then four, three and two. He soon became part of the family.

Savannah Kulla was a single mother to three boys, who were her whole world

'I just want to be the best possible mom I can for them,' Savannah often said

Savannah and her new man, Anthony Deschepper, were clearly crazy about each other. Anthony couldn't take his eyes off of her and was affectionate

As the months passed though, I noticed Anthony always needed to know where Savannah was and who with.

He called constantly.

It seemed controlling to me, but Savannah explained it away: 'It's just he loves me so much.'

Then she got pregnant, and I knew  as much as she adored her sons  she yearned for a little girl.

Savannah - who loved hair, make-up, clothes and dance - squealed with excitement when she discovered she was expecting a daughter.

'Oh mom, I can't wait,' she said. 'All those pretty clothes I can buy.'

Anthony was happy, too, though he and Savannah were arguing frequently.

She rebelled against his constant need to know her whereabouts at all times.

'I can't move, mom. It's suffocating,' she once told me.

Yelling at her one day in the street he pulled a gun and fired it, fleeing before police arrived. When they caught him, he was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm.

At a preliminary hearing we discovered he'd been charged with firearms offences before and banned from owning guns in 2006 and 2019. So, I was shocked when he was released on bail pending trial.

I begged Savannah to not have anything more to do with him, and she promised she wouldn't. To my relief, she got a restraining order against him.

It was still in place at the end of May 2024 when she had her daughter, Skyla-Rose.

'I feel so complete now,' Savannah gushed as she cradled her newborn in the delivery room.

The court order prevented Anthony seeing his baby, which Savannah felt bad about  not that she should have.

She insisted that she still loved him and allowed him to see the baby once. Then, when the restraining order lapsed, she let him worm his way back into her life.

'He's promised he's changed,' she told me.

'Men like that don't change, love,' I replied.

They had a volatile on-off relationship, and by May 2025, Savannah realized Anthony would always try to control her. That's when she dumped him for good.

But he wouldn't take no for an answer, following her and calling her up to 70 times a day.

Soft-hearted as always, she still let him see Skyla-Rose.

A couple months later, Savannah had friends over for the day. Anthony called later and knew all about it.

'Mom, it was like he was watching us,' she told me.

Suspicious, she searched her bedroom and found a tiny pin-hole camera in the wall and others around the apartment.

He'd been spying on her.

'I can't stand this anymore,' she said. 'I want nothing to do with him.'

Anthony bombarded her with flowers and notes saying how much he loved her. I urged her to get another restraining order.

'It's not going to do any good,' she said. 'He just won't leave me alone.'

She didn't know what to do or where to turn. The courts had bailed him and she tried the police, but there was nothing they could do.

Then, at the end of September 2025, Anthony vanished.

As much as she adored her sons  Savannah yearned for a little girl, so she squealed with excitement when she discovered she was expecting a daughter

At the end of May 2024, she had her daughter. 'I feel so complete now,' Savannah gushed

Anthony and Savannah had a volatile on-off relationship

Savannah got a call from one of his friends saying he'd been suicidal and taken off. They had called the police, and Anthony's car was found abandoned. He had left a suicide note for Savannah.

Heartbroken, she read it to me.

'Tell Skyla-Rose her mom was the cause of me dying,' he'd written. 'I love you so much Savannah, but this is all your fault.'

She was distraught. She was the sort of girl that wouldn't hurt a fly, and the thought she might be responsible for someone's death was torture.

'I don't want to be with him, but I don't want him dead,' she said sobbing.

Hoping he hadn't gone through with it, she called him constantly but there was no answer. She went to see his friends and all the places he frequented, but there was no sign of him.

As each day passed, she sank deeper into despair. After six days, she gave up hope.

Then she got a shock phone call: it was Anthony. He faked his own suicide.

She said when she answered his call, he just laughed like it was a big joke.

'He did it to torment and manipulate me,' she told me. 'Who would do something like that to someone they said they loved?'

It turned out some of his friends knew he'd faked his own suicide and even helped him hide from Savannah.

Whether he did it out of spite or in an attempt to show Savannah the depth of his feelings in the hope she'd get back with him we couldn't work out.

'Either way, he put me through hell,' she said.

I worried what else that man was capable of.

'I think if I did stay with him, he'd end up killing me,' Savannah said.

While she wasn't going back to him, she maintained contact for her daughter. And on October 21, just weeks later, she told me she was dropping Skyla-Rose, then 17 months, with Anthony for a few hours while she picked up the boys from their dad.

She assured me it would be fine: 'Despite everything, I think he loves me.'

That afternoon, I opened the front door to two police officers.

They told me she was dead. And they didn't know where Skyla-Rose was.

I think I screamed; it's a blur.

Witnesses saw Savannah hand the baby to Anthony in a strip mall parking lot.

As he put her in the back seat of his car, he snapped at her, asking for the diaper bag. When she turned back to her car to get it, he snarled, 'You forgot the damn nappy bag.'

Then he pulled out a gun and fired at Savannah six times. Three bullets hit her.

Paramedics fought to save her life, but my daughter died in that parking lot.

And I was certain Anthony would murder my granddaughter too.

Police issued a public alert and that evening they found her with one of Anthony's relatives.

Anthony, however, was still at large.

I was terrified, wondering if Savannah's boys, her siblings or I were at risk.

The next day, police arrived to tell me they'd cornered Anthony in a gas station eighty miles away and shot him dead.

I was relieved.

When I saw Savannah's boys, Joseph, six, Mathew, five and Kalem, four, they were crying for their mom. They understood Anthony was a bad man, had hurt their mom and she was never coming home again. They went to live with their dad.

In our community in Ontario, Canada, Savannah had developed a reputation for helping anyone in need. And as such, people were outraged by her murder.

Patrick Brown, our mayor in Brampton, summed it up: 'There are numerous reasons the killer should have been in custody. If one of them was adhered to, Savannah would be alive. When someone has a documented history of violence, firearms offences and abuse, releasing them on bail is not justice, it's absolute negligence.'

'Two police officers told me she was dead. And they didn't know where Skyla-Rose was. I think I screamed; it's a blur,' writes Karen Kulla (right)

In Ontario, Canada, Savannah had developed a reputation for helping anyone in need. And as such, people were outraged by her murder

Anthony, who had previously been charged with firearms offences, was shot dead by police after killing Savannah

When a man constantly monitors your whereabouts, it's not because he misses you, it's because he's tracking you.

That's exactly how I saw it.

I couldn't view my daughter because of her terrible injuries, not that I wanted to remember her the way Anthony left her.

In her coffin, I had her dressed in pink and buried her with pictures of the kids.

More than 1,200 people came to Savannah's celebration of life. It was a freezing cold day, and I watched my daughter put into the ground as we released white doves.

My heart broke.

But I want Savannah's story to live on.

When he wants to spend all his time with you and gets angry if you're with family or friends, it's not because he loves you so much, it's control.

By the time the name calling, belittling and physical abuse starts, women are usually in too deep to escape.

It's why I advocate for bail reform that makes it more difficult for abusers to be released. Because right now, it's almost as if all the police can do is say, 'Give us a call when he kills you, then we'll do something.'

That's not good enough.

My daughter was a beautiful, kind girl, looking for love and with a lot of love to give. Most men would have cherished her.

Anthony seemed like he did, but, in reality, he wanted to own Savannah. When he finally realized he couldn't, the monster made sure nobody else ever would either.
A Secret Service trainee has been accused of secretly spying on his own roommate using a hidden camera disguised as a phone charger, in a disturbing Big Brother style scheme.

Joel Canvasser, 41, was arrested on April 8, in Glynn County, Georgia, and charged with felony eavesdropping after allegedly carrying out a weeks-long surveillance campaign against his fellow trainee.

Canvasser, seen in his mugshot sporting a blank expression, was taken into custody at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) after his roommate reported his suspicious behavior.

According to an incident report obtained by the Daily Mail, investigators were shown a cache of evidence including photos, text messages from multiple numbers, an SD card and the charger device itself, which was allegedly used to secretly record the victim.

The victim told officers the ordeal began about a month earlier in March when his phone charger went missing.

Canvasser then suggested to his suitemate that cleaners may have taken it before offering him a replacement charger.

He then plugged Canvasser's charger into a wall outlet beneath the TV, which a police report said it had 'coverage of the entire room.'

Within days of plugging the charger in, the victim began receiving strange messages from unknown numbers.

Joel Canvasser was arrested and charged with felony eavesdropping after allegedly spying on his roommate

Canvasser, 41, pictured right with his husband Jeff, allegedly used a device disguised as an ordinary phone charger to capture the victim's movements inside

The police report stated that 'over time he began to realize whoever was texting him was simultaneously watching him.'

'At first, he assumed whoever was texting him had compromised his phone, for this reason he placed a band aid over the camera,' it added.

At first, he dismissed them as spam and even went to Canvasser to ask for his help because he had a 'cyber background'.

Canvasser allegedly told him it was malware and reset the phone for his roommate.

However the victim noted that after returning the device it automatically connected to Canvasser's personal WiFi network, named 'Batcave mobile.'

After Canvasser reset the phone, the messages briefly stopped. But a week later the victim was again being bombarded with strange texts.

'There was a specific instance where the victim was using the bathroom and his phone was in his pocket,' police records state. 'When he finished, he checked his phone and saw a message referencing him using the bathroom.

'It was at this point that the victim realized the individual was not watching him through his phone camera but instead from another device.'

The incident took place at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia, where Canvasser was undergoing training

Canvasser had recently joined the Secret Service and was undergoing training at the time of the alleged incident (file image)

The victim began searching his room and eventually discovered the charger was in fact a camera, noticing a lens when light reflected off the device.

He also told investigators that Canvasser had entered his room multiple times while he was asleep, prompting him to begin locking up his belongings.

Officials at FLETC reported the incident to the police after Canvasser's suitemate said he wanted to press charges.

Images obtained by Daily Mail show a very different side of Canvasser before his arrest - smiling alongside his husband, Jeffrey, in a series of social media snaps.

The pair met on Facebook in 2014 and married in a Jewish ceremony in 2020, where Canvasser said in his vows: 'You are the best decision I have ever made. I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with.

He added: 'You have shown me patience, compassion, and how to take a step back and breathe, you make me want to be a better person every day just by being you.'

He had been living with his husband Jeffrey in Michigan prior to his training, with Canvasser relocating from New York to be with his husband and their three dogs after meeting online.

Before applying to be a special agent, Canvasser was a civilian analyst assigned to the Office of Strategic Information and Intelligence, which monitors and assesses threats to the president and others under Secret Service protection.

Matthew Quinn, deputy director of the US Secret Service (pictured at a Homeland Security hearing in February) described the allegations as 'deeply troubling' and said Canvasser's clearance has been suspended

Canvasser had been training at the federal law enforcement facility after joining the Secret Service in the fall of 2025.

His security clearance has since been suspended, along with his access to agency systems.

Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn called the charges against Canvasser 'deeply troubling', adding that he 'commended he swift actions' of the trainers at FLETC.

'The charges are deeply troubling and raise significant concerns about the individual's character and fitness to serve,' Quinn added.

'As this matter is now before the courts, we will allow the facts to be presented through the judicial process.'
Soaring numbers of foreign criminals in Britains courts has seen taxpayer spending on translators soar to as much as 152,000 a day.

The huge costs come despite a number of scams and scandals involving interpreters and concern about their effectiveness.

Former Tory leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, on Sunday night urged the government to cut back the 'unsustainable' costs and branded court translation services 'woefully poor, expensive and massively open to fraud'.

In 2024, the total spent on court translators in England and Wales alone reached 38.6m  up 80pc on the 21.4m spent in 2020.

And partial data for just the first three quarters of last year indicates the figure could rise further still.

Between January and September 2025, 17.7m was spent UK-wide on translators for the top 10 languages alone, which were mostly Eastern European, Middle Eastern and South Asian.

In the whole of the previous year, 16.2m was spent on the top 10 languages.

The 2024 figure represents a 13-fold increase in a little over a decade, with an average of 11,437 spent a day between 2005 and 2011.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has reported surging costs for court translation services

Sir Iain Duncan Smith called court translation services 'woefully poor' and urged reform

Translators are called upon to interpret proceedings for defendants, witnesses and victims whose first language is not English.

Mr Duncan Smith said: 'These costs are unsustainable and need cutting back.

'The government needs to reform the translator service. It is woefully poor, expensive and massively open to fraud.

'We should also be worried about the spiralling numbers of recent migrants who are now being prosecuted for crimes committed in the UK.'

Last year, a House of Lords report criticised interpreting services in the courts as inefficient, ineffective and poses a risk to the administration of justice.

Peers highlighted reports of poor-quality interpreting in the courts and urged the government to reform the sector 'or risk reinforcing significant jeopardy to justice for the foreseeable future.

They found a clear disconnect between what the government hopes is happening, what the companies contracted to deliver the services believe is happening, and what frontline interpreters and legal professionals report is happening with interpreting services in the courts.

In 2021, a fake court interpreter was let off with a suspended sentence for translating evidence in over 140 cases before being exposed.

Kim Tran, who was jailed after tricking a court over the age of a defendant in drugs case

Mirwais Patang, then 27, worked for contracting giant Capita, despite forging his qualifications, stealing a legitimate court interpreter's identify and having a friend pose as him in court.

He earned at least 65,500 between March 2012 and August 2016.

Issues with time sheets for a grooming gang trial exposed his lies.

In another case, a translator who worked for the justice system for 16 years was found in 2019 to be in the pay of a drugs gang.

Kim Tran, 49, was jailed for 12 months after trying to trick a court into believing a defendant in a 1m cannabis cultivation case was a child when she was not.

Separately, solicitor Babita Attra worked on a scam which saw her partner Alexandru Major, 35, win contracts to translate legal aid documents for defendants who could not understand English.

But the word counts and costs of the work were inflated to cheat the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) out of at least 62,889.64 between March 2016 and February 2017.

When they were sentenced in 2020, Major was jailed for three years, while Attra was given a two year prison term, suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work.

Solicitor Babita Attra received a suspended jail term over a translation scam conducted with her partner

The huge increases in spending on court translators in England and Wales between 2020 and 2024 were revealed by a minister in answer to a parliamentary question by Independent Leicester South MP Shockat Adam.

The figures, revealed by Courts and Legal Services Minister Sarah Sackman, show a total of 155.8m was spent between 2020 and 2024, averaging 31.16m per year.

A break down into yearly figures shows how the annual total rocketed from 21.4 million in 2020 to 27.2 million in 2021, 31.7 million in 2022, 36.9 million in 2023 and 38.6 million in 2024.

There were 254 working days in 2024  a leap year  meaning total spending that year averaged 151,900 per day.

The 2025 partial figures came from a separate Freedom of Information request and indicate that the total spending could rise higher still.

The same FOI data also showed how full-year spending on interpreters for the top 10 languages alone stood at 16.2m in 2024, 15.9m in 2023, 14.25m in 2022, 12.55m in 2021 and 10.3m in 2020.

Last year, the 10 languages which required the highest spending on translators were Romanian, Polish, Arabic, Albanian, Urdu, Kurdish, Punjabi, Portuguese, Bengali and Lithuanian.

The cost of interpreting Albanian in court rocketed from 800,000 in 2020 to 2m in 2024, while there was a similar rise in the cost of Kurdish translators from 600,000 to 1.6m in the same period.

Minister Sarah Sackman has pledged to provide better value for taxpayers from new contracts

Polish and Romanian remained the most interpreted languages throughout the 5 year period, costing the state almost 30m altogether.

In her answer to Mr Adam, Ms Sackman said four companies were contracted to provide translation services but that spending also included off contract requirements arising at short notice and those that are more challenging to fulfil, such as the requirement for languages that are rare or scarce, and as such are more expensive to source.

She pledged new contracts would provide better value for taxpayers, adding: The next generation of contracts, currently being procured, includes the use of a secondary supplier of interpreters, specifically to source those short notice bookings, and to bring this spend on-contract, with benefits such as improved data and value for money.
A bride whose fairytale wedding descended into chaos after her sister-in-law hurled black paint all over her dress has given her first full account of the horror 'revenge' attack - and revealed the bitter family feud behind it.

Gemma Monk was forced to change dresses at the last minute after her vengeful sister-in-law Antonia 'Toni' Eastwood tried to sabotage her big day on May 24, 2024, by dousing her white dress as she prepared to walk down the aisle.

Eastwood carried out the spiteful act after wrongly accusing Gemma of having tripped her up at her own wedding to Gemma's brother, Ashley the year before.

Gemma, 35, from Herne Bay, Kent, was left in floods of tears while Eastwood fled the wedding venue, Oakwood House, a Victorian mansion in Maidstone.

Gemma, who was marrying her childhood sweetheart Ken Monk, incredibly cleaned herself up, borrowed a dress, gave a police statement - and two hours later said 'I do' anyway.

As her attacker was this week given a suspended prison sentence, Gemma told the Daily Mail how Eastwood became so convinced that she had ruined her wedding day, she decided to pay her back in kind.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail from her home in Herne Bay, Gemma, a mother-of-two and mental health worker, said there has been resentment between the couples since then, saying: 'My brother's marriage to Toni was a disaster.

'One of our nephews fell over and cut his head open, another couple caused an almighty row. There were so many things that went wrong.'

Gemma Monk had her fairytale wedding ruined when an ongoing feud with her sister-in-law Toni Eastwood resulted in Eastwood throwing black paint on her wedding dress

As Gemma prepared to walk down the aisle and say 'I do', Eastwood, who hadn't been invited, arrived at Oakwood House, a Victorian mansion in Maidstone, Kent, to sabotage it

Gemma was so determined to marry childhood sweetheart Ken Monk, pictured with the paint splattered dress, that she spent two hours cleaning herself up and had the wedding anyway

Antonia 'Toni' Eastwood (pictured with her husband, Gemma's half brother Ashley) pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was given a suspended jail term after ruining the 1,800 gown

The couple then began to blame her, she said.

'I had always been close to my brother, Ashley, and so all I can think of is that Toni was jealous of that,' Gemma went on. 'I believe that he and Toni are delusional and were looking for someone to blame for their wedding day going wrong.

'My brother was angry that his big day had been ruined somewhat and he messaged me a few days afterwards to say so.'

'They got married in September 2023. They said nothing to me or Ken on the actual day and to be honest we enjoyed ourselves. We gave them money as a gift and were the first couple to join them on the dance floor.

'But two months later I was shopping in Sainsbury's when I got a text from Toni. It was straight out of the blue and it left me reeling.

'She called me a "two-faced bitch" and accused me of trying to ruin her wedding day. At first she accused me of making snide remarks as she walked past me down the aisle but then accused me of sticking my foot out to try and trip her.

'I'm about 5ft tall, my legs aren't long enough to trip her even if I wanted to.

'The text messages really shocked me, I couldn't believe what she was accusing me of and why. It was incredible and came out of nowhere.'

Gemma did concede that she hadn't been entirely supportive of her brother's marriage.

She went on: 'There'd been no bad blood between us before the wedding although I didn't warm to her all that much.

'The first time I met Toni, she was telling me how she left her husband and children to be with Ashley, who in turn had left his wife and children too. It was like she was bragging about splitting up two families.

'They were both living in Spain at the time but had moved back to England and lived in Kent. They'd pretty much only been together for nine months before marrying.'

She said that she tried but failed to stop a feud growing: 'I told Toni and Ashley that they were both ridiculous for accusing me of trying to trip her down the aisle. I've since looked back at a wedding video of the day and it shows Toni walking past me without any incident at all.

'The bust-up between us meant that we didn't invite either Ashley or Toni to our wedding but we did invite his ex-wife and 14-year old daughter because we'd remained friendly with them at least.'

But she had no idea when she went to her own wedding of Toni's astonishing revenge plot - which quickly saw her day turn into a literal car crash, or at least cause one.

Join the discussion Would YOU cut ties after a betrayal like this?

Despite everything that happened Gemma and Ken still managed to have their wedding with these pictures taken shortly after Gemma had given a statement to police about the incident

Gemma poses for pictures in a substitute dress. She said that Eastwood had attacked her because her own wedding a year earlier had been a disaster - and she blamed Gemma for it

Two months after her brother's wedding to Eastwood, Gemma received a text message from Eastwood accusing her of being a 'two-faced bitch' and alleging that Gemma had tried to trip her up as she walked down the aisle at her own wedding

Gemma went on: 'I remember my dad had just dropped me off in his Range Rover. We'd got out and he'd walked me to the door which led into what is called the bridal corridor at Oakwood House.

'It where the bride waits just before walking down the aisle.

'I'd gone through the door and dad had gone back to park the car. I was with my 11-year-old daughter and my niece who were both bridesmaids.

'I'd taken a few steps when I heard my name shouted. I turned round thinking that I'd caught the train of my dress and had black paint thrown all over me!

'The paint got into my eyes and my hair. It also splashed onto my bridesmaids.

'It happened so quickly that for a split second I didn't know what was happening. Instinctively I chased after Toni and grabbed her by her hair.

'But I looked up and saw that my father had tried to get out of the car to help me. The vehicle was in reverse and he was half in-half out the car as it crashed into a wall.

'I let go of Toni to help my dad and she fled with my brother.'

Amazingly from this horrifying situation she still managed to turn around the day and marry in white as planned.

She explained: 'I'd spent 1,800 on the dress and absolutely loved it.

'But I'd waited 19 years to marry Ken. We've been together since I was 14. Nothing was going to stop me.

'I had a shower in Oakwood House and they gave me a spare wedding dress to use. The police were called and I gave a statement before walking down the aisle - two hours later than expected.

'The wedding photographer was brilliant and he carried on as best he could but we only had a small number of photos, far fewer than we hoped.

'In fact, I don't have any pictures of what should have been the happiest day of my life at home. There's none on the mantelpiece, none on the walls.

'How can I? They would bring back such bad memories.'

'But we had the ceremony and had the reception afterwards in a nearby pub restaurant although we left early. That night we had a room booked at Leeds Castle but I just couldn't enjoy it.

'We'd been saving to go on our honeymoon to the Maldives but I just couldn't face that either. We hope to go this summer with the children.

She remains shocked by Eastwood's revenge plot. She said today: 'It had been a premeditated attack. She and Ashley had actually crouched down behind a wall and were lying in wait for me.

'They'd not been invited but had obviously found out where the wedding was through other relatives.

'After the attack they ran off to their car and drove up to Manchester, where they now live. They literally skulked off to the other side of the country there and then.

'At the time I'd been diagnosed with having a tumour in my stomach. We didn't know if it was something nasty.

'It turned out to be benign fortunately but we didn't know that then. Toni was well aware of what I was going through yet she still did what she did.

'I later heard through other relatives that she defended her actions by saying it's what I deserved and was in revenge for spoiling her wedding. But revenge for what? Something that she concocted herself.'

Following the incident brother Ashley said he had disowned his sister, adding 'we don't want anything to do with her'.

He admitted there had been 'disagreements' in the family prior to the wedding - but he didn't want to air them publicly.

He said: 'There's more to it. But she's been punished now, she's suffered more than enough. We want it over and done with.' He said 'she's done what she's done' and they now wanted to put it all behind them. He added: 'I can't believe it's taken 18 months to get to this.'

Gemma said Eastwood later boasted what she did to friends and quipped 'I'm the best decorator around'.

She was this month handed a 10-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, in addition to 160 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to two offences of criminal damage.

In addition to a suspended sentence and unpaid work, the defendant was handed a ten-year restraining order.

She was told to pay 5,000 in compensation, with 4,000 going to Mrs Monk and 1,000 to Oakwood House.

Eastwood pleaded guilty to criminal damage. She was told to pay 5,000 in compensation, with 4,000 going to Mrs Monk and 1,000 to Oakwood House

In her impact statement to the court, Gemma explained the toll the incident had taken on her mental health. The couple hope to take their postponed honeymoon to the Maldives soon

Fighting back tears, Gemma delivered her victim impact statement to the court, saying: 'To have paint thrown over me by my brother's wife changed my outlook on life and made me question whether I had done something really bad, whether I had done something wrong.

'This has had a dramatic impact on my life. Even while I was providing this statement at the police station, I got extremely emotional and started crying while talking about the incident.

'Since the incident, if it wasn't for my children or my family, I don't think I would even get out of bed to care for myself. I have lost all my dignity and good habits in life. I have lost who I used to be. This has turned the most special day of my life into the worst memory I will never forget, and neither will my family.'
Looking around, I dont think Ive ever seen such cuties in a Dublin bar in all my 47 years. Theres Max and Sonny, two statuesque blondes, who are so very handsome and mannerly.

Then Bowie, of Italian heritage, catches my eye with his sleek mane and charming dickie bow. My head is also turned by Jack  a dapper older fellow holding up the bar, with distinguished salt and pepper hair, and a quiet confidence.

No, Im not at a singles night or a speed dating event  Im having a sneak peek at Dollys, Dublins newest dog-friendly bar and restaurant, the first in Ireland designed with both humans and canines in mind. And let me tell you, its been quite the day already, and its not yet lunchtime.

Ive travelled from Wicklow to the leafy south Dublin suburb of Terenure with my two Yorkshire terriers, Riley and Bowie, who both suffer from car sickness. Ironically, given their queasy paw-dicament after our journey, theyll unlikely be able to tuck into the wuffet Ive been promising them.

Locals of the two-legged and four-legged variety got a sneak peek at Dolly's this week

The chic dark green and pale pink exterior is instantly Instagrammable, and locals  both two and four-legged  have been clamouring to get a sniff inside.

Once you cross the threshold, its clear this isnt your typical dogs welcome place with a token bowl of water shoved apologetically in a corner. This is a full-blown, four-storey temple to this countrys canine obsession.

Yes, Dollys interiors are what can only be described as unapologetically maximalist, a riot of pinks and reds, neon slogans, glitterballs, canine-themed artwork, even a flower wall for those all-important puparazzi moments. There are cosy nooks and snug corners for humans, and  crucially  thoughtfully designed elements for dogs.

Think hideaways under couches for pups whod rather disco nap, a San Pawliggrino outdoor water tap and  of course  its famous Doggy Pick And Mix Wuffet, where an empty cup can be purchased and filled with an assortment of treats, with a portion of proceeds going to the NSPCA.

Rachel Cullen is the Madra D, taking care of the canine clients

Theres even a doggy concierge  a Madra D in the form of Rachel Cullen, who is on hand during busy times to make sure canine clients are kept happy  and a dog bed menu, featuring everything from influencer-ready banana beds to doughnut nests and snug blankets.

Some have been lucky enough to get their paws in the door for a photoshoot and Im quickly introduced to Jack, a Froodle  thats French bulldog meets poodle, for the uninitiated  who Im told will be a regular. Im just about to remark on how impeccably behaved he is when he launches into an enthusiastic and entirely unsolicited display of affection directed at his owners leg.

Hes been neutered and hes still at that, Ive asked the vet for a refund, owner Rose shrugs, with the weary resignation of someone who has long since accepted her fate.

My own usually yappy Riley unsurprisingly retreats behind me, while another sweet-faced terrier, perched confidently on a bar stool, issues a single, authoritative bark to summon service. It works. A bone-shaped treat arrives promptly, courtesy of their owner.

The interior of Dolly's is unapologetically maximalist

There is, throughout, a low-level hum of canine chaos. A fire engine screams past outside, prompting Riley to howl in solidarity, which  mercifully  distracts Jack from his romantic pursuits.

Meanwhile, my own, very cute, yet cretin-like Bowie  13, and at this stage, quite toothless  finds himself upstaged by the sleek youth of the aforementioned Italian greyhound with the same name. It is, in short, a social hierarchy as complex and quietly competitive as any human bar, just with tails.

Dolly's is the brainchild of Ronan Flood and Aaron Groom (yes, really)

Dollys is the brainchild of Ronan Flood and his business partner Aaron Groom (fur real), and hes been dealing with paws and pints for years as proprieter of several dog-friendly Dublin venues.

I started seeing a real demand for it back in 2013 in the Barbers Bar, he says of his premises in Dublins Grangegorman. Then we started to offer more options for dog owners in Pye in Dundrum, like doggie pizza, a doggy vending machine, water stations and the like.

While Ireland still lags behind other countries in terms of practical logistics and real dog friendliness in bars and cafes, we are rapidly catching up.

The day of putting the dog out in the yard at night in this country is long gone, he reflects. To dog owners, their fur balls are little babies who are part of the family.

He flashes a knowing look down at his own fur baby, a Frenchie called Pickles, who has been eyeing her fellow four-legged compadres with some suspicion.

A giant flat-faced dog's head watches over proceedings like a benevolent deity

She has attachment issues, says Ronan, only half-jokingly of this self-styled head of barketing, whose influence is evident in every glittering, dog-centric corner. Similar brachycephalic faces peer out from cushions, while a giant flat-faced dogs head hoisted over the bar watches over proceedings like a benevolent deity.

Theres even a life-sized statue of a French bulldog waiter holding a tray, guiding guests upstairs, where high ceilings, a chic cocktail bar, circus-inspired decor and floods of natural light create a space that feels part cabaret, part curated fantasy.

We were trying to make the place fun, Instagram-friendly and most importantly, female-friendly, says Ronan of the kitsch glam interiors  and the name alone is a bit of a giveaway.

Speaking of which, he has an entertaining tale about how they chose Dollys in the first place. Well, Nine To Five is playing on repeat in the ladies bathroom, so thats one clue, he smiles.

But Mary Jane Murray, who was James Joyces mam, was born here, he says of the premises, which was originally Vaughans Eagle House pub. Urban legend has it that before she died, she had a dog called Dolly.

Ronan says that while about 70 per cent of Dollys business will be targeting drinkers, it will be serving a range of mouth-watering food when it opens this weekend, such as pizza, salads, burgers and fries  and thats just for the humans.

In time we will have events serving pawfenoon tea with barkcuterie boards and beef pawtare, he says, laughing. We are thinking Valentines night, that kind of thing, where you can treat your pooch too.

Were first and foremost the bar that does food and well have lots of fun novelty and trivia nights. From 7pm the music will be cranked up and therell be a big party vibe.

Which brings us to the issue of petiquette. Dog puns aside, there are rules in an establishment such as this. All dogs must be on leads and large dogs have a curfew (9pm) although lapdogs can stay later, provided they are literally kept in hand.

Were very cognisant of health and safety issues, says Ronan, who indeed has a lengthy list of dog rules on Dollys website. We have to use common sense I suppose, and when it gets late and people have had a few drinks, you dont want them falling over a St Bernard.

We are really strict on restricted breeds wearing a muzzle, he adds and I cant help but wonder if a similar strategy should be considered for lairy humans too.

Owners are expected to clean up after their pets, seek permission before petting any dogs, and, if necessary, escort their dog off the premises if theres a major issue.

And children? They can come in, as long as they are on leads also, he quips. They have to be out by 7pm as well!

While in general, theres been nothing but boundless enthusiasm for Dollys, not everyone is wagging their tails.

We even had a one-star review before we opened, which is hardly fair, Ronan says. I just say to those people who are negative from the get-go that there are plenty of wonderful pubs and restaurants around if you dont want to be around dogs. Thats fine by us.

There are practical considerations too  no dog bowls on tables, blankets under pets if they are on the furniture and a clear emphasis on hygiene.

Its nonsense to suggest dogs are dirty, Ronan says. Sure Pickles sleeps in the bed with me.

Having observed Pickles being cradled like a small child, Id thought this likely already. Those old dated laws of dogs being prohibited in restaurants and bars have long changed, he says. Health authorities have absolutely no issue with dogs in a bar, but in saying that, we do try and exercise a bit of common sense as well.

We have hand sanitising stations all around the place for customers and staff, and well always ensure that everything is sanitised at the end of a shift. Accidents may happen too and they are dealt with promptly. Mind you, weve only ever had a human pee in a seat, he shrugs. In my career as a publican, dogs are not the problem.

Dog beds and water bowls are available throughout the venue

Anyway, if things start to get a little ruff, theres the aforementioned Madra D on hand to help reel in the leads. Dog lover Rachel Cullen has been working in bars for years and is also a neuroscience student at Trinity College, so no doubt has some training tricks up her sleeve.

Im here at the busy times during the weekends, she smiles. Any dog-related needs or issues are under my remit, like showing customers the dog bed menu, making sure dogs are happy and hydrated and tagging dogs in their Insta account.

Lisa's dogs Bowie and Riley give the paws up to Dolly's

She leads me to the ultimate dog posing corner, a flower wall with In Dog We Trust emblazoned in bright pink.

Food and drink in a glamorous venue, with an occasional bark, the odd howl and in the company of the most faithful friends of all? Dollys gets the paws up from me. Now if only theyd open nearer my house so my two mutts could tuck into that wuffet...

See dollys.ie for more
The US Navy has fiercely rejected claims that its warships in the Middle East are running low on food amid escalating conflict with Iran.

On Thursday, USA Today published a piece that included interviews from family members of soldiers who were concerned their loved ones are going hungry, raising urgent concerns about whether troops are being adequately fed at mealtimes.

The report was accompanied by pictures of the measly portions being handed out to servicemembers on the USS Tripoli and the USS Abraham Lincoln.

'Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false,' said the Chief of Naval Operations, an office run by Admiral Daryl Caudle.

'Both USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli have sufficient food onboard to serve their crews with healthy options. The health and wellbeing of our Sailors and Marines are my top priority, and every crew member continues to receive fully portioned, nutritionally balanced meals.'

Caudle's statement did not directly rebut or mention the USA Today report.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth similarly denied the allegations, calling them 'more FAKE NEWS from the Pharisee Press'.

'My team confirmed the logistics stats for the Lincoln & Tripoli. Both have 30+ days of Class I supplies (food) on board. NavCent monitors this everyday, for every ship. Our sailors deserve - and receive - the best,' Hegseth said.

Pictured: A meal of shredded meat and a folded tortilla that was recently served aboard the USS Tripoli, a US Navy ship that is deployed in the Middle East to fight the war in Iran. This photo was originally shared with USA Today

Pictured: A similar sparse serving of meat and carrots was given to this sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, also in the Middle East

Dan Caudle, the Chief of Naval Operations, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly denied that either ship is running out of food, though neither of them addressed the USA Today piece

The USS Tripoli is seen in the Singapore Strait on March 17, 2026

One anonymous father who spoke to USA Today explained that his daughter, a Marine aboard the Tripoli, sent him a picture of a mostly empty tray that had one small serving of shredded meat and a single folded tortilla.

Another parent with a child on the Lincoln received a photo from mid-April that showed a tray with boiled carrots, a few scoops of ground beef and a gray slice of dry-looking meat.

Karen Erskine-Valentine, a West Virginia pastor who spoke to a parent of a child on the Lincoln, said the food is 'tasteless' and that the sailors are 'hungry all the time'.

USA Today also reported that care packages that families have been sending to troops have not been making it to the Middle East because of an indefinite suspension of mail deliveries to military ZIP codes.

David Coleman, a US Postal Service spokesperson, told the outlet that no military mailings are being returned to the sender and that they will eventually arrive.

In his statement, Caudle said the temporary suspension on mail has been lifted.

'Regarding mail and personal packages, a temporary hold on sending mail into theater, due to combat operations, has been lifted. Our logistical network is highly adaptable, and we remain committed to supporting our warfighters as they execute Operation Epic Fury,' he said.

'The US Navy possesses an unmatched logistics capability to sustain operations at sea, and routine menu adjustments are simply how we optimize our endurance to keep our warships in the fight.'
Eric Swalwell kept spending heavily from his campaign war chest after exiting the California congressional race, shelling out more than $75,000 on a stream of expenses, including alcohol, an exclusive private club, and payments to his Brazilian nanny.

A newly released filing from the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday revealed 'Swalwell for Congress' forked out $76,900 in the first three months of the year, despite the disgraced congressman's decision to drop out of the race in November.

Swalwell resigned from Congress on Monday and ended his bid for California governor after multiple sexual assault allegations.

Adding to the mounting backlash against the former congressman, Swalwell is now coming under fire for continuing to use campaign funds for lavish expenses after abandoning the race.

The 135-page filing, seen by the Daily Mail, details multiple expenses from Swalwell's campaign between January 1 and March 31.

There were multiple receipts made out to his Brazilian nanny, Amanda Barbosa, who received thousands of dollars in campaign finance funds in the first quarter of 2026.

FEC records previously reviewed by the Daily Mail indicated that Barbosa received $46,930 in funds in 2022.

NOTUS estimated a total of $72,000 on childcare expenses throughout 2025, paid by Swalwell's campaign.

Eric Swalwell, pictured above in January, spent over $75,000 in campaign funds in 2026, despite ending his congressional race in November

The newly released FEC filings detail thousands paid to his nanny, Amanda Barbosa, pictured above

Swalwell has staunchly denied the sexual assault claims. He's pictured above with his wife, Brittany Watts, in 2022

Swalwell and his wife, Brittany Watts, are being investigated for employing Barbosa after her temporary work authorization allegedly expired.

Barbosa was legally authorized to work as Swalwell's nanny from January 2021 to December 2022, according to complaints filed with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor by reporter and documentary maker Joel Gilbert.

When her visa ended, the Swalwells began the process of applying to sponsor her for a green card, and Barbosa enrolled in community college, according to the complaint.

However, the complaint alleged that Swalwell kept Barbosa employed between January 2023 and February 2025 despite her allegedly lacking proper visa status.

Some of the other expenses include three different charges for $1,598 on February 11 to Stanford Hotels Corporation, a hotel in San Francisco. The same charge also appeared three times on February 6.

In January, he charged $44 for Harry's Reserve, a liquor store in Washington DC. He charged $293 for Talay Thai restaurant, an upscale dining spot in Sacramento, on February 24, and then again for $198.40 on March 27.

There are also multiple charges at The Battery, a San Francisco members' club, including a $664 charge on March 17 and a $520 charge on February 18.

Join the discussion What should happen when politicians use campaign funds for luxury and personal expenses after quitting?

Swalwell resigned from Congress and ended his gubernatorial campaign after accusations of sexual assault, Lonna Drewes, pictured above, accused him of rape at a press conference

Swalwell and his wife have been accused of employing Barbosa, pictured above, after her temporary work authorization allegedly expired

The filing also includes over 80 pages of charges exclusively for Uber and Uber Eats. He also paid $637 to Cook Construction LLC on March 18 for internet and television services.

There are multiple charges for Google LLC, Zoom, Apple and other internet services. Swalwell's congressional campaign also paid thousands to various airlines for flights.

Some of the more random charges in the FEC filing include a $273 charge to See's Candles for gifts and a $186 charge to a shop in Salt Lake City called Spoonful of Comfort that sends care packages of chicken noodle soup.

According to the FEC, campaign funds can be used after an election for 'winding down costs,' including moving expenses, gifts and charitable donations.

Campaign funds may also be used for childcare expenses if a candidate is actively running for office.

Swalwell's political career came crashing down last week when multiple women detailed alleged horrific encounters with the Democrat politician.

A former model and fashion software company owner, Lonna Drewes, accused Swalwell of rape in a news conference on Tuesday.

The new FEC filing revealed multiple charges from the Swalwell Campaign to Stanford Hotels Corporation. Pictured above is the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco

Swalwell's close ally in Congress, Ruben Gallego, told reporters that he 'lied to the most powerful people in the country.' The two are pictured together above in 2021

After the news broke, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that its Special Victims Bureau would be investigating the matter.

Swalwell has denied the allegations against him. He apologized in a statement for 'mistakes in judgment' from his past, but vowed to fight the claims against him.

His colleagues have come out in support of the alleged victims, including his former ally, Senator Ruben Gallego.

'Eric Swalwell lied to all of us. He lied to the most powerful people in this country, and they trusted him,' Gallego told reporters, adding, 'That clouded my judgment.'

Swalwell has not been formally accused of misusing campaign funds. The Daily Mail has reached out to the FEC and Swalwell's attorney for comment.
A man charged with murder after a woman was found dead with stab wounds in a NSW home has been revealed to be her son.

Emergency services found the woman, aged in her 40s, at a property on Merrigum Street in Windale, Lake Macquarie, after 8pm on Saturday.

Police had been responding to reports of a concern for welfare.

Paramedics attempted to treat the woman, but she could not be revived.

A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with murder (DV).

He was refused bail and will appear in court on Sunday.

NSW Police confirmed on Sunday the man and woman were related to each other.

Superintendent Tracy Chapman said the woman was found with stab wounds to her face and body.

A woman has died after an alleged stabbing north of Sydney on Saturday night

The man was seen sitting on the ground before being taken to hospital

Police seized a knife from the scene.

'That will undergo forensic examination,' Superintendent Chapman said.

Superintendent Chapman described domestic violence as a 'scourge on society'.
Just before sunrise on May 1, 2010, a young woman on Long Island, New York, made a frantic call to the emergency services. Someone is after me, theyre going to kill me, Shannan Gilbert, a 23-year-old prostitute, told the operator.

Crying and panting in fear, she explained how shed travelled from New Jersey to see a man in a house on the islands South Shore.

It was in a gated community called Oak Beach and it was only when  apparently drunk or high on drugs  she started running from house to house, pounding on doors, that neighbours called 911 with an accurate account of her location and police arrived on the scene. By then she had disappeared, never to be seen alive again.

Police were still looking for her seven months later when they made an extraordinary discovery: the grisly remains of four other women, who had been bound with tape or belts and wrapped in camouflaged burlap sacking. A police sniffer dog found them hidden in dense undergrowth off a road running alongside a stretch of sand known as Gilgo Beach.

All four were petite sex workers in their 20s  none of them over 5ft  who had gone missing after going to meet a client who contacted each of them using a different, unregistered mobile phone.

They proved to be the first known victims of the monster whod be dubbed the Long Island Serial Killer.

As the search expanded, the remains of seven more people, including a toddler and an Asian man, were discovered, usually spaced at roughly 500ft intervals along the road known as Ocean Parkway.

The long hunt for the man who was responsible for some of the most brutal serial killings in recent US history ended a week ago when architect Rex Heuermann, in the face of the overwhelming DNA evidence ranged against him, bowed to the inevitable after nearly three years strenuously insisting his innocence and pleaded guilty.

Rex Heuermann, pictured alongside his ex-wife Asa Ellerup, has admitted to killing eight women by strangulation

The murders for which Heuermann was charged spanned the years from 1993 to 2010

Hed been in tears when he first denied being a murderer on being charged in 2023, but during last Wednesdays hearing at Suffolk County Court he seemed to be enjoying the attention, as the glimmer of a smile occasionally crept on to his face.

The bearish 62-year-old, the son of an aerospace engineer, admitted to killing eight women by strangulation, seven for which hed been charged and another for which he hadnt. It seems that after picking them up in his car and driving to his house, he killed them and then dumped their bodies, some of which he first dismembered, at various sites across Long Island.

Six of them worked as escorts through classified advertising websites such as Craigslist and Backpage, often travelling to meet clients like Heuermann in cars in remote locations where they would be in deep trouble if things went wrong.

The murders for which he was charged  of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, aged between 20 and 28  and the one for which he wasnt, 34-year-old Karen Vergata, spanned the years from 1993 to 2010.

Ironically, the victims didnt include Shannan Gilbert, the woman whose phone call led to Heuermanns eventual downfall. When her body was found in December 2011, investigators concluded her death was accidental.

Her fate remains one of the great mysteries about the case  along with the killers motives and the likely existence of other victims  that may never be solved after Heuermann avoided a trial by pleading guilty. He now faces life imprisonment without parole when sentenced and, if he wants, can take his secrets with him as he rots in a high-security prison.

Heuermanns lawyer, Michael Brown, said that his client had changed his plea because he had wanted to spare his family and those of his victims a deeply upsetting trial.

However, close observers of the relentlessly harrowing case are sceptical of the idea that the sadistic and narcissistic Heuermann  who in 2000 compiled a detailed manual on how to hunt, torture and kill his victims  could ever be moved by pity. He pleaded guilty for entirely selfish reasons, they say. For he spared himself a trial, set for September, that would likely have revealed far worse facts about his crimes that would not only have embarrassed the hugely egotistical killer but made his life in prison more difficult.

Given the peculiarly vicious nature of his crimes and the taciturn Heuermanns refusal to explain himself, prosecutors insisted, unusually, that he agree to be questioned by the FBIs Behavioural Analysis Unit for the purposes of academic training.

But FBI psychologists, whose work was famously portrayed in the thriller The Silence Of The Lambs, may have their work cut out in prising the truth from him.

The sheriff who oversaw his pre-trial custody described Heuermann as strictly emotionless, adding that he never showed any sign of being downcast about his situation and instead seeming almost smug. And yet he promises to go down in criminal history as a fascinating, if grisly, case study of a serial killer who managed for decades to maintain a double life.

A well-known architectural consultant with an office in Midtown Manhattan, he returned each evening to suburban respectability in the town of Massapequa Park, on the South Shore of Long Island. The next-door town of Amityville famously spawned the classic horror film The Amityville Horror, based on the paranormal experiences of the family that moved into a house in the town in which a 23-year-old man had murdered six members of his family.

Valerie Mack was murdered by Heuermann  and her son is suing not only the killer but also his ex-wife and daughter over the loss

There are still questions over whether Heuermann was responsible for other bodies that were found near Gilgo Beach

The Massapequa Horror, however, was more discreet. Heuermann and his second wife, Iceland-born Asa Ellerup, lived quietly in a small and rundown red bungalow  his lifelong home  with their two adult children, Victoria and Christopher. Neighbours told The Daily Mail when he was arrested in 2023 that theyd rarely exchanged more than a few words with Heuermann. Some said they found him creepy, with his next-door neighbour claiming that hed once had to tell Heuermann to stop bothering his wife when she was sunbathing.

Heuermanns wife, they said, was barely more friendly. Was the killer deliberately keeping his distance for his own protection, or just a naturally anti-social man? We may never know for certain but his behaviour had the effect of ensuring that few knew much about him at the time he was arrested.

A long-time associate described him as a big goofy guy, a little bit on the nerdy side who was devoted to his wife and elderly mother. Meanwhile, an acquaintance recalled that when they first shook hands, the strangler was so strong his hands felt like thick pieces of marble.

Asa Ellerup, who divorced Heuermann after his arrest, has always insisted that she and her children  one of whom, Christopher, had special needs  had lived in complete ignorance of the crimes her husband committed. Prosecutors said they accepted that she and the children were always away on holiday when the murders occurred. While investigators reportedly discovered evidence that Heuermann converted their basement  where he stored hundreds of firearms in a concrete-lined vault  into a torture chamber, his family never appeared to notice it.

For more than a decade, the investigation into the murdered women made little headway, with allegations of incompetence, corruption and egotism as the local police chief refused to bring in the far-better resourced FBI.

That approach changed abruptly in late 2021 when a new and more dynamic police chief took over in Suffolk County, where the officers main job, its said, is handing out speeding tickets to billionaires in the string of expensive seaside towns known as The Hamptons.

Rodney Harrison, who had been the NYPDs first black chief detective in 175 years, insisted the cold case was solvable and set up a new taskforce as well as belatedly calling in the FBI.

Heuermann had used his victims phones to make taunting calls to their loved ones  Do you think youll ever speak to her again? he asked the teenage sister of Melissa Barthelemy  but the new police chief focused his investigation on the supposedly untraceable burner (disposable) phones he usually used. Using geolocation technology that traced the burners interaction with mobile phone towers, the investigators were able to conclude that the killer worked in a certain part of Midtown Manhattan and lived in Massapequa Park.

They made an even more crucial breakthrough when they discovered a long-overlooked piece of evidence: a housemate of victim Amber Costello had told police hed once confronted an ogre-like man  at least 6ft 4in  who he believed was threatening her. He even remembered the distinctive car hed driven, a green Chevrolet Avalanche.

Investigators were soon able to whittle down the suspects to Heuermann, who had helpfully left DNA evidence on all his victims.

After obtaining a sample of his DNA to match against that of his victims by collecting uneaten pizza crusts hed thrown in a bin near his office, the FBI knew they had their man and arrested him on a Manhattan street.

However, his guilty plea leaves key questions unanswered  in some cases very possibly for ever.

For a start, there is the matter of whether he was responsible for other bodies that were found near Gilgo Beach  and whether, as some believe, they help explain why he executed a volte face after years of denials and pleaded guilty.

One set of remains were those of an unidentified Asian biological male who was wearing womens clothes. Prosecutors revealed that Heuermanns extensive sex-related internet searches included pornography involving tied-up Asian twinks  slang for young-looking and slender gay men.

Some have speculated that Heuermann was mortified at the idea that his macho heterosexuality might be questioned  especially in front of his family  at the trial.

Another of the bodies discovered near Gilgo Beach was that of a two-year-old girl, who was the daughter of one of the women buried there. By pleading guilty, Heuermann avoided being questioned about her death. Child killers are loathed by fellow prison inmates  another good reason, some believe, why Heuermann wouldnt want to risk being labelled one in a trial.

And then there is the question of whether he killed other women. Its widely believed he murdered at least as many again as the eight victims to which hes admitted. The Suffolk County prosecutor has said he believes there are other bodies hidden off Ocean Parkway, the road running along Gilgo Beach, and that he hopes he might still find them.

Understanding why Heuermann killed, and kept killing, could have been one of the main dividends of a trial. There are clues in the prosecution evidence that leave no doubt that he was a sexual sadist.

A trawl of his internet activity by investigators revealed thousands of searches related to sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography and child pornography. According to prosecutors, Heuermann was meticulous in his efforts to plan the perfect kill, which he liked to call a hunt. He kept a list of supplies, locations of dump sites and reminders for future murders, such as consider a hit to the neck next time.

A prosecutor has said he believes there are other bodies hidden off Ocean Parkway, the road running along Gilgo Beach

Asa Ellerup, who divorced Heuermann after his arrest, has always insisted that she and her children had lived in complete ignorance of the crimes

Although he taunted some of his victims families about their loved one being a prostitute, it is believed he targeted them not so much because he despised them but because he thought their disappearances were less likely to be noticed.

The fate of Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance set Heuermanns eventual arrest in motion, remains another unsolved riddle.

Her body was discovered, seven months after she disappeared, in a marsh near the gated community from where shed fled. Her clothes and possessions were found some way away at the edge of the marsh.

Police believe she died accidentally, slipping over in a drainage ditch and drowning after having a drugs or alcohol-induced panic attack. A panic attack also explains, they say, why she ran straight past a friend who had driven her to the assignation and was waiting outside in his car.

Other details about her case  for instance, that she didnt travel there alone and she visited a house  also mark it out as different to the established Heuermann killings.

However, her family and some experts believe she was also killed, a contention supported by an independent coroners report which found that her hyoid bone was missing from her remains. The hyoid bone, which is found in the neck, is often damaged during strangulation and so could have provided evidence that she was murdered. Sceptics of the official view also questioned why Gilbert had taken off her clothes, including her jeans, before stumbling into the marsh.

As for Heuermanns family, were they entirely in the dark about his crimes? That assumption may soon be challenged in court because Benjamin Torres, who was six when his mother, Valerie Mack, was murdered by Heuermann, is suing not only the killer but his ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and daughter over the loss of his mother.

Prosecutors said they were able to link Mack with Heuermann through DNA analysis of a hair found on her body that was found to belong to Ellerup. The lawsuit is seeking some of Ellerups earnings from a reported $1million (740,000) deal to appear in a documentary.

Heuermann walked among us, play-acting as a normal, suburban dad, when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death, said his chief prosecutor last week.

The killer who has been so inscrutable will have an opportunity to have his say when he is sentenced in June. His lawyer thinks that he will take up the opportunity, but whether Rex Heuermann answers any of the lingering questions about his appalling crimes is another matter.
One of the self-styled leaders of the fuel blockades threatened to drag Tanaiste Simon Harris out of agricultural shows and warned the Fine Gael leader will need the riot squad to protect him.

In an expletive-ridden tirade captured on video, agricultural contractor James Geoghegan also called the Tanaiste and fellow government leaders dirty k***kers and b***ards after claiming Mr Harris personally insulted him.

Mr Geoghegan emerged as one of the leaders of the protests that almost ground the country to a halt last week and was interviewed on RTEs Prime Time.

It has emerged the Westmeath contractor has had six judgments for a total of almost 550,000 secured against him by the Revenue Commissioners as well as animal cruelty convictions.

Last weekend, Mr Geoghegan refused to say if he had a tax clearance certificate when interviewed by the Irish Mail on Sunday.

We also revealed last week how the contractor has labelled climate change a hoax and posted misinformation about the Government bussing asylum seekers in to vote.

We also revealed last week how James Geoghegan, above, has labelled climate change a hoax and posted misinformation about the Government bussing asylum seekers in to vote

Farmers protesting on O'Connell Street in Dublin during last week's fuel protests

Simon Harris has received several chilling death threats already this year

Now, a video has emerged of the protest representative making verbal threats to physically eject the Tanaiste from agricultural shows.

In a three-way call, Mr Geoghegan said of the Fine Gael leader  who has received several chilling death threats this year: You will not see Simon Harris at an agricultural show this year. If he is, hell want to bring the f***ing riot squad to protect him.

Hell be dragged out the f***ing gate, and Ill drag him out any of [sic] any show I see him in because, by Jesus, what hes after doing and insulting us and insulting me personally this week, the dirty k***kers, b***ards thats all they are.

In a reference to media reports about Revenue judgements against him, he said in his videocall rants he will be making millions from defamation I dont give a f***.

Mr Geoghegan  who was convicted of animal cruelty charges in 2006 after between 60 and 65 animals died on his farm  goes on to state: Id have every deer in the f***ing park shot up there [Dublin] for something to do. Id be living on venison if I was living up there.

Mr Geoghegans abusive comments come as a Garda crackdown is under way following acts of intimidation against officers, Defence Forces personnel, politicians and transport workers during last weeks fuel blockades.

All officers received an email from An Garda Siochanas HQ stating an incident room, under the command of a senior officer, has been set up in each of the four Garda regions across the country.

On Monday, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said criminal investigations had been launched to examine social media posts that issued threats against gardai and their families.

The force is gathering evidence of so-called doxxing, where the personal details of a targeted person, such as their address and family details, are released online.

A source this weekend revealed one respected Garda inspector who was doxxed online has spent the last week trying to remove any digital footprint that connects him with his family.

Other online attacks have focused on identified female gardai. The posts have included claims about their health history and their personal relationships. In other posts, photos of gardai have been published and misidentified.

A security source told the MoS: It seems to have become socially acceptable to seek out and intimidate [people] online because there are no serious repercussions.

You only have to look at lenient sentences handed down recently to those targeting public figures with threats.

Another source said that  at a minimum  gardai should be proactively monitoring social media disinformation and threats. Detectives are currently sifting through hours of bodycam footage filmed by gardai who were on the frontline of last weeks protests.

The MoS has also learned gardai are investigating accounts which used the controversial X AI tool Grok in an attempt to identify gardai who policed the protests.

A source said: Last week, we saw agitators post AI generated supposed operational order issued to gardai. Ive seen them all week online feeding screen shots of gardai that were sent out to police the protests into Grok in an attempt to identify them to target them. Its crazy stuff.

Another security source described the level of hate and misinformation being spread online as a plague.

Describing how some extremists are using technology to spread false narratives online, they added: There was even some very crude attempts using AI to put protesters into Garda uniforms. These protesters had been caught on camera acting aggressively or being violent and were digitally put in uniform.

It was then said they had been spotted at previous protests, and they must have been planted by the Government.

If you do a reverse-search of these images, youll see loads of social media accounts sharing it and the majority of the commentary is completely negative towards AGS [An Garda Siochana], even when its clearly AI.

Commissioner Kelly told gardai this week he completely understood the really difficult situations many of you have been faced with.

Thanks to your efforts we have broken the illegal blockades which were interfering with access to our critical national infrastructure. This has meant that our emergency services, hospital and fuel supply network were able to continue to operate, he told officers.

I am concerned to hear about attempts in person and online to threaten and intimidate gardai who are engaged in their lawful work. I have viewed some of this online material myself and have been absolutely appalled by it.

This will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated with the aim of bringing those involved to justice, he added.

Ronan Slevin, the General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) representing rank-and-file officer, also hit out at the threats.

He said: We are extremely concerned by these vile threats against members and the attempts by certain individuals to intimidate our colleagues online by disclosing private information and circulating falsified material in a manner that is not only distasteful and offensive but are criminal acts.

Mr Slevin said the GRA recognises the right to peaceful protest but warned the demonstrations were infiltrated and taken advantage of by certain far right or criminal elements.

He added: They should never be allowed to prevail.

Contacted by the MoS, Mr Geoghegan claimed he made the comments about the Tanaiste after learning that a fellow protestor had taken his own life.

He said: Simon Harris has blood on his hands, Micheal Martin has blood on his hands. The way Simon Harris talked down to the people of Ireland this week was disgusting... hes not welcome in rural Ireland anymore and its as simple as that.

The contractor added that, if Mr Harris attends agricultural shows this year men are going to lose the heads at him.

He said: Its shocking what has happened and its his fault and its Martins fault for the disrespect theyve shown the people.

Harris is not welcome in rural Ireland again, and I wont be at agricultural shows and I personally wont drag him anywhere.

But if he goes in, there is men there who are going to lose the heads on him because of what has happened and thats reality, the protest leader added

And he warned: This is not over. I am personally not going to drag Harris out of it, but thats the feeling among the people. Dont be trying to make me out to be the bad guy here.

The country is crashing and the Government cant see it. The building boom is over. The crash thats coming is going to be huge. The Government are responsible.
The minister I was speaking to was just off the phone to a constituent who had threatened to shoot him. That makes five, he told me. This was what politicians were enduring last week, away from the more visible instances of trucks blockading motorways, streets and ports.

He was upset. But we agreed that whatever concerns people had about the cost of living, blockading public highways and key infrastructure and erecting checkpoints on roads was criminality.

Gardai finally cleared the blockade at Whitegate oil refinery on Saturday

Despite action over death threats against high-profile politicians such as Mary Lou McDonald and Simon Harris, a casual, acceptance seems to greet such behaviour from certain sections of society.

At the end of the conversation, as an aside, the minister mentioned that Michael Healy-Rae was to be forced to leave Government if he couldnt convince his older brother and fellow Kerry Independent TD Danny to vote confidence in the Coalition.

I was confused. Only the day before, I had interrupted my viewing of a compelling final round of the US Masters to watch a video of minister Michael Healy-Rae declaring his unambiguous intention to vote with the Government in the upcoming motion of confidence on Tuesday. Michael looked tired and stressed, but he had been very clear.

Danny, you mean? I asked, as it was clear the elder Healy-Rae intended to vote against the Government.

I had been briefed that Michael Lowry, the real leader of the Coalitions Regional Independents, and others had been trying, with increasing futility, to persuade Danny to come back into the fold.

No, Michael. Hes been told that the Taoiseach is adamant that a two-for-one deal was made at the formation of the Government, and if he cant convince Danny to come back into line, he has to resign, said my contact.

The previous three days, Fianna Fail had spent in internecine squabbling. Virtually everyone you speak to in Government believes that they catastrophically mishandled the blockades of ports and critical infrastructure.

The unanimity disappears, however, when you ask how it was mishandled.

Ministers and a majority of the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Government TDs acknowledged by the midpoint of the week of the protests that they were completely excessive in the disruption they were causing the general public.

Ministers, TDs and senators were being threatened. But there was also a small group of TDs in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael who supported the protesters, who they claim were representatives of well-meaning farming and transport groups.

Indeed, Government TDs such as former Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail had warned weeks earlier that a failure to have adequate cuts on green diesel was aggravating rural voters.

In any case, belatedly, by around Thursday, it had dawned on the Coalition leadership that theyd lost control. It was then only the next morning that Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly cut short his family holiday  as revealed exclusively by the Irish Mail on Sunday last week  and took back the reins of An Garda Siochana.

As panic grew about the protests, on Saturday, a carrot and stick strategy was put together by the Coalition.

The stick was the only act of true leadership from Government last week. Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan ordered the States security forces to end illegal blockades of ports.

Incredibly, the Coalition had let the nasty protest drift to a point where the entire nation had only a few days of usable oil left, as Whitegate is our only oil refinery.

By Saturday evening, the blockade at Whitegate Oil was broken. The carrot was an extra 500 million to buy off the protesters. However, Fine Gael had already briefed its parliamentary party (PP) on events on Friday, and was preparing an online full parliamentary party meeting for Sunday.

On Saturday, Fianna Fail TDs approached the leadership asking for their own meeting to discuss the unpublished package and the events of the week, which had caused such political damage for rural backbenchers.

They were bluntly told no.

Among the many modern developments Fianna Fail has failed to understand is how to stop participants leaking during online meetings.

The denial of a meeting to the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, at the same time as the Fine Gael PP was being briefed, and the Cabinet deciding on the package, multiplied the anger and paranoia of the Fianna Failers.

Things came to a head when Fianna Fail Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuinness said he could rent a conference room at the Kilkenny New Park Hotel for parliamentary party members to meet without the agreement of the leadership. Such a meeting could only ever be seen as a prelude to a heave. As such, the party leadership rushed to organise an in-person parliamentary meeting in Leinster House on Monday.

As this was going on, a red herring was launched by the blue side of the Coalition. Mr OCallaghan was the proactive figure who co-ordinated the Garda response, which by Sunday had been demonstrated to be both effective and generally well-received.

This obviously couldnt stand. So Fine Gael sources let it be known that Defence Minister Helen McEntee was not happy with not being consulted by the Justice Minister about the request for equipment from the Army. This was an overreach, it was claimed, and evidently raised at Cabinet.

What seems to have been conveniently forgotten is that the request was made with the full knowledge of Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, Ms McEntees party leader. Dont let the facts get in the way of everyones favourite political parlour game, the post-crisis apportioning of blame.

Perhaps Ms McEntee was still silently seething from the shellacking her own reputation as justice minister received during the last general election campaign.

But the squabble only served to confirm the absence of a cohesive plan to deal with the blockades. If asking the Army for tow trucks was a bridge too far, then Mondays events appeared to be the longest day.

As it became apparent that the Government would face a motion of no confidence from the opposition, the Regional Independent Groups Tipperary TD Michael Lowry and colleagues put strenuous effort into convincing Danny Healy-Rae to support the Government.

Danny Healy-Rae had been videoed with protesters on a rural road. Yet a TD familiar with the efforts to turn Danny told the MoS: It became clear that he cant abide Micheal Martin, he just cant stand him. And he repeatedly said that the people that vote for him see Micheal Martin as a hate figure.

But a source in the Regional Independents, added: Mikey [Michael Healy-Rae] was solid, solid as a rock and we told the leaders of the two parties this. We werent concerned about his situation. It was widely assumed that Danny would go [vote against the Government] and Michael would vote for us.

Michael Healy-Rae had distributed an emotional video on social media on Sunday confirming his steadfast support for the Government. Although Danny Healy-Rae had voted against the Government before, this was a confidence motion, and suddenly, to the surprise of everyone, Mr Martins team raised the events of the Healy-Rae Deal that was struck to support the Coalition in early 2025.

It was a dramatic occasion in a nondescript room in Government Buildings when, as one eyewitness described it: They did that thing where they spit on the hand and shake hands.

Not for the last time during this week of frantic briefings, I was confused, and I asked: You mean Micheal Martin and Michael Healy-Rae? They spat on their hands?

No! replied the source, the Healy-Raes did. According to those present, the Healy-Raes sealed the deal in the manner that men agree to sell a heifer at a rural fair.

In return for that, youre getting two votes, said a minister who was involved in Government formation talks, So in fairness to the Taoiseach, they were saying that they were bringing two votes. They were not part of Michael Lowrys gang, they were the fourth leg. They were saying: Were the Healy-Rae machine.

So they got a ministry, the son got an advisers role. Danny got a seat on the Agriculture Committee.

Striking the deal  which was never committed to paper  the Healy-Raes drove a hard bargain. Michael was the first to be elected to the Dail  filling the seat of their legendary father Jackie Healy-Rae  and has the far larger vote. So he sought the leading role.

A minister says of talks: They negotiated hard. They wanted a full Cabinet ministry for Michael, they wanted a committee chair for Danny. They didnt get that. And then they wanted a Super Junior for Michael, they didnt get that, and eventually they settled for a junior ministry. But thatll show you how interested they were in being in Government.

And yes, it was two votes in return for Michaels ministry, said a minister.

Yet, I, and many other journalists who covered the talks, and all the politicians I spoke to last week, didnt hear again about the two-for-one deal, and certainly not on all the occasions that Danny Healy-Rae voted against the Government.

After the emotional pledge on social media, according to Regional Independent colleagues, Michael Healy-Rae was rock solid: Mikey was fixed, it was all fixed.

Then on Monday night, Mr Martins Chief of Staff Deirdre Gillane contacted Michael Healy-Rae to tell him that the Taoiseach was adamant that there was a two-for-one deal, and that it was to be enforced. Ms Gillane, according to members of the Regional Independents, told Michael that the Taoiseach could not wear it with his own backbenchers for one Healy-Rae to be out and the other in.

If Michael wanted to stay in Government  and my understanding is that he did  his only route was to try and convince Danny to vote with the Government.

A task difficult enough that it could easily fit in as Hercules 13th labour.

Michael Healy-Rae strikes a defiant pose after resigning as a junior minister

The MoS understands that Michael Healy-Rae contacted Michael Lowry to tell him of the conversation with Gillane. The MoS understands that Michael Healy-Rae told Lowry: Ive never been sacked from a job in my life, so Ill be resigning.

Two members of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, independently, told the MoS that Mr Martin  despite suggestions he was blindsided by the resignation  told them early last week of the requirement that both Healy-Raes be delivered.

Before Tuesdays vote, Mr Lowry, whose political judgement is respected across the Coalition, contacted Ms Gillane. She confirmed to him that the Taoiseach was adamant that both Healy- Raes had committed to a deal for two votes in 2025 and Mr Martin would enforce it.

But unlike with the calling in of the army, at no point were senior members of Fine Gael consulted on these discussions. If they had been, they would have been far less draconian.

A senior Fine Gael figure involved in the formation of the Government said: Theres realpolitik. And the realpolitik is, really, if on a very difficult issue for the country if Danny Healy-Rae goes overboard are you really going to say, well, the best way to de-escalate this situation is to get rid of a minister? Youre going to reduce your majority. No, it wasnt a good move.

In recent days, Fine Gael has become aware that somebody in the Taoiseachs office approached both Michael Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry.

Yet senior members of Fine Gael are mystified as to why Mr Martin chose to push enforcement of a verbal agreement that almost everyone had forgotten about.

The Taoiseachs chief of staff wasnt the only person Michael Healy-Rae spoke to on Monday. He claimed in the Dail that day that he even spoke to his deceased father Jackie, seeking his heavenly advice.

Michael Healy-Rae said he spoke to the spirit of his late father Jackie, pictured here in 2002

He told the Dail when resigning, When I see people on the side of the road, when Ive seen grown men crying when I met tractor men, lorry men, farmers. And when they were telling me how unhappy they were, the leader of the country should have listened.

It is a criticism that has been directed at Mr Martin internally for years, and now externally, by more than just the Healy-Raes.

This Coalition was re-elected in the wake of Donald Trumps return to power in the United States. The unloved Government was installed as a bulwark against chaos on a promise of competence. Last weeks events call into serious question this Coalitions basic competence.

In all the collapsed Governments Ive covered over the last 20 years, every end had a beginning. The most palpable signal of the beginning of the end is when they start losing TDs.

Only the worst of Governments lose TDs needlessly, votes they will need in hard times ahead. With Trump and Iran continuing their dance of death over the Straits of Hormuz throughout yesterday, hard times are all that can be foreseen from every vantage point.

The confidence motion was supported by 92 votes, for a Dail majority of five.

After the May by-elections, that majority is likely to be four.
The US military is preparing to board Iran-linked vessels and oil tankers in the coming days, a move that will expand a conflict largely confined to the Strait of Hormuz into a global crackdown.

General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced the escalation on Thursday, according to US officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal.

Caine said the US 'will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran'.

'This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, dark fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements,' Caine added.

This mission, dubbed Economic Fury, will be executed with the help of US Indo-Pacific Command and enforced in addition to the US Navy's blockade of all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The US has already turned away 23 ships that have tried to leave Iranian ports, according to US Central Command.

This comes as the Iranian military has reasserted 'strict control' over the Strait of Hormuz, attacking several ships that have tried to pass through the narrow waterway on Saturday.

The strikes from Iran - which allegedly involved two Indian ships - came just a day after Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial traffic.

General Dan Caine announced on Thursday that the US military will actively pursue and board ships with ties to Iran or the country's illicit oil trade, according to US officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal

This forthcoming economic pressure campaign will be a step up from the current strategy from the US, which has been maintain a complete blockade of all Iranian ports. The new directive from Caine will allow the US Navy to interdict any Iranian-linked ship on the sanctions list

President Donald Trump took the declaration from the foreign minister as genuine, announcing on Friday morning that the strait was 'COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS'.

Trump followed that up with a series of optimistic statements about negotiating an end to the war. He even said that Iran agreed to hand over its remaining supply of highly enriched uranium to the US, something Iran has denied.

Irans parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned later on Friday that if the US blockade continued, 'the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open'.

The blockade has continued and the Trump administration has not shown any signs of budging on any of Iran's demands.

Trump is optimistic that the blockade, as well as intercepting Iran-flagged ships around the world, will eventually force the Iranians to the table by severely limiting imports into the country.

Previously, Iran's stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz was a tactical advantage, allowing them to skyrocket global oil and gas prices. Roughly 20 percent of the world's daily oil supply passes through the strait, making it a vital chokepoint.

The president's strategy to cut off Iran from the world market is quite similar to what he has done with Cuba by heavily restricting the oil flowing into the country.

Like in Iran, he is seeking regime change in the island nation, which has been under communist rule since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.

Economic Fury, as the mission is being called, comes after peace talks between the US and Iran failed last weekend. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the US is ready to fight if a deal doesn't emerge before the ceasefire ends next week

Meanwhile, Iran has also been taking steps to resume the war, retrieving underground missile launchers and readying its medium- to short-range payloads

Join the discussion Should the US risk a wider conflict to stop Irans global oil trade, or is this strategy too dangerous?

The push to increase economic pressure comes as a temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire next week.

Peace talks held last weekend in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough or any permanent halt in hostilities between the two sides. Another round of negotiations has not been scheduled.

Both sides have been taking precautions in case fighting resumes, with Iran retaining thousands of medium- and short-range missiles. The country is also retrieving launchers from underground storage areas, many of them buried within mountainous regions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said US forces are 'maximally postured' to pick up where they left off if diplomacy fails.

Hegseth has also said striking Iran's power plants are still an option, even though experts say that would be against international law. The move could also invite Iran to retaliate by bombing energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries allied with the US.

Trump administration officials are reportedly loath to use ground troops, something that would lead to US service members dying and a potential backlash from the American public.

Trump and his allies have largely settled on the economic pressure campaign as the way forward.

The US military will likely board sanctioned ships controlled by oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. He is the son of Ali Shamkani (pictured), a key advisor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Ali Shamkani was killed along with the Ayatollah in the Israeli airstrike in late February that started the war (Pictured: Women hold up a banner the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been serving as the new Supreme Leader)

As part of Economic Fury, the Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it had sanctioned even more companies and individuals with ties to 'Irans illicit oil transportation infrastructure'.

The newly-sanctioned ships and firms are controlled by oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, a top security adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ali Shamkhani was killed along with the Iranian leader in the Israeli airstrike in late February that started the war.

There are hundreds of sanctioned Iranian-linked vessels that could now be boarded or intercepted by the US military.

It could mirror how the US Navy interdicted at least seven oil vessels with ties to Venezuela both before and after Nicolas Maduro was captured in a late-night operation in early January.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has also said he will prosecute anyone who buys or sells sanctioned Iranian oil.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
Iranian gunboats opened fire on cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday after Tehran tightened its chokehold on the key waterway.

The attacks came soon after the regime abruptly reversed a decision to reopen the strait, citing an American statement that the US would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran against trying to 'blackmail' the US by closing the strait.

He insisted his officials were having 'very good conversations' with Tehran. 'We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again as they've been doing for years, they can't blackmail us,' the President said at a press conference.

'It's working out very well. They got a little cute as they have been doing for 47 years,' he added, warning that he would continue to take a 'tough stand' with Iranian leaders.

Earlier, troops on two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on merchant vessels to the north of Oman without warning, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) security authority.

Two Indian vessels  a supertanker carrying two million barrels of Iraqi oil and a container ship  reported being hit by gunfire as they attempted to transit the strait. No injuries were reported but Indian diplomats flagged 'deep concerns' over the incident to Iran's ambassador.

A US security official later reported that the IRGC had also attacked a third commercial ship in the channel.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against trying to 'blackmail' the US by closing the strait and insisted the two countries were having 'very good conversations'

The regime abruptly reversed a decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (pictured) citing an American statement that the US would not end its blockade of Iranian ports

In another incident three miles off the Oman coast, the master of a cruise ship reported to the UKMTO sighting 'a splash' close to the passenger vessel.

On social media Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said its navy was ready to inflict 'new bitter defeats' on its enemies.

It came only hours after President Trump said the American blockade 'will remain in full force' until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme.

The conflict over the strait threatened to deepen the energy crisis after oil prices had begun to fall on Friday in the hope that the US and Iran were reaching an agreement.

Before Tehran reimposed the closure, a convoy of eight tankers transited the strait.

US forces have directed 23 ships to return to port since the start of the blockade, according to US Central Command.

The Wall Street Journal reported that US forces were preparing to board Iran-linked ships 'in the coming days'.

Iran had agreed to reopen the strait after a ten-day truce was announced between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon but later declared the US blockade on its ports violated last week's agreement.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, at a diplomatic forum in Turkey, urged Tehran to allow global shipping to resume.

She said: 'We need the Strait of Hormuz open . . . because this helps all of our economies right across the world.'

Iran's national security council said it was considering new US proposals, according to Iranian state media.

The ceasefire that started on Friday in Lebanon was under pressure yesterday after a French paratrooper was killed and three colleagues were wounded when a UN peacekeeping patrol came under small arms fire in the south.

'Everything points to Hezbollah being responsible,' French president Emmanuel Macron said. Hezbollah denied involvement.
TAOISEACH Micheal Martin gave an ultimatum to Michael Healy-Rae that a private two-for-one deal he and his brother Danny agreed in support of the Government would have to be upheld before the Kerry TD quit the Coalition.

The Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Taoiseachs chief of staff, Deirdre Gillane, contacted Michael Healy-Rae on Monday night when it became apparent Danny was going to vote against the Government in the no-confidence motion tabled by Sinn Fein in the Dail the following day.

The MoS has also learned that Tanaiste Simon Harris was not informed in advanceabout the Taoiseachs hardline approach, which a senior Fine Gael source said clearly backfired on Mr Martin, plunging him into another leadership crisis.

During the call, Ms Gillane told the Kerry TD her boss was adamant the two-for-one deal would have to be upheld.

Sources in the Regional Group of Independents also said Mr Healy-Rae and the groups de facto leader, Michael Lowry, were told the Taoiseach would not wear Dannys defection.

It is understood Mr Martin wanted to pressurise Michael into convincing his brother not to vote against the Government, fearing a backlash from his backbenchers if Danny broke ranks.

Michael Healy-Rae TD at Leinster House after dramatically resigning his post. It is understood Mr Martin wanted to pressurise Michael into convincing his brother not to vote against the Government

Michael Healy-Rae has publicly claimed he quit the Coalition because of the Governments response to the fuel crisis, which sparked nationwide protests last week.

In an emotional speech in the Dail, the Kerry TD claimed the sight of grown men crying over the cost of diesel left him with no choice but to leave the Government.

Several senior Coalition sources have given a very different version of events and said Mr Healy-Rae was left with no choice other than to resign after he came under pressure to uphold a verbal agreement he and his brother Danny made when they agreed to join the Coalition.

Under this deal, the sibling TDs assured the Taoiseach and Tanaiste they were getting the full support of the Healy-Rae political machine in return for Michael being given a junior minister position in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

A source with knowledge of the verbal agreement struck with the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leaders, that few in the Coalition knew existed, told the MoS: They did that thing where they spit on the hand and shake hands.

They said the Healy-Raes told the Taoiseach: In return for that, youre getting two votes.

The source added: In fairness to Micheal Martin, they had committed to bringing two votes.

They said they were the fourth leg [of government, alongside Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Regional Group of Independents.

Yesterday, senior figures across the Coalition criticised Mr Martins brinkmanship, which resulted in the loss of two Coalition seats and sparked renewed internal criticism of his leadership.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Fianna Fails three youngest TDs starkly warned the social contract is strained at breaking point.

A Cabinet source told the MoS: This is just an enforced loss of a minister and a vote in the Dail, and the Coalition will come to rue this move as things get tighter and tighter. Its early in the cycle [of government] to be losing TDs.

Sources also said the Taoiseachs ultimatum to Michael Healy-Rae has not gone down well with the remaining Government-supporting TDs.

It is understood the Kerry TD spoke to Michael Lowry to brief the veteran Tipperary North TD about his conversation with Ms Gillane.

A source said Mr Healy-Rae told Mr Lowry: Ive never been sacked from a job in my life, so Ill be resigning.

Two members of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party independently told the MoS that Mr Martin briefed them early last week that both Healy-Raes would have to support the Government in the no-confidence vote.

On Sunday, the day before Ms Gillane delivered the ultimatum to Michael Healy-Rae on behalf of the Taoiseach, the Kerry TD posted a video in which he confirmed he would support the Government.

Instead, he dramatically resigned in the Dail chamber on Tuesday, before strongly criticising the Taoiseach and voting no confidence alongside his brother.

The fallout has worsened deteriorating relations between the two main Government parties.

Micheal Martin leaving the Alexander Hotel with chief of staff Deirdre Gillane after a tense meeting with Leo Varadkar in 2017. Ms Gillane contacted Michael Healy-Rae on Monday night with an ultimatum ahead of the no confidence vote on Tuesday

Fine Gael figures confirmed they were not involved in efforts to secure both Healy-Rae votes and were not briefed on a strategy that culminated in the removal of the Coalitions fourth leg.

A senior Fine Gael figure told the MoS: If you were being really, really technical about it and factual, the deal was always two [Healy-Rae] votes for one ministry. That was it, the Healy Raes said: Were bringing two votes.

But none of this was done in writing, even the deal with Lowry.

Fine Gael figures said Mr Martin should have recognised the realpolitik surrounding the intense pressure the Healy-Raes, themselves agricultural contractors, were coming under from their political base over the fuel crisis.

A source noted: If, on a very difficult issue for the country, Danny Healy-Rae goes overboard, are you really going to say: Well, the best way to de-escalate this situation is to get rid of a minister?

Youre not going to do that, for I would have believed, youre going to needlessly reduce your majority.

A Fine Gael party source said: Michael Healy-Rae never sought to meet Simon Harris on it [the vote and position of his brother], but we were since unofficially informed that somebody in the Taoiseachs operation approached the Independents and said: The deal is Danny and Michael must both vote for the Government, because thats the place in which they got the ministry.

However, in fairness to Michael Lowry, who was brought into all this, I think he believed that wasnt going to be necessarily enforced, but they [Fianna Fail] were trying. They were applying a bit of pressure to the Healy-Raes.

There are growing fears within the Coalition that the administration will not survive its full term.

One Fine Gael TD said: We will need every vote we can get in the coming months. Michael Healy-Rae was a good minister and he wanted to support the Government. Hes not his brothers keeper, and nobody believed that verbal deal would be enforced.

I thought it was very interesting when Michael Healy-Rae stood up in the Dail, he could have attacked the leadership of the Government, he could have attacked the leader of Fine Gael but he chose to attack the leader of the country, Micheal Martin. In all his comments, you know, outside the gates [of Leinster House], he talked about the condescending speech of the Taoiseach [in response to the protests].

One Regional Independent source familiar with the efforts to convince Danny Healy-Rae not to vote against the Government told the MoS: It became clear Danny cant abide Micheal Martin. He repeatedly said the people who vote for him tell him that Micheal Martin is a hate figure for them.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Government Buildings. His leadership of Fianna

However, the source stressed Michael Healy-Raes support was solid as a rock before he was presented with the ultimatum.

It was widely assumed in Government that Danny would go and Michael would vote confidence. That would be it, common sense would prevail.

'I can only guess that the Taoiseach thought they would come back into line, both of them, but this displays a large blind spot when it comes to human nature, and politics, they said.

Despite Mr Martins representatives saying the Taoiseach could not tolerate a situation where one Healy-Rae voted against the Government, Danny had done so before on previous occasions on contentious matters that were also difficult for Fianna Fail TDs to support.

Several Fianna Fail TDs who attended the five-hour parliamentary party meeting in Leinster House the day before Michaels resignation said the Healy-Raes were barely mentioned, bar a light-hearted reference from Kerry TD Michael Cahill.

Contacted by the MoS, Michael Healy-Rae respectfully declined to comment. The Taoiseachs office was also contacted for comment. A Government Information Service spokeswoman said: We wont be commenting.
A Labour MP who wants Britain to have a 'summer of sex' has endorsed a porn site that appears to be breaching current pornography laws, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Samantha Niblett  who wants to have a sex toys exhibition inside Parliament  has publicly backed an adult site called MakeLoveNotPorn (MLNP), which claims to follow laws which prevent children from viewing adult content.

But an investigation by the MoS has found that MLNP may be breaching these laws. Under the law, porn content must either be blocked or blurred until the age verification process is complete.

But MLNP, which claims to be a sex education platform, allows viewers to watch its videos for 12 seconds before they have to buy a subscription to watch in full. Explicit and graphic content can be seen within the free view period.

The videos seen by the MoS show oral sex, a woman performing a sex act on a man, and sexual intercourse. None of the videos was blurred out. Yair Cohen, a legal expert on pornography laws, said: 'It looks like the website does breach the law if it shows adult content within that 12 seconds before any age verification.'

Ofcom's website says that the age check for porn sites 'should be at the point of entry' and that 'no harmful content' should be visible to users before then.

Cindy Gallop, 66, founder of MLNP, told the MoS that the website complies with UK age verification laws through its paywall system.

Ms Gallop said: 'We can vouch for everything on our website, because every piece of content has been through a stringent human review process to ensure it conforms to our standards of safety.'

Samantha Niblett, pictured with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, has called for a 'summer of sex' in Britain

Ms Niblett has represented South Derbyshire since 2024 and worked in the technology sector for more than 20 years previously

She added that in order to watch the 12-second free view clips, a user has to create a free account using an email through which MLNP performs 'age estimation'.

But two MoS reporters opened two separate fake email accounts, registering their date of births as if they were under 16 years old, and still managed to create accounts with MLNP and view the free 12-second clips.

Ofcom said: 'Porn sites should introduce highly effective age assurance at the point of entry to the site or ensure that no harmful content is visible before checks are completed. Companies that fail to comply can expect to face enforcement.' Ms Niblett was contacted for comment.

Ms Niblett said: It is this Labour government that is implementing the Online Safety Act in order to prevent children from seeing content that is not age appropriate. I was assured MLNP was Ofcom-compliant having only ever signed in myself using my own age to access the site.

I welcome any extra steps MLNP can take to ensure no child accesses content that is not age-appropriate.

She added: The campaign for Life-Long Sex Education has never been needed more to help remove the shame and embarrassment from sex to help people have happier and healthier lives, and importantly to prevent monsters using sex as a weapon.

Additional reporting: Isaac Crowson

TV blind date she'd love to forget

Samantha Niblett was once a guest star in Davina McCall's dating show Streetmate, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Ms Niblett went on a 'random date' fixed by Ms McCall in an episode of the 90s series.

The future MP, who worked in a bank, was 18 at the time and going by Samantha Doherty. She was approached by Ms McCall in Nottingham town centre, and was set up with Jeff Chambers, then 22, a local gym owner.

But the date was not a success. During their dinner, Mr Chambers  who greeted everyone with the words 'how you didly'  drank too much wine.

By the end of the night, he was staggering along the road. After the date, Ms Niblett said: 'He had been drinking before the meal, and when we had a meal, he kept on drinking. It would be interesting to see him sober.'

When the pair were interviewed a month later, Ms Niblett revealed she did not meet with Mr Chambers after the date.
READ MORE: Trump rushes to Situation Room briefing as Iran chokes oil supply

He demanded department of climate change be scrapped

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has blamed Australia's lack of fuel security on the climate change department, arguing it should be scrapped immediately.

Speaking on Sky News, Joyce tore into Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's announcement that Australia had secured an additional 100 million litres of diesel through two overseas shipments, including one from Brunei.

Joyce dismissed the announcement as political theatre, pointing out that Australia consumes roughly that amount of diesel in a single day.

'That's about what we use [in a day],' Joyce said.

He argued the government was boasting about securing a measly amount after significant international travel and diplomatic effort.

'He flew over there, did all this stuff, for just over a day's worth of diesel supply. This is a joke,' Joyce said.

The deal even drew ridicule from Russia, with its state-backed broadcaster RT joking Albanese was saving Australia 'one day at a time'.

Joyce said Australia's vulnerability was selfinflicted, blaming years of climatefocused energy policy for a collapse in domestic fuel security.

Barnaby Joyce (pictured) called for the Department of Climate Change to be axed

He called for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to be scrapped and for climate legislation restricting oil and gas development to be repealed.

'The climate change department has got to go. Gone. Finished,' he said.

'Restrictions on us getting oil out of the Great Australian Bight and other areas has got to go.

'Otherwise, you're not going to change the weather. You're just going to change your standard of living.

'You are going to become poorer.'

Joyce said Australians were now living with the consequences of what he described as 'insanity', warning living standards would continue to decline unless energy and fuel policy was urgently overhauled.

'We've got to try and manage this with the crazy cards we've been dealt,' he said.

'But make no mistake  we are in strife.'

Joyce criticised the Albanese government's announcement of 100million litres of fuel (file)

Joyce referred to the fire at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong, which broke out on Wednesday night.

An investigation is ongoing into the blaze at the Corio facility, which has been attributed to a gas leak caused by faulty equipment in an alkylation unit.

The fire burned for 13 hours before being extinguished, with the refinery now operating at about 80 per cent capacity as safety checks continue.

'We've blown up our electricity grid, we've shut down our fuel refining,' Joyce said.

'We're down to one fuel refiner. Well done. Congratulations. Genius.'

He said Australia had placed itself at the mercy of overseas fuel suppliers and warned that exporting nations would prioritise their own needs if global conditions worsened.

'Sooner or later, they're going to start keeping this fuel at home. I can assure you of that,' Joyce said.

'The slower we are, the harder it's going to get.'
The estranged husband of triple murderer Erin Patterson is set to release an explosive tell-all memoir about life with his former wife.

Simon Patterson, whose parents Don and Gail were killed at the infamous beef wellington lunch in July 2023, is set to release the book later this year.

Simon's aunt Heather Wilkinson also died after Patterson served them a beef wellington meal that was laced with lethal death cap mushrooms.

His uncle Ian Wilkinson fell seriously ill after the meal but survived.

The book will feature Simon's experiences with the mushroom cook including the allegations that Patterson tried to poison him on multiple occasions such as with a penne bolognese, chicken korma and a vegetable curry wrap.

Those allegations were unable to be heard during Patterson's murder trial after Justice Christopher Beale ruled they must be heard by a different jury, the prosecution later dropping the three attempted murder charges.

Details of the publisher who scored the book's rights remain unclear, the Herald Sun reported.

During pre-trial hearings last year, Simon told the Supreme Court that he may tell his story in a major interview, book or show.

Simon Patterson is set to release an explosive tell-all memoir about life with his estranged wife, Erin Patterson

Patterson, 51, murdered his parents and aunt after serving them a beef wellington meal that was laced with death cap mushrooms

Mr Patterson's parents, Don and Gail, died a few days after they consumed the lunch

'I think there are quite a few reasons why that would be a good idea,' he said.

'The local community is grieving because of what happened and a lot of people are keen to know what happened.

'I think informing them of what happened would help for their grief.'

Simon asked Justice Beale for the transcripts of all legal proceedings to help him through the grieving process.

It is not yet clear whether Simon will make reference to those transcripts within the highly anticipated book.

The memoir, which does not yet have a public title, has been spearheaded by Simon's spokesperson and friend, Jessica O'Donnell.

The pair worked together at land developer Landgipps from 2020 to 2022.

It comes as Patterson, 51, seeks to appeal her murder convictions, claiming there were six 'substantial' miscarriages of justice during her trial and a 'fundamental irregularity' with the jury.

Patterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years

Ian Wilkinson was the sole survivor of the lunch - he sadly lost his wife Heather who consumed the fatal meal

Patterson was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in July last year.

She was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years.

The prosecution have also launched its own appeal, calling for Patterson to be re-sentenced to life without parole.

During sentencing, Justice Beale noted Patterson's offending was the worst category of murder and represented a betrayal of trust towards people she considered family.

But he showed Patterson mercy with the chance of parole, noting she was essentially in solitary confinement for at least 22 hours a day.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Diana Piekusis KC said the judge had erred by finding there was a 'substantial chance' Patterson would be held in solitary confinement for years.

Justice Beale accepted there was no proven motive, but he found Patterson concocted an elaborate story to cover up her offending, including lying about a food dehydrator and having cancer.
David Lammy failed to provide emotional or legal support to the heartbroken family of a British graduate who was shot dead by her father at his US home, an MP has claimed.

Lucy Harrison was shot through the heart on January 10, 2025, by her father Kris Harrison, a British citizen, while he was 'showing off' his gun at his home in Prosper, Texas.

Harrison, 52, was never arrested over the death of the 23-year-old fashion graduate - who was booked to fly back home to Warrington, Cheshire, with her boyfriend Sam Littler later that same day.

He admitted to drinking alcohol on the day of the shooting. Ms Harrison, who was 'categorically anti-gun', had reportedly argued with her father about Donald Trump shortly before the incident.

Last year a grand jury in Texas - a panel of citizens that determines whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge an individual - decided not to issue an indictment.

However a UK coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing in February following an inquest into Ms Harrison's death, during which police documents and statements from officers, Harrison and Mr Littler were examined.

Sarah Hall, the Labour MP for Warrington South, has joined forces with her mother Jane Coates and Mr Littler - who have been campaigning for the US to reopen the investigation.

The MP claims the Foreign Office, under the then-foreign secretary David Lammy, failed to offer adequate legal and emotional support to the family - and did not push for answers.

A manslaughter investigation was launched after Lucy Harrison (pictured), 23, from Warrington, Cheshire, was killed at her father's house in Prosper, Texas, on January 10, 2025

Ms Harrison was shot through the heart by her father Kris Harrison, a British citizen, while he was 'showing off' his gun

Ms Hall, who is the Labour MP where Ms Harrison lived, told a Sunday newspaper Ms Harrison's parents Jane and Sam Coates 'have been let down from day one by everyone'.

She said: '[We know from] the coroner's report that from the trajectory of where she had been shot, there's no other way that it could have happened other than him standing in front of her, and having pointed a gun at her'.

The MP plans to raise Ms Harrison's case in parliament and call on the Government to pressure US authorities to review the case.

Ms Coates hopes the coroner's findings around Harrison's 'recklessness', while under the influence of alcohol, could lead to a fresh US investigation.

While she does not think Harrison intended his actions, she believes he acted carelessly after drinking - which was the conclusion Cheshire coroner Jacqueline Devonish also reached.

Bodycam footage of police arriving at the house following the shooting showed Mr Harrison saying the gun 'went off' as he was showing it to his daughter.

However, Cheshire Coroner's Court heard inconsistencies in Harrison's account were revealed by police records and statements from Ms Harrison's friends and family.

The former Manchester Metropolitan University student was raised in a single-parent household by primary school deputy headteacher Ms Coates, who divorced Harrison when her daughter was four.

Her mother, Jane Coates (pictured arriving at the inquest), hopes the coroner's findings around Harrison's 'recklessness', while under the influence of alcohol, could lead to a fresh US investigation

Ms Harrison's boyfriend Sam Littler (pictured, arriving at court) said she had argued with her father about Donald Trump on the morning of her death

Ms Harrison remained in touch with her father, former CEO of a telecoms company, who moved to Saudi Arabia and later Texas. In the US, he remarried and had two daughters with second wife Heather.

She regularly visited him and her half-sisters during the summer and at Christmas.

But the inquest heard she expressed concern to friends about her father owning a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the house where her siblings lived.

Harrison, who had no licence or training, bought the pistol for $500 (370) two years before his daughter's death  but in Texas, owning a firearm at home without a licence is legal for self-defence.

Mr Littler, Ms Harrison's boyfriend of five years, recalled how on the morning of the tragedy she and her father argued about sexual assault claims against Donald Trump.

He said Ms Harrison asked her father: 'How would you feel if I was the girl and I'd been sexually assaulted?'.

Ms Harrison was 'left upset' when her father replied 'he had two other daughters so it would not bother him much'.

Later in the afternoon, Mr Littler said Harrison led his daughter into his bedroom, telling her 'I have a gun, do you want to see it?'

She was visiting her father, Kris Harrison, who lives in Texas (Pictured: Kris Harrison's home)

Sarah Hall, the Labour MP for Warrington South, has joined forces with her mother Jane Coates and Mr Littler - who have been campaigning for the US to reopen the investigation

Seconds later, there was a loud bang and Harrison screamed for his wife, Heather.

Mr Littler, who called 911, recalled how while he was speaking to emergency services, Harrison spoke out but never said Ms Harrison had been shot  instead claiming she had passed out.

After reviewing the US post-mortem examination report and other police statements, the UK coroner ruled: 'To shoot her through the chest whilst she was standing would have required him to have been pointing the gun at his daughter without checking for bullets and pulled the trigger. I find this action to be reckless.'

Ms Hall criticised Prosper police's handling of the case, which she described as being 'absolutely rushed', and questioned why Harrison was not breathalysed despite an officer reportedly smelling alcohol on his breath.

She added that police failed to conduct proper interviews or follow-up with initial interviews held hours after Ms Harrison's death.

The MP wrote to Mr Lammy in February expressing 'very serious concerns' about how the case was handled by both US and UK authorities - and added the 'lack of support' the family received from the Foreign Office.

This included consular officers failing to explain crucial aspects of the US justice system to the family, including the role of the grand jury.

At one stage the Foreign Office withdrew access to support services typically offered to families of homicide victims, including emotional and legal assistance.

Although the power to investigate Ms Harrison's death remains with American authorities, a Foreign Office caseworker told Ms Coates in March last year it had the authority to intervene if there is a 'high level of complexity'.

This followed Ms Coates lodging a complaint, in which she said the Government had failed to guide her through the available support. The Foreign Office justified this by describing the case as being 'uniquely complex'.

The Foreign Office also failed to maintain contact with US authorities regarding the progression of the investigation.

Ms Hall said, despite the individualistic nature of the case, she would have expected the Foreign Office to assist the family.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'Our thoughts remain with Jane and her family for the tragic loss they have suffered, and we will always look to learn lessons from cases such as this one to improve the consular support we offer to other families in the future.'
The Royal Academy of Music has been accused of 'jumping on the lazy bandwagon of discrimination' by barring pupils from applying for its new foundation year if they went to private school.

The world-famous institution has launched a fully funded course for 'talented young musicians' but says only state school pupils need apply.

The academy claims the means-tested scheme will 'widen access to world-class music education'.

But heads at independent schools say the political climate, which has seen more than 100 independent schools close since the Government introduced VAT on private school fees, has led to dangerous stereotyping of all privately educated pupils as 'super wealthy'.

Philip Britton, chairman of The Heads' Conference, representing leading UK private schools, said it was 'time to cut across this idea independent school pupils can be discriminated against as a group'.

Mr Britton, headmaster at the private Bolton School, said using school background to exclude young people 'is lazy and wrong', adding: 'There are plenty of less well-off people in independent schools and plenty of privileged people in state schools.'

And he warned: 'All sorts of people feel it is fine to join the lazy bandwagon of discrimination.'

Arts philanthropist Dame Vivien Duffield will initially fund the programme at the academy, whose alumni include percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, soprano Felicity Lott, conductor Sir Simon Rattle and pop stars Elton John and Annie Lennox, to prepare 18 to 20-year-olds 'for undergraduate conservatoire or university study'.

The Royal Academy of Music (pictured) has barred private school students from its new foundation year course

Dame Vivien said it would 'widen the pipeline of exceptional young musicians and ensure that ability, not circumstance, determines how far a young person can go'.

But Richard Jones, head of Bryanston School in Dorset, said it was 'naive and ignorant' and 'playing into the prejudice against private schools' to use the crude measure of state versus independent, adding: 'The reality is each independent school will have a significant number of children on bursaries'.

Last year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that some of the UK's largest hospital trusts barred privately educated pupils from work experience schemes.

A Royal Academy of Music spokesman said: 'Students at independent schools are more likely to have had access to music training through their school.'
Footage appeared to capture Meghan Markle glaring at an adviser after she tapped Prince Harry on the back during a children's hospital visit this week.

Meghan's warm facial expression noticeably dropped during the awkward moment on the couple's four-day tour in Australia.

Meghan and Harry were on their first public engagement on Tuesday, an internal walkabout of the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, which had been opened by the prince's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.

A small, enthusiastic crowd of staff, visiting patients and families gathered in the hospital's ground floor atrium, with Harry in meet-and-greet mode when the moment occurred.

He had patted and chatted to children and had just been embraced by a smiling woman when the Sussexes' staffer, the couple's long-term chief-of-staff Sarah Fosmo, approached from behind and placed her hand on his right shoulder.

She still had her hand on Harry's back when Meghan fixed her with a stare, the duchess's mouth tightening in its grin.

The glare lasted for around two seconds as Meghan moved in closer to Ms Fosmo, batting her eyelashes as she grabbed her husbands hand.

Ms Fosmo was trying to alert Harry to the people who had gathered above on the glass-lined walkways which zig-zagged from the ground floor up three storeys and were by then a crush of waving fans.

Sussex staff Sarah Fosmo pats Harry on the back during the couple's inaugural event of their Australian tour at the Children's Hospital in Melbourne

The familiarity and interruption did not seem to please the duchess, who turned to Ms Fosmo with a killer glare before grabbing her husband and moving on in the hospital crowd.

'Look,' she said, pointing upwards, as Meghan seemed to move the prince on from the woman.

And as the minutes ticked by, Meghan too was acknowledging the crowd above as her husband was busy shaking hands and greeting children.

The footage was shared on X, where hundreds of social media users picked apart the tense moment.

'She dared to touch Harry, and nobody touches Harry except...,' one said.

'If eyes could throw daggers, this poor woman would be a sieve,' a second wrote.

Given Ms Fosmo's time with the couple - according to reports they 'take her everywhere' including on their February trip to Jordan - she would have the familiarity to give the prince a friendly tap to draw his attention to cheering fans.

One social media user suggested the adviser's job could be on the line, alluding to Harry and Meghan's high staff turnover in recent years.

Another joked the couple probably 'left her behind in Australia and now she has to pay for a return flight home'.

Meghan closes in on Ms Fosmo and her smile tightens as the couple's chief-of-staff seems just intent on getting the prince to notice the enthusiastic crowd above them

As the minutes ticked by at the Melbourne Children's Hospital, Meghan too was acknowledging the crowd above as her husband was greeting children and their parents

X users joked that the 'glare' incident might mean that the Sussexes chief-of-staff would end up working in the remote Falkland Islands

Another said, 'I hear she has a new gig on the Falkland Islands'.

Last December, the couple lost their eleventh publicist in just five years, when their 'cheerleader' PR boss Meredith Maines announced she was stepping down after only a year with the couple.

This after just a few months into her role as chief communications officer. Long term media adviser Miranda Barbot then transitioned into the role of Vice President of Programs and Operations.

Ms Maines stated she would be 'pursuing a new opportunity' in 2026, her exit marking the fifth key member of publicity staff to leave Harry and Meghan in the second half of 2025 alone, amid continuing accusations the couple are 'difficult' to work with.

Liam Maguire, the couple's UK and Europe director of communications moved into the lead role on all publicity-related work and was in charge on the Sussexes' four-day Australian tour.

Ms Fosmo has been with the Sussexes for 17 months and was previously Deputy Executive Administration Director in the office of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
The remains of at least 50 infants and six adults were discovered on Saturday after they had apparently been discarded at a cemetery in Trinidad and Tobago.

A preliminary investigation showed it 'may be a case involving the unlawful disposal of unclaimed corpses,' the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said in a statement.

The gruesome discovery was made at Cumuto Cemetery, about 25 miles from the capital, Port of Spain, in Trinidad.

Police said the six adult remains included four male and two female corpses, with all but one of the men found with identification tags.

Two of the bodies, one male and one female, had signs indicating autopsies had been performed on them.

They did not immediately say if any of the bodies had been identified.

'The TTPS stresses that this is an active and developing investigation, and further forensic analysis is underway to determine the origin of the remains and any associated breaches of law or procedure,' the statement said.

Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro called the discovery 'deeply troubling,' saying his agency was handling the case 'with urgency, sensitivity and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth.'

Police in Trinidad and Tobagao said they were investigating after 56 bodies were found dumped in a cemetery in Port of Spain on Saturday. File photo shows houses on a hill in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago

'Every cadaver must be handled with dignity and lawful care,' he added, saying that 'any individual or institution found to have violated that duty will be held fully accountable.'

Trinidad and Tobago, an English-speaking archipelago nation located about 10 six miles off the Venezuelan coast, has been plagued in recent years with rising violent crime, recording 623 murders in 2024 among the population of 1.5 million.

A US State Department report said the murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people made Trinidad and Tobago the sixth most dangerous nation in the world in 2023.

The murder rate fell 42 per cent the following year, but Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared a state of emergency in March due to another rise in violent crime.
Vice President JD Vance thanked Pope Leo XIV on Saturday for comments that appeared to ease tensions with President Donald Trump following their public feud.

While traveling to Angola during his Africa tour, the pope said international media had promoted a 'certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects.'

He added that he has consistently opposed war in general, not only the conflict in Iran, and clarified that his Thursday remarks in Cameroon about a 'handful of tyrants' spending billions on war were not directed at Trump.

Additionally, he said the speech was prepared two weeks ago, 'well before the president ever commented on myself and the message of peace that I am promoting.'

Vance, who is Catholic, was pleased with this clarification, while acknowledging there are real differences of opinion between the administration and the pope.

'I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflictand yes, real disagreements have happened and will happenthe reality is often much more complicated,' Vance wrote on X.

'Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President  and the entire administration  work to apply those moral principles in a messy world,' he added. 'He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his.'

Trump's feud with the pope kick off last week, when the pontiff condemned the president's warning that 'a whole civilization will die tonight' if Iran failed to meet his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Pope Leo XIV spoke to reporters on Saturday before his flight left for Angola as part of his Africa tour. He downplayed the tension between him and Trump, something Vice President JD Vance was 'grateful' for

President Trump made a lengthy post to Truth Social calling the pope weak on matters of foreign policy after Leo criticized him for his threats against Iran and its people

'Today, as we all know, there was this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable,' the pontiff said on April 7.

'People want peace,' he added. 'I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved to contact the authorities - political leaders, congressmen - to ask them to work for peace.'

Pope Leo also said attacks on civilian infrastructure 'are against international law'. Trump had previously threatened to destroy bridges and power plants in Iran.

On April 12, Trump posted a lengthy statement to Truth Social accusing Pope Leo of being 'WEAK on crime' and 'terrible for Foreign Policy'.

'I dont want a Pope who thinks its OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,' Trump wrote, adding, 'And I dont want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because Im doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.'

The next day, Trump followed this up by posting an AI-generated image of himself in red-and-white robes. He appeared to be healing the sick with his hands, something Jesus was said to have done in the Bible.

The commander in chief quickly deleted the post after it prompted strong backlash from Catholics and even religious MAGA supporters.

When asked about it, Trump said he thought the image 'was me as a doctor'.

Vance (pictured at a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday in Athens, Georgia) has come to the defense of Trump in his feud with the pope. He said the pontiff should 'be careful when he talks about matters of theology'

Vance said this image Trump posted of himself as a Jesus-like figure was 'a joke'

As Trump's number two, Vance came to his defense while the debacle played out. On Tuesday, during a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance said the pope should 'be careful when he talks about matters of theology'.

He also said that it doesn't bother him when the pope speaks about 'issues of the day', adding that Christian leaders should comment on public policy.

After that, he said the pope needs to remember the just war theory, the idea that armed conflict can be justified if it meets certain criteria, such as self-defense or to stop aggression from another power.

Vance questioned if God would be on the side of the Americans who liberated Europe from the Nazis in World War II.

And in a Fox News interview on Monday, Vance said Trump posting himself as a Jesus-like figure was 'a joke' and that Trump alone took it down 'because he recognized that a lot of people werent understanding his humor'.
She has been left humiliated by her ties to Jeffrey Epstein but Sarah Ferguson could find herself laughing all the way to the bank thanks to Hollywood.

The disgraced former Duchess of York has been hiding away in a luxury 2,000-a-night Austrian chalet while fielding offers from TV and movie companies to 'tell all'.

A source said: 'Sarah knows a lot. You only have to look at the Epstein Files to see how long and close her friendship with him was. She was in his orbit for years and she must have seen and heard things.

'There are at least half a dozen new Epstein documentaries in the works, including a new one at Netflix, and everyone wants Sarah. She has been receiving multiple offers to talk.'

The former duchess has been 'laying low' since embarrassing emails were made public in the Epstein Files in which she called him her 'supreme friend' and 'the brother I have always wished for'.

In 2010 she affectionately wrote to him: 'I am at your service. Just marry me.'

In another note she told the convicted sex offender that she was waiting for her then-19 year-old daughter Princess Eugenie 'to come back from a shagging weekend'.

Other emails show her asking Epstein for money.

Sarah Ferguson was pictured this week in an Alpine resort which costs 2,000 a night

The source said: 'Everyone knows Sarah has a compelling story to tell. America has always been more forgiving of her than Britain has.

'When she and Andrew divorced, she spent all her time in the US giving interviews to Oprah Winfrey and others and making money from commercial deals like the one with Weight Watchers.

'She's an idiot but she's a useful idiot. The appetite for anything Epstein-related isn't abating.

'She's not been charged with anything and even though her emails to Epstein are excruciatingly embarrassing they don't show any complicity in his crimes.

'Several studios and streamers have already made substantial offers for her to sit down and tell what she knows.'

Congress has called on Fergie to come to Washington DC to testify before the House Oversight Committee which is investigating the Epstein Files, the trove of three million documents released by the US Department of Justice which are related to Epstein and his sex trafficking web.

He killed himself in 2019 while being held in jail on child sex charges.
Two divers have been found alive after spending nearly 22 hours missing in the ocean off the coast of North Stradbroke Island this morning.

The divers, 45-year-old Victoria Point man and 43-year-old Robina man, went missing around 10am on Saturday in waters off Point Lookout after they failed to return to the boat.

Just before 7am on Sunday, the men were spotted by an Australian Maritime Safety Authority Melbourne-based Challenger aircraft jet, who deployed a life raft to them.

It's understood they were more than four kilometres offshore.

Water police were first on scene and provided assistance to the two men before they were airlifted by the Surf Life Saving helicopter.

The duo were then taken to a park in Southport where they were assessed by paramedics and then transported to Gold Coast University Hospital. They have been returned home safe and well.

The Daily Mail understands the divers were an instructor and student from a commercial dive boat company.

Acting Sergeant Matt Boswell said the men experienced 'pretty rough' conditions out in the ocean.

'You just can never know what's going to happen,' Acting Sergeant Boswell said.

'They were located about 2.2 nautical miles off Main Beach, and drifted about 14 nautical miles south of their initial location... it's a long way, they covered a lot of distance!'

Two divers have been found after spending 22 hours missing in the ocean off the coast of North Stradbroke Island

A police boat pulled up alongside the stranded seafarers after a helicopter spotted them

The two men, 43 and 45, had been recreational diving

The men were found 14 nautical miles off course

Strong currents pulled them off course and their wetsuits protected them from the weather off the Queensland island (pictured)
Richard Marles has deflected questions about the extent of Australia's role in the Middle East conflict and US President Donald Trump's blockade.

ABC Insiders host David Speers repeatedly pressed the Deputy Prime Minister on whether Australia supports Trump's naval blockade of Iran.

Iran abandoned plans to keep open the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, vowing to restrict transit while the US blockade remains.

Trump responded by accusing Tehran of using the strategic waterway as a bargaining chip, saying Iran must not be allowed to 'blackmail' the United States.

'Do you support this blockade or not?' Speers asked.

'I'm not about to secondguess America's reaction in the context of that,' Marles said.

When Speers noted Marles wouldn't state Australia's position, the Defence Minister again sidestepped.

'What I'm saying is I'm not going to secondguess the decisions that they're making,' he said.

Marles (pictured) did not give a direct yesorno answer on Australia's Middle East involvement

Marles added only that he could 'understand the American reaction'.

Speers grilled Marles about Australia's military presence in the Gulf, in particular the E7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft currently deployed.

The Defence Minister said the Wedgetail had been sent 'at the request of the UAE' and was focused only on defending Gulf states.

'It's there to provide for the defence of the countries of the Gulf, principally the UAE,' Marles said.

'It's about being able to provide visibility of threats, particularly those that become airborne.'

Marles made it clear the aircraft was not tasked with supporting the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and insisted its mission was solely air defence, not maritime enforcement.

'That is actually a bit different to what one might do in respect of any particular operation in relation to the Strait of Hormuz,' he said.

When asked whether intelligence gathered by the Wedgetail could be shared with the US, Marles refused to answer directly, saying military capabilities do not operate in 'yesorno' terms.

David Speers (pictured) asked Marles 11 times about Australia's involvement in the Middle East

He described the Wedgetail as 'optimised' to detect airborne threats to Gulf states, saying questions about its relevance to the blockade were 'not relevant in the context of what this capability is doing'.

'I don't think it'd be right to characterise that,' he said, repeatedly calling the deployment a 'defensive mission'.

Attention then turned to Trump's complaints that Australia had refused a US request for support in the Strait of Hormuz.

On Thursday, the US president told reporters he was 'not happy' with Australia's involvement in US-led efforts in the region.

'Well, I'm not happy with Australia,' Trump said.

'Because they were not there when we asked them to be there. They were not there having to do with Hormuz. I'm not happy. I'm not happy.'

Asked if Trump was referencing the blockade, Marles again refused to engage.

'I can't give a running commentary on what the president says,' he said.

Marles said the E7 Wedgetail deployed to the Middle East was conducting a defensive mission

Speers pressed further, asking if any form of request, formal or informal, had come from the US.

Marles replied only, 'there has not been a specific request', and did not clarify whether broader discussions had taken place.

When told Trump claimed Australia was asked and declined, Marles simply said, 'I've articulated what Australia's posture is.'
Ben Roberts-Smith has slammed the actions of police as 'sensational' in his first public address since he was charged with alleged war crimes.

Roberts-Smith, 47, held a brief press conference on Sunday afternoon on Queensland's Gold Coast, two days after he was released on bail from Silverwater Correctional Centre in Sydney's west.

'I understand this is an unprecedented case and the public interest is huge... but I'd ask that the media please allow my family their privacy at this time, particularly my children, who have already unfortunately suffered through a deliberate sensational arrest that was made last week,' Roberts-Smith said.

'An unnecessary spectacle. I understand this journey will be long, I understand this journey will be difficult, but I can promise everybody that I have never ran from a fight in my life.

'I will never give up and I will always be in the fight.'

The Victoria Cross recipient, who is alleged to have been involved in the murders of five Afghans between 2009 and 2012 while he served with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan, said he looked forward to clearing his name in court.

'As I've always maintained, I categorically deny all of these allegations, and while I would have preferred these charges not be brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name,' he said.

'I'm proud of my service in Afghanistan. While I was there, I always acted within my values, within my training, and within the rules of engagement.'

Ben Roberts-Smith has slammed the actions of police as 'deliberately sensational' in his first public address since he was charged with alleged war crimes

His partner Sarah Matulin was by his side as he gave a brief address to the media

Roberts-Smith also said he was 'extremely proud' of the men and women that served alongside him in Afghanistan and paid tribute to those who made the 'ultimate sacrifice.'

He also thanked his partner Sarah Matulin, his 'beautiful' 15-year-old twin daughters, his parents and Ms Matulin's family for their 'unwavering' support, and made reference to the 'millions of Australians' who had reached out to him to offer their support.

'It means a great deal to me and is extremely humbling,' he added.

As he wrapped up his address, Roberts-Smith said he wouldn't be taking questions from reporters and quickly walked off hand-in-hand with Ms Matulin, who was standing beside him as he gave his statement.

Roberts-Smith was taken into custody on the tarmac at Sydney Airport on April 7 after a five-year joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI).

He was taking his teenage daughters on a shopping day trip to Sydney when he was arrested getting off a Qantas flight from Brisbane.

He had treated his girls to an Easter school holidays expedition and none of the group had checked any luggage.

Roberts-Smith was granted bail on Friday after Local Court Judge Greg Grogin said the former soldier would likely spend 'years and years' in custody if bail was refused.

Ms Matulin looked emotional as she looked up at Roberts-Smith during his address

The couple quickly walked off hand-in-hand after Roberts-Smith finished his statement

Roberts-Smith has been charged with five counts of 'war crime - murder' allegedly committed between 2009 and 2012 while he served with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan

Among the strict bail conditions facing him are restrictions on his travel outside of his home state of Queensland (unless for legal or medical appointments), the surrender of his passport, and the restricted use one phone and one laptop, the details of which must be provided to police.

He has also been banned from contacting any prosecution witness directly or through another party and was ordered to report to a police station three times a week.

The court also demanded a $250,000 surety, which would be forfeited if Roberts-Smith failed to attend court, or in any way breached his bail. It's understood his father Len, a former judge, had offered to provide that surety.

He is due to face court again on June 5.

Roberts-Smith is accused under the Commonwealth Criminal Code of shooting dead an unarmed Afghan, murdering another with an SAS comrade, and ordering the execution of three more.

Roberts-Smith's arrest came almost three years after he lost a defamation action against Nine newspapers, which published a series of reports in 2018 accusing him of being a war criminal.

The case against Roberts-Smith will be run by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and his defence funded by the Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme.

Each of the charges against Roberts-Smith carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

He has always denied involvement in any unlawful killings.
Since the start of his political career, Donald Trump has positioned himself as a politician separate from the rest through his unpolished presence and often shockingly unscripted messaging.

The tactic has proved controversial for over a decade, but his recent posts on Truth Social about the Iran war, threatening to wipe out the country's civilization, and declaring 'praise be to Allah,' have puzzled even his staunchest supporters.

A few weeks after the seemingly unhinged posts circulated, senior White House administration officials told the Wall Street Journal that they were meant to seem 'as unstable and insulting as possible' to bring the Iranians to the negotiating table.

One of his more infamous posts came on Easter Sunday, when he declared: 'Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped in one, in Iran.'

'There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F***in' Strait, you crazy b*****ds, or youll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah,' he wrote.

The post drew significant backlash. Multiple Democrats suggested invoking the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and Cabinet officials to declare a president unfit for office.

One advisor told the Wall Street Journal that Trump said he came up with the idea himself, adding that he used language he thought Iranians would understand.

However, the president was reportedly concerned about the fallout, asking his advisors: 'How's it playing?'

Donald Trump, pictured above on March 11, reportedly posted bizarre rants on social media in an effort to appear 'unstable' to motivate Iran to negotiate

The Trump administration has defended military action in Iran. Pictured above are airstrikes in Tehran on March 7

Trump, pictured above on April 6, reportedly came up with the controversial 'Praise be to Allah' post on his own, according to new reporting

Two days later, Trump issued a chilling warning that caused even more backlash, threatening Iran that a 'whole civilization' would die if negotiations were unsuccessful.

'I don't want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?' he continued.

'We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!'

He stood by the threats, appearing on Fox News shortly after to reiterate that he was 'fine' with the post's message.

'Remember, what do they say to us? For years, Ive had to listen to them say, "Death to America, right?"' Trump told Fox host Maria Bartiromo.

'So theyre allowed to say, Death to America," And what Im referring and when I talk about civilization, itll be much different, because their military will be totally gone.'

A day after the post, sources told the Wall Street Journal that at a reception ahead of America's 250th celebration, he told White House donors and staff that he deserved the Medal of Honor.

Join the discussion Do YOU think shock tactics can influence negotiations?

Trump has come under scrutiny for wild Truth Social posts, including one above depicting an artificial intelligence generated image seemingly showing him as Jesus

The president reportedly cited a story from his first term in office about flying into Iraq to visit the troops. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said he was joking.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called Trump 'extremely sick' for the threats, and Senator Patty Murray said the president was exhibiting 'rantings of a bloodthirsty lunatic.'

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump's 'inability is more clear and dangerous than ever,' and called on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.

Leila Sadat, a professor of international criminal law at Washington University Law School, described the threat to The Atlantic as 'basically an announcement that Im about to commit war crimes at the very leastand possibly crimes against humanity and, in a worst-case scenario, genocide.'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pictured above on April 14, reportedly said he believed Trump's strong language might bring Iranians to the negotiating table

Trump's military crusade in Iran has caused widespread backlash. Pictured above are protesters at a demonstration in Los Angeles on April 7

Genocide scholars, military attorneys and human-rights lawyers voiced concern that the threat was in violation of Article II, Section 4 of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the 'threat or use of force' against other nations.

However, White House aides reportedly saw the post as an attempt to motivate negotiations with Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said he believed the strong language might bring Iranians to the table, according to the Wall Street Journal's reporting.

Advisors also told the publication that Trump was hoping to scare the Iranians and end the conflict abroad.

The Trump administration has stood firm in favor of the military pursuit in Iran. Leavitt said the president has 'remained a steady leader our country needs.'

'President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation accomplishes,' she added.

New polling indicates that the Trump administration does not have widespread American support for the war. Protesters are pictured above in Texas on April 7

The Trump administration has repeatedly indicated that an end to the war is coming soon. Pictured above is wreckage provided by Iran's state media

Despite the administration's steadfast support for the war, polling has indicated that the sentiment has not been felt nationwide.

New polling results from Politico showed that just 38 percent of Americans supported the strikes in Iran.

Nearly half of the respondents also said they believed Trump was spending too much time on international affairs rather than focusing on domestic issues.

Even though Trump cannot run for re-election, the polling could impact the midterms later this year.

Advisors told the Wall Street Journal that the midterms are still on his mind, and that in February, he told staff he 'would have to eat dinner regardless' when they asked whether a fundraising event should be canceled amid the war.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
Australia could the United Kingdom and France in a military operation to safeguard global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK and France are preparing to lead a multinational 'defensive' mission aimed at protecting freedom of navigation after a fragile agreement to reopen the critical waterway broke down overnight.

The Albanese government has deliberately left the door open to participation, while making clear any Australian involvement would be separate from the United States, Sky News reported.

Anthony Albanese confirmed Australia's position after he joined a latenight virtual leaders' summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also in attendance.

'There were 49 countries that participated, well into the early hours of this morning, Australian time,' he said on Saturday.

'There was a consistent approach that we want to see deescalation, we want to see the Strait of Hormuz opened and we want to see no privatisation and no tolls.'

Starmer told the summit that a military mission would be launched as soon as 'conditions allow' to protect commercial shipping.

He said the operation would be 'strictly peaceful and defensive' and focused on reassurance and mine clearance.

Albanese (bottom left) met with World Leaders excluding the United States on Saturday

Albanese said Iran's announcement during the meeting that it would allow ships to pass through the Strait was significant, but warned the situation remained far from settled.

That optimism quickly faded overnight, after Iran reversed its position and again closed the Strait, demanding the United States end its blockade before allowing international shipping to resume.

Albanese warned that allowing any nation to close an international chokepoint would have sweeping consequences.

'The precedent that would be created if a country was allowed to close a navigation strait to international traffic would change the very way that the global economy operates,' he said.

While cautious about committing Australian forces, the Prime Minister acknowledged Canberra was ready to assist and would attend further talks in London this week.

'Australia remains prepared to provide assistance,' Albanese said.

'We are already responding to requests from Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, to provide the Wedgetail E7 aircraft as a defensive capability in the region.'

The Prime Minister stressed Australia's focus remained on deescalation, protecting civilians and stabilising supply chains at home.

Albanese is understood to be considering a move to reopen the Strait without Trump (pictured)

'We want deescalation and the rapid resumption of negotiations,' he said.

'We want to prevent further loss of innocent life and prevent damage to civilian infrastructure.'

On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles remained tightlipped on Australias position regarding US actions in the Middle East, declining to comment directly on President Donald Trump or whether Australia supported the ongoing blockade.
This is the distressing moment a ship captain begs the Iranian navy to stop firing on him in the Strait of Hormuz.

An audio recording reveals the panicked seaman pleading, 'You gave me clearance to go,' after the regime initially announced the waterway had fully reopened.

It was one of two Indian ships fired on yesterday, with Iran ultimately declaring it had re-imposed 'strict control' over the Strait in light of the US's blockade.

In the radio transmission, the captain of the Sanmar Herald oil tanker addresses 'Sepah navy,' which is the name of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

Clearly alarmed, he continues: 'This is Motor Vessel Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go! My name is second on your list.

'You gave me clearance to go! You a firing now. Let me turn back!'

Marine tracking data shows the Sanmar got part of the way through the Strait before sharply doubling back on itself.

A separate video appears to show a ship captain being told to turn around by the Iranian navy because he has 'no permission'.

The Sanmar Herald, an Indian-flagged oil tanker, sharply doubled back on itself in the Strait of Hormuz after coming under fire

A separate video clip appears to show the Iranian navy ordering a ship to turn around

Ships and tankers anchored outside the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran threatens to attack any that attempt a crossing

Join the discussion Would YOU support tighter international control over the Strait?

A voice says: 'There is no permission for you to cross the Strait. You are ordered to go back to you departure immediately,' before the captain agrees to return.

Iranian state media confirmed the regime fired close to two Indian ships to force them to turn back.

It is understood that both the tankers and their crews were unharmed, but the Indian government has raised its 'deep concerns' over the episode.

The ships were attempting the crossing after Iran's foreign minister said on Friday the regime had agreed to fully reopen the Strait.

But their position made an abrupt U-turn on Saturday, when the IRCG warned that any ship that attempts to cross will be attacked. They blamed the reversion on the ongoing US blockade of the Strait.

The IRCG put out a statement that read: 'Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered co-operation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted.'

It said that 'no vessel is to move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman'.

Trump said on Friday that a naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a peace deal was agreed between the two countries.

Iran considers this a breach of the two-week ceasefire currently in place, which is due to expire on April 22.

Meanwhile, negotiations between Washington and Tehran to bring an end to the war are ongoing.

Iran's top negotiator said the most recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump cited 'very good conversations' with Tehran, but also warned that America would not be 'blackmailed' over the shipping channel.

Peace talks held earlier this month, for which Vice-President JD Vance travelled to Pakistan, ended without an agreement, but there are hopes of a second round.

Iran's earlier announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.

Reports have emerged that the US military is preparing to board Iran-linked vessels in the coming days - a move that would expand the naval conflict that has so far been largely confined to the Strait.

General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced the escalation on Thursday, according to US officials who spoke with.

Caine said the US 'will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran'.

'This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, dark fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements,' he added.
Keir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson from becoming Britain's top diplomat in a highly embarrassing public U-turn if he knew he failed his security vetting, senior ministers claimed today.

They leapt to the defence of the beleaguered Prime Minister as he faced ever-increasing questions and pressure over the revelations that experts who deemed Lord Mandelson a security risk were over-ruled.

Deputy PM David Lammy and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall both went out to bat for No10 today ahead of a week in Westminster that could define - and possibly end - Sir Keir's time in power.

Ms Kendall insisted that the PM was 'a man of integrity' who would have acted if he had been told at the time in January 2025, despite having already publicly announced he was making the former New Labour minister the UK's man in Washington.

And in an interview with the Guardian, Mr Lammy said: 'I have absolutely no doubt at all, knowing the PM as I do, that had he known that Peter Mandelson had not passed the vetting, he would never, ever have appointed him ambassador.'

However, their claims were questioned by critics, with Tory shadow minister Alex Burghart telling Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: 'The truth is, the Prime Minister wants to blame everybody but himself. This was his appointment and he's got to take responsibility for it.

'I find it very difficult to believe that nobody took the Prime Minister aside and said, "so, you know, sir, there are some very serious concerns here".'

Appearing on the same programme, the former SNP MP Joanna Cherry said: 'The bottom line is that the PM had already appointed Mandelson, the appointment had been announced, he had been advised against appointing Mandelson by a number of different people and sources.

'Does anyone seriously believe that if he had this information about the vetting he would have changed his mind? It is kind of a red herring in my opinion.'

Liz Kendall insisted that the PM was 'a man of integrity' who would have acted despite having already publicly announced he was making the former New Labour minister the UK's man in Washington

In a torrid interview on Sky News this morning, the Work and Pensions Secretary continued Labour attempts to pin all the blame for Mandelson on Sir Olly Robbins, the senior civil servant fired on Friday

Sir Keir is facing mounting calls to resign today ahead of a showdown in the House of Commons on the issue tomorrow

In a torrid interview on Sky News this morning, Ms Kendall continued Labour attempts to pin all the blame for Mandelson on Sir Olly Robbins, the senior civil servant fired on Friday.

She accused the former Foreign Office permanent secretary of 'a failure of judgement' amid claims he knew Mandelson's vetting raised serious issues but allowed him to pass anyway.

Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips she said that Sir Keir had done more for violence against women and girls than any other modern PM.

But she failed to then explain how this tallied with him making a known close associate of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, a well-documented abuser of women and girls, ambassador to the US in the first place.

Sir Keir is facing mounting calls to resign today ahead of a showdown in the House of Commons on the issue tomorrow, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch telling the Mail on Sunday today he was 'taking the public for fools' and was unfit to govern.

Mandelson was publicly appointed to the post in December 2024, but red flags came up on his subsequent vetting in January.

Any U-turn at that stage would have been very embarrassing for the Government, but asked what Sir Keir would have done if he had known about the vetting failures, Ms Kendall said: 'He would have stopped that.'

Mandelson was granted 'developed vetting' approval against the advice of UK Security Vetting, which conducts it for the Government, it emerged last week.

DV is the highest level of security clearance for people required to have 'frequent and uncontrolled access to top secret assets or require any access to top secret codeword material'.

Sir Keir had previously stated that Mandelson passed security vetting, and told the Commons that 'due process' was followed.

It comes ahead of a crucial week which could decide the Prime Minister's future, starting with his statement to MPs in the Commons tomorrow in which he will reiterate claims he did not know about Mandelson's vetting status.

In a desperate response to the revelations, Sir Keir will also be expected to justify sacking Sir Olly  the most senior Foreign Office civil servant  over his department's decision to overrule the security verdict.

But just 24 hours after tomorrow's Commons showdown, Sir Olly is expected to publicly defend himself for the first time at an explosive meeting of the foreign affairs committee.
Fly-tippers have targeted a former railway station by dumping a five-foot wall of rubbish in what locals have labelled an 'abhorrent mess.'

Rubbish has been piled high on land at Flitch Way, by the former Felsted station near Dunmow in Essex, with items including furniture, packaging and fridges stretching more than 80 metres.

The site - which was previously cleared by Uttlesford District Council - has been the subject of illegal fly-tipping for more than 10 years, however, villagers say it is now worse than ever.

More than 30 residents have posted online about the increasing fly-tipping at the station, which was on the old Braintree to Bishop's Stortford branch and closed in 1964.

One called it a 'total disgrace' that the site had been spoiled by rubbish, while another labelled it a 'complete eyesore.'

They said: 'It is abhorrent to see this mess. This is what was, and could still be, a beautiful historic building.

'It could be turned into a cafe or restaurant, a bit like Rayne station has just down the line.'

Braintree cyclist Aiden Kelly added: 'I think people are angry that the council doesn't appear to be doing anything.

Fly-tippers have targeted former railway station near Dunmow in Essex (pictured) by dumping a five-foot wall of rubbish

Items including furniture, packaging and fridges stretch for more than 80 metres on the site

'The house was renovated to a high standard and now it's just a shell.'

Kelly called fly-tipping a 'blight' on Flitch Way, as reported by the BBC, however added that 'no one seems bothered' despite it now being a big issue.

The site is currently for sale and marketed by Auction House East Anglia at 700,000.

Auction House said eight homes have now been granted construction on the site after detailed planning permission was granted.

A spokesperson for Uttlesford Council said they will 'take direct action to clear and secure' the site if it does not sell.

They said: 'The preferred approach is the sale of the site with conditions requiring it to be cleared and secured within a short time frame, with safeguards allowing the council to step in if this does not happen.

'If the sale completes, the site will be cleared within three weeks, and we will work alongside the new owners to secure it and deter further fly-tipping.

'If it does not sell, we will take direct action to clear and secure the site.

'We remain committed to resolving this matter and preventing further harm to the area.'

The site has been the subject of illegal fly-tipping for more than 10 years, however, villagers say it is now worse than ever
Counter terror police are investigating whether Iranian proxies are behind the arson attacks against London synagogues.

It comes after Ashab Al-Yamin - the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right - claimed responsibility for launching a 'firebomb' through the window of Kenton United Synagogue, near Harrow, last night.

The pro-Iran group released video footage of the attack showing a man walking up to the building with what appears to be petrol bomb and flinging it at the site.

It has claimed responsibility for several incidents at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe in recent months, the Met has said.

The force is now investigating the 'Iranian regime's routine uses of criminal proxies' where Jewish sites have been targeted in the capital.

In a statement this afternoon, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said: 'We are aware of public reporting that this group may have links to Iran.

'As you would expect we will explore the question of motivation and direction as our investigations continue.

'I have spoken at length of the Iranian regime's routine uses of criminal proxies.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, from Counter Terrorism Policing London, and Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes outside Kenton United Synagogue on Sunday afternoon

Police officers patrol a cordon set up outside the synagogue in the early hours of Sunday morning after the 'firebomb' attack

'We are considering whether this tactic is being used here in London - recruiting violence as a service.'

She said individuals carrying out these crimes often have no allegiance to the cause and are 'taking quick cash for their crimes', adding that those involved will be prosecuted.

This includes for offences under the National Security Act, which comes with a significant sentence and lifetime restrictions.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said the Met has 'seen other cases of thugs for hire who commit criminal acts and intimation on behalf of others', adding that the force is facing a 'concerted campaign' targeting British Jews in London.

Video footage of the latest arson attack last night shows the flashing blue lights of police cars blocking the road outside the synagogue, with fire crews also present.

A cordon was set up at the scene, on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the early hours of Sunday morning where police had been seen searching a black SUV nearby.

Forensics officers, fire investigation dogs and plain clothed police also attended.

Early reports had suggested the incendiary device had smashed a medical room window, causing internal damage to the building, which is close to a school and children's playground.

Video footage shows the flashing blue lights of police cars blocking the road outside the synagogue, which was targeted by pro-Iran group Ashab Al-Yamin

A forensics officer works inside a cordon set up near the synagogue on Sunday

However the attack caused only 'minor smoke damage', according to the Community Security Trust.

A spokesperson for the charity told the Daily Mail earlier today 'there was minor smoke damage to an internal room but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage' to the building.

A Met Police spokesperson previously said: 'At around midnight on Sunday, 19 April officers on deterrence and reassurance patrols following a series of incidents in north west London noticed damage to a window of the Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftesbury Avenue, Harrow.

'On further inspection they saw smoke inside a room and evidence that a bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window.

'The London Fire Brigade was called and firefighters searched the building to confirm that there was no further fire risk.

'The incident is being treated as arson and an investigation is underway led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, supported by local officers.'

Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as 'abhorrent', saying: 'I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in north London. This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated.

'Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain. We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.'

The attack caused 'minor smoke damage' and there was 'no significant structural damage' to the synagogue

Sir Sadiq Khan said 'history shows that we will never back down against terrorists', as he thanked the police, security services, Community Security Trust for '[keeping] our communities safe'.

The Mayor of London added: 'London's Jewish communities have been targeted with a series of shameful antisemitic arson attacks on charities, businesses and places of worship. I know that many of Jewish Londoners will be concerned about their safety.'

He said 'an Iranian organisation has claimed responsibility for facilitating attacks and the counter-terrorism police are investigation', adding that he remains in close contact with the Met Police which has increased its resources to protect and reassure Jewish communities.

Sir Khan said there can 'never be any justification' for the targeted attacks against Jewish communities, as those 'responsible are seeking to promote fear, hatred and division'.

He added: 'They can't stand what our city represents - an open, diverse, pluralistic society that embraces and celebrates our differences.

'History shows that we will never back down against terrorists. In London we will stand with out Jewish communities, unite against those who seek to divide us and ensure that those responsible face the full force of the law.'

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the incident as a 'cowardly arson attack', adding that 'a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation' against British Jews 'is gathering momentum'.

He said: 'This sustained attack on our community's ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.'

Ashab Al-Yamin has claimed responsibility, releasing video footage via pro-Iran Telegram channels of the attack. Pictured is Kenton United Synagogue

He added that 'we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society'.

Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East, said: 'The Chief Rabbi is right that this is a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against Britain's Jewish community that is gathering momentum.

'Whatever the final attribution of these attacks, this Government has allowed antisemitism to take root and flourish on our streets for years.

'The IRGC must be proscribed immediately, the Iranian embassy in London closed, and every agent of hostile foreign states expelled from British soil. How many more attacks does Keir Starmer need to see before he acts?'

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the incident marked a 'terrifying spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community', adding that 'Britain is fundamentally a different country now'.

A spokesperson for the group said: 'A synagogue in London was firebombed last night in what is now terrifyingly becoming a spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community.

'It betrays a cataclysmic failure of the state - politicians, police chiefs and prosecutors - to tackle antisemitic extremism in this country, which has gone largely unchecked for two and a half years. Britain is fundamentally a different country now.

'Still the Government refuses to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an obvious first step to address foreign radicalisation and interference.

'It is shocking that concern for the sensitivities of a violent Iranian regime is more important to the Government than the welfare of Jewish people in this country.'

The synagogue has responded following the attack, saying British Jews refuse to be 'intimidated' by violence.

Saul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue, said: 'We are yet again deeply saddened by the arson attacks that have taken place this weekend, including the attack on Kenton United Synagogue, one of our own communities.

The footage shows a man walking up to the building with what appears to be petrol bomb and flinging it at the site

'A synagogue is not just a building, it is a place of worship, community and  theoretically  safety. To target it in this way is a deeply disturbing act that strikes at the heart of Jewish life.

'Thank God no one was hurt and we are grateful to the emergency services and Community Security Trust for their swift response today.

'The Government and local police forces have responded well to the recent appalling attacks including Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation and Hatzola ambulances, but it is clear that more must be done to prevent these attacks occurring at all.

'The Prime Minister should declare publicly what the Jewish community has known for some time: this is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate.'

He added: 'The Kenton community and the wider United Synagogue will not be deterred...We will not be intimidated, and we will remain strong and united in the face of hatred.'

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, added that the Jewish community 'will not be intimidated by these cowardly acts of hate, which are an attack on Britain and its values, and on the security and cohesion of everyone in our country'.

The Daily Mail has approached the London Fire Brigade for comment.

The Kenton attack comes after arsonists targeted a Jewish business in Hendon earlier this week.

The video shared by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia appeared to show a plastic bag containing fluid being set alight

The same Islamist group that launched drones at the Israeli Embassy on Friday has claimed responsibility for the attack, posting a video on what appears to be Telegram showing a person setting a bag alight and leaving it outside the building.

Police were called at 10.31pm on Friday to reports of the arson attack. The force said a man was seen approaching a row of shops with a plastic bag containing what was later found to be three bottles containing fluid.

The Met said: 'He placed the bag next to the building and lit the items in the bag. The bottles failed to fully ignite and the man fled the scene.

'Minor damage was caused to the shopfront and no injuries were reported.

'The investigation into the incident is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, supported by officers from the North West Command Area. It is not being treated as a terrorist incident and officers are keeping an open mind about the motive behind the attack.'

No arrests have yet been made as of Saturday evening.

The Met said last night it has increased resources in northwest London 'following a series of arson and attempted arson attacks' in the area.

Uniformed and plain clothed officers will step up their presence, and armed response vehicles and Counter Terrorism Policing resources have also been deployed, the force said.

Four Hatzola ambulances were firebombed in nearby Golders Green on March 23

On Tuesday night another attempted arson attack saw two balaclava-clad suspects throw bottles thought to contain petrol at a north London synagogue.

The incident, which is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, happened at Finchley Reform Synagogue in Fallow Court Avenue, North Finchley, overnight.

Two suspects approached the site shortly after midnight and threw two bottles, suspected to contain petrol, and a brick at the building.

It came weeks after four Hatzola ambulances were firebombed outside a different synagogue in nearby Golders Green on March 23.

The firebombing caused gas canisters in the ambulances, from Hatzola, a volunteer-led service, to explode.

Three men - Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and a 17-year-old boy, were charged with arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
Hennessey Performance is celebrating its 35th anniversary with the launch of an ultra-limited 2026 Super Venom Mustang, combining aggressive performance upgrades with exclusive styling and signaling broader ambitions for the companys future.

The Texas-based performance builder, known primarily for its hypercars and high-powered trucks, has returned to the Ford Mustang platform with a special edition limited to just 35 units. The anniversary model builds on the previously announced Super Venom lineup but introduces unique visual and production elements tied to the companys milestone year.

Each vehicle features distinctive anniversary branding, including 35 badging and a 91 hood graphic referencing the year Hennessey was founded. Beneath the styling updates, the Super Venom Mustang retains the extensive modifications introduced in earlier versions, most notably a significant increase in engine output.

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The cars 5.0-liter V8 engine has been upgraded from 500 horsepower to 850 horsepower, representing a dramatic boost in performance. The increase is supported by a carbon fiber performance package designed to enhance both cooling and handling, allowing the car to better manage its elevated power levels.

While the anniversary Mustang stands as a centerpiece of the celebration, it also reflects a broader direction for Hennessey Performance. The company indicated that the special edition is part of a larger strategy that extends beyond the Mustang itself. Its existing hypercar platform, the Venom F5, is expected to play a key role in shaping future developments.

Introduced in 2020, the Venom F5 has evolved through several iterations. A roadster version was added in 2024, followed by the F5 Evolution in 2025, which increased output to 2,031 horsepower and significantly enhanced performance capabilities. The company later introduced a one-off variant, further emphasizing its focus on pushing engineering limits.

The 35th anniversary Super Venom Mustang serves as both a tribute to Hennesseys past and a preview of its continued expansion into high-performance vehicles, as the company looks ahead to its next generation of hypercars.



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Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham have fuelled speculation about a challenge to Keir Starmer after being spotted holding secret late-night talks.

Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham was seen leaving Ms Rayner's constituency home in the city late on Friday, days after they played happy families with the PM on the campaign trail.

Ms Rayner is seen as a leading candidate to run for the leadership if Sir Keir is challenged in the wake of a poor showing in the May 7 local elections.

This is despite the fact that she is still awaiting the results of an official HMRC probe into the tax she paid when buying an 800,000 holiday home 250 miles from her constituency last year.

And Mr Burnham has made little secret of his desire for the top job, having seen one attempt to return to Westminster thwarted by Sir Keir already this year, when he was blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Because he is not an MP he has no realistic chance of being in the frame if there is a challenge next month, but his backing for Ms Rayner would carry a lot of weight in Labour circles.

Their pow-wow at Mr Rayner's home in her Ashton-under-Lyne seat came five days after they appeared alongside Sir Keir on a visit to Greater Manchester, sharing a joke as they sat with schoolchildren.

However the meeting came amid the fallout from the latest round of revelations about how Lord Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the United States despite a close friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prime Minister is facing a new wave of calls to step down after it was revealed Mandelson was approved for the role despite red flags on his security vetting.

Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham was seen leaving Ms Rayner's constituency home in the city late on Friday, days after they played happy families with the PM on the campaign trail

Ms Rayner is seen as a leading candidate to run for the leadership if Sir Keir is challenged in the wake of a poor showing in the May 7 local elections

Join the discussion Would YOU back a leadership change after poor election results?

A Labour MP told the Sun: 'They will be carving it up. If Andy endorsed Angela for leader, that will sway a lot of MPs to back her.

'Then she could get him a seat in Parliament and bring him straight into Cabinet.'

Allies of the pair denied the meeting was set up to work on a leadership challenge.

Some MPs have played down the chances of a leadership move against Sir Keir, believing it would look bad after just two years in power, especially while Trump's war with Iran is hammering consumers.

Last week Ms Rayner was said to have cooled on her plan to move against her former boss, instead focusing on helping the local election campaign.

But the Mandelson scandal could push more to the edge.

This week former minister Louise Haigh will speak at a conference to urge a major revamp of council tax and stamp duty that will place pressure on ministers to act.

She will speak at the Good Growth Group's National Growth Debate on Tuesday.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that Sir Keir Starmer is a 'big part of the problem' for Labour MPs.

Sir Ed told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme that Sir Keir has shown 'catastrophic misjudgment' on 'many levels'.

He said: 'The thing that I think Labour MPs should think about quite carefully now is their Government has been a bit of a failure, frankly, on the economy, on so much, and it's in chaos, in the way that Conservatives were in chaos, in perpetual crisis, and I don't think they can get out of that unless Keir Starmer moves aside.

'And if they don't, there's a real danger they're handing the keys to No10 to Nigel Farage, who can benefit from this chaos.

'So I would really say to Labour MPs, who in many ways, have the future of the Prime Minister in their hands, that they really now have to accept, the Prime Minister is a big part of their own problem and in the context of the threat that Nigel Farage poses to our democracy and to our country with his divisive Trump-like politics, I think the Labour Party has to realise they have to move on.'
More than 600 small boat migrants reached the UK yesterday, pushing this years running total past the 6,000 mark.

Nine boat-loads of migrants were picked up mid-Channel by Border Force vessels during Saturday and brought ashore at the Port of Dover.

The Home Office confirmed there were 602 arrivals  the second-highest daily total so far this year, just below the 605 who completed the journey from northern France on February 25.

The latest arrivals brought the total so far this year to 6,077.

It also means that since Labour came to power 70,701 migrants have crossed the Channel to reach Britain.

The Border Force catamaran Courageous brings migrants into the Port of Dover on Saturday, which saw a total of 602 arrivals

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This is yet another day of shame for this weak Prime minister and Home Secretary.

'They have no control whatsoever over our borders.

Migrants disembark from Border Force vessel Courageous at Dover dockside on Saturday

'Illegal Channel crossings are up by 45 per cent since the general election.

'Labours claims to smash the gangs lie in tatters.'

He added: 'We need to urgently leave the ECHR which will enable us to deport these illegal immigrants within a week of arrival. Then the crossings will soon stop.

'That is the Conservative plan, but Shabana Mahmood and Keir Starmer are too weak to do it.'

Migrants cross the dockside at Dover after being brought ashore by UK Border Force on Saturday

It comes after Ms Mahmood was forced to agree a temporary deal with the French government to continue beach patrols funded by the UK taxpayer.

A previous multi-year deal with Emmanuel Macron's government, signed in 2023, expired at the end of last month.

The 478million package was also expected to pay for a new detention centre in France which has still not opened.

In the new negotiations Labour has been demanding performance-related payments which will see funding payments staggered according to the number of migrants who are prevented from leaving the French beaches.

But the French have refused to accept Ms Mahmood's demands.

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The temporary deal will run for two months - costing the British taxpayer 16.2million - as attempts are made to thrash out a longer-term agreement.

Last month Ms Mahmood launched a separate scheme offering failed asylum seekers families up to 40,000 to voluntarily leave Britain.

But she has refused to disclose how many have taken up the offer.

Most failed asylum seeker families offered the cash are living in migrant hotels at an average cost of 158,000 a year per family.

Under Ms Mahmoods scheme will receive 10,000 per head up to a maximum of 40,000, plus air tickets home.

The Conservatives accused the Home Secretary of shocking secrecy over the programme.

If any asylum seekers have turned down the cash offer it would be a devastating indictment of Britains broken asylum system.

It would signal that migrants have calculated they will be better off remaining here indefinitely at the taxpayers expense.

It would also open the prospect of Ms Mahmood increasing the cash offer to a much higher level in a bid to persuade the families to leave.

Officials said when the scheme was launched on March 5 that they would look at upping the financial incentive depending on take-up.

There are currently thousands of failed asylum seeker families being supported by public funds, officials said, but the exact number is not known by the Home Office due to weaknesses in its data-gathering.

But sources were able to confirm that 700 Albanian families who have exhausted their appeals process are still being supported by the public purse.

Eligible families have had claims rejected by the Home Office and have then exhausted the appeals process in the courts.

Labour's separate 'one in, one out' scheme launched last year allowing small boat migrants to be returned to France has seen 377 removed so far but 380 have been brought into the UK under the reciprocal terms of the deal.

The scheme is due to end in June.

In a further sign that Labour's small boats policies are in disarray, the head of the UK's border security command stepped down at the end of last month after failing to stem the surge in crossings.

Sir Keir Starmer appointed Martin Hewitt, a former senior police officer, shortly after becoming Prime Minister - tasking him with curbing numbers crossing the Channel.

But during his 18 months in the job crossings continued at sky-high levels, with last year witnessing the second-highest annual total on record.
The remains of at least 50 babies and six adults have been found dumped at a cemetery in Trinidad and Tobago.

Officers made the 'deeply concerning' discovery in the town of Cumuto, around 25 miles from the Caribbean nation's Port of Spain, on Saturday.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said it found four male and two female corpses at the Cumuto Cemetery, with all but one of the men having identification tags.

Two of the bodies, one male and one female, had signs indicating autopsies had been performed on them.

Officers have begun an investigation into whether 'it may be a case involving the unlawful disposal of unclaimed corpses', local police said.

It is currently unclear if the discovery is linked to gang violence in Trinidad and Tobago, a problem which has plagued the two islands in recent years.

A US State Department report found the nation to be the sixth most dangerous on the planet, with a murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people in 2023. While In 2024, 623 murders were recorded.

Only last month, the country's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared a national state of emergency amid a concerning rise in violent crime.

The remains of at least 50 babies and six adults have been found dumped at a cemetery in Trinidad and Tobago (Pictured: A gravesite at the Cumuto Cemetery)

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said it found four male and two female corpses at the cemetery

The TTPS's statement read: 'The TTPS stresses that this is an active and developing investigation, and further forensic analysis is underway to determine the origin of the remains and any associated breaches of law or procedure.'

Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro called the discovery 'deeply troubling,' saying his agency was handling the case 'with urgency, sensitivity and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth.'
Three students have been rushed to hospital after a shooting unfolded close to the University of Iowa campus in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Bullets were fired after a large street fight broke out as partygoers poured into the downtown area of Iowa City around 1.46am, police said. No arrests have been made.

Video shared on social media shows a mass brawl unfolding on the 100 block of East College Street, five blocks away from the college campus.

Screaming rang out as several people threw punches at each other in the street. People were seen sprinting away from the scene moments later as bullets rang out.

The footage then cut to a person being treated on the ground by EMTs.

University of Iowa President Barb Wilson said that three students were injured amid the carnage.

'I am writing to you with a heavy heart,' she said in a statement issued to students and staff by the college on Sunday.

'Early today, a shooting in downtown Iowa City injured three University of Iowa students.'

Three students have been rushed to hospital after a shooting unfolded amid a brawl, shown above, close to the University of Iowa campus in the early hours of Sunday morning

Screaming rang out as several people threw punches at each other in the street. Footage of the carnage then cut to a person being treated on the ground by EMTs, as shown above

Iowa City Police Department confirmed that 'multiple victims' were taken to hospital 'to be treated for wounds suffered in the shooting'.

'No information on their conditions is available at this time,' the department said.

Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about the incident that leads to an arrest.

The University of Iowa issued an emergency alert just before 3am, urging students to avoid the downtown area close to East College Street and Clinton Street.

'Situation Update: First responders on scene. Confirmed victims. Please continue to avoid the area,' one of the alerts read.

University of Iowa President Wilson said the college is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident and share more information as it emerges.

Bullets were fired after a large street fight broke out as partygoers poured into the downtown area of Iowa City around 1.46am, police said. No arrests have been made

Screaming rang out as several people threw punches at each other in the street. People were seen sprinting away from the scene moments later as bullets rang out, as shown above

The University of Iowa issued an emergency alert just before 3am, urging students to avoid the downtown area close to East College Street and Clinton Street

'For now, I encourage you to rely on official university communications for updates,' she said in her statement.

'While we await additional information, I am thinking about these students and their families, friends, and all the people who care about them.

'I am holding them close in my thoughts, along with everyone in our community who is hurting or feeling shaken right now.'

The university shared helplines for students who needed support following the traumatic incident.

Police asked anyone with information on the shooting, including video footage, to contact Detective Cade Burma at cburma@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5275.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers.

Pictured: The University of Iowa, located a few blocks away from the scene of the gunfire

The Daily Mail has contacted the Iowa City Police Department for more information.

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.
A woman in her 20s has been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time after a viral social media claim of a gang rape sparked days of alarm in a Kent town.

The allegation - shared widely on Facebook - claimed a woman had been attacked by four men in tracksuits at Milton Regis Recreation Ground at around 9pm on Saturday.

The post quickly spread across local groups, including the 42,000-member Gossip Board, urging anyone with information to come forward.

But police say they were never directly contacted about the alleged assault and, after launching inquiries based on the online claims, found no evidence that such an attack had taken place.

Officers arrested a woman on Wednesday and took her to a local police station for questioning. She has since been released on bail while investigations continue.

The allegation claimed a woman had been attacked by four men in tracksuits at Milton Regis Recreation Ground at around 9pm on Saturday (stock)

Swale district commander Chief Inspector Vanessa Foster said: 'We were made aware of social media posts about an allegation of rape.

'Despite not receiving a direct report to the force about the alleged offence, officers have conducted initial inquiries based on the information available.

'At this time, we have found no evidence to suggest the offence took place.

'It is important the local community is assured that we take allegations of this nature seriously and those responsible for the social media post have been spoken to directly.

'This has resulted in the arrest of a woman in her 20s on suspicion of wasting police time. She has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

'I want victims of sexual assault and rape to know we will take their reports seriously, we will carry out a full and thorough investigation, and we will provide them with the support they need.'
Chicago's mayor recently tied the restaurant industry to slavery while defending his effort to increase the city's minimum wage for tipped workers.

Mayor Brandon Johnson made the controversial statement after a back-and-forth with the Chicago City Council over phasing out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which would bring their base pay up from $12.62 per hour to $16.60 per hour.

Getting rid of the subminimum wage has been championed by the mayor and opposed by restaurant owners and associations who say it could threaten their businesses.

Last month, the Chicago City Council voted to end the wage increase, but Johnson vetoed the decision.

The city council then failed to override the mayor's veto, securing just 30 of the 34 votes needed to do so. That means the city is back on track to raise the base pay for tipped workers up to the regular minimum wage by 2028.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Johnson was asked about a perceived lack of transparency in his Reparations Task Force, which the reporter alleged was not in compliance with a state law that mandates public bodies hold public meetings.

The mayor replied that his task force does hold public meetings and said, 'I am a black man in America calling for the reparations of black people. There is no hiding and escaping that.'

Johnson continued: 'When we do have these public meetings, let's make sure that people participate in them and challenge the city council not to do stuff like take wages away from black and brown people, because that in itself has its vestiges tied to slavery.'

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently tied the restaurant industry to slavery while defending his effort to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers

'You just watched the entire city council, in transparency, try to take wages away from the very people who are part of an industry that has its ties to slavery,' Johnson then said, reasserting his connection between slavery and the restaurant industry.

Tipping in the US proliferated after the Civil War when restaurants would hire recently emancipated black workers but refuse to pay them a wage, relying on patrons to tip them instead, according to the Shriver Center on Poverty Law.

Johnson created his Reparations Task Force in 2024 and funded it with $500,000 of public funds that year.

On Thursday, the task force began a bus tour meant to engage with local communities and develop an understanding of the 'impacts of systemic harm faced by Black Chicagoans.'

In Johnson's assertion that his task force is transparent, he specifically mentioned the bus tour.

After accusing the city council of attempting to take wages away from black people in an industry tied to slavery, the mayor concluded his statement by saying: 'I am boldly declaring that we need reparations in this city, and that's why I'm funding it.'

The mayor's statements on Wednesday caused a stir on social media, with many users criticizing the idea of reparations and questioning the historical accuracy of his claims.

Tipping has become a major talking point in America (stock image)

Getting rid of the subminimum wage has been championed by the mayor and opposed by restaurant owners and associations who say it could threaten their businesses (stock image)

'Reality check: Tipping started in Europe centuries before American slavery. Chicago was never a slave city (Illinois banned it in 1818). Most Chicago restaurants are minority-owned,' one user on X wrote.

'Meanwhile, the city is bleeding businesses, crime is out of control, and Johnson just created a taxpayer-funded Black Reparations Task Force,' the user continued.

'I dont have to pay reparations because my family immigrated in the 1890s. So leave me out of it,' a second user said.

'More he talks... the more idiotic he is,' a third person wrote.

The Chicago Mayor's Office shared a statement with the Daily Mail that said: 'The Mayor's quote is being taken out of context and the history he pointed to is being distorted.

'The practice of tipping as a primary source of wages originated following the abolition of slavery.

'After Emancipation, many white employers in the South, particularly in the railroad, restaurant, and hospitality industries, took cues from the sharecropping system and refused to pay Black workers, instead forcing them to rely entirely on tips to sustain their lives and support their families.

'Today, many Black workers, particularly women, continue to rely on tips and subminimum wages to support themselves and their families.'
A heroic Oklahoma principal who took a bullet while tackling a school shooter was crowned prom king by his proud students.

Kirk Moore, the principal of Pauls Valley High School, was fitted with a gold crown on Friday night as students cheered him on, just weeks after he was shot in the leg while bravely taking down armed suspect Victor Lee Hawkins.

Hawkins, 20, stormed into the school on April 7 with two semi-automatic handguns when Moore rushed out of his nearby office and restrained the shooter, who is thought to have been inspired by the deadly 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

The courageous educator walked into prom with a huge smile on his face as students cheered him on and hailed him 'our king' while Nickleback's song 'Hero' played in the background, a now-viral clip showed.

The emotional clip showed Moore, 60, graciously accepting his new title as students clapped and celebrated their principal.

Dramatic surveillance footage captured the moment he risked his life to take down Hawkings just moments after the suspect pointed a gun at a student in the school's lobby.

The gunman ordered everyone to get on the ground before attempting to shoot one student, according to investigators.

His weapon was jammed, but after he fixed the malfunction, he fired at another teenager and missed.

Kirk Moore, the principal of Pauls Valley High School, was crowned prom king on Friday night as students cheered him on

Moore has been hailed a hero after he took down suspected school shooter Victor Lee Hawkins on April 7

A pair of students then begged for their lives and were allowed to flee, as others followed suit, before Moore rushed out and tackled Harkins.

Moore, a district employee of 35 years, pinned the shooter to a bench and forced the weapon out of his hand, but was shot in the leg while doing so.

While Hawkins was restrained, a school officer ran over and kicked away the handgun before carrying it back into the office.

Moore was hospitalized and is now 'healthy and recovering', authorities said.

Meanwhile, Hawkins was arrested after he admitted he was there that day to kill students, faculty members, Moore, and himself, according to an affidavit obtained by NBC News.

The shooter, an alumnus of the high school, said he 'did not like' Moore, prosecutors said.

Hawkins reportedly admitted that he 'wanted to conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did,' referring to the horrible massacre that left 13 students and one teacher dead more than two decades ago.

Moore was shot in the leg while he tried to restrain and disarm the gunman

The shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, opened fire inside the Colorado school before committing suicide.

Hawkins allegedly told officers he went to the school with firearms owned by his father that he took without his permission.

Following the near-tragedy, Pauls Valley Police Chief Don May said that Moore stopped what would have been a massacre.

'It doesn't surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took. There's no doubt in my mind that he saved kids' lives,' May stated.

Moore went on to thank the local community for 'an outpouring of love and support' in a statement after the terrifying incident.

Hawkins has been charged with shooting with intent to kill, two counts of feloniously pointing a firearm, and two counts of carrying a weapon to a public assembly, charging documents showed.

He remains in custody on a $1 million bail at the Garvin County Detention Center, according to jail records.

Hawkins was arrested after he admitted he was there that day to kill students, faculty members, Moore and himself

Hawkins has been charged with shooting with intent to kill, two counts of feloniously pointing a firearm and two counts of carrying a weapon to a public assembly, charging documents showed

He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 8.

His court-appointed attorney filed a motion on Thursday requesting that a Garvin County judge stop law enforcement officers, attorneys, and court personnel from making public comments related to the case to the media.

They also requested that the judge block evidence from being released to the media and prevent it from being shared online, according to the motion reviewed by News9.

His legal team has argued that the order ensures that there will be a fair trial on all sides.

A court hearing for the gag order is set for May 1.
Beaming as she basks in the spring sunshine, Amanda Knox is pictured in Britain for the first time as she crudely promotes her film revisiting Meredith Kercher's murder.

Posting cheerfully captioned photos within hours of arriving, the American declared Hello London! as she smiled near Tower Bridge just miles from the tragic British student's family home.

Her visit is said to have left the Kercher family 'speechless', with their lawyer accusing Ms Knox of cashing in for the umpteenth time on Merediths memory.

The 38-year-old is in the capital to host two soldout screenings of Mouth of the Wolf at Greenwich Picturehouse next week.

Directed by her husband, Christopher Robinson, the film follows her return to the scene in Perugia, the Italian city where Kercher was brutally murdered in 2007.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Kercher family's lawyer Francesco Maresca said Ms Knox was turning her wrongful conviction into an everexpanding lucrative venture.

He said her actions had repeatedly reopened old wounds by dragging the case back into the spotlight almost 20 years on, this time just a stones throw from where Meredith grew up in Coulsdon, south London.

The lawyer added that the Kercher family felt 'enough is enough' and urged Ms Knox to 'draw a line' under the case so they can preserve Meredith's memory.

Amanda Knox, 38, smiles as she poses near Tower Bridge just miles from tragic Merediths family home

Other posts show Ms Knox sticking out her tongue as she enjoyed the musical comedy Dead Inside at Soho Theatre on Saturday with the caption I laughed! I cried!

Since her final acquittal,Ms Knox has rarely stepped out of the spotlight launching a lucrative career about her wrongful conviction

It seems to me and the family that every six months or so Knox makes another media initiative be it a podcast, interview, documentary or film, Mr Maresca told the Mail.

To be frank, enough is enough, they have really had more than is reasonable of it now, they and myself just dont comprehend why she keeps on doing things like this and just cant leave this alone.'

The lawyer said the family understood that Ms Knox wanted to visit the family and Meredith's childhood home while in the UK, a request which he said, was 'unwanted'.

He continued: Every time she speaks, she reopens the tragedy of what happened to Meredith nearly 20 years ago and it really hurts the family  if Knox keeps insisting so much she and Meredith were friends why doesnt she respect her memory and keep quiet?

Meredith, 21, was living with Ms Knox while studying abroad in Perugia when she was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her bedroom in November 2007.

Ms Knox and her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were both convicted of the murder.

They spent nearly four years in jail before their release on appeal in 2011, allowing Ms Knox to return to her home in Seattle.

A further reconviction followed in her absence in 2014, before Italys Supreme Court definitively acquitted her in March 2015, citing investigative failures.

Since her final acquittal, Ms Knox has rarely stepped out of the spotlight.

She has produced a bestselling memoir, launched a true crime podcast called Hard Knox and even tours as a stand-up comedian joking about her conviction.

Last year, she executive-produced a Hulu drama series called Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox and is now launching another documentary rooted in the same tragedy.

Her supporters insist Ms Knox, now a mother of two, is herself a victim - a woman wrongfully imprisoned who now campaigns for justice reform.

Yet to critics, the optics of red-carpet launches, sunsoaked snaps and cheerful invitations to say hello sit uneasily alongside the grief of a murdered young students family.

The Kercher family have long voiced their discomfort at the way Merediths name continues to orbit Ms Knoxs career.

'I think we know what is behind this though, its just another chance to make money,' Mr Maresca said.

You do have to ask yourself why? Her co-accused in all this, Raffaele Sollecito has quietly faded away, and you dont hear anything at all from him. He doesnt make books, films or podcasts  maybe she should do the same.

We just dont understand why she just cant close this chapter. To us it appears she is just fame hungry and chasing notoriety  it really is importune.'

The lawyer said Kercher's family have no intention of seeing Ms Knox while she is in the capital and said they would not accommodate her apparent wishes to see where Meredith lived.

Of course, Knox can go wherever she likes in London, visit the attractions but to say, as I understand it that she wants to see where Meredith grew up and lived and to speak to the family is unnecessary,' he said.

The family have no intention of meeting her and they would just like her to keep quiet, this is a very sad chapter of their lives, Merediths parents are dead and there is just her brother and sisters left.

They just want to keep Merediths memory to themselves and just want Knox to draw a line to all this and they have made that clear several times but Knox just doesn't seem to accept it.'

He said that Ms Knox's latest venture showed a desire to continue 'making money from Merediths memory'.

As I said earlier, she is more than welcome to travel the world, visit London, Perugia wherever but to say she wants to say where Meredith grew up and to visit the family is unwanted,' he said.

He said that Ms Knox had failed to make any 'respectful or sweet comment' to the Kercher family in any of her ventures.

'It really is unnecessary and inopportune, its not normal to keep dragging this up to make money.

Enough is enough now, that is what the Kercher family feel. They are just speechless at the endlessness of it all and I can guarantee that in six months time I will be having to make the same comments again.

She keeps saying she wants to meet the family, but they have said no countless times and the answer will always be no, so it is pointless to insist and to use the family for publicity.

Meredith, 21, was living with Ms Knox while studying abroad in Perugia when she was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her bedroom in November 2007.

Her London visit risks reopening old wounds as it drags Merediths murder back into the spotlight, nearly 20 years on

She is in the city promoting a new film directed by her husband, Christopher Robinson (pictured), which follows her return to Perugia

Ms Knox and her husband will showcase their new documentary on Tuesday and Wednesday, taking questions from the audience after screening.

Having arrived in London on Friday, her Instagram shows the couple taking in the sights of the capital and posing for selfies.

One shows Ms Knox sticking out her tongue as she enjoyed the musical comedy Dead Inside at Soho Theatre on Saturday with the caption I laughed! I cried!

A promotional post of her event next week said: These intimate screenings are a chance to experience the film in a city that has long embraced bold, thought-provoking storytelling.

If you're in London, or know someone who is, we'd love to see you there. Amanda and Chris will be taking questions after the film."

Rudy Guede, whose DNA was found at the crime scene, was convicted of sexual assault and murder in the case.

His sentence was eventually reduced to 16 years, and he was released on early release in 2021.
A California fire captain will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was found guilty of killing his fiancee and her seven-year-old son over an argument sparked by a movie.

Darin McFarlin, 47, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole and an additional life term over the deaths of Marissa and Josiah Divodi-Lessa, the El Dorado County District Attorney's office said on Thursday.

McFarlin, a fire captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, sat down to watch the movie 'Fireproof' with Marissa and her two young children at their home in Cameron Park on August 21, 2025, when the unthinkable happened, The Sacramento Bee reported.

During the film, which is about a firefighter struggling in his marriage, McFarlin stormed out of the living room because he 'became angry at the portrayal' of the main character, the district attorney's office said.

McFarlin and Marissa later had a heated argument about the movie in their bedroom, which led the first responder to try to strangle her before she managed to escape and run out of the room.

In a rage, the murderous boyfriend grabbed his gun and followed Marissa into the living room, where her seven-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter would witness him execute their mother.

McFarlin shot his fiancee in the head in front of her children before turning the gun on little Josiah and fatally shooting him in the chest. He also threatened to kill the nine-year-old girl, Serafina, before she fled to get help.

The disgraced fire captain was charged with two counts of murder, as well as one count of attempted murder for threatening the little girl. He pleaded guilty to the crimes and received his multiple life sentences last Monday.

Darin McFarlin, 47, received multiple life sentences for murdering his fiancee and her seven-year-old son on August 21, 2025

McFarlin's victims were Marissa Herzog and her son, Josiah Divodi-Lessa. He shot the mother while the little boy watched before turning the gun on him. Herzog's daughter was also in the room and saw everything, but McFarlin spared her

The family of the victims said that Serafina suffered severe emotional trauma after witnessing the vicious murder of her mother and little brother.

McFarlin had worked for Cal Fire since 2000, but he was fired shortly after his arrest.

In court, El Dorado County Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder called the disgraced captain a 'narcissist' and said he cared more about his image as a firefighter than the lives of his fiancee and her children.

The prosecutor said that McFarlin was set off by a firefighter being portrayed negatively in the movie the family had been watching on the night of the shooting.

Suder said that during the argument in the bedroom, McFarlin demanded that Marissa admit the wife was responsible for the troubled marriage portrayed in the movie rather than the firefighter.

Suder laid out the timeline of the shooting and explained that after the mother fled the bedroom and went to the living room, she threatened to call 911 but called her father instead.

When McFarlin entered the room with the gun in his hand, Marissa asked if he was going to shoot her, all while the father listened on the other end of the phone. The murderous boyfriend said yes, and the call abruptly ended.

Prosecutors said that McFarlin pistol-whipped his fiancee in the head, which prompted her to cry out for her children.

Prosecutors said that McFarlin is a 'narcissist' who cared more about his image as a firefighter than the lives of his fiancee and her children. McFarlin and Herzog are pictured together

Josiah was shot in the chest but did not die immediately. When police found him, he was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries

The little boy and girl came into the room holding hands before McFarlin callously fired his gun into their mother's head while they watched.

He then shot the little boy in the chest, fatally wounding him but not killing him instantly. As he pointed the gun at Serafina, she begged him not to shoot her.

He eventually told her to leave the house through a doggy door, and she hid outside in fear that he would chase her. The murderer gathered his things and left as well.

Officers with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of the shooting around 9pm, where they found Marissa dead and Josiah fatally wounded. The little boy was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

McFarlin fled the county after his double homicide. He was arrested by deputies the next morning in nearby Mono County, about a four-hour drive from the murder scene.

In court on Monday, family members of the victims shared heartbreaking impact statements. A letter written by Serafina, who was in school that day, was read out loud.

Josiah (pictured) and his sister, Serafina, entered the room where they witnessed their mother get killed after she cried out for them when McFarlin pistol-whipped her

In court on Monday, a letter written by Serafina was read out loud. It said she misses her mother and brother 'every single day.' Marissa and Josiah's grave is pictured

'Ever since Darin killed my mother and brother JoJo, I have been really sad and in shock,' the letter said. 'I miss them every single day.'

McFarlin issued an apology during the proceedings and said: 'Im truly very sorry for what I did ... especially to Serafina, and I will be held accountable for this.'

Moments after the apology, a family member of the victims shouted 'Coward!' from the gallery.
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car allegedly mowed down pedestrians in Soho.

Emergency services responded to reports that 'a car had been involved in a collision with pedestrians' at around 4.30am this morning on the busy Argyll Street in central London.

A woman in her 30s was rushed to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition, while a man in his 50s sustained 'life-changing' injuries.

A third woman, aged in her 30s, was treated for minor injuries.

The Met Police said it arrested a 29-year-old woman, who was driving the vehicle, at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, GBH, dangerous driving and drink driving.

She was taken into police custody, where she remains. The force said the incident is not considered to be terror-related.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car allegedly mowed down pedestrians on Argyll Street in Soho

Police tape is pictured at the scene in Westminster on Sunday morning

Argyll Street connects Oxford Street to Great Marlborough Street and is home to nightclubs, bars and the London Palladium theatre.

DCI Alison Foxwell, of Specialist Crime South, said: 'As our enquiries continue, our thoughts are with those injured and their loved ones.

'While this incident took place in the early hours of the morning, venues in the area were still open, and we believe a number of people will have seen what happened.

'I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any activity prior to it that they feel may be of relevance, to come forward.

'The information you have - however minor you believe it may be - could be of crucial importance to investigators.'
A young Kansas man has been accused of repeatedly stabbing a boat captain while on a snorkeling tour in Hawaii.

Avery Nissen, 21, of the affluent Kansas City suburb Overland Park, was arrested by the Hawaii Police Department on Thursday and charged with attempted murder.

Police said the young man was on a fishing vessel that was returning from a three-hour snorkeling tour when he suddenly began attacking the boat's 62-year-old captain with a fillet knife.

Other shocked passengers onboard had to intervene and restrain Nissen before police could arrive. Officers responded to Honokohau Harbor on the Big Island at 3.21pm as the boat docked.

Police did not release the victim's identity, but sources at the boat company, Hawaii Nautical, identified him as Stanley Lurbiecki to Hawaii News Now.

Lurbiecki was described as a boating industry veteran. Police said he suffered a stab wound to the lower abdomen and knife cuts on his head and hands.

The sources told Hawaii News Now that the boat captain is recovering in stable condition at Kona Community Hospital.

Mark Towill, owner and president of Hawaii Nautical, told the outlet: 'Stan is stable. Hes recovering, and hes a real hero and a fighter. Im just incredibly grateful that our team is safe and that the situation ended the way it did.'

Avery Nissen, 21, was arrested and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly began stabbing a boat captain while on the way back from a boating tour

Nissen's victim was identified as Stanley Lurbiecki by sources with the boat company, Hawaii Nautical. Lurbiecki was described as a boating industry veteran and a 'fighter'

'Ive never heard of anything like this happening in this industry before, and [I'm] just really grateful to all of our team for the way that they reacted - the professionalism that was demonstrated,' Towill added.

On Friday, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney modified and extended Nissen's charges to second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault.

He is being held on a $1.57 million bond. Nissen's first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, where he will be read his charges and have the opportunity to enter a plea.

Police said the motive for the attack is unknown and have not shared any theories.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Hawaii Police Department for comment and additional details.

According to Hawaii law, second-degree attempted murder is a Class A felony punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Other passengers had to restrain Nissen before police arrived at Honokohau Harbor (pictured) on the Big Island after the boat docked

The stabbing took place at sea off the coast of Hawaii's southernmost and largest island, known as the Big Island or Island of Hawaii. The boat had been on a three-hour snorkeling tour

First-degree assault is a Class B felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. The charge is applied when the victim is older than 60, or if the suspect intentionally caused 'serious bodily injury.' Both allegedly apply to Nissen.

Second-degree assault is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Overland Park, where Nissen is from, is one of the richest areas of Kansas. Three zip codes in the suburb made it into the Forbes 'Top 5 Most Expensive ZIP Codes In Kansas' list.

The enormous bond Nissen was given may have been to ensure he does not get bailed out and stays in Hawaii to be tried in the state.
Donald Trump has issued a fresh threat against Iran for allegedly breaking the ceasefire by firing bullets at European ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The president warned he would order the US military to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if they refuse the next peace deal.

Trump, 79, has sent representatives to Pakistan for negotiations in the Middle Eastern conflict, which escalated February 28 when the US began combat operations in Iran.

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, he said that Iran had 'decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz' at a French ship and a freighter from the UK.

Trump blasted this as 'a total violation' of the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran which was announced April 8, before issuing a fresh threat.

'We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,' Trump wrote.

'NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.

'IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!'

Donald Trump has issued a fresh threat against Iran for allegedly breaking the ceasefire by firing bullets at European ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, President Donald Trump said that Iran had 'decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz' at a French ship and a freighter from the UK

JD Vance will lead the next round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, ahead of the ceasefire expiration date on Wednesday, according to ABC News.

Trump told Fox News that US Special Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would also be part of the American delegation.

According to Fox, the president warned that this will be Iran's last chance to agree to a peace deal.

'If Iran does not sign this deal, the whole country is getting blown up,' he said, per the outlet.

Iran doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, as mediators scrambled to extend the ceasefire.

The dueling blockades have complicated Pakistani-led mediation attempts and raised questions about whether the two-week truce can be extended.

'It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,' Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday.

Qalibaf, who is Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States, slammed the US blockade as a 'naive decision made out of ignorance'.

Join the discussion Do YOU think threats like this help or hinder peace talks?

The president warned he would order the US military to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if they refuse the next peace deal. (Pictured: Smoke rising from buildings in the Iranian capital of Tehran on March 29, 2026, amid the ongoing conflict)

He said Iran was still seeking peace despite deep-seated distrust of the United States.

'There will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,' he said, acknowledging that the gap between the two sides remained wide.

Iran had announced the strait's reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But after Trump said the US blockade of Iran's ports 'will remain in full force' until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States.

Iran said it would continue enforcing its restrictions in the strait.

After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn around.

Their retreat returned the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil trade normally passes, to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict.

For Iran, the strait's closure - imposed after the US and Israel launched the war on February 28 during talks over Tehran's nuclear program - is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Trump.

For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran's already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.
The daughter and son-in-law of a grandmother who died after being deserted on an island by a luxury cruise ship believe she had been told by her tour guide to walk back to the boat alone.

Suzanne Rees, 81, was separated from a group hiking to the summit of remote Lizard Island, in the Great Barrier Reef, on October 25, 2025.

She had been part of a bushwalking group in Sydney and got an all-clear from her doctor before boarding the Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions and owned by NRMA, for a 60-day luxury cruise at a cost of $30,000.

Despite her clean bill of health, the grandmother began feeling sick halfway through the hike on Lizard Island in baking midday temperatures - the boat's first stop.

'It was a person on the hike who mentioned that my mum was feeling unwell - or not too good I think were the words - and apparently she was told to go back down to the boat,' Ms Rees' daughter, Kate Rees, told 60 Minutes on Sunday.

It's understood Ms Rees was sent along the hike back to the beach on her own, on the notoriously difficult trail.

The grandmother never made it to the shoreline, but nevertheless the ship left without her.

It took an astonishing five hours for the staff aboard the Coral Adventurer to realise Ms Rees hadn't returned to the ship. The alarm was raised when she failed to show for dinner.

Suzanne Rees (above) was in full health when she died after being left behind by a cruise ship on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef

Ms Rees' daughter, Kate (above), was told by another passenger that her mother was asked to hike back to the ship alone when she told a tour guide she was feeling unwell

The woman was reported missing hours after she failed to return to the Coral Adventurer (vessel pictured)

It's likely she became disorientated on her way to the beach.

Ms Rees's body was found 50m off the hiking trail on October 26, 2025 - the day after she disappeared. She died of heatstroke.

Kate believes the hot weather on the day of the hike should have seen staff on the cruise, which is marketed to retirees, call the walk off.

'My mum was capable. She walked all the time. And I think what should have happened if the conditions were unacceptable, the walk should have been cancelled in the first place,' Kate said.

'Somebody needed to make that decision and say, 'too hot, we're not doing a walk'.'

Kate and other members of Ms Rees' family have been left with many questions in the wake of her death, which they say NRMA and Coral Expeditions have not answered.

The thought of her mother's final moments haunt Kate, she often thinks about how the 81-year-old would have felt completely abandoned while alone on the remote island.

'We did get contact from NRMA but by then I felt like we were a loose end that needed to be tidied up,' Kate said. 'It would have been horrible.'

Boaties have claimed that cruise ship crew did a headcount of snorkelling passengers returning to the vessel but not those who explored Lizard Island (pictured)

Ms Rees (above) was found dead just 50m from the hiking trail the day after the boat left the island

The woman's body was found 50m off the walking track on Lizard Island's Cook's Look summit. Pictured is the search

Kate has called on NRMA and Coral Expeditions, which respectively owned and operated the cruise, to answer Ms Rees' family's questions (pictured is investigators boarding the ship)

In a statement to 60 Minutes, Coral Expeditions described Ms Rees' death as 'devastating' and said the company is 'deeply sorry'.

'While Coral Expeditions had comprehensive safety systems and procedures in place, we acknowledge some of these were not adequately implemented on this tragic day,' it said.

'Ms Rees' death has shocked our people to the core and we will continue to co-operate fully with the ongoing investigations.

'Coral Expeditions has introduced additional systems and procedures to further strengthen protections for our guests.'

NRMA similarly said it would 'continue to assist the authorities to determine exactly what happened in the lead up to this tragic event'.

'We recognise many questions remain unanswered, but we believe it is important to respect the investigation process,' it said.
Fresh questions have been raised over Keir Starmer's support for Lord Mandelson after it emerged that a company accused of links to the Chinese military was his lobbying firm's biggest client.

Global Counsel, which was founded by the peer and former New Labour minister, made more than 3.5million in 2024 and 2025 from WuXi AppTec, according to leaked documents.

The Shanghai-listed biotech firm was targeted by a bill introduced to Congress in 2024 that would have prohibited it from receiving government contacts on national security grounds.

It never made it into law and a watered down version that was eventually passed last year by Donald Trump did not specify any companies by name.

The same year a cross-party group of congressmen demanded a probe into the firm's 'alarming ties to the Chinese military'.

Separately Global Counsel, which ceased trading earlier this year as Mandelson's past association with Jeffrey Epstein came to light, was today also accused of lobbying ministers on behalf of a private equity firm later blacklisted in the United States.

According to a report by UK China Transparency (UKCT) it acted for Canyon Bridge, when in 2020 it tried to replace the board of a UK microchip firm it had acquired three years previously.

It was allowed to buy Imagination Technologies for 550million in 2017, despite concerns over its ultimate owner being Beijing-controlled China Reform.

Weeks before the takeover the US government blocked Canyon Bridge from buying American chipmaker Lattice Semiconductor on grounds of national security.

Global Counsel, which was founded by the peer and former New Labour minister, made more than 3.5million in the past two years from WuXi AppTec.

The Shanghai-listed biotech firm was targeted by a bill introduced to Congress in 2024 that would have prohibited it from receiving government contacts on national security grounds, though it failed to become law

Mr Mandelson was involved with GC at the time. He resigned from the board in 2024 and sold his final shares in the firm as he became mired in the Epstein scandal, in a failed attempt to distance it from his actions and prevent clients from leaving.

Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the co-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), told the Mail Global Council had been 'advising and helping companies who could be seen as threats to UK business and to the defence of the country'.

'We have known about this ever since he came in, we were complaining about all that we knew about the people he was working with and it was just poo-pooed as though it was irrelevant,' he added.

'He (Keir Starmer) must have known about Global Counsel, I cannot think that nobody told him that Mandelson has deep links through Global Counsel to Chinese companies, very exposed to the (Chinese) government.'

WuXi defended its business activities when targeted in 2024.

In an 'open letter to our customers' it said: 'WuXi AppTec does not pose a national security risk to any country.

'While the US government has determined that certain companies do pose such a risk to the United States and has imposed sanctions against them, WuXi AppTec has never been subject to any such determination or sanction.

'We welcome regulatory oversight of our industry, including the proposed evaluation of biotech companies in the recent legislation.

'But we strongly object to blanket allegations and preemptive actions against our company without due process.'

In 2024, Global Counsel told UKCT that it 'supported Canyon Bridge [to] develop a strategy to reassure UK stakeholders' and had not worked for China Reform.

Lord Mandelson was approached to comment.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed why he thinks he has a good working relationship with President Donald Trump, despite their partisan differences.

Asked by Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker about the relationship between the two, Mamdani said that it is 'honest, it's direct, and it's productive.'

Despite Trump's Republican ideology, and Mamdani's Democratic Socialist views, the Mayor said that the two share a great common love for New York City.

Trump has had a series of public issues and spats with Democrat mayors and governors across the country - namely with Los Angeles's Karen Bass, Boston's Michelle Wu, and Illinois's Governor Pritzker.

Asked by Welker what he thinks sets him apart from other Democrats who have struggled to work with Trump, Mamdani said it's their shared love for the Big Apple.

'I think, to be honest with you, I'm lucky in that I have something that no one else does, which is that I'm from New York City,' The Mayor noted.

'And New York City holds a very special place for him, as well as for me. We're both from this same city. And it means that our conversations are not just of the scale that is typical with the president, but also granular about even the things as specific as zoning law changes in Midtown Manhattan,' he continued.

'And that I think speaks to the fact that Donald Trump is not just the president of this country. He's also someone who's been a New Yorker for his entire life, and there is an investment in this city doing well,' Mamdani concluded.

Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker speaks with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in an interview that aired on Sunday, April 19

President Donald Trump and then- Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shake hands as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, November 21, 2025

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on NBC's Meet The Press in an interview that aired on Sunday, April 19th

Trump, however, attacked Mamdani last week and claimed that he was 'destroying' New York.

In a Thursday evening post on Truth Social, Trump lashed out at the Mayor's plans to levy additional taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, including a pied-a-terre tax on 'non-primary' residences or second homes.

'Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is Destroying New York! It has no Chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure. It will only get Worse,' Trump wrote.

'The Tax, Tax, Tax policies are So Wrong. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, And Fast. History has proven, This 'Stuff' Just Doesn't Work. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT,' Trump concluded.

Speaking on the pied-a-terre tax in particular, Mamdani told Welker that it was 'an incredible step.'

'I think the final part of this budget process is to ensure that we're balancing the budget at zero. And that continues to be the work that we do with Albany as well as right here in City Hall,' Mamdani told Welker.

New York City is legally required to have a balanced budget every year, and Mamdani views the tax as a great way to hit that goal, while also keeping with his promises of 'taxing the rich.'

Shortly after Mamdani's election, however, Trump welcomed him into the Oval Office and the duo pledged to work together on issues facing New Yorkers, including housing, affordability, and public safety.

Trump also noted in that famed Oval Office meeting that he expected Mamdani to 'surprise some conservative people,' and even reportedly praised the socialist's appearance, telling him that he was 'even better-looking in person than ... on TV,' according to New York Magazine.

During Mamdani's campaign, Trump branded him a '100% Communist Lunatic', threatened him with deportation, and flirted openly with cutting federal funds to New York City.

Mamdani marked 100 days in office on Friday, April 10, 2026, and held a rally with his supporters on Sunday, April 12, 2026, to commemorate the milestone.

Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sing 'Wheels on the Bus' to children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in the Bronx in New York, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Former Democratic President Barack Obama and Mamdani visited a preschool together on Saturday to shed light on the work that the Mayor is doing to sell the idea of free childcare in the city.

A clip of the two speaking to children and even singing 'Wheels on The Bus' has circulated on social media since the meeting.

Great spending time with New York City's Cutest. And thanks to @NYCMayor for giving me an excuse to break out my best 'Wheels on the Bus,' Obama wrote on X to commemorate the meeting.
Eight activists have been charged after crumble and custard were thrown at the Crown Jewels and manure was dumped in The Ritz.

Police say the suspects are members of Take Back Power, a new protest group whose mantra is 'tax the rich to fix Britain', and all are due to appear in court over the next two weeks.

Four people face proceedings over the incident at The Ritz, four over the incident at the Tower of London, and a ninth over an alleged episode of organised shoplifting.

Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, Tom Barber, 66, Toby Ellwood, 21, and Tjalle Rumley, 26, have all been charged with criminal damage over a foul stunt at the five-star hotel in Piccadilly on December 3 last year.

Activists emptied bags of manure beneath the Christmas tree in the lobby, leaving a mound of stinking brown matter on the luxury carpet as security guards rushed to intervene.

They also sat outside the hotel and unfurled flags that read 'Inequality is sh**, tax the rich.'

Redwood-Brown, an NHS worker, and Barber, a former doctor, identified themselves as participants at the time, with the former saying: 'The billionaires, corporations, and corrupt politicians running Britain don't care about us.'

Barber said: 'Power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of obscenely wealthy and ruthless individuals.

Activists from Take Back Power emptied bags of manure under a Christmas tree at The Ritz in Piccadilly, London, in December

Security guards swiftly removed the protesters after the manure was emptied in front of shocked guests and staff

'They are hell-bent on enriching themselves, forcing the gap between the haves and the have-nots ever wider.'

Redwood-Brown and Barber will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, while Ellwood and Rumley will appear at the same court on April 29.

Three days after the Ritz stunt, on December 6, four people were arrested after activists smothered apple crumble and custard over a glass case housing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.

Fatima Ali, 19, Miriam Cranch, 22, Mack Preston, 22, Matthew Cooper, 50, have all been charged with criminal damage over the second demonstration. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on April 27.

This time, the activists revealed a sign reading: 'Democracy has crumbled - tax the rich.'

Footage shared by the group showed one demonstrator removing the large foil tray of crumble from a bag and then slamming it against the glass protecting the Imperial State Crown.

Another then sloshed a tub of bright yellow custard onto the front of the case.

The demonstrators then opened their coats to show t-shirts emblazoned with 'Take Back Power'.

Activists smothered apple crumble and custard over a glass case containing the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London

The Metropolitan Police arrested four people at the time, who have now been charged with criminal damage

One pair unfurled a banner reading 'democracy has crumbled, tax the rich' in front of the soil display case

One shouted: 'Britain is broken. We've come here to the jewels of the nation to take back power. Join us at takebackpower.net.'

The glass case targeted contains the Imperial State Crown, which is worn by the monarch at the end of the coronation ceremony and at formal occasions like the State Opening of Parliament.

It was worn by King Charles at his coronation in 2023, and was seen atop of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin during her lying-in-state period and subsequent state funeral at Westminster Abbey.

The ninth suspect, David Kilroy, 66, has been charged with theft following an alleged incident of organised shoplifting at Sainsbury's in Lewisham on March 14 this year.

He will appear at Bexley Magistrates Court on April 29.

After the commotion in The Ritz, a Take Back Power spokesperson said: 'The super-rich have more than doubled their wealth since the pandemic, while this Christmas, a third of UK children suffer and grow up in poverty.

'It's time ordinary people - those most affected by inequality, get a say in deciding how to tax wealth through the means of a legally binding citizen's assembly - a House of the People.'

Following the dessert sting in the Tower of London, the group said: 'Since 2011, the poorest 10 per cent of households have paid a combined tax rate of 44 per cent on their income and wealth gains, while the richest paid 22 per cent.

'Our political class, be it this government, Reform or Tory, serve the super-rich; they do not care about working people.

'That's why we must demand real democracy, with ordinary people at the heart of decision making, through a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich.'
Todays parents are too 'weak' in disciplining their children and are wrong to complain that schools are excessively strict, according to the Governments behaviour tsar.

Parents made more than five million formal complaints about schools, yet at the same time pupil suspensions for assaulting staff have soared.

According to Tom Bennett, the Department for Education's ambassador for attendance and behaviour, schools have had to take a tougher stance on discipline due to a 'parenting gap' which means children too rarely hear the word 'no' at home.

Some parents have very weak boundaries with their children, the 54-year-old former RE teacher told the Sunday Times.

They allow them to be on their iPads and phones all day and think that's loving and caring as it's making my child happy.

Schools are saying no, we are going to do it [discipline] like this, and that parenting gap is where a lot of this comes from.

Parents and schools have moved in different directions.

Schools need to ensure that pupils respect the teacher and do the right thing the first time you're asked, he added.

Tom Bennett, the Department for Education's ambassador for attendance and behaviour, says parents today are too 'weak' in disciplining their children, leaving schools with no choice to impose unpopular rules so pupils are in a fit state to learn

That includes knowing they have to be on time and bring your equipment, as well as not swearing at teachers or hitting fellow pupils.

His comments come after the Daily Mail revealed how a headmaster renowned for his 'zero tolerance' approach turned around a troubled high school - using weekend detentions, extra maths classes and clamping down on uniform.

Alun Ebenezer, 50, was dubbed the 'headmaster from hell' by parents after he sent 50 children home in one day over uniform violations such as wearing the wrong socks and the lengths of girls' skirts.

But last summer he was celebrating exam success by pupils at Caldicot School, Monmouthshire, which was previously gripped by turmoil as teachers repeatedly went on strike over violent pupils and unruly behaviour.

Mr Ebenezer brought in a range of different methods such as Saturday detentions, university-style maths classes, and house choir competitions to install discipline.

He also returned the school to wearing blazers and introduced rewards for high attendance rates.

Following the changes, last summer's GCSE scores this summer rose by 14 points, equivalent to nearly two-and-a half grades per student.

Delegates at the National Education Union conference voted last month for a motion calling for a national campaign to reduce violence in schools.

Staff at one primary school in Greater Manchester staged a walkout in January after complaining of being violently assaulted by the children in their care.

One child even fired an imitation firearm in the playground.

Separately a poll of 1,700 headteachers found 90 per cent have been subjected to 'rude or disrespectful behaviour' from mothers and fathers during the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent had suffered 'verbal abuse or threats' from parents and 57 per cent had been targeted by them on social media.

Mr Bennett, who runs an education research company and was also a behaviour tsar under the last Conservative government, has visited around 1,600 schools and says he has never come across one he thinks is too strict.

That includes Michaela Community School, in north-west London, which is often described as Britain's strictest school.

Rules include silent corridors and detention for not doing homework or coming to lessons with incorrect uniform or equipment.

Too many parents imagine that if you just speak nicely to children, they'll behave, he told the paper.

But in reality, it means teachers are faced with pupils who think they can do what they want and their feelings are the only feelings that matter.

Parents need to be critical allies to teachers, he said, saying that helping them learn the skills to help them function at school will teach them the skills to help them function in life.

His comments come as parents made more than five million formal complaints about schools in 2024-25, according to the National Governance Association.

At the same time, there were 16,000 suspensions for assaulting an adult in a single term, more than there were across a whole school year a decade earlier.
Horrifying footage has emerged showing the moment a car ploughed into pedestrians, including a woman believed to be an influencer, in central London.

Emergency services were called at around 4.30am following reports that 'a car had been involved in a collision with pedestrians' near Inca nightclub causing critical injuries to multiple victims.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning on Argyll Street, a busy stretch linking Oxford Street with Great Marlborough Street and home to popular nightspots and the iconic London Palladium.

Video circulating online captures the terrifying moment a car drives into a group of people. A woman in her 30s was rushed to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition. A man in his 50s suffered 'life-changing' injuries, while a second woman in her 30s was treated for minor injuries.

In the graphic footage, a woman is seen being knocked to the ground and becoming trapped underneath the vehicle as bystanders rush to help.

Meanwhile a man - believed to have been attempting to unlock an e-scooter - is also caught up in the chaos and flung to the side.

Moments before impact, a witness appears to realise what is about to happen, shouting in alarm: 'She is going to run her over.'

Horrifying footage has emerged showing the moment a car ploughed into pedestrians in central London

The incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning on Argyll Street, a busy stretch linking Oxford Street with Great Marlborough Street

Video circulating online captures the terrifying moment a car drives into a group of people

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car allegedly mowed down pedestrians on Argyll Street in Soho

Police tape is pictured at the scene in Westminster on Sunday morning

Although the events leading up to the crash remain unclear, the footage appears to show a woman in the car, striking both a man and a woman.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a 29-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving.

She remains in custody. Officers have confirmed the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, of Specialist Crime South, said: 'As our enquiries continue, our thoughts are with those injured and their loved ones.

'While this incident took place in the early hours of the morning, venues in the area were still open, and we believe a number of people will have seen what happened.

'I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any activity prior to it that they feel may be of relevance, to come forward.

'The information you have - however minor you believe it may be - could be of crucial importance to investigators.'
Keir Starmer is said to be looking at an agreement with the EU that would align Britain with the single market for goods in his latest move to water down Brexit.

The Prime Minister is said to be looking at proposals that would see UK firms follow Brussels rules with no say on how they are drawn up.

The scheme has been likened to Theresa May's 'backstop' from Brexit talks in 2017 and 2018 that would have kept Northern Ireland inside the single market until a way around a hard border on the island or Ireland could be found.

However, the agreement being looked at would stop short of crossing Sir Keir's often mentioned 'red lines' of formally joining the single market or the customs union.

Instead ministers would look at ways to reduce the paperwork for firms wanting to export from and import to the bloc.

Sir Keir has made no secret of his desire to move the UK back into the EU orbit a decade after the Brexit vote.

'We're in a world where there's massive conflict, great uncertainty, and I strongly believe the UK's best interests are in a stronger, closer relationship with Europe, whether that's defense and security, of course, energy, I think inevitably, and also our economy,' he told BBC radio last week.

According to the Telegraph Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Brexit minister, told a Brussels conference last week that the UK should be ready to look at closer alignment'

'What we're doing with this piece of legislation is trying to make trade easier so there's less burdens for businesses and that, of course, translates into lower prices.'

His comments follow reports from the Guardian newspaper and the BBC saying the Government was planning a bill that could reduce the role of parliament in voting on 'dynamic alignment' with EU rules, to which a No10 spokesman said the main legislation would be voted on.

'The bill will go through parliament in the normal way,' the spokesperson said. 'Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation.'

According to the Telegraph Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Brexit minister, told a Brussels conference last week that the UK should be ready to look at closer alignment 'and that includes further areas of the Single Market'.
A 38-year-old influencer has been found dead in a lake after going missing during a gruelling triathlon event.

Brazilian Mara Flavia Araujo was pulled from Lake Woodlands on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, on Saturday at around 9.30am.

She had disappeared during the swimming portion of the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas event around two hours earlier, and was pronounced dead after a water rescue team found her at the bottom of the lake.

The swimming section of the race is around 2.4 miles long in waters with an average temperature of 23C.

Ms Araujo had posted a photo of herself sitting poolside to her 60,000 Instagram followers just one day before she died.

Its caption read: 'Just another day at work!'

Ms Araujo's sister, Melissa, confirmed her death on Saturday as police began an investigation into what caused the accident.

A friend of the influencer, Luis Taveira, suggested that she may have been struggling with health issues in the days before the race.

Brazilian influencer Mara Flavia Araujo has died aged 38 after going missing during a gruelling triathlon event

She was pulled from Lake Woodlands on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, on Saturday at around 9.30am

He said: 'She was ill before the trip, she wasn't okay.

'My wife and I spoke with her to say she was too weak for this race, although a couple of days ago when we talked to her, she insisted she was okay.

'I still cannot believe what's happened. She was weakened because of the flu.'

In an interview with local media, The Woodlands Fire Chief, Palmer Buck, said his team were notified about a 'lost swimmer' at around 7.30am on Saturday morning.

He added: 'We already had a rescue boat on the scene, they were out as part of the racecraft working the event.

'They let us know as we were arriving on the scene that they were searching near a buoy for a lost swimmer.'

Due to poor water visibility, a dive team was then called to assist with the search.

'The victim was found in about 10 feet of water on the bottom of the lake,' Mr Buck added. 'The dive team accessed the victim, brought her up at about 9.37am and then brought her to the shore where she was pronounced deceased on the scene.'

Ms Araujo was an accomplished athlete and regularly shared pictures and videos of her training to social media. She came third in this year's Brasilia Triathlon and managed to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 twice.

She recently told her followers how she became a triathlete eight years ago after being diagnosed with a health problem, writing: 'I saw a way to be reborn, God and sport.'

Ms Araujo had posted a photo of herself sitting poolside to her 60,000 Instagram followers just one day before she died

Ms Araujo was an accomplished athlete and regularly shared pictures and videos of her training to social media

She was born in Sao Paulo and started working as a radio presenter, but began DJing in the months prior to her death.

The Texas triathlon's organisers announced Mr Araujo had died with a statement.

It read: 'We are saddened to confirm the death of a race participant during the swim portion of today's triathlon.

'We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the athlete, and will offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time.

'Our gratitude goes out to the first responders for the assistance.'

Ms Araujo's passing comes nine years after Glen Bruemmer, 54, also lost his life during the swimming portion of the Houston-based event.

He was pulled from the water and pronounced dead in hospital.
  CSAI 
Mike Waltz has defended Donald Trump's latest threat to attack civilian infrastructure in Iran by saying the US has a 'long history of taking down bridges'.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that there would be 'no more Mr Nice Guy', while pledging to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if they refuse the next peace deal, as the ceasefire is set to expire in three days.

The comment, which came on the eve of peace talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, sparked a backlash from several Democrat politicians, who have accused the president of unleashing 'devastation' on the Iranian people.

US Ambassador to the UN Waltz leapt to Trump's defense during a fiery exchange with NBC News reporter Kristen Welker on Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

'I just want to get ahead of this ridiculous and frankly irresponsible narrative that this would somehow constitute a "war crime," that we've heard from Democratic politicians, the media, and others in the international community,' he said.

'That is wrong. It's irresponsible. We have a long history of taking down bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure that is powering Iran's military.

'And they have a long history of conflating civilian and military assets including hiding weapons caches, rockets and military hardware in schools, hospitals and other civilian neighborhoods, which is a war crime on Iran's part.'

The interview grew increasingly heated, as Waltz swerved several key questions about the conflict in Iran and Welker grew visibly irate.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has defended Donald Trump's threat to attack civilian infrastructure in Iran as peace negotiations loom ahead of the ceasefire expiry on Wednesday

The Meet The Press interview grew increasingly heated, as Waltz swerved several key questions about the conflict in Iran and Kristen Welker (pictured) grew visibly irate

Welker attempted to interrupt Waltz several times as he continued to slam Iran.

'Are you saying the United States is okay targeting civilians, the people of Iran?' she eventually interjected.

'In the laws of land warfare and the rules of engagement, any type of infrastructure that is being comingled, that is being used to move military hardware is absolutely a legitimate target as our power plants, the grid, and other things that are being used to power Iran's war economy,' Waltz said.

'The president will move up an escalation ladder responsibly... until Iran comes to the table and really lives up to a responsible deal that the Vice President has put on the table,' he added.

Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna was among those who pushed back against the president's most recent threats to bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran.

'They said they want to escalate to de-escalate. They've escalated to devastation. I mean, you have the pope lecturing America about possible war crimes,' Khanna told ABC's This Week on Sunday.

'You have the president, as you pointed out, threatening to destroy all power plants. I didn't think we would ever get to that point.'

A US delegation has been sent to Pakistan for negotiations in the Middle Eastern conflict, which escalated February 28 when the US began combat operations in Iran.

When asked whether the president would extend the ceasefire agreement if a peace deal could not be reached before it's expiry on Wednesday, Waltz said: 'Everything's on the table.

'The president has made it very clear that he is prepared to escalate in order to de-escalate this conflict.'

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, President Donald Trump said that Iran had 'decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz' at a French ship and a freighter from the UK

Donald Trump issued a fresh threat against Iran on Sunday morning for allegedly breaking the ceasefire by firing bullets at European ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Waltz also said that no country should be able to 'close down international waterways' in reference to Iran - despite Trump threatening to do the same thing on April 12.

'You can't have a situation where a party to a conflict regardless of whether you agree with it or not, can close down international waterways, whether it's the Strait of Gibraltar, the Bearing Strait, the Strait of Malacca,' he said.

'And this is why we've been so active at the United Nations. And this is why, you know, President Trump has said this cannot and will not stand.'

Trump said he was blockading the Strait of Hormuz on after peace talks with Iran collapsed when JD Vance returned from Pakistan empty handed on April 12.

'Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,' Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.

However, two days later, the US military said it would enforce a blockade against of all vessels attempting to leave or enter Iranian ports or the Iranian coastline, including the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Trump appeared to climb down from his initial threat, writing on April 17: 'THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY.'

The president warned he would order the US military to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if they refuse the next peace deal. (Pictured: Smoke rising from buildings in the Iranian capital of Tehran on March 29, 2026, amid the ongoing conflict)

Vice President JD Vance will lead the next round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, ahead of the ceasefire expiration date on Wednesday, according to ABC News.

Trump told Fox News that US Special Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would also be part of the American delegation.

'If Iran does not sign this deal, the whole country is getting blown up,' Trump said, according to Fox.

Iran has doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, as mediators scrambled to extend the ceasefire.

The dueling blockades have complicated Pakistani-led mediation attempts and raised questions about whether the two-week truce can be extended.

'It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,' Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday.

Qalibaf, who is Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States, slammed the US blockade as a 'naive decision made out of ignorance'.
Doctors and nurses have been ordered not to say the early bird catches the worm and its raining cats and dogs, to avoid offending foreign patients.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust demanded staff stop using the phrases in its diversity and inclusion training, claiming they are not culturally sensitive.

It warns the terms may not translate well across other cultures and may need to be explained to international colleagues or patients.

The guidance, which was created to foster an inclusive environment, also bans the use of chairman and mankind', saying they should be replaced by chairperson and humankind.

The 17-page document says it is crucial for doctors and nurses to use considerate, inclusive language, claiming it will lead to a healthier society.

By fostering an inclusive environment, the NHS can better meet the diverse needs of the populations it serves, ultimately leading to a healthier society overall, it adds.

Critics said the training manual, first issued in November 2024 and reviewed every three years, reads like an April Fools joke and cautioned that the policing of language in the NHS was on the rise.

The trust, which runs Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, spent 100,723 last year on salaries for diversity and inclusion staff and has faced mounting financial pressure.

People in Trafalgar Square shelter under an umbrella while it is 'raining cats and dogs' (raining heavily)

It was placed in financial special measures last year after recording a 42.1million deficit since the previous November.

NHS England subsequently warned that directors could be replaced if the financial situation did not improve.

The trust employed the equivalent of 2.3 full-time equality and diversity staff in the 2024/25 financial year.

The highest-paid earns 48,526, while newly advertised nursing roles offer salaries of 31,049.

The document says: English phrases or sayings like its raining cats and dogs may need to be explained to international colleagues or patients.

The guide recommends avoiding other worlds such as guys, suggesting gender neutral terms such as colleagues, team or members as alternatives.

It also instructs employees to use they/them instead of male and female pronouns if the gender of a patient is unclear.

Early bird catches the worm - a robin fights with a strong worm in the early morning on the lawn

Lord Young, founder of the Free Speech Union and Tory peer, said the NHS guidance could lead to witch hunts against staff members for using everyday terms.

He told The Telegraph: This sounds like an April Fool, but the reality is that these busybodies are constantly churning out new language guides, banning an ever-increasing number of words and idioms.

Lord Young said guidance such as this will gradually result in more employees being investigated for being culturally insensitive.

He added: The result is that more and more NHS employees, particularly older employees, are finding themselves under investigation for being culturally insensitive, which is code for racism.

If youre not fluent in woke-ish  which is a constantly changing modern dialect  you will eventually be cancelled.

Indeed, that may be the point of this language policing  to force older employees to take early retirement and make way for more pink-haired zealots.

A Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: As a large specialist Trust, we are proud to have a diverse workforce and to serve people from many different communities.

It is well known that certain informal phrases or idioms are not always easily understood by everyone, including people with autism or whose first language is not English, so it makes sense to raise awareness of this.

This helps ensure that within our busy hospitals, communications with our patients and colleagues are as clear and effective as possible.
A glamorous Iranian woman living a lavish life in Los Angeles was arrested for allegedly trafficking deadly drones and bombs for Tehran.

Shamim Mafi, 44, was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night and charged with allegedly brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition to be sold to Sudan, the US Attorney for the Central District of California said on Sunday.

Mafi left Iran in 2013 and became a permanent US resident in 2016 under the Obama administration, officials stated.

The Woodland Hills resident allegedly used Atlas International Business, an Oman-registered company, to broker weapons deals as recently as 2025, according to court records obtained by the New York Post.

One of her sales included a contract for more than $70 million for Mohajer-6 armed drones made by Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

Those drones and 55,000 bomb fuses were transferred in deals with the Sudanese Ministry of Defense, which has been fighting in a violent civil war since 2023.

According to phone records included in court documents, Mafi had direct contact with Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) between December 2022 and June 2025.

During her time in America, Mafi has shared pictures of her living the high life, including an image of her posing in a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz.

Shamin Mafi, 44, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night for allegedly trafficking deadly drones and bombs for Tehran

Mafi (pictured being arrested) left Iran in 2013 and became a permanent US resident in 2016 under the Obama administration, officials stated

She told investigators that she has never been hired by Iran to conduct any activities for Tehran on American soil.

Meanwhile, prosecutors said Mafi had no legal clearance to oversee the alleged dangerous weapon sales.

A previous investigation revealed that Tehran seized properties that Mafi inherited from her father in 2020, according to court records.

The Ministry of Intelligence then told her to open a business in the US to buy the properties back from the Iranian government, court records stated.

According to prosecutors, Iran also offered to pay for her start-up costs.

Mafi allegedly said that she is 'more useful' to the Iranian spies in Tehran than in the US, prosecutors said.

Her and her company have also been accused of intentionally going through channels in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to conduct sales as way to avoid detection from the US, the outlet reported.

One of her sales included a contract for more than $70 million for Mohajer-6 armed drones made by Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics

During her time in America, Mafi has shared pictures of her living the high life in Los Angeles, California

In addition to sharing glimpses of her swanky life, Mafi also posted images of her business dealings in Turkey.

She was tagged in a November 2023 post posing next to Feridun Oncel, the MISIAD General President.

In the post, Oncel said: 'Our best friend from America Shamim Mafi Doing business talks. It was a beneficial discussion with our Sudanese businessman brother for the country's economy.'

Before she was handcuffed, Mafi was scheduled to fly to Istanbul, the post reported.

She is accused of violating the Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

She was tagged in a November 2023 post posing next to Feridun Oncel, the MISIAD General President. In it, he called Mafi 'our best friend from America'

If convicted, she could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

She is due to appear at the US District Court in Los Angeles on Monday, prosecutors said.

The Daily Mail contacted the US Attorney for the Central District of California for comment.

Representatives for Mafi could not immediately be reached for comment.
Former President Barack Obama left a group of children in fits of giggles as he pulled a stunt on them during a visit to a childcare center in New York on Saturday.

Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani read to preschoolers and led a sing-along during the visit, and did not take questions after their appearance.

While at the Learning Through Play Pre-K school, Obama and Mamdani read the book 'Alone and Together' to the children and led a sing-along of 'The Wheels on the Bus.'

After sitting on chairs during the reading, the two sat down on the floor to play out a key theme in the 'Alone and Together' book.

'Remember the book said, we are strong together,' Obama inquired of the children.

'So you're going to have to all help me get up,' the former president continued amid shrieks and laughter from the young attendees, before adding 'Because I'm old.'

Obama, now 64, served as president from 2009 to 2017, long before most of his Saturday crowd were born.

The 44th president offered to be a sounding board for Mamdani, 34, whose star power, youth, and progressive agenda have made him stand out in Democratic politics.

Former US President Barack Obama pretends to struggle to stand as children lift him up during a visit to Learning Through Play Pre-K in New York, on April 18, 2026

Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani pose for a photo with children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in New York, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sing 'Wheels on the Bus' to children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in the Bronx in New York, Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Obama placed second in a recent Daily Mail/JL Partners Poll asking readers who they believed was the most powerful man in America, while Mamdani ranked 16th. Current President Donald Trump topped the list.

The Saturday visit came as the Mamdani mayoral administration pushed its policy plan of free, universal childcare in the Big Apple.

In an interview that aired Sunday on NBC News, Mamdani told Meet the Press moderator Kirsten Welker that his efforts 'are not only providing free childcare for every three-year-old in this city, we're now doing it for two-year-olds as well.'

'And by the end of our first term, we will see every single two-year-old receiving free childcare across the five boroughs of New York City,' Mamdani also noted.

If elected to a second term, Mamdani also pledged to pursue providing free childcare to 'one-year-olds and those from six weeks and above.'

'We've always said over the course of the campaign, we would deliver it for New Yorkers from the ages of six weeks to five years,' Mamdani also told Welker.

'We're talking about $20,000 a year that a family won't have to shell out for childcare any longer, because they know they can afford to raise their kid in the city they love,' the Mayor added to sell his idea.
Sir Keir Starmer visited submariners in Scotland and avoided the campaign trail as he faces a crunch week with yet more questions about Peter Mandelson's appointment.

The Prime Minister met the submariners as they returned to their base on the Clyde from the longest patrol conducted by one of the Royal Navy's nuclear-armed vessels.

Sir Keir boarded a Vanguard-class submarine as it arrived at the Faslane naval base on Saturday, thanking the crew who had spent more than 205 days at sea.

He did not undertake any political visits while north of the border and did not join colleagues campaigning for the Scottish Parliament elections just weeks away.

It comes as Sir Keir faces yet another difficult week following revelations about Mandelson's security vetting.

The embattled Prime Minister insisted he was unaware until Tuesday that the New Labour grandee had been appointed to Washington last year despite failing his vetting.

Yesterday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said he was unfit to run the country and had 'lost the moral right to govern', as she led calls for his resignation.

Possible leadership challengers Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner were also seen having secret late-night talks in Manchester, fuelling more speculation about Starmer's future.

Sir Keir Starmer met the submariners as they returned to their base on the Clyde from the longest patrol conducted by one of the Royal Navy's nuclear-armed vessels

The Prime Minister boarded a Vanguard-class submarine as it arrived at the Faslane naval base on Saturday

Defence Secretary John Healey joined the Prime Minister for the event at Faslane.

Sir Keir said: 'As we face an increasingly volatile world, our nuclear deterrent is more important than ever.

'It was a privilege to be able to meet and thank those who are making sacrifices to protect our country every single day.'

Mr Healey also praised the dedication of the submariners, posting online: 'They and their families make huge sacrifices to protect us all and our UK nuclear deterrent is more important now than ever.

'They are the very best of Britain.'

Photos released by Downing Street showed the Prime Minister boarding the submarine and speaking to the personnel on board.

At more than 205 days, the crew of the submarine are understood to have taken part in the longest patrol for a nuclear deterrent submarine  spending months submerged with little contact with the outside world.

The UK's four Vanguard-class submarines can carry Trident nuclear missiles and at least one of the vessels is out on patrol at sea constantly.

They are due to be replaced by four new Dreadnought-class submarines, the first of which is expected to enter service in the 2030s.

The Ministry of Defence said 'significant programmes' are under way to renew the UK's nuclear deterrent and rigorous safety checks are carried out before any patrols.

The ministry said it did not comment on the length of submarine patrols.

Submariners receive additional payments when patrols are extended.

Sir Keir thanked the crew who had spent more than 205 days at sea on patrol

While Sir Keir was at sea, he avoided the campaign trail where he faces growing questions over the Peter Mandelson scandal

While the Prime Minister met with the submariners, he was notably absent from the campaign trail ahead of what could be painful local election results next month.

He also did not join the campaign trail for Scottish Labour ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections, which also take place in a matter of weeks.

Despite being just 40 miles away, Sir Keir did not meet with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sawar, who told the Scottish Mail on Sunday he's not even spoken to Sir Keir for more than two months and reiterated his calls for the UK leader to quit.

Sir Keir not only avoided Mr Sarwar but also the waiting press when he visited the Faslane Naval Base to greet submariners returning after a lengthy period at sea.

Mr Sarwar, who was campaigning in Airdrie with local candidate Suzanne MacLeod just 40 miles from Faslane, said: 'The last time I directly spoke to [Starmer] was a few days after I made the call for him to resign.'

He said that while it was 'appropriate' for the Prime Minister to carry out his 'defence-related visit' in Scotland, he added: 'He's got a prime ministerial diary, I've got a campaign diary.'

The rift between the two men first began in February when Sarwar publicly called for Sir Keir to quit over the Mandelson scandal.

The Scottish Labour leader said the latest iteration of the debacle  which has seen the top civil servant Olly Robbins sacked  'demonstrates why I said what I said in February.'

He said: 'I stand by that. I don't recoil from thatMany of the issues that people are talking about now were the tipping point for me, in terms of being willing to defend the indefensible.'

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay hit out at the Prime Minister for not meeting Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during his time in Scotland.

Mr Findlay said: 'It seems that Keir Starmer is skulking around a top-secret high-security submarine base unable to face the public, unable to even look Anas Sarwar in the eyes.'

He continued: 'No wonder Anas Sarwar wants nothing to do with him.

'The guy shouldn't be in Downing Street and he's a complete and utter disgrace.'

Downing Street was tight-lipped about the Prime Minister's visit to Faslane, with aides claiming they were unable to give details about the trip's purpose or allow questions to be put to Sir Keir on 'security grounds' this morning.

They failed to respond when asked if the PM was avoiding his Scottish colleagues, and if he had simply given up on the election campaign north of the border.

Sir Keir spent almost three hours at the most secure military establishment in Scotland, with his cavalcade of six Range Rovers and Fords sweeping into into the base at 12.20pm. He remained there until just after 3pm.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey waving to submariners as they depart at HM Naval Base Clyde

Sir Keir spent almost three hours at the most secure military establishment in Scotland

The Prime Minister is likely to face more questions when he returns to London over his handling of Peter Mandelson's appointment.

On Friday night, it was revealed that others in Downing Street knew well before the Prime Minister, questioning his grip on the ever-evolving scandal that has now raged for more than seven months.

It was suggested that up to a dozen officials and lawyers were aware of the vetting failure, but not the PM, who repeatedly insisted everything was done by the book.

There were further questions for No 10 after it was told by The Mail on Sunday as far back as September that Mandelson had failed his security clearance test, only for the suggestion to be denied.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has led calls for the Prime Minister to resign

'That this is a national disgrace, the buck stops with him and the only decent response is to resign.'

She added: 'Keir Starmer claims to be furious with officials. It is us who should be furious with him ... While he protects himself, decisions are delayed and problems fester.

'Starmer has misled Parliament over Mandelson, misled the country and is taking the public for fools. This is not just a political failure. It is a moral one: He has put our national security at risk, he has lost the right to govern, he should resign.'

Senior Tory MP Alex Burghart said: 'This is yet more evidence that Keir Starmer's Government is a shambles.

'If it's really true Starmer didn't know about Mandelson's vetting failures when senior officials had the truth, it confirms the PM is in office but not in power.

'Either everyone is lying, or this is the most shambolic government in history  or both. It's time for Starmer to go.'

Sir Keir ignored a question about whether he would resign, but faces a perilous week.

He must give his account of the saga to the Commons on Monday, while Sir Olly has been summoned before MPs on the foreign affairs committee the following day.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham was seen leaving Anglea Rayner's constituency home in the city late on Friday, fuelling speculation about a possible leadership challenge.

Ms Rayner is seen as a leading candidate to run for the leadership if Sir Keir is challenged in the wake of a poor showing in the May 7 local elections.

This is despite the fact that she is still awaiting the results of an official HMRC probe into the tax she paid when buying an 800,000 holiday home 250 miles from her constituency last year.

And Mr Burnham has made little secret of his desire for the top job, having seen one attempt to return to Westminster thwarted by Sir Keir already this year, when he was blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Because he is not an MP he has no realistic chance of being in the frame if there is a challenge next month, but his backing for Ms Rayner would carry a lot of weight in Labour circles.

Their pow-wow at Mr Rayner's home in her Ashton-under-Lyne seat came five days after they appeared alongside Sir Keir on a visit to Greater Manchester, sharing a joke as they sat with schoolchildren.

Some MPs have played down the chances of a leadership move against Sir Keir, believing it would look bad after just two years in power, especially while Trump's war with Iran is hammering consumers.

Last week Ms Rayner was said to have cooled on her plan to move against her former boss, instead focusing on helping the local election campaign.

But the Mandelson scandal could push more to the edge.
Up to 400,000 asylum seekers will be immediately detained and deported if Reform win the next general election.

Revealing new details of its pledge to tighten border controls, Nigel Farages Reform UK said all illegal migrants who arrived in the five years prior to the next election would be locked up.

It would include those who arrived by small boat or clandestinely in the backs of lorries, as well as those who claimed asylum using fake documents, the party said.

The figure would come on top of 600,000 deportations Reform last year indicated it would enforce, making a total of one million.

A Reform government would also review all grants of asylum going back five years, leading to further deportations.

Anyone who claimed asylum after overstaying a visa would be detained and deported, the partys new policy set out.

A third category of asylum seeker - those whose home countries are now deemed to be safe - would also be stripped of their visas and be eligible for removal.

The detention of such large numbers of people would pose a huge challenge as the current capacity of immigration removal centres is less than 3,000 beds.

But a Reform spokesman predicted many of those targeted by the new policy would choose to leave Britain voluntarily.

Reform's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf, left, and party leader Nigel Farage

Reform's Zia Yusuf said Reform in government would review all grants of asylum going back five years, leading to up to 400,000 deportations

For those who remained the party would create pop up detention centres, he added.

Reform UKs home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf accused Labour and the previous Conservative government of allowing Britain to be invaded by asylum seekers.

For years, Tory and Labour governments have presided over an invasion of Britain, he said.

They have effectively operated an open borders policy.

Instead of upholding the law, they have rewarded those who broke it by entering Britain illegally.

Reform will reverse this.

He added: Today we announce that a Reform government will review the previous five years of asylum grants, and anyone who broke into the country illegally or overstayed on another visa will be stripped of their status and deported.

We will do what it takes to restore justice in Britain.

The party said the review would see leave to remain cancelled for anyone who fell into any of the three categories, along with their dependants permission to stay here.

They would be given a period of time to leave the country, after which they will be deported by Reforms planned UK Deportation Command.

A Reform spokesman said: Assuming a Reform UK Government is formed after a General Election in 2029, we would expect over 400,000 people to be in scope of this policy.

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This is based on grants over the last two years, those currently in the asylum system, and those expected to enter it over the next three years.

Circa 55 per cent of asylum applicants arrived by small boat, clandestinely or without relevant documentation over the last five years - based on Home Office data - so the vast majority of people in scope will have their humanitarian status revoked.

Join the discussion What do you think would be the real-life impact on communities if 400,000 asylum seekers were deported?

Small boat migrants being brought ashore at Dover by UK Border Force on Saturday, when more than 600 reached the UK

The spokesman added: Those within the asylum system would be immediately detained and prioritised for deportation.

The party has committed to taking Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention.

It would also pass new legislation, the Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Act, to allow removals to take place.

Previous legislation which allowed asylum seekers to be treated less favourably if they arrived by illegal routes was passed by the former Tory government in 2023.

But it has since been repealed by Labour.

It came as 602 small boat migrants reached the UK on Saturday, pushing this years running total past the 6,000 mark.

Nine boat-loads of migrants were picked up mid-Channel by Border Force vessels during Saturday and brought ashore at the Port of Dover.

It also means that since Labour came to power 70,701 migrants have crossed the Channel to reach Britain.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: Conservatives have already proposed a detailed borders plan to pull out of the ECHR and completely ban asylum claims by illegal immigrants - instead we would deport them within a week of arrival.

The Conservatives Removals Force will deport 150,000 immigrants each year with no right to be here.

Reform is slowing catching up with our ideas - but without the detail that will ensure it works in practice.
Tragedy unfolded early on Sunday morning in a quaint neighborhood in Louisiana when a man opened fire and killed eight young children.

At least ten people were shot, and eight juvenile victims died after the Shreveport Police Department was called just after 6am to reports of a domestic disturbance involving the suspected shooter, Shamar Elkins, 31.

The youngest victim was 18 months old, and the eldest was 14 years old.

Some of the children killed were 'descendants' of Elkins, police said, without providing further details.

Two adult women survived the bloody incident after being shot in the head. Meanwhile, a young boy who was also at the home when gunfire erupted was seen jumping from the roof in a bid to escape the attack, KTBS reported.

The horrific ordeal unfolded across three different locations. The first, 300 block of West 79th Street near Linwood Avenue, was where the children were massacred in a home just a stone's throw away from a Baptist church.

Elkins then performed a carjacking at that location and led officers on a high-speed chase, traveling a quarter-mile away to Harrison Street, between Wallace Avenue and Bernstein Avenue.

He then drove to the third location, in Bossier Parish, on Brompton Lane near Long Acre Drive. He was shot and killed by police there.

The crime scene was described as 'rather extensive' by police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon. 'We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations here,' he added.

Shamar Elkins (center), 31, allegedly opened fire early Sunday morning in Shreveport, Louisiana, killing eight young children. Police have yet to confirm the identities of the children killed

The youngest victim was 18 months old, and the eldest was 14 years old

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The ordeal unfolded across three different locations. The first, 300 block of West 79th Street near Linwood Avenue, was where the children were massacred in a home just a stone's throw away from a Baptist church

He said some of the children in the home 'were his descendants,' but did not provide further details.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux solemnly addressed the shaken community after the shooting.

'We have a hurting community, we have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners personnel, fire departments, sheriff's people,' Arceneaux said.

'This affects the entire community. So we all mourn with these families.

'It's a Sunday morning. I ask all of you who are listening, who might be able to pray at your services this morning, not just for this family, for all the victims.'

The mayor added that the incident is 'maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had in Shreveport.'

'So, right now we're going to process the information and it's in very good hands,' he continued.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Speaker Mike Johnson shared his condolences after the ordeal on Sunday morning.

He wrote: 'Heartbreaking tragedy in Shreveport this morning  8 children were senselessly killed and multiple others were injured. My team is in touch with local law enforcement as more details emerge.

'We're holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. And we are grateful to the Shreveport, Bossier, and Louisiana State Police for their swift response.'

Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent Keith Burton called the shooting an 'unspeakable tragedy.'

He added: 'We know that eight young lives were taken far too soon. They were children with dreams, hopes and futures that were just beginning to take shape.

'There are no words that can make sense of a loss like this. As a community, we must wrap around one another in the days ahead.

'We must take care of our children, support our families and stand beside our educators and first responders who are carrying the weight of this moment.'

Attorney General Liz Murrill's office sent the following statement: 'Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating this tragic situation.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux solemnly addressed the shaken community after the shooting

'We do not yet know all the details, but I am deeply saddened by the senseless loss of life.

'I'm praying for the victims and their family members in the wake of this devastating violence.'

Shreveport, about five hours outside of New Orleans, is a high-crime area known for violence, according to Neighborhood Scout.

One in 82 people is a victim of a violent crime in Shreveport, compared to one in 192 in the state of Louisiana, the report showed.
Millionaires are set to fund an elaborate operation in a last-ditch attempt to free a stranded humpback whale from shallow waters, despite opposition by Greenpeace.

The whale - nicknamed locally as 'Timmy' after the German bay, Timmendorfer Strand, where it is stranded - has been stuck for nearly six weeks.

Hope was almost lost to save the ten-metre-long animal, but in the 11th hour, two millionaires stepped up and promised to fund a final lifeline.

A private company plans to use air cushions to float the animal off the sea floor and slide it onto a tarp, which will then be sailed out to the North Sea and perhaps even further to the Atlantic.

However, Greenpeace Germany has said that this operation risks harming the 'sick and severely weakened' whale further and did not support this latest move despite having assisted in previous efforts.

They referenced wildlife experts from the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research and the German Oceanographic Museum who have said that the whale was extremely injured and had skin detachments visible.

They added that the long-shot operation posed a high risk of injury and that the chance of survival was vanishingly low.

The whale is currently showing signs of life but is severely weakened as well as suffering from a skin condition, caused by the low salt levels in the Baltic sea, according to the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

A whale - nicknamed locally as 'Timmy' after the German bay, Timmendorfer Strand, where it is stranded - has been stuck for nearly six weeks

A private company plans to use air cushions to float the animal off the sea floor and slide it onto a tarp, which will then be sailed out to the North Sea and perhaps even further to the Atlantic

The skin detachments are believed to have been caused by a ship propeller and a fishing net. Extensive internal injuries are also presumed owing to the whale's great weight crushing its own organs.

The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania considers the new rescue plan a 'minimally invasive' approach and the German state's environment minister Till Backhaus said a reassessment had provided a less intrusive option than once thought.

Walter Gunz, who founded a major electronics retailer chain and is part-funding the operation, told German news agency dpa 'at least if you try something you have a chance of saving it'.

Event organiser Karin Walter-Mommert is the other sponsor of the operation, who faces alongside Mr Gunz 'full responsibility' for the animal's outcome, according to Mr Backhaus.

The elaborate plan was announced on Thursday but the whale is yet to be moved, with dredging work still being completed around the whale.

In a nerve-wracking twist, local media also reported that the water levels are set to rise, which could allow the whale to swim away himself.

This would likely see him become stranded again nearby, further delaying the ultimate escape for Timmy as rescuers would have to re-establish the set up again to lift the whale out.

Despite the controversy over these plans, Mr Backhaus said: 'I still believe its right that we try. Thats why Im grateful to the two entrepreneurs for their initiative and commitment.'

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's environment minister Till Backhaus said the whale's outcome was the 'full responsibility' of the millionaire sponsors

German outlet Bild reported that he confirmed Timmy still 'breathes, perceives things, he signals, he vocalizes, and he also shows actions. This indicates that he is also active'.

Veterinarian Janine Bahr-van Gemmert also told reporters: 'He wants to go outside, he wants to be free, we all see that. We've also consulted with experts. We all agree: He deserves the chance and he should get the chance and has the opportunity to continue living outside.'

In a saga that has gripped Germany, Timmy had initially been freed after a previous rescue operation but the humpback managed to return to shallow waters near the island of Poel where it has not been able to escape.

Authorities then conceded, saying they should let the 'majestic animal go in peace'.

It is unclear why the whale became lost in the Baltic however some experts have put forward that he may have been chasing shoals of herring.

It has been reported that critics claim the intensity with which some parties are trying to push the animal's rescue is tied to a closely fought election race in the local state.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germanys president, had met veterinarians who had been treating Timmy while on a pre-planned trip to the region.
A 10ft high wall is set to be built along Cape Town's notorious 'Hell Run' motorway to protect tourists from violent gangs.

The stretch of the N2 highway has gained a grim reputation in recent years, with repeated smash-and-grab attacks and ambush-style robberies leading to multiple deaths.

Among the victims was a British surgeon, with sections of the road having become so notorious that they are now known locally as 'Hell Run'.

In response, the city's mayor has unveiled proposals for a substantial new barrier designed to shield commuters and the hundreds of thousands of tourists who pass along the route each year.

But the plan has already ignited fierce controversy, with critics accusing officials of effectively sealing off adjacent townships and attempting to obscure Cape Town's stark inequality and entrenched poverty rather than addressing the underlying causes of crime.

South Africa's police minister has also cast doubt on whether the 5million project will achieve its aims.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has defended the scheme, saying the wall would replace an existing, outdated structure and be accompanied by improved lighting and pedestrian crossings.

Addressing councillors last month, he said the barrier would 'protect motorists against the kind of violent and traumatic attack which has become far too commonplace in recent years' and provide safety to those living along the route.

The stretch of the N2 highway has gained a grim reputation in recent years, with repeated smash-and-grab attacks and ambush-style robberies leading to multiple deaths

A 10ft high wall is set to be built along Cape Town's notorious 'Hell Run' motorway to protect tourists from violent gangs

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He also struck a combative tone towards opponents, saying Mr Hill-Lewis said opponents 'can be soft on crime if they want to, and play kumbaya with criminals if they want to, but residents will take note'.

The N2 is one of Cape Town's main arterial routes, carrying heavy commuter traffic as well as visitors arriving at the city's international airport.

For many tourists, the drive along it offers an immediate, and often jarring, introduction to the city's extremes of wealth and poverty, framed by views of luxury homes, sprawling informal settlements, and the looming presence of Table Mountain.

The highway runs alongside densely populated townships with tin-roofed homes, areas that experience some of South Africa's highest levels of violent crime.

Nyanga, located near the airport, has repeatedly recorded some of the country's highest murder rates, while neighbouring communities along the N2 corridor also feature prominently in national crime statistics.

Moorists travelling through the area have frequently been targeted.

In February, CCTV footage showed armed men wielding rifles bringing traffic to a standstill on the three-lane highway.

In another incident in December, 64-year-old Karin van Aardt was fatally stabbed at a traffic light just off the N2 shortly after leaving the airport.

And in 2023, British surgeon Kar Hao Teoh was shot dead in front of his family after taking a wrong turn off the highway into Nyanga when a strike blocked the N2.

The wall proposal comes amid broader efforts to tackle violent crime in the region, including the deployment of troops under Operation Prosper to assist police in addressing escalating gang violence in the Cape Flats area along the highway's route.

However, opponents of the scheme have compared it to a Berlin Wall-style division between the rich and poor communities.

In December, 64-year-old Karin van Aardt was fatally stabbed at a traffic light just off the N2 shortly after leaving the airport

In 2023, British surgeon Kar Hao Teoh was shot dead in front of his family after taking a wrong turn off the highway into Nyanga when a strike blocked the N2

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia said earlier this year: 'The construction of a wall [or] barrier will not, in itself, directly address organised criminal activity operating beyond the immediate roadside environment, firearm-related offences, gang-related violence, or broader public order challenges affecting surrounding communities.'

The opposition Build One South Africa party has also warned that the plan risks reinforcing apartheid-era spatial divisions.

A spokesman said: 'Symbolically, it will use infrastructure to divide communities and keep poverty out of sight.

'For many residents, the project mirrors the thinking of apartheid spatial planning. Separate communities and shield inequality from those passing by.'

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has also expressed reservations, with local leaders calling for the project to be paused pending a full impact assessment and noting it 'did not enjoy unanimous support'.

Provincial spokesman Akhona Jonginamba said: 'There are deep concerns from residents, community organisations and civic structures about the project's real intent, its social impact and its effectiveness.'

Despite the backlash, Mayor Hill-Lewis has insisted the plan enjoys strong backing.

He told councillors: 'We are paying no attention to those posturing and grandstanding on this project, especially those urging us to pursue 'healing' and hand-holding with the criminals.'
A Chinese man studying at a Scottish university has been arrested after taking photographs of planes at a US air base.

Tianrui Liang, who is studying aeronautical engineering at the University of Glasgow, has been charged with taking unauthorised images at Offutt Air Force Base, which is home to the US Strategic Command.

The 21-year-old was arrested at JFK Airport in New York on April 7, after being spotted photographing a plane famed for its ability to withstand a nuclear attack.

An eyewitness at the Nebraska base had alerted authorities to a man in a vehicle holding a camera with a telescopic lens while a military plane was on the runway.

Documents filed by the FBI claim that on March 31, the student documented multiple aircrafts at Offutt, including a Boeing E-4B which is nicknamed the doomsday plane.

The aircraft can act as a mobile command post for senior American military and government officials during national emergencies.

Liang appeared before a court in New York on April 8 and was initially released on bail, but was taken back into custody the following day when the government warned he was a considerable flight risk.

Noah Heflin, a special agent with the FBI, wrote that Liang told counterintelligence teams he knew his actions were illegal, but that the photos were only for his own personal collection.

The student is a keen plane spotter and has previously travelled around the UK to photograph military and commercial aircraft.

Mr Heflins affidavit alleges that Liang used a plane spotting website to learn where planes are parked, serviced and loaded at numerous airfields and airports, including the Offutt base.

Tianrui Liang was arrested after taking photographs of planes at a US airbase

According to legal documents, Liang flew out to Canada on March 26 to meet a friend who is studying at Columbia University in New York.

The pair drove across the border into America two days later, travelling from Seattle, Washington, to Billings, Montana.

When the friend departed for New York on March 29, Liang drove to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in a bid to photograph the B1-B aircraft, a strategic bomber.

He discovered that the plane had been moved and therefore could not be photographed, then headed on to Offutt Air Force Base.

Liang was arrested several days later while travelling back to Scotland and charged with violating a US law that bans photographing, sketching or mapping vital military bases and equipment without permission.

The student is expected to appear in court again later this month. However, the full details of his case remain undisclosed due to the FBIs concerns regarding the ongoing investigation into a named co-conspirator.

Liangs arrest comes amid longstanding warnings that British universities have become magnets for espionage, according to the head of MI5 and University of Glasgow alumnus Ken McCallum.

Programs funded by the Chinese Communist party on British campuses have been accused of spying on, and censoring UK students in recent years.

Experts also warn that universities running cutting-edge research projects with international students risk exposing sensitive military and technological material to foreign agents.

In November, Nigel Inkster of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the BBC there are a lot of cases of joint research which have clear military-defence applications, where I would have thought it would occur to those engaged to ask questions about the desirability of continuing with such activities.

Liangs lawyer, Jeffrey Thomas, from the Federal Public Defenders Omaha office, did not respond to enquiries.

The US Attorneys Office in Nebraska said it was unable to comment at this time.

A University of Glasgow spokesperson said: We do not comment on ongoing police matters or individual students.




https://youtu.be/buBZYb5OVX0?si=E96XUzMETBvTqu_r



@jennief7114

7 days ago (edited)

So CRAZY that they had to fight to get their stolen items back. Terrible, terrible. By the way, her lawyer earned 120 million on this case. His law firm should have listened to him!

Elizabeth Lee McGovern[1] (born July 18, 1961)[2] is an American actress. She has received three Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Satellite Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, among numerous other career plaudits and honors.

Born in Evanston, Illinois on July 18, 1961, McGovern spent most of her early life in Los Angeles. After attending the American Conservatory Theater and the Juilliard School, she made her feature film debut in Ordinary People (1980). For her role as Evelyn Nesbit in the film adaptation of Ragtime (1981), she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She subsequently had lead roles in a number of major studio films, including Once Upon a Time in America (1984), She's Having a Baby (1987), The Bedroom Window (1987), The Handmaid's Tale (1990), and The Wings of the Dove (1997).

McGovern was awarded the 2013 Will Award by the Shakespeare Theatre Company.[43]

In early 2020, McGovern was in rehearsal to star in a revival of The Little Foxes by American playwright Lillian Hellman at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. However, due to the Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performing arts, the show has been postponed indefinitely.[44][45][46]

Personal life

In 1992, McGovern married British film director and producer Simon Curtis; the couple have two daughters and live in Chiswick, London.[47][48]
Fines for cancellations and delays have been written out of a new 3.9billion CalMac contract amid Scotlands deepening ferries crisis.

Islanders have faced major disruption with up to ten vessels, including the new MV Glen Sannox, out of action in recent weeks.

It has now emerged that despite ongoing issues with reliability and performance, ministers have written out a penalty-based clause in the ferry firms contract leaving nobody accountable.

Although government owned, CalMac previously operated ferry services under a commercial contract.

But in October, Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland and CalMac signed a new 10-year deal that brought services under full public control based on a public service model.

But the near 4billion contract came as it was reported CalMac had amassed 21million in fines in the nine years to last September under the previous contract.

Critics slammed the move as rewarding failure.

Scottish Tory transport spokesman Sue Webber said the decision to rewrite CalMacs contract was a humiliating admission of how badly the SNP has managed the fleet and how regularly vessels are now breaking down.

The building of the Glen Sannox and its sister ship MV Glen Rosa were meant to be a welcome addition to CalMacs ageing fleet.

Fears 'nobody is accountable' after fines for failures written out of 3.9million CalMac contract

But after years of delays and spiralling costs, the Glen Rosa has yet to enter service, and since taking its first passengers last January the Glen Sannox has been plagued with issues.

The Mail revealed last month that the Glen Sannox had been out of service for more than 100 days, while CalMac confirmed it was facing an unprecedented situation with multiple ships out of action at the same time.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has called the move to full public control a catalyst for positive change.

However, Scottish Labour transport spokesman Daniel Johnson last night said: It sends the wrong message for the SNP to scrap all penalties for poor performance.

Under previous contracts, financial penalties were imposed by ministers when CalMac failed to meet targets on reliability, punctuality and service delivery.

But these are no longer in the new agreement. Instead, the contract relies on reporting, monitoring and escalation, with ministers able to intervene, demand improvements, or terminate the agreement in extreme cases.

John Daniel Peteranna, of the South Uist Business Impact Group, which organised a 2023 protest over breakdowns, said it means nobody is accountable.

CalMacs latest report states that reliability remains below target, driven by a combination of technical issues and ongoing challenges with ageing fleet and port infrastructure.

Transport Scotland said the government and CalMac continue to work closely to resolve the issues impacting ferry services. Lib Dem candidate for Argyll and Bute Alan Reid said: The relationship between CalMac and the government is unhealthy.

Rather than turning up the pressure on the ferry operator to improve, ministers are looking to spare both their blushes by minimising any possible sanction.
A former Army National Guardsman accused of shooting eight young children dead in Louisiana on Sunday morning has been identified as Shamar Elkins, a father to some of the victims.

Elkins, 31, a former member of the Louisiana National Guard, opened fire at a home in Shreveport during a domestic disturbance with his 34-year-old wife Shaneiqua Pugh, former Caddo Parish Constable Patrick Young told the Daily Mail.

The suspect, who was fatally shot by police during a vehicle chase, is accused of killing eight children, with the youngest being just 18 months old, the Shreveport Police Department said.

A total of 10 people were shot, with Pugh and another woman surviving.

Shreveport police told the Daily Mail the pair had an argument at the home they shared with the children before Elkins shooting rampage.

One of the women is expected to survive the attack, but the other woman had more serious life-threatening injuries, cops said.

The horrific ordeal unfolded across three different locations. The first was where the children were massacred in a home just a stone's throw away from a Baptist church.

Elkins then performed a carjacking at that location and led officers on a high-speed chase, traveling a quarter-mile away, police said.

The gunman accused of shooting eight young children dead in Louisiana on Sunday morning has been identified as Shamar Elkins (pictured center, surrounded by children). Police have yet to confirm the identities of the children killed

He then drove to the third location. He was shot and killed by police there.

The crime scene was described as 'rather extensive' by police spokesman Christopher Bordelon. 'We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations here,' he added.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux addressed the shaken community after the shooting.

The mayor added that the incident is 'maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had in Shreveport.'

'So, right now we're going to process the information and it's in very good hands,' he continued.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Elkins previously served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020 as a Signal Support System Specialist and a Fire Support Specialist, an Army official told Fox News Digital.

'He has no deployment. He left the Army as a private.'

Elkins also has a criminal history.

He was previously arrested in 2019, after cops said he fired several shots near a high school in Shreveport, according to court records obtained by the Daily Mail.

Elkins was charged with illegal use of weapons and dangerous instrumentalities and carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon near a school.

He served 30 days in the parish jail and was placed on supervised release for 18 months.

The ordeal unfolded across three different locations, police confirmed

Elkins, 31, opened fire early Sunday morning in Shreveport, Louisiana, killing eight young children

Speaker Mike Johnson shared his condolences after the ordeal on Sunday morning.

He wrote: 'Heartbreaking tragedy in Shreveport this morning - 8 children were senselessly killed and multiple others were injured. My team is in touch with local law enforcement as more details emerge.

'We're holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. And we are grateful to the Shreveport, Bossier, and Louisiana State Police for their swift response.'

Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent Keith Burton called the shooting an 'unspeakable tragedy.'

He added: 'We know that eight young lives were taken far too soon. They were children with dreams, hopes and futures that were just beginning to take shape.

'There are no words that can make sense of a loss like this. As a community, we must wrap around one another in the days ahead.

'We must take care of our children, support our families and stand beside our educators and first responders who are carrying the weight of this moment.'

Attorney General Liz Murrill's office sent the following statement: 'Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating this tragic situation.

'We do not yet know all the details, but I am deeply saddened by the senseless loss of life.

'I'm praying for the victims and their family members in the wake of this devastating violence.'

Shreveport, about five hours outside of New Orleans, is a high crime area known for violence, according to Neighborhood Scout.

One in 82 people are a victim of a violent crime in Shreveport, compared to one in 192 in the state of Louisiana, the report showed.

'We have a hurting community, we have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners personnel, fire departments, sheriff's people,' Arceneaux said.

'This affects the entire community. So we all mourn with these families.

'It's a Sunday morning. I ask all of you who are listening, who might be able to pray at your services this morning, not just for this family, for all the victims.'
The Ministry of Defence 'doesn't know' the location of 'most' of the military veterans who would be recalled back to service at the time of national danger.

The military's strategic reserve is made up of around 95,000 soldiers and officers, yet a key government adviser claimed officials have failed to keep an up-to-date contact list for the personnel.

Former Nato chief George Robertson, who co-chaired last year's strategic defence review (SDR), claimed the revelation at an event in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this week.

The Labour peer and former defence secretary, as reported by a national newspaper, said: 'What the review talks about is having the strategic reserve, that is, all of the people in this room who've been in the forces who have got a continuing obligation.

'But the Ministry of Defence at the present moment doesn't even know where most of them are. So we need to sort of round up those who are available and fit and willing to be able to do it.'

Lord Roberton's claim emerged as he said national security had been left 'in peril' by Labour's failure to increase defence spending.

The Labour grandee told the audience in Salisbury: 'The cold reality of today's dangerous world is that we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.'

Currently under law, all former officers, regular and reserve, can be recalled back to the military during their life.

The Ministry of Defence 'doesn't know' the location of 'most' of the military veterans who would be recalled back to service at the time of national danger

Former Nato chief George Robertson, who co-chaired last year's strategic defence review (SDR), claimed officials have failed to keep an up-to-date contact list with personnel Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Lord Robertson pictured in 2024 at Downing Street

The Military of Defence keeps in contact with veterans in the first six years after they have left full-time service through an 'annual reporting' letter.

The letter is sent on the anniversary of their discharge from the regular army, while the responsibility lies with the personnel to ensure their details are kept current.

It is understood that records have not been kept updated for a larger cohort of personnel who left the military more than six years ago - with claims the practice has been neglected since the end of the cold war.

The SDR included recommendations last June that the Government should urgently focus on raising numbers within the strategic reserve.

Plans were suggested to map the locations and skillsets of reservists and to 'make a more concentrated effort to engage them under a refreshed veterans' communications strategy'.

This comes as the military has struggled to recruit and retain personnel in recent years, with numbers shrinking from more than 100,000 personnel in 2010 to around 70,000 today.

In efforts to increase numbers, the Military of Defence made attempts to increase reserve numbers by raising the maximum recall age for veterans from 55 to 65, in force from next year.

As part of the Armed Forces Bill, the legal threshold for recall will also expand to include 'warlike operations' instead of purely an 'actual attack' on the UK.

Taking aim: Then-defence secretary George Robertson on a Challenger tank in 1999

The move forms part of the Armed Forces Bill and aims to encourage more individuals to enroll into the reserve forces. There are around 32,000 active reservists, both part-time and full-time, in the Armed Forces.

The Government faced further criticism by Lord Robertson this week over its prioritisation of welfare spending over security.

He accused Rachel Reeves of blocking funding for the Armed Forces and urged ministers to free up cash by slashing the bloated benefits budget.

The Labour Peer said: 'Britain's welfare budget is now five times the amount we spend on defence. So I ask, are we certain that this is the right priority  jeopardising people's future safety and security, while maintaining an increasingly unsustainable welfare bill?'

He added: 'We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe...Britain's national security and safety is in peril.'

Lord Robertson was backed by fellow Labour peer Lord Hutton, who served as both defence and work and pensions secretary in the last Labour government.

Lord Hutton urged Sir Keir to grip the issue as the 'defining moment in his premiership', saying he has 'a very, very short period of time to start putting this right and sending out the signals to Vladimir Putin' that Britain is serious about defending itself.

He told Times Radio that the Government has 'got to get a grip on the rising welfare budget'. But he warned that, almost two years in, 'there's no real sign that it's got any agenda for correcting the very steep rise in welfare payments'.

It emerged this week that the Treasury is pushing the Ministry of Defence to find 3.5billion in cuts this year  almost the exact cost of the Chancellor's decision to scrap the two-child benefits cap.

Kemi Badenoch said Labour's dithering on the issue was now an 'existential' problem for the country, saying: 'We have got to spend more on defence.'

The Conservative leader added: 'The Government does not have a defence investment plan. There is a welfare plan that runs to 2031 but no defence plan.'

A Military of Defence spokesperson said: 'We recognise the importance of the Strategic Reserve, which is why we are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review through our Armed Forces Bill.

'The Bill will expand our pool of Reserves by increasing the maximum age limit for recall, enable seamless transfer between regular and reserve forces and give the Defence Secretary power to authorise recall for warlike operations.

'We are also constantly improving our data and communicating with our Strategic Reserve community to mobilise talent rapidly when it matters most.'
The SNP descended into a bitter civil war yesterday amid claims that newly unearthed messages appear to show a conspiracy against former First Minister Alex Salmond.

Explosive WhatsApp messages reveal private conversations between senior SNP figures regarding complaints about Mr Salmonds conduct, following his judicial review victory against the Scottish Government over the way allegations were handled.

Allies of the late SNP and Alba Party leader yesterday demanded a police investigation into the conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice.

John Swinney also faces calls to come clean over what he knows about the messages.

It comes as former MP Joanna Cherry also claimed in a new book that there had been a witch hunt against Mr Salmond, that staff celebrated the emergence of allegations and joked about ritually melting down a bust of him.

Tory MP David Davis, a personal friend of Mr Salmond, said: There was clearly a conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice involving members of the SNP and SNP government that led to the trial of Alex Salmond. Since then successive SNP governments have run a serial cover-up, suppressing evidence over and again, assisted by the compromised state of the Scottish prosecutorial system.

It is high time there was a proper police investigation by an independent police force beyond the control of the SNP.

The previously unseen tranche of messages was published by the Sunday Mail, which reported they had been put before a court but not aired publicly.

The SNP has been plunged into civil war over former leader Alex Salmond

Former MP Joanna Cherry claims scandals 'are swamping the SNP'

They were sent between September 2018 and January 2019, after the Court of Session found the Scottish Government investigation into complaints about Mr Salmond had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.

In a criminal trial, the former First Minister was cleared of 13 charges at Edinburghs High Court in March 2020.

In the text exchanges, one senior figure is asked whether she has an Alex story, and responds: If I do I dont remember  wandering hands, some shouting, but not really? I think I wasnt his type.

In another exchange, the week after police announced an investigation into Mr Salmond, SNP compliance officer Ian McCann and chief operating officer Sue Ruddick discuss an attempt to find potential victims and appear disappointed that someone who said they could deliver five folk by the end of that week had overreached. In one message, Ms Ruddick tells then SNP chief executive Peter Murrell that someone seems up for the fight and is keen to see him go to jail.

When Mr Salmond was charged, another message said: He is going to jail. And Im ******* glad.

Speaking on Sky News yesterday, Ms Cherry, the former MP for Edinburgh South West, said scandals are swamping the SNP, and the messages show an alleged conspiracy to bring Alex Salmond down.

Extracts from her book, Keeping The Dream Alive, serialised by the Sunday Times ahead of being published on Thursday, also allege there was a witch-hunt against the former FM.

Scottish Conservative candidate Murdo Fraser said: This scandal exposes the bitter civil war within the SNP, which continues to this day.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: Its time for John Swinney and the SNP to come clean about this scandal and tell us what actually happened and explain exactly who knew what and when.

An SNP spokesman said: These issues, including the question of WhatsApps between women, have been examined and re-examined repeatedly.

It is vital that all those who report bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault are supported to do so.
The police watchdog is set to investigate a crash that killed two drivers after one of them drove the wrong way on a motorway.

A grey Ford Kuga was seen travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway on the M90 at around 10.30pm on Friday.

While on patrol, an officer in a marked police car witnessed the Kuga travelling towards them in the wrong direction on a roundabout near junction six.

Despite the officer activating blue lights, the Kuga continued onto the southbound carriageway and travelled in the wrong direction.

The police car followed the driver, travelling northbound in the correct direction.

The Ford then crashed into a white Vauxhall Corsa, which had been correctly travelling south on the southbound carriageway.

The police car then came across the collision between the two cars on the opposing carriageway near junction seven.

The male driver of the Kuga, 44, and the driver of the Corsa, who was a 20-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Pictured: Police at the scene following a head on collision on the M90 on Friday where two male drivers were pronounced dead at the scene

A grey Ford Kuga was seen driving northbound on the southbound carriageway on the M90 near junction seven at around 10.30pm on Friday, Police Scotland said (Pictured: The scene)

The M90 was shut for around 16 hours between junctions six and nine, so emergency services could carry out investigations. The road has since reopened (file image)

The M90 was shut for around 16 hours between junctions six and nine, so emergency services could carry out investigations. The road has since reopened.

The northbound carriageway was also closed for a short time overnight.

Police have urged anyone with information or dashcam footage to come froward.

Chief Inspector Lyne Williamson, Operational Support Division, said: 'I am aware of rumours circulating on social media around the circumstances leading up to the fatal crash on the M90, near Kinross, which happened around 10.30pm on Friday, 17 April, 2026.

'Whilst on routine patrol, an officer in a marked police vehicle encountered a Ford Kuga travelling towards them in the wrong direction on a roundabout, near to the entrance of junction six of the M90.

'Blue lights were activated but the Kuga continued onto the southbound carriageway of the motorway, travelling north in the wrong direction.

'The police vehicle then proceeded onto the northbound carriageway, travelling north in the correct direction, before coming across the collision between the Ford Kuga and the Vauxhall Corsa on the opposing carriageway.

'In these circumstances, it is mandatory for a referral to be made to the Police Investigation & Review Commissioner.

'I would ask the public to please avoid further speculation and respect the privacy of the families involved. Our thoughts remain with them.

'Extensive enquiries remain ongoing and I would again urge anyone with relevant information or dashcam footage to please contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting reference 3758 of 17 April, 2026.'
No more taxpayers money will be spent on controversial arts projects such as pornography funded by an SNP arts quango under plans unveiled by the Tories.

The Scottish Conservatives say they will ensure public money spent on the arts and cultural endeavours is not ploughed into niche initiatives or ones motivated by radical ideologies.

The party has vowed there will be no repetition of the scandal in 2024 when Creative Scotland committed 84,000 of funding to a film with hardcore pornographic content.

The Tories say they would ban public funding of projects with inappropriate themes, and re-focus Creative Scotlands mandate so that it supports projects with mass appeal.

Murdo Fraser, culture spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: It was outrageous that Creative Scotland handed taxpayers money to fund a pornographic movie  and we will act to ensure that a scandal of that sort is never repeated.

This SNP quango knew that the film would contain hardcore sexual scenes and only backed down after a huge public outcry.

Director Leonie Rae Gasson was handed 84,000 to develop her 'erotic journey' movie

In their manifesto, the Tories say Creative Scotland is in need of reform.

Grants would also be tied to guarantees that free speech is upheld in the institutions that receive them.

Creative Scotland handed 84,555 to director Leonie Rae Gasson to develop a film project, described as a fantastical art installation involving a mix of dancers, sex workers and performers taking the audience on an erotic journey through a distinctly Scottish landscape.

Ms Gasson had the funding approved after her application referenced a sex scene with genital contact with three of the cast and explicit sexual content, adding that performers would have to be tested for STIs.

After a backlash over the decision, Creative Scotland bosses claimed there had been confusion about the terminology used in the funding process.

A Creative Scotland spokesman said last night: We are unable to comment on party manifestos during the preelection period.

An SNP spokesman said: If the SNP is re-elected, we will invest in Scottish culture by supporting our emerging artists with a minimum income guarantee, a Performing Arts Body for Traditional Music and a new Festival of Scotland programme.
The SNP and the Greens are on course to fall short of a pro-independence majority in next months Holyrood election, according to a detailed new poll.

A survey of more than 5,000 Scots voters found pro-Union parties are on track to get more MSPs elected than the pro-independence parties.

But the poll by More in Common also found that more than half of the 73 constituencies are considered marginal, meaning there is less than five percentage points between the two biggest parties and there is still all to play for.

The poll, which uses a multi-level regression with post-stratification (MRP) system to provide results for each constituency, indicates the SNP is on course to fall from 64 seats to 56, with Reform UK in second place on 22, Labour 17, the Lib Dems 14, Conservatives 12 and Greens eight.

Luke Tryl, UK director of More in Common, said: Having been in power for almost two decades, the SNP are clearly suffering from the curse of incumbency that has afflicted governments around the world.

Although they look set to maintain power it will almost certainly be with significantly diminished vote share and this model estimates a lower seat count too.

The SNP benefit, however, from a further fragmentation of the Unionist vote, with Reform UK emerging as the strongest Unionist party and official opposition. That said, the biggest takeaway from this model is the sheer uncertainty six-party politics creates.

The poll suggests the SNP and Greens will fall short of a majority on May 7

Where the parties stand in latest poll

During a Channel 4 debate last week, Reform UKs Scottish leader Malcolm Offord claimed that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had privately offered to work with him to remove the SNP. He made the claim  which was branded a lie by Mr Sarwar  after the Scottish Labour leader had claimed a Reform candidate wants to deport my children.

Asked yesterday if he could vote for Mr Sarwar to become First Minister, Lord Offord told the BBC: He doesnt share our ambition to make Scotland the most successful part of the UK, so I dont understand how we could work together.

Labours Paul OKane said: Anas Sarwar has been very clear in this election he is a candidate for First Minister, we are not making deals before a single vote has been cast. The More in Common poll uses voter intentions, demographics, past voting behaviour and constituency information.

According to its findings, Reform is on course to secure at least two MSPs on the regional list in every area, with up to four in West Scotland, and it could win the constituencies of Ayr and Banffshire and Buchan Coast.

The Scottish Greens  who are projected to take eight seats  could claim their first constituencies in Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill and Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith.

SNP leader John Swinney told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that I think we will get a majority. He said: Im confident to predict it and thats what I am focused on achieving.

He also claimed in an interview with the Press Association that he believes the SNP could win an independence referendum in 2028.

Lib Dem MSP Jamie Green branded his comments very arrogant. A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: This poll makes it clear that a vote for Reform will only help the SNP remain in power for another five years.

As postal votes continue to land across Scotland, voters must back the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot paper.
British holidaymakers heading to Greece this summer are set to avoid the controversial new EU border checks, after Athens pulled the plug on fingerprinting and facial scans.

The move comes as Brussels presses ahead with its Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires all non-EU visitors to give biometric data at airports and border crossings.

The scheme, designed to replace traditional passport stamping and monitor the 90-day visa-free rule, has already caused crippling delays.

Tourists have been told queues could stretch up to four hours under the new regime, which is now fully operational.

But in a bid to avoid disruption at the height of summer getaway season Greece has, for now, opted out.

Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, said the decision would 'ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece' and would 'significantly reduce waiting times' while easing congestion at airports.

The EES rollout has not been without incident elsewhere.

At Milan Linate Airport last Sunday more than 120 easyJet passengers were left stranded after lengthy hold-ups at border control caused them to miss their flight to Manchester.

Among them were teacher Max Hume, 56, his wife Lynsey, 46, and their 13-year-old son Archie, whose return from a family ski trip descended into frustration.

British holidaymakers heading to Greece this summer are set to dodge controversial new EU border checks, after Athens pulled the plug on fingerprinting and facial scan requirements

The move comes as Brussels presses ahead with its sweeping Entry/Exit System (EES), which mandates that all non-EU visitors submit biometric data at airports and border crossings across the bloc

Join the discussion How should Europe balance border security with making travel easier for millions of tourists?

After queuing for over an hour on arrival in Italy and heeding advice to arrive early for departure, they reached the airport nearly three hours before take-off  only to be caught in further delays.

They ultimately watched their plane depart without them.

Faced with a 330 rebooking fee for a flight five days later, the family instead paid around 1,600 for an alternative route via Luxembourg.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Hume said he felt 'gutted, upset, let down, absolutely shattered and poorer  much poorer'.

Of the 156 passengers due to board the Manchester flight, just 34 made it on board, leaving 122 behind. easyJet later issued an apology.

What is the ESS?

The EU's Entry/Exit System (ESS) involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU. The automated EES system was first launched in October 2025, but airports and ports initially had until April 10 to fully implement the technology as a mandatory requirement. EES will replace the current system of passports being stamped by a border officer. To register for EES for the first time, a photo of your face will be taken and your passport scanned. Adults and children aged 12 and over will also have their fingerprints scanned. British travellers do not have to do anything specific to prepare but are advised to arrive at airports earlier than usual to prepare for longer waits at passport control.

Back in the UK, complications persist at key 'juxtaposed' border points in Dover, Folkestone and London St Pancras, where expensive EES kiosks remain disconnected from French border police systems.

The disruption is expected to continue until at least September.

Greece's decision is widely seen as a strategic move to protect its vital tourism sector, which relies heavily on British visitors flocking to hotspots such as Corfu, Crete and Rhodes  destinations that can each receive more than 2,000 UK arrivals per day during peak season.

With no confirmed end date for the exemption, speculation is mounting that other Mediterranean countries could follow suit.

Travel experts say the change may already be influencing holiday plans.

A spokesman for ABTA noted: 'Because of the war in the Middle East, Europe is seeing a big increase in interest as a holiday destination this year.'

The organisation expects Greece to rank as the fifth most popular destination for Britons this summer, behind Spain, France, Italy and the United States.

'I think it's too early to say what this change might mean for the number of people visiting, particularly as decisions on where to go are based on a number of factors,' the spokesman added.

Still, some travellers appear to have made up their minds.

'Greece for me this summer then, was thinking of Tenerife, but no way I'm putting up with those queues and chaos,' wrote one user on X.

Another said: 'I work in the travel industry, already had customers worried about this new system, believe me, Greece will benefit from this stand!'

While a third declared: 'Perfect  off to the Greek islands this summer  common sense prevails!'
New footage shows the moment American naval forces give 'fair warning' to an Iranian cargo vessel before blowing a hole in the engine room.

The dramatic video was released by CENTCOM on Sunday and shows troops aboard the USS Spruance intercepting the Iranian-flagged M/V Touska in the Arabian Sea as it sailed toward Bandar Abbas.

In the footage, US forces can be heard issuing multiple warnings to the Touska, informing the crew they were in violation of the blockade and ordering them to stop.

Those warnings stretched on for six tense hours - but the ship did not comply.

With the standoff escalating, the USS Spruance - guided-missile destroyer - issued a final directive: evacuate the engine room.

'Motor vessel Touska, vacate your engine room,' a troop can be heard telling the Iranian-flagged vessel. 'We are prepared to subject you to disabling fire.'

Moments later, the destroyer unleashed several rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun, blasting directly into the ship's engine compartment and bringing it to a halt.

Officials claim the ship had attempted to push through the blockade despite repeated warnings. Marines seized the ship after it was disabled.

President Donald Trump touted the operation on Truth Social ahead of crucial negotiations between U.S and Iranian representatives in Pakistan on Monday.

US forces on board the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance operating in the Arabian Sea intercepted the M/V Touska enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran

After Touska's crew failed to comply with warnings over a six-hour period, the Spruance fired several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska's engine room

Sailors onboard the USS Spruance gave the crew of the M/V Touska warnings before opening fire

'Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,' wrote Trump.

'The US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop.

'The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom (sic).'

'Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity.

'We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board!'

Iran responded by calling the US military action 'armed piracy' while vowing to retaliate.

'We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military,' read a statement carried by the Tasnim News Agency.

The US military began blockading all vessels attempting to leave or enter Iranian ports or the Iranian coastline, including the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, on April 17.

American troops have blown a hole through an Iranian cargo ship after it attempted to pass through the US blockade of the country's coastline, according to Donald Trump

The president touted the attack via Truth Social on Sunday afternoon, ahead of peace talks between negotiators from the US and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Monday

US Central Command posts about the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Sailors and Marines aboard dock landing ship USS Rushmore conduct blockade operations in the Arabian Sea

Sailors and Marines are seen aboard the landing ship USS Rushmore

The blockade began when US negotiators failed to broker a peace deal with Iran on April 12, and JD Vance returned from Islamabad empty handed.

Joined by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Vance is set to return to the Pakistani capital on Monday in a second attempt to secure an end to the conflict.

Trump warned earlier on Sunday that he would order the US military to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if a peace deal is not made.

'We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,' Trump wrote.

'NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.

'IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!'

Iran doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, as mediators scrambled to extend the ceasefire.

The dueling blockades have complicated Pakistani-led mediation attempts and raised questions about whether the two-week truce can be extended.

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, President Donald Trump said that Iran had 'decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz' at a French ship and a freighter from the UK

'It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,' Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday.

Qalibaf, who is Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States, slammed the US blockade as a 'naive decision made out of ignorance'.

He said Iran was still seeking peace despite deep-seated distrust of the United States.

'There will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,' he said, acknowledging that the gap between the two sides remained wide.

Iran had announced the strait's reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday.

But after Trump said the US blockade of Iran's ports 'will remain in full force' until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States.

Iran said it would continue enforcing its restrictions in the strait.

After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn around.

The president warned he would order the US military to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if they refuse the next peace deal. (Pictured: Smoke rising from buildings in the Iranian capital of Tehran on March 2, 2026, amid the ongoing conflict)

Centcom released several photos of the US military's operations in the Strait of Hormuz

The USS Rushmore is seen operating in the Strait of Hormuz

Their retreat returned the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil trade normally passes, to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict.

For Iran, the strait's closure - imposed after the US and Israel launched the war on February 28 during talks over Tehran's nuclear program - is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Trump.

For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran's already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.
Millions of Aussies will soon be able to make an instant $1,000 tax deduction claim for work-related expenses without needing to keep a box of receipts.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced the major tax reform ahead of delivering his fifth Federal Budget on May 12.

An estimated 6.2million Aussies  or 42 per cent of taxpayers  will benefit from the reforms, which come into effect from July 1.

'We're helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and this is another key way we're delivering for millions of Australian workers,' Chalmers said.

'We're reforming the tax system to make it easier, simpler and faster to do your taxes.

'This is tax reform and a bit of extra tax relief at the same time.'

The actual benefit depends on your income tax rate.

For many workers, that means an average tax saving of about $205, with some set to save up to $470.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured with wife Laura) has announced new tax reforms that will help 6.2million Aussies

Because the measure starts from July 1, it applies to the 202627 financial year.

Claims over $1,000 will still require receipts.

Charitable donations and other nonworkrelated deductions can be claimed separately, in addition to the instant tax deduction.

Sales assistants, office workers, nurses and childcare workers are among those set to benefit the most from the tax changes.

Tax agents still urge Aussies to keep receipts for work expenses, regardless of the amount they wish to claim.

'If taxpayers stop tracking their expenses in the hope of an easy 'instant' deduction, they risk missing out on the full refund they are entitled to if their actual costs such as professional equipment, home office expenses, or selfeducation surpass the flat $1,000 limit,' CPA Australia's Jenny Wong warned.

'While the government estimates the average relief at $205 per person, this is not a targeted reimbursement for the costs of earning an income; if left unchecked it could become a broad-based subsidy that does nothing to encourage taxpayers to take greater responsibility for their financial obligations.'

The move comes after Daily Mail revealed Chalmers is plotting a Budget night tax sting on property investors with older homes and backing a plan to give bigger capital gains tax (CGT) breaks to taxpayers who bankroll new apartments and townhouses.

Aussies will be able to make an instant $1000 tax deduction claim without the need for receipts

The government is expected to slash capital gains tax concessions on older properties, with Labor aiming to funnel investor money away from established housing and into projects that add to Australia's supply of homes.

Senior government insiders told the Daily Mail last week the Treasurer wants the change locked into the May 12 budget and has already won Anthony Albanese's support, with ministers and advisers now mulling the final details of how hard Labor should go.

At the centre of the push is a 2025 McKell Institute report by UNSW Professor Richard Holden and the institute's CEO Edward Cavanough.

The document is being used by the government as the template for a capital gains tax shakeup.

Under one model being worked through in Canberra, investors buying into newly built apartments and townhouses would get a larger tax break when they sell, while those piling into older housing would get a smaller tax concession.

The formula being examined would lift the current 50 per cent capital gains tax discount to 70 per cent for new attached dwellings such as apartments and townhouses.

It would slash it to 35 per cent for existing dwellings, and leave it unchanged at 50 per cent for new houses.

Negative gearing would remain untouched, according to the McKell paper. If adopted, that would allow Labor to argue that existing investors are protected, even as the rules are changed for future purchases, minimising the political fallout from the change.

However, Nine newspapers reported on Monday that the Cabinet are also closely looking at a second option - returning the capital gains tax to the way it was originally calculated under the Hawke-Keating government.

Under that original tax, the value of assets were pegged to inflation. The tax was applied to how much it went up in value.
Business / Local

by Stephen Jakes

ZITF 2026 will run in two phases:

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) 2026 has entered its final execution phase, with organisers confirming that exhibition space is almost fully booked ahead of the official opening next week.Addressing the media, ZITF Board Chairman Busisa Moyo said preparations were progressing smoothly, with exhibition space now at 97 percent capacity. He added that this year's edition had attracted more than 480 exhibitors from over 25 countries, reflecting strong international interest."We are now in the final stages of execution, and everything is progressing according to plan. The response from exhibitors, both local and international, has been very encouraging," said Moyo.Held annually in Bulawayo, the ZITF remains one of Zimbabwe's premier platforms for promoting trade, investment and industrial development. The event brings together businesses, policymakers and investors to explore opportunities across multiple sectors of the economy.Organisers have introduced new digital solutions to enhance the visitor experience, including streamlined access systems and the XPO263 mobile application, which will help attendees navigate the fairgrounds, access schedules and reduce congestion.- Business days: 2022 April (free entry upon registration)- Public days: 2325 April (tickets encouraged to be purchased online to avoid queues)The event continues to receive support from key industry bodies such as the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), underscoring its strategic role in driving economic engagement.With high exhibitor uptake and enhanced digital infrastructure, ZITF 2026 is expected to deliver a vibrant platform for business networking, innovation showcasing and public participation.
Police will pay 34,000 in compensation to an IT director thrown in a cell for a night over a blog post.

Samuel Smith took Hertfordshire Police to the High Court after a dozen officers arrived at his home, carried out an unlawful search and wrongfully detained him.

Mr Smith's arrest will now be scrubbed from the Police National Computer, with a marker stating he was subject to false allegations placed on the electronic system.

And a court order stated the force admits Mr Smith was 'unlawfully' arrested and detained, committed no offence and that officers 'trespassed' on his property.

It's a second humiliating climbdown for the force, after it paid 20,000 to a couple unlawfully arrested after they complained about their daughter's school on WhatsApp. Six officers were sent to the home of Rosalind Levine and Maxie Allen in January last year and held the couple for 11 hours on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications.

Just weeks after this debacle, officers arrested Mr Smith, 47, seized his devices and detained him for a night at Hatfield police station.

Six days after his arrest on March 6, 2025, detectives noted in police logs that the search was 'not lawful' and the case was dropped.

After a dozen officers descended on his home for an illegal search and wrongful detention, Samuel Smith filed a High Court claim against the Hertfordshire Police

Join the discussion What does this case say about police accountability and our right to free speech online?

Mr Smith writes a blog as Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General  named after a real 1600s figure who hunted women he accused of being witches.

He wrote an article about a woman falsely accused of being a paedophile, referring to two men as an extremist and a drug user after they had posted false information about her. This prompted the reports to police.

Body camera footage of the arrest shows Mr Smith answering the door in a dressing gown and visibly shaking.

Told he was arrested over false communications  a lowly summary offence  the search was carried out for more serious malicious communications offences.

Hertfordshire Police has now settled out of court and apologised to Mr Smith, who last night said he was 'grateful' to all those who backed his case.
Zack Polanski has been branded 'authoritarian' after calling for Right-wingers to be shut out of society.

The Green Party leader questioned whether people with views that he considers 'toxic' could ever be persuaded to change their minds.

He also said the 'predominant narrative' that Winston Churchill was an 'amazing Prime Minister' should be challenged as the wartime leader was 'deeply problematic'.

His comments came after some of his own candidates for next month's local elections have been accused of anti-Semitic hate speech.

On his Bold Politics podcast, Mr Polanski asked his guest, broadcaster Zakia Sewell, how people can be brought together in an 'increasingly divided' world.

He added: 'Before we go into complete utopia  which I'm totally there for  there are people, though, who would identify as Right-wing, or indeed even far-Right.

'And no matter what humanity or community we put them in, they are set on destroying or pushing this toxicity.

'Do we think we can change their minds? Or is it a case of building a society that doesn't include them?'

Zack Polanski has been branded 'authoritarian' after calling for Right-wingers to be shut out of society

On his Bold Politics podcast, Mr Polanski asked his guest, broadcaster Zakia Sewell (pictured), how people can be brought together in an 'increasingly divided' world

But Ms Sewell questioned if he was 'in danger of alienating people who are perhaps more moderate'.

Last night Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake suggested Mr Polanski's comments were 'authoritarian'.

He said: 'Polanski wants to build a society that doesn't include people with Right-wing views.

'Every regime that has tried to build a society along those lines  Soviet Russia, Mao's China, Castro's Cuba  ended in repression.

'This the opening line of every authoritarian playbook.'

A Reform UK spokesman added: 'Zack Polanski has just let the mask slip.

'He doesn't believe in persuading people or winning arguments  he wants to build a society that excludes anyone who identifies as Right of centre or even questions the Green agenda.

'That's not politics, that's authoritarianism.'
Sir Keir Starmer's claim that he could not tell MPs about the Peter Mandelson vetting fiasco until today has been undermined by the revelation that his top aides have known about it for weeks.

The Prime Minister faces accusations of breaking the Ministerial Code by not immediately telling the Commons that new evidence had cast doubt on his previous assurances that 'full due process' had been followed in appointment of the US ambassador.

Sir Keir was told about it last Tuesday evening, meaning that he could have made a statement to MPs before Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday or at any point on Thursday when Parliament was sitting.

His allies have insisted that he had to gather the full facts first.

But it has since emerged that two of the most senior figures in Whitehall had in fact been secretly informed about the vetting failure weeks earlier and were already in full possession of the facts and had passed this on to Sir Keir.

Cat Little, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, had been given a document revealing that officials at UK Security Vetting, the government body responsible, advised against granting Mandelson 'developed vetting' clearance at the end of March.

She received it because she is in charge of the so-called 'humble address' process of gathering files on the Mandelson affair after MPs voted for them to be made public.

Ms Little then discussed the new evidence with the country's top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo, and went to government lawyers with her findings before the PM was finally told last week.

Sir Keir Starmer's claim that he could not tell MPs about the Peter Mandelson vetting fiasco until today has been undermined by the revelation that his top aides have known about it for weeks

Cat Little, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, had been given a document revealing that officials at UK Security Vetting advised against granting Mandelson 'developed vetting' clearance at the end of March

Ms Little then discussed the new evidence with the country's top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo (pictured), and went to government lawyers with her findings

Join the discussion How should leaders be held accountable when they delay telling the truth to Parliament and the public?

Last night, senior Tory MP Alex Burghart said this proved that Sir Keir could have come to the Commons far sooner.

He told the Daily Mail: 'Senior people in the heart of government had been investigating this issue for weeks.

'On Tuesday, the Prime Minister knew enough to know that he had misled Parliament. And yet he did nothing.

'It was only when journalists broke the story that the truth started to come out.

'The Prime Minister has broken the rules of the House. He should take responsibility.'

The Lib Dems called for the Commons Privileges Committee to decide whether the PM misled Parliament, and has urged the parliamentary ethics adviser to see whether he had breached the Ministerial Code.

The party's Cabinet Office spokesman, Lisa Smart, said: 'This is yet another clear-cut example that the Prime Minister has shown catastrophically poor judgment and endangered national security.

'It is outrageous that this information keeps being drip-fed to the public, rather than the Prime Minister being honest.

'It completely undermines and betrays the public's trust. He must go.'

However, a Cabinet minister said yesterday that Sir Keir  who visited the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland on Saturday  had to get all the information necessary before he addressed MPs.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall told the BBC: 'I think one thing we've learnt from this whole torrid episode is the need to get the facts absolutely clear and right.'

A Labour MP also insisted yesterday that the PM needed time before he addressed Parliament.

Backbencher Tom Hayes told GB News: 'He instructed his Cabinet Secretary to assemble the facts... he's then going into Parliament at the earliest opportunity  Parliament doesn't sit on Friday, and on Monday he'll be coming to the Commons.'

Told that the Prime Minister already had the facts, Mr Hayes replied: 'He had the facts given to him at that point, and he wanted to road-test them, assemble all the facts and make sure the Commons has all the information that is accurate and it needs to know on Monday.'
Keir Starmer will address the Commons today on the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, after being told he must finally take responsibility and stop blaming others.

The Prime Minister faces accusations of breaking the Ministerial Code by failing to promptly inform the Commons that new evidence had cast doubt on his earlier assurances that 'full due process' had been followed in appointing the US ambassador.

Sir Keir begins a make-or-break week for his faltering premiership as he answers to angry MPs over his role in what has been described as a 'tawdry and shaming' affair.

He has already faced calls to resign from Labour backbenchers and peers, as well as opposition party leaders, over what they labelled 'catastrophic' misjudgments.

However Sir Keir signalled he would not accept the blame, saying last night he would make it 'crystal clear' to MPs that he was kept in the dark.

Martin Beckford says these are the questions MPs will want answered:

1. Did Sir Keir mislead Parliament?

The Prime Minister told MPs on several occasions that 'full due process' was followed, including 'security vetting', before Mandelson took up his role.

His right-hand man Darren Jones insisted last week this was technically correct because the Foreign Office had a little-known power to overrule vetting concerns.

But Sir Keir will face damaging accusations that he did not tell the truth, regardless or whether he knew the full facts at the time.

2. Why didn't the PM correct the record immediately?

The Ministerial Code requires members of the Government to correct 'any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity' if they did not give accurate information to MPs.

Sir Keir was told about the vetting scandal on Tuesday night so will be asked why he didn't correct the record on Wednesday, before Prime Minister's Questions.

Sir Keir Starmer is addressing the Commons about the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal (pictured together on February 27, 2025)

3. Was Sir Keir really the last to know?

Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Cat Little was handed a document revealing the vetting failure in late March and discussed it with the country's top civil servant, Dame Antonia Romeo.

The PM was told weeks later. Sir Keir will be asked if he is happy that they kept him in the dark  and how many others in No 10 knew before him.

4. Should he have been told what had happened?

Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins, who made the fateful decision to give Mandelson the job, believes he was not allowed to tell anyone about the concerns that emerged during the vetting process.

But many who have worked in Whitehall say they had been informed when the alarm had previously been raised over other candidates.

5. Why did officials say Mandelson should not get security clearance?

Although the New Labour grandee has been linked to Russia and China as well as paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his long and colourful career, it is not yet known what exactly led UK Security Vetting officials to raise the red flag over his appointment to Washington.

The Foreign Office's top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins (pictured) was sacked after his department failed to inform Starmer that Lord Mandelson had failed the security vetting

6. Has the PM seen the verdict himself yet?

Last month No 10 officials finally got hold of the document revealing that 'the recommendation from the vetting officer had been that developed vetting should not be granted to Peter Mandelson'.

But Sir Keir may have been told that the reasons behind the advice have to remain secret to protect Mandelson's privacy.

7. Did Mandelson read top-secret reports?

As well as developed vetting, Mandelson needed another type of clearance known as STRAP so he could be shown intelligence material.

Did he gain this despite failing the checks, or was he allowed to see the top-secret files anyway?

8. How much digging did Downing Street do?

Journalists went to No 10 as early as September with claims that Mandelson had failed his vetting but were assured that the normal process had been followed.

Downing Street has insisted that officials had repeatedly asked questions of the Foreign Office about the process, but it is not known exactly what they asked or what responses they received.

Starmer hosted an event with social media industry leaders to discuss child safety online on Thursday

9. Why didn't Foreign Secretary know?

David Lammy, in charge of the Foreign Office at the time, revealed yesterday he heard about the debacle only last Thursday.

But Tory predecessor Sir James Cleverly said it should have been his job to find out.

10. Was the 'fall guy' only obeying orders?

Sir Olly, who was sacked by Sir Keir last week, told MPs in November: 'It was clear that the Prime Minister wanted to make this appointment himself.'

Did the PM or his then chief of staff Morgan McSweeney make it known that their candidate had to be put in place regardless of any concerns raised?
Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Iran is paying British 'thugs for hire' to commit arson after the latest attack on a synagogue.

The revelation came from senior officers standing on the north London street where a firebomber struck at midnight on Saturday  the latest of several anti-Jewish incidents in the capital over the past week.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called the assault on the Kenton United Synagogue 'a cowardly arson attack', adding that 'a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum'.

Standing outside the synagogue yesterday, the Metropolitan Police's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said: 'Counter Terrorism Policing are leading all of the investigations into these incidents. Similar in nature, they have been arsons targeting Israeli and Jewish linked premises in London.

'Most have been claimed online by the group Ashab al-Yamin. This same group has claimed several incidents over recent months across Europe.'

She added: 'I have spoken previously about the Iranian regime's use of criminal proxies  and we are considering whether this tactic is being used here.

'This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause, and are taking quick cash for their crimes.'

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes also called for people from 'all faiths' to speak out against anti-Semitism.

Officers manned a cordon near the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, where an attempted arson attack was mounted on Saturday

Police also attended Finchley Reform Synagogue last week after an attempted arson attempt

Mr Jukes added that 'thugs for hire' carrying out such attacks were playing 'a mug's game' leading to 'long prison sentences'.

Thousands of extra patrols are being mounted  with a specially deployed officer raising the alarm at the Kenton synagogue, in Harrow, in the early hours of yesterday.

It is understood one saw a smashed window at the front of the synagogue, which lies between a school and a children's playground at the end of a broad cul-de-sac. A video showing a sinister figure throwing a firebomb through the window, while another person films them, was later posted online by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia  the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Righteous, unknown until a month ago.

The video, posted on a channel on the Telegram app said to be associated with Iran's Islamist regime, featured the group's logo, an arm brandishing an assault rifle, and messages in Arabic, English, and Hebrew.

The English message proclaims: 'Kenton United Synagogue in London is one of the centers of Zionist influence in the British capital.'

It goes on to identify the rabbi and the female chair of the synagogue, describing them as 'key instruments of this Zionist base in London'.

The latest attacks followed a similar effort targeting ambulances operated by a Jewish charity in Golders Green, north London, which were set on fire in March

In the event, the chilling attack soon fizzled out, with damage caused only to the medical room at the synagogue.

Police stopped a service going ahead to continue investigations yesterday morning, but worshippers attended at a different location in large numbers.

The attack came in the wake of the torching of four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, four weeks ago, similarly claimed by Ashab al-Yamin in a video circulated on Telegram.

Last Wednesday a man and woman were arrested after petrol bombs were thrown at the Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London.

There was also an attempted attack on an anti-Iranian regime media company in Wembley.

There were fears of attacks on London's Israeli embassy as the weekend dawned and there was an abortive arson attack on a Jewish-linked building in Hendon, north-west London, on Saturday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'appalled' by the attacks. He said: 'This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.'

Kenton synagogue's Rabbi Yehuda Black, in his post for 22 years, said: 'It's a terrible thing  but we shouldn't be detracted from standing up as Jewish, in the face of evil.'

United Synagogue president Saul Taylor, who presides over 60 synagogues across Britain, said of the attack: 'The Government and local police forces have responded well  but more must be done to prevent these attacks occurring at all.

'The Prime Minister should declare publicly what the Jewish community has known for some time: This is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate.'
Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongfully convicted of a brutal rape and jailed for 17 years has, has demanded a 'fearless investigation' into police and accused them of 'ignoring and destroying evidence'.

In one of Britain's worst miscarriages of justice, Mr Malkinson spent nearly two decades behind bars after he was wrongly convicted of raping a woman on a motorway embankment in 2003.

But as the now-60-year-old rotted in prison, the real culprit Paul Quinn, a hard-drinking divorced father-of-two who was also a serial sex offender, enjoyed his freedom.

That was until 2022, when new analysis of DNA taken from the victim's clothing provided a one-in-a-billion match to a sample given by Quinn to police over a decade before as part of an operation to add historic sex offenders to the national database.

He was included as he had carried out an indecent assault aged just 12.

And on Friday, Quinn, 52, was finally found guilty of raping a young mother as she walked home in Little Hulton, Salford, in the early hours of July 19, 2003, and is now facing time behind bars.

Five former Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers and one currently serving with the force are under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the case.

The chair and chief executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) having resigned. Mr Malkinson had previously taken his case to the CCRC, which investigates miscarriage of justice, where they twice rejected his claims of innocence.

Meanwhile, a public inquiry has since been launched after a 2024 review found failings that could have exonerated Mr Malkinson a decade before he was eventually released from prison.

Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongfully convicted of a brutal rape, has demanded a 'fearless investigation' into police and accused them of 'ignoring and destroying evidence'

Paul Quinn assaulted the victim - a young mother - fracturing her cheekbone, strangling her unconscious and raping her twice in 2003 during the attack for which Malkinson was jailed

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Now, Mr Malkinson has demanded a 'fearless investigation and full answers', as he insists the mistakes made in his case 'weren't innocent'.

'These weren't just errors,' he said. 'The police chose to ignore evidence of my innocence. They chose to destroy and not disclose evidence.

'They chose to resist my efforts to clear my name. People should be held accountable for those choices.'

Mr Malkinson, working as a security guard at a local shopping centre, protested his innocence but was wrongly picked out at an identity parade and jailed.

When the victim gave evidence against Mr Malkinson in 2003, she had doubts she had picked out the right man, but police dismissed this as 'just trial nerves'.

A DNA sample from the victim's vest top, only recovered and identified in 2007, was analysed and ruled out Mr Malkinson in a development which 'ought to have set alarm bells ringing', the court heard.

During the original trial, the victim tearfully told the court how she desperately tried to fight off her attacker as he strangled her.

Before losing consciousness, she scratched his face with such force that it caused the nail on the middle finger of her left hand to snap off.

In the brutal attack she suffered a fractured cheekbone and swollen eye and one nipple had been partially severed by a bite.

She described her attacker as tanned, of muscular build, had a shiny, hairless chest and was wearing a white shirt completely unbuttoned down the front - which immediately made local officers think of Mr Malkinson.

From left: A custody image of Andrew Malkinson after his arrest in 2003, an e-fit image created of the attacker based on the victim's description, and an image of Paul Quinn taken in 2005

Quinn was finally convicted using DNA evidence of his saliva found on the victim's vest top, which he left behind after biting her nipple so hard it was almost severed

Quinn was a convicted sex offender at the time of the attack and had previously provided police with DNA. He later searched Google asking: 'How long is DNA kept in database'

After nearly two decades behind bars for the crime, Mr Malkinson was released in 2020 with his conviction finally quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2023.

'The police should have had him (Quinn) on their radar. But, instead, they insisted on going after me, even after the victim expressed doubts that it was me,' he said.

'I feel like I can breathe a little easier today. I hope the victim can, too.'

Mr Malkinson's mother, Trish Hose, said her son has been 'psychologically, mentally and emotionally' damaged 'in every way' by the ordeal.

'He's a damaged man for what has happened to him. It's outrageous,' she said.

'All the time my son was telling the truth, that he was innocent and it wasn't his DNA, but it was just ignored; ignored by Greater Manchester Police and the Criminal Cases Review Commission', the 79-year-old told The Sunday Times.

'They've just been incompetent and not looked at the evidence at the time properly and they've just allowed this guy who's a monster to roam free in plain sight.'

Of the victim, Ms Hose said: 'God knows how she copes with it. I don't know. Twenty years ago she thought the man who attacked her was in prison.'

Speaking outside the court on Friday, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, of GMP, said: 'This day has come two decades too late for all involved in this horrendous case.

'To the victim of this heinous crime, and to Andrew Malkinson, the victim of this profound miscarriage of justice, I apologise sincerely and unreservedly on behalf of Greater Manchester Police.'
Years before Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor became engulfed in the Epstein scandal, the former prince made a rather unsuccessful attempt to deviate from his royal duties.

The former duke of York was said to be 'very serious about his photography', revealed renowned snapper Gene Nocon 2011. He went on to work as Andrew's technical assistant in a bid to nurture his 'instinctive aesthetic eye'.

After being encouraged by 'one or two' individuals to share his passion with the world, Andrew made the unprecedented move to release a photography book in 1995.

Photographs: Andrew, Prince Duke of York, was described in the foreword as 'a small slice of autobiography recording memories and impressions through my eyes and the lens of a camera'.

'This is a book by me, tyro-photographer, rather than by me, member of the Royal Family,' wrote the former prince.

Featuring members of the Royal Family and actress Finola Hughes, the largely black-and-white collection offered a rare glimpse into the life of a senior working royal.

Yet following its release, the book received an incredibly poor reception across the globe and was even branded 'sad and pathetic' by the Los Angeles Times.

The tranche of public criticism was heavily directed towards two particular images of a young Prince Harry.

In one shot, the infant was seen clutching a bucket and spade while on a royal tour aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. A second, also taken on the ship, captured Harry sat on a swing while facing away from the camera.

Tim Hughes, then associate editor of the British Journal of Photography, described the images of Harry by his uncle Andrew as 'technically very poor'.

Andrew made the unprecedented move to release a photography book in 1995 but critics labelled it as 'sad and pathetic'

The tranche of public criticism was heavily directed towards two particular images of a young Prince Harry

'The printers have had the unenviable task of trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear,' he added.

Meanwhile, Professor John Hedgecoe, head of photography at the London School of Art, described Harry's eyes as 'black slits' and added that his face 'is just like a mask'.

'It is an absolute mess. If it were possible to take the child out of the swing altogether it would have been better, the rope cuts across his face. I don't like this one at all,' said Kodak's head of customer relations.

Even Andrew himself struggled to defend himself against the tranche of criticism relating to the two photographs and later admitted during a sit-down ITN interview that 'technically they weren't particularly brilliant'.

However, the former prince went on to explain that the image of Harry on the swing had been particularly challenging to take as his father, Prince Charles, was pushing him out of short.

Speaking from Buckingham Palace, the former prince added that he firmly believed the 'point' of the images of Harry 'had been missed' by the public.

'A small baby, what was everybody expecting?,' he questioned.

'Were they expecting a Snowdon like portrait? I'm not that brilliant.'

In the year before Andrew's book release, the impassioned former prince hit the headlines for breaking a brand-new 1,800 Hasselblad camera, a personal gift to Queen Elizabeth II, during a photography session at Buckingham Palace.

Yet Andrew remained undeterred by suggestions that he should abandon his passion for photography altogether despite the book's poor reception.

Instead, during the sit-down interview, he reflected on the 'conflict between myself as a photographer and myself as a member of the Royal Family'.

Even Andrew himself struggled to defend himself against the tranche of criticism relating to the two photographs and later admitted during a sit-down ITN interview that 'technically they weren't particularly brilliant'

In 1994, the year before Andrew's book release, the former prince broke a brand-new 1,800 Hasselblad camera, a personal gift to Queen Elizabeth II, during a photography session at Buckingham Palace

When asked whether the book was only possible because of his royal status, the former prince responded: 'I think that the publisher and the agent and the people who were around me at the time took that into consideration right from the word go.

'Their view was that the photographs stood up on their own.'

Later on in the interview, Andrew went on to address the prospect of entering into a full-time career as a photographer while continuing his royal duties.

'I don't see myself necessarily doing it as a full time job. I don't think I could find the time,' he said.

'Who knows? Maybe, in 20 years time?' he continued, before breaking out into a gleeful smile.

Yet Andrew's dreams of making it big in the photography world would fall rather short.

Instead, it was to be a damning photograph of the former prince that would ultimately lead to his sensational public downfall.

The infamous image of Andrew with his arm around then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre in front of Ghislaine Maxwell at her home in 2001 would ultimately lead to Andrew being stripped of his royal titles and banished from the Firm.

It provided evidence to the FBI of Ms Giuffre's life as a 'sex slave' to Epstein and Maxwell, and prompted the criminal investigations that led to the paedophile financier's suicide in prison and Maxwell's 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

During a sit-down interview with ITN at Buckingham Palace, Andrew added that he firmly believed the 'point' of the images of Harry 'had been missed' by the public

Andrew has long disputed the authenticity of the image of him in intimate contact with Ms Giuffre.

And his suggestion that the damning 2001 image may have been faked was central to the defence he tried to put over in his disastrous Newsnight interview.

But in February an email came to light from disgraced socialite Maxwell in which she said she was 'stating for the record as fact' that not only had she introduced the former Prince to Giuffre but that the image was taken at her London home that same night.

Her admission, unearthed by the Daily Mail, will come as a major blow to Andrew, leaving his controversial Pizza Express 'alibi' in tatters.

It was made in a series of 2015 emails released in a tranche of more than three million Jeffrey Epstein-related documents by the US Department of Justice last week.

Drafting a statement intended to hit back at reports of mounting allegations in the press, disgraced socialite Maxwell had sent Epstein an email asking for his approval.

'In 2001 I was in London when (redacted) met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew,' she wrote.

'A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family.

'I never asked (redacted) to give him a massage,' her draft statement added.

In the body of the email, she said: 'I am stating for the record as fact' before adding: 'Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me - (redacted) was in the house and they did meet.'

However, she claimed she had 'no knowledge' of Ms Giuffre 'having sexual activity' with Andrew or any other 'famous people'.

Epstein replied saying her statement left 'too many unanswered questions' adding: 'Her and andrew?...whats the deal here? why is she there.'

Maxwell insisted that she need the statement 'asap' and that she was advised to say 'I was not aware of massage w/andrew in my house'.

'These thing they have to stay, along w/meeting virginia and rebutting those allegations. I needs it asap.'

Despite claiming they never met, the former duke paid Ms Giuffre millions to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.

Maxwell, too, dismissed the image as fake in an interview from prison, while those close to Andrew insisted his fingers were 'chubbier' and he was taller than depicted.

The convicted associate of paedophile Epstein also claimed in interviews with the US Department of Justice that she had no recollection of the pair meeting in her home.

The picture was unearthed by The Mail on Sunday as Ms Giuffre insisted, she slept with Andrew in London - a claim the disgraced ex-prince has vehemently denied.

Ms Giuffre said convicted paedophile Epstein took the photograph on a disposable camera before the group went to dinner and then Tramp nightclub.

She claimed was forced to have sex with Andrew that night at Maxwell's house as well as at Epstein's home in Manhattan and on his private Caribbean island of Little St James.

The latest revelations added fresh humiliation on Andrew's embarrassing ties to Epstein - links that saw him stripped of his titles and subsequently forced to leave his lavish Royal Lodge home in favour of his new, more modest, Sandringham abode.

He has been keeping a low profile in Norfolk since his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office on his 66th birthday on February 19.

However, the former prince stands accused of sharing confidential information with the paedophile during his time as a trade ambassador for the UK Government.
Fergie's obsessive hiding away from public view has been driven by a desire to protect her children from being drawn into the Epstein scandal, a family member has revealed.

The former Duchess of York was finally spotted this week outside an eye-wateringly expensive wellness clinic in Austria, where she has been holed up.

It was the first public sighting of the disgraced former royal in four months since she attended the christening of her youngest granddaughter, just before new revelations emerged further linking her to the paedophile financier.

Now, a relative who has been in contact with the disappearing ex-duchess during her self-imposed secret exile from British public life, has told what is behind her furtive behaviour  and why she wants to avoid being seen.

The relative, Martin Barrantes, has revealed to the Daily Mail that she is intent on eluding the media and the wider public as a way of protecting her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, and their children.

It is the first time anyone from the former duchess' family has spoken publicly about her since the US authorities released documents further implicating Sarah and her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the Epstein scandal.

And Mr Barrantes also revealed that despite being widely believed to be more or less penniless, Fergie in fact is part owner of a vast ranch in Argentina  where she has extensive contacts and a deep emotional connection.

Mr Barrantes, a cousin by marriage, told us: 'I have spoken to her [and] can tell you that she just wants to protect her children and her grandchildren.'

Sarah Ferguson pictured at the eye-wateringly expensive wellness clinic in Austria where she has been holed up. The former Duchess of York had not been seen in public for seven months

Pictured, the 2,000-a-night clinic where Fergie has been hiding amid the controversy surrounding her links to Epstein

The disgraced former royal was spotted in Austria for the first time in four months. She was last seen attending the christening of her youngest granddaughter

Pictured: A view of a lake in the Austria. It was previously revealed the disgraced former Royal had been hiding in the Alpine resort amid the scandal

He was speaking after being asked why she had elected to disappear.

He went on: 'We spoke around three months ago. I wanted to give her my support in a difficult moment for her with all that was going on with the Epstein Files.

'Sarah is going through a difficult moment, and I wanted to send her our support, she is a valued member of our family.

'Given the situation she seemed to be in good spirits.

And Mr Barrantes went on protectively: 'What people need to remember is that the real villain in all this is Epstein.

'Sarah was perhaps foolish to trust him and take such confidence from him, and I am sure she regrets that now.

'I haven't seen Sarah in person for four or five years now [but] Sarah, and her sister became much loved members of our family and of course we give her our support.'

Another member of the Argentinian branch of Fergie's family, Martin's younger brother Raphael, also expressed his support for her to the Daily Mail.

His brother Raphael Barrantes told the Daily Mail. 'I'm sure Sarah regrets ever getting to know Epstein.

'She was led on by him, but he was the criminal in all this, people have to remember that Sarah didn't do anything wrong.'

And, reiterating Martin's explanation for why she had been hiding out, Raphael added: 'She loves her children more than anything and will do anything for them.'

Ferguson, 66, has had a close connection to Argentina since her teens and has been a regular visitor for decades.

Her link to the country began when her mother Susan caused a scandal by divorcing her first husband Major Ronald Ferguson and eloping there with the dashing Argentinian polo player Hector Barrantes.

Hector's nephew Martin, who has known Fergie all his life, lives in Buenos Aires but also spends time at the isolated El Pucara, a 1000-acre ranch which is a six hour drive from the Argentine capital and 45 minutes away from the nearest town, Tres Lomas, where Hector and Susan lived.

Join the discussion Do YOU think distancing from the spotlight helps in situations like this?

Now, a cousin of the royal who co-owns a farm (pictured) with her in Argentina has told the Daily Mail the reason Fergie went into hiding - because she was protecting her daughters

The former Duchess of York still owns a share of the isolated El Pucara, a 1000-acre ranch which is a six hour drive from Buenos Aires where her late mother Susan Barrantes lived

Fergie has long held Argentina close to her heart. It is where her mother Susan Barrantes (pictured with Fergie at Polo in Windsor in 2006) lived until her death

On the edge of the Pampas, Argentina's famous fertile grasslands, it is an idyllic spot with miles of flat countryside devoted to crop farming, cattle ranching or stud ranches for polo horses and reachable only by driving miles along dusty unsurfaced trails.

And it has now emerged that El Pucara is jointly owned by Martin and Fergie  and although she has not visited for more than 15 years, she still keeps in regular contact with him, not least because the ranch is where her mother is buried.

Sarah's last visit to Argentina, Martin told us, was in 2011, when she was accompanied by a team from Hello! Magazine.

She was pictured kneeling at the simple wooden cross which marks the final resting place of her mother, who is buried alongside Hector Barrantes, her stepfather and Martin's uncle.

Martin, who also runs a biotech firm in Buenos Aires and is still involved in the polo circuit, told the Daily Mail that Sarah still part owned El Pucara.

And although some of the surrounding land has more recently been sold off, the plot where Susan and Hector are buried is still part of the estate.

Susan's decision to split from her husband  who was a polo playing friend of the late Prince Philip and manager of a younger King Charles  caused a huge social scandal in 1973.

At the time, Fergie was just 12 years old and, in an interview more than 25 years ago, she said her mother's decision to move abroad to Argentina led to her developing an eating disorder.

Fergie later told how she had blamed herself for being abandoned by her mother and turned to binge eating for comfort.

She told The Observer: 'She [Susan] was my spirit. My whole soul and she went. I believed it was my fault  of course I did.

'She hardly contacted me at all and that's when food became my only friend.'

For years, royal watchers noted similarities between the early life of Fergie and the late Princess of Wales, who was also separated from her mother when she was a small child and the two formed a strong bond when they married into the Windsors.

Susan and Hector became a high society couple in Argentina and were well known for their glamorous parties. Each year when the polo season finished in South America they would travel to Europe for the summer.

Susan Barrantes moved to Argentina when she fell in love with a polo player. She died in a car accident aged 61 and is buried on the farm. Fergie is pictured here at her grave in 2011

Fergie's stepfather Hector died from cancer aged just 51 and is buried at the El Pucara farm alongside his wife, Susan

Widowed Susan continued to live in El Pucara and although some of the land was sold off, it remained in her hands until her tragic death from a horrendous car crash in September 1998

Susan and Hector became a high society couple in Argentina and threw glamorous parties. Each year when the polo season finished they would travel to Europe for the summer

They were primarily there to see Sarah and her sister Jane, but they also took the opportunity to scout out new polo horses.

But the Falklands War in 1982 put an end to their travels for several years, as Argentine players were banned from the UK.

Susan's connections with the Royal Family had begun as far back as 1954, when she was presented as a debutante to the late Queen Elizabeth, and 22 years later it culminated in her riding in an open carriage with the Duke of Edinburgh for her daughter's wedding to Andrew.

When Fergie married Andrew in July 1986, the Falklands conflict was still fresh in public memory, and this, coupled with the fact Andrew had fought in the war, meant there was some uncertainty over whether Hector  who himself had enlisted in the Argentine army  would be invited.

But he was  even if he diplomatically elected not to join Susan on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the wider Royal Family.

Susan returned to Argentina soon after the wedding, but the day had proved to be the beginning of a rapprochement between her and the daughter she had abandoned.

This bond was further strengthened in 1990 when Hector fell gravely ill with cancer of the lymph glands.

Fergie dropped everything and took her then young family, Beatrice, two, and four-months old Eugenie, to Argentina to support her mother, as she spent the final hours with her husband.

Hector, just 51, died just 24 hours after the Yorks flew back to London following a ten-day visit to El Pucara.

At the time the Queen  who had danced with Hector at summer parties during Royal Ascot  sent her condolences.

And Fergie travelled back to Argentina with Andrew, her then husband, for the funeral and burial in the grounds of El Pucara.

Three years ago, in a podcast Sarah  who has herself battled back from breast cancer  spoke of her fight with the disease and recalled how it had previously claimed her stepfather Hector's life, adding that she had 'adored him' and describing him as a 'wonderful man'.

Widowed Susan continued to live in El Pucara and although some of the land was sold off, it remained in her hands until her tragic death from a horrendous car crash in September 1998  the same fate that had met Hector's first wife.

Driving back from friends late one night in a Rover 400 with Martin's younger brother Raphael, then 25, the car collided at high speed with a Renault truck.

Incredibly, Raphael escaped with minor injuries as did the occupants of the other vehicle. But Susan was killed instantly.

Later reports implied that the crash may have been the fault of Fergie's mum, amid suggestions that she routinely enjoyed driving at high speed, wasn't wearing a seat belt and a year earlier had been involved in another potentially deadly smash in which her car had rolled over seven times.

Fergie was on holiday in Italy at the time of the crash, with her Italian friend Count Gaddo della Gherardesca, and immediately flew to Argentina where she met her sister Jane who had arrived from Australia.

Again, the Queen  who was in Malaysia for the Commonwealth Games  sent her condolences and said she was 'shocked' and 'saddened' by the death  and Fergie was pictured arriving at a small airfield and being embraced by workers from El Pucara.

Despite initial reports Susan's body would be flown back to England, the funeral took place less than a week later and she was buried next to her second husband on the edge of a polo field  after councillors in Tres Lomas again granted special permission as they had for Hector.

A year before she died, Susan had written a book about her passion for polo called The Sport of Kings, and so in favour was she with the Royal Family that the then Prince of Wales wrote the foreword.

A year before she died, she had also attended the funeral of the late Princess of Wales  which brought her and Fergie even closer together, with Susan increasing the regularity of her trips to the UK and her daughter reciprocating by visiting El Pucara.

They would speak two or three times a week by telephone, with Sarah always keen to know how her mother was doing, and a month before she died Susan had spent the summer in France on holiday with her daughter.

Intriguingly, Sarah's connections to Argentina and El Pucara also emerge in the Epstein Files  with the first mention in 2007 in an email to the disgraced financier from a woman called Fiona Turney.

Turney, a Briton who now lives in Australia who has connections to the polo scene, had emailed Epstein to ask for work possibilities.

In her CV she described how she had been 'PA on a project in Argentina for the Duchess of York'.

She added: 'Initially I was sent to Argentina by DOY [Fergie] to assist in bringing to a conclusion the ongoing legal problems surrounding her deceased mother's estate.

'This has recently been resolved, and DOY is now owner of the property. I have produced financial and redevelopment plans for the property, which is situated 600km from Buenos Aries.'

Epstein's reply is not known, and attempts have been made to contact Turney.

Then in 2010, at the height of Fergie's financial troubles, her former husband sent an email to Abu Dhabi based financier Terence Allen, in which he asked for help with 'Sarah's plight'.

Without naming the creditors, the former Duke of York describes conspiratorially how they 'have the farm in Argentina and the jewellery as collateral and are not going anywhere with either'.

Mr Allen replies saying: 'With S  I want to help  sincerely. I am barely acquainted with either of you, so a little lost at what to suggest.

'Financially I can help. But it seems more meaningful if we find a worthwhile business role within her capabilities.

'Will you allow me to find something? I don't want to intrude if you prefer to handle this with the "family" so to speak.'

A year before she died, Susan (pictured) wrote a book about polo called The Sport of Kings, and so in favour was she with the Royal Family that the then Prince of Wales wrote the foreword

But perhaps the most intriguing is an email Epstein wrote to an undisclosed recipient in June 2014 that read: 'Fergie, helped lent money, mother Argentina rehab.'

It is well known that Epstein bankrolled Fergie with cash and flights  and that she was only too happy to accept, perhaps over-playing her enthusiasm and now bitterly regretting one email describing him as a 'supreme friend' urging him to 'Marry me!'

With all these connections it is no surprise that Fergie, even in hiding, has been keeping in touch with Martin.

Her family in Argentina hope that her current troubles soon recede so that not only is she able to resume some form of public life, but to make more return visits to this place that she loves and also part owns.
In royal circles it has long been known that King Charles III is not a fan of his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Charles once memorably described Andrew as like a fizzy drink that has been shaken up and the top taken off. The tension between the siblings  one the earnest older son, the other the playboy  was evident as far back as 1979 during the Cowes Week regatta on the Isle of Wight.

The then 19-year-old Andrew, nicknamed The Boss by their father because he was so wilful, did not take kindly to 30-year-old Charles teaching him how to windsurf by barking instructions at him.

The sailing community looked on, bemused, as Andrew got his own back at the helm of a speedboat, deliberately creating huge waves to destabilise the heir to the throne, tipping him off his board as he tried to enjoy some windsurfing on his own.

For years, Charles was the overachiever Andrew was forced to look up to  and that seemed ever more the case in 1992, when it was announced that Andrew and his wife Sarah Ferguson were separating. Ten years on from the Falklands conflict, Andrews popularity as the glamorous warrior prince who had served his country as a helicopter pilot was on the wane.

But, by the end of 1994, Charles was also sinking fast in the opinion polls because of his continuing association with Camilla Parker Bowles. In a massive own goal of a TV interview that June  one not unlike Andrews Newsnight debacle decades later  Charles admitted in front of an audience of 25 million people to being unfaithful to his wife, Princess Diana.

The following year, Diana countered with the Panorama interview in which she said that she did not think Charles would ever be king. And with both the Queen and the Queen Mother refusing to have anything to do with Camilla, Charles began to feel that the entire House of Windsor was ranged against him, and brooded over suspicions that both Andrew and Edward were plotting his downfall.

In particular, according to royal biographer Tom Bower, he believed that Andrew had been spreading poison about Camilla to the Queen and Prince Philip.

It has long been known in royal circles that King Charles III is not a fan of his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Andrew at Cowes in 1979 when he used waves from his speedboat to knock Charles off his windsurf board

Charles thought Sarah and Diana were planning a coup  particularly after her Panorama interview in which she said that she did not think Charles would ever be king

Now, mindful of Dianas prediction on Panorama ... he convinced himself that Diana and Sarah, Andrews estranged wife, were hatching plans to replace him as heir  by announcing that on the Queens death, or abdication, Andrew would be regent until William was 18, when he would take over.

For Charles, this confirmed something about Andrew that he had suspected all along.

Andrew wanted to be me, he told his private secretary Mark Bolland. I should have let him work with me. Given the scandals in which Andrew has become embroiled, it is probably a good thing he didnt.

Not least because there was the disgrace of his continued association with billionaire financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Still more horrifying were accusations the prince had slept with Virginia Giuffre, who claimed to have been trafficked to him as a 17-year-old by Epsteins girlfriend and madam Ghislaine Maxwell, a close friend of Andrews.

The Epstein affair would have been reason enough to justify keeping Andrew out of the public eye. But can this fully explain the action that Charles is said to have taken during the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations of June 2012?

He apparently saw to it that Andrew was excluded from joining his mother at a lunch for 700 people in Westminster Hall, and neither was he seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards.

Prince Edward suffered the same fate. And while Charles had long argued that the monarchys future lay in a reduction in the number of working royals, this led to speculation that he had not forgotten the perceived plot against him in the 1990s.

Four years later, in 2016, Charles was said to have resisted Andrews efforts to persuade the Queen that his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie should become taxpayer-funded working royals. Andrew issued a statement denying that there was any rift between them. But, according to Tom Bower, Charles was subsequently furious about Andrews disaster of an interview with the BBCs Newsnight in November 2019.

One reason was that it had completely overshadowed the visit to New Zealand he and Camilla had embarked on two days previously.

The one thing Charles is determined to do is inherit the crown and he wont let anyone get in the way, Bower told the Daily Mail.

King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex arrive to hold a vigil beside the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Andrew speaks with King Charles as they leave Westminster Cathedral on the day of the funeral of the Duchess of Kent

Three days after the interview aired, Andrew issued a statement saying he recognised that his association with Epstein had become a major disruption to my familys work. That being the case, the Queen had given him permission to step down from public duties.

It is believed Charles supported this effective sacking and one ex-courtier has suggested it was the result of continued paranoia about the dukes alleged attempt at a palace coup in the 1990s. If so, its a fitting revenge, commented the former royal employee.

The late Queen appeared never to have wavered in her support for Andrew. This was particularly clear on Sunday August 11, 2019, the day after Epstein  who, five weeks previously, had been arrested on charges of sex trafficking  was found dead in his cell in New York.

The focus on Epsteins circle was more intense than ever, yet the Queen ensured that Andrew was sitting alongside her in a Rolls-Royce as she headed for Sunday morning worship in Balmoral.

In March 2022, almost a year after Prince Philips death, a memorial service was held for him and it was Andrew the Queen chose to be her chaperone at Westminster Abbey.

That June, she was also said to have agreed only reluctantly to Charles and Williams demand that he be excluded from the public procession in which Her Majesty and Knights of the Garter, the highest noble order in Britain, walked to St Georges Chapel at Windsor for a religious service.

Following the Queens death at Balmoral only three months later, Andrew had to wear civilian clothing when he followed her coffin in the procession taking it along Edinburghs Royal Mile.

In January 2023, it was reported that Andrew would no longer be able to use his suite of rooms in Buckingham Palace and Charles also tried  and failed  to force him to leave Royal Lodge, a 30-bedroom residence near Windsor Castle.

But to the outside world, it seemed that not much had changed in Andrews position as eighth in line of succession. Perhaps Buckingham Palace thought it could sit on its hands under a new monarch, one who still appeared to lack a full grasp of the situations gravity.

In his notorious interview with Newsnight, Andrew had said he never had any contact with Epstein following his stay at his New York mansion in December 2010. Yet, in January last year, an email sent to Epstein by the prince on February 27, 2011, was revealed during a Financial Conduct Authority investigation into banker Jes Staley, a friend of Epstein.

Keep in close touch and well play some more soon!!!! it read.

Last April came the shocking news that Andrews accuser Virginia Giuffre had committed suicide at the age of 41. His supporters may have been secretly relieved that she would no longer be around to level accusations at him. But just as her posthumous autobiography Nobodys Girl was published in October, an email leaked to The Mail on Sunday spelt more trouble for the prince. Sent by him to the Queens deputy press secretary Ed Perkins in February 2011, just as this paper was about to go to press with the notorious photograph that showed Andrew with his arm around Giuffres waist, it revealed that he had emailed his police bodyguard her date of birth and social security number in the US, and asked him to find out what he could about her.

The implication was that he wanted to use this material to smear Giuffre.

But she had no criminal record and it is not clear if the officer complied with the request.

In desperation, Buckingham Palace reached for another range of symbolic measures to be seen to censure Andrew. It announced that Andrew had agreed to stop using the title Duke of York and other forms of address.

Behind the scenes, Charles was finally on manoeuvres. Two weeks later came the news that Andrew would give up his membership of the Order of the Garter and that Charles III had decided to formally remove all Andrews remaining royal styles and honours.

From November 3, Andrew was plain Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, a humiliation that came into effect nine days before a trove of 23,000 documents relating to the Epstein case was released in America.

While Andrew has long insisted the picture with Virginia Giuffre at Ghislaines home might be fake, the release included a damning email sent by Epstein to a reporter and appeared to confirm that it was genuine.

Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, 2026

Shortly afterwards it was announced that Andrew and Fergie  who had continued to live under the same roof despite their divorce  were finally being forced out of Royal Lodge, Andrews 75-year lease notwithstanding.

With Fergie left to find her own accommodation, Andrew found himself exiled to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, the Royal Familys equivalent of Siberia.

Siberia it might be, but it was reported that the former royal would still have a cook and a footman  though it was unclear who was paying for this  and that Andrew was to be addressed as Sir by them.

While Marsh Farm was being renovated, he moved temporarily into Wood Farm, once the out-of-the-way home for his father, Prince Philip, arriving there at the beginning of February this year.

That was shortly after another release of emails from the Epstein files, including documents suggesting that he had shared confidential information with Epstein while he was the UKs trade envoy. At 8am on February 19, 2026, his 66th birthday, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released hours later after questioning and without being charged.

Painfully for Buckingham Palace, not even King Charles had been given prior warning of the arrest of his own brother, a breach of the courtesies to which British royals had grown accustomed over a millennium.

It seemed that as a result of its handling of Andrew, the monarchy was now facing the dawn of an era where royal privilege has no place: one in which major change is needed to break with the past.
A glittering new oceanfront tower promising 'mansions in the sky' and billionaire-level amenities had hoped to attract the super wealthy, but more than a year after homes were touted for sale not a single unit has been sold on one of Miami's most notorious plots of land.

The Delmore, a 12-story ultra-luxury condominium planned for the former site of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, where 98 people died in a building collapse, is being marketed as the pinnacle of modern coastal living.

With 37 sprawling residences, private elevators, a sky pool suspended more than 100ft in the air, and interiors designed by the famed Zaha Hadid Architects, the development appears tailor-made for the global elite.

Prices start at $15 million, with typical units ranging between $35 million and $40 million and penthouses expected to exceed $150 million.

Yet, more than a year after its initial soft launch, developers have failed to secure a single signed contract.

The project's developer, Damac Properties, insisted interest is there, but admits multiple deals have fallen through.

Executives have also pointed to broader issues, including skepticism toward the company's lack of track record in the US market and a misjudged launch timeline that failed to align with buyer demand.

The firm launched sales in early 2025, but senior vice president of development Jeffrey Rossely admitted the rollout was rushed and poorly timed.

A Dubai developer has failed to sell a single unit at The Delmore, a luxury condo tower planned for the site of the deadly 2021 Surfside collapse. A rendering of what it will look like when it is due to open in 2028

Developers admit multiple deals have fallen through and the 2025 launch was rushed despite its ultra-wealthy target market and high-profile design

The development will feature 37 expansive residences, private elevators, a sky pool suspended more than 100 feet in the air and interiors by Zaha Hadid Architects. A pool rendering is pictured

'The initial soft launch we did in January 2025 was premature,' Rossely told The Real Deal, adding the company had expected stronger demand.

Damac paid $120 million for the 1.8-acre property in 2022, roughly a year after the Champlain Towers South collapse killed 98 people in one of the deadliest structural disasters in modern US history.

The purchase came through a court-ordered auction, with proceeds distributed to former unit owners and victims' families.

But the redevelopment has remained deeply controversial, with some families and locals arguing the land should have been preserved as a memorial rather than transformed into ultra-luxury housing.

That stigma appears to be weighing heavily on the project, with many local developers and brokerages reportedly steering clear of the site.

Despite the slow start, Rossely said the company has come close to securing deals. One potential transaction involving more than $200 million worth of units ultimately collapsed due to what he described as 'question marks over the source of the funding.'

Damac is now exploring a potential joint venture with another developer to revive momentum.

'A number of parties have approached us, and we are having discussions,' Rossely said, while insisting the company has no plans to walk away from the project which is due to be completed in 2028.

An aerial view of the condo collapse taken a few days after it happened in 2021

The devastation left behind by the collapse that killed 98 people. Investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened

The developer is also resubmitting its master building permit and working to secure insurance and a general contractor, with plans to relaunch sales later this year.

Rossely acknowledged that Damac's limited track record in the US luxury condo market has contributed to buyer hesitation.

'There's a degree of reasonable skepticism,' he said.

Founder of Damac Hussain Sajwani, whose net worth exceeds $15 billion, has built much of his portfolio in the Middle East and London and has at times been dubbed the 'Donald Trump of Dubai' for his property portfolio.

The Delmore is being built on the exact location where 98 people were killed when Champlain Towers South collapsed in the early hours of June 24, 2021 - one of the deadliest structural failures in US history.

For many, that legacy has turned the development into what one real estate agent bluntly described as untouchable.

Nick Green, a Compass agent working across Miami and New York, said local buyers are steering clear.

'Foreign buyers still see it as a good investment. But locals? They won't touch it. They think it's going to be full of ghosts,' he said.

Martin Langesfeld, who lost his sister and brother-in-law in the collapse, says families have been 'ignored and shut out' of memorial planning

Martin's sister, Nicky Langesfeld, 26, and her husband, Luis Sadovnic, 28, were living on the eighth floor and died in the collapse

The emotional weight of the site has been compounded by outrage from victims' families, who say they have been excluded from redevelopment plans and sidelined in efforts to create a meaningful memorial.

Martin Langesfeld, who lost his sister Nicole and her husband in the collapse, described the land as 'sacred' and accused developers of showing a 'total lack of respect.'

Families had pushed for a tribute to be incorporated into the site itself, but the current plan places a memorial one block away - a decision that has only fueled anger.

'We tried countless times and they do not want to work together on finding a way to respect the 98 who died,' Langesfeld told the Daily Mail.

'The 88th Street memorial, which is the street right next to the collapsed site is set to break ground soon.

'Everyone who lives in the new building will forever be reminded of what happened on the land they are sleeping on,' Langesfeld said.

Adding to concerns is the fact that the collapse investigation remains ongoing.

Federal officials with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have identified the building's pool deck as the likely origin point of the disaster, citing severe structural weaknesses in concrete slabs and support columns.

People look at the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South Condo in Surfside, Florida, in this June 24, 2021, file photo

Investigators believe the deck may have 'punched through' beneath the structure, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction that led to the tower's collapse.

However, key questions remain unanswered, and a final report is not expected until late 2026.

Langesfeld said the prolonged timeline has only deepened frustration among victims' families, claiming investigators have repeatedly requested extensions.

'Every year it's delayed, they get additional funds, if I'm not mistaken. Yet with an open investigation, they allowed a new development to break ground without knowing the cause or whether the land is safe for development,' he said.

He also alleged that independent efforts to investigate the collapse have been blocked.

'NIST does not allow privately funded investigators to conduct their own investigations. The town of Surfside hired a private investigator and spent millions, but NIST did not allow him to touch anything,' Langesfeld said.

Green said the fallout from the Surfside tragedy has triggered stricter safety laws, soaring insurance costs and a wave of owners trying to offload units in older buildings.

'The current state of the condo market in Miami - it's completely crashed,' he said, noting that some properties have lost up to 20 percent of their value in just two years.

Daily Mail has reached out to DAMAC Properties for further comment.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zambia and Zimbabwe will restrict heavy trucks and trains from using the Victoria Falls Bridge. pic.twitter.com/65yYIBjjLj  Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) April 19, 2026

Zambia and Zimbabwe will restrict heavy trucks and trains from using the historic Victoria Falls Bridge, President Hakainde Hichilema announced during the Engineering Institution of Zambia conference.The decision comes amid longstanding concerns over the structural integrity of the 120-year-old bridge, which was completed in 1905. Originally designed for lighter traffic, the bridge has faced mounting strain from modern heavy cargo volumes.Authorities emphasized that the measure is intended to preserve the bridge's role as a tourism landmark and ensure safe passage for light vehicles and visitors. Bulk freight will be redirected to alternative corridors, including the Chirundu and Kazungula crossings.The move aligns with recent infrastructure upgrades in the region, particularly the commissioning of the Kazungula Bridge. Built to handle heavy commercial traffic, Kazungula has already eased congestion and reduced reliance on the Victoria Falls crossing.Officials noted that protecting the bridge is not only a matter of engineering safety but also of safeguarding one of southern Africa's most iconic tourist attractions.Officials noted that protecting the bridge is not only a matter of engineering safety but also of safeguarding one of southern Africa's most iconic tourist attractions.
With the crew of Artemis II safely back on Earth, the countdown is already on for the next big moon mission.

In 2028, during NASA's Artemis IV mission, two astronauts will become the first people to land on the moon since the end of the Apollo era more than 50 years ago.

The space agency has previously suggested that this crew would include the first woman and first person of colour to set foot on the moon.

But the big question remains: who could NASA select for this historic mission?

While the crew of Artemis II  Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen  have only just finished their last mission, they aren't necessarily out of the running.

During the Apollo missions, NASA reused several crew members across multiple launches, with four astronauts having travelled to the moon twice.

To make things even more exciting, there is a good chance NASA will include a crewmember from another nation's space agency  and could even pick a British astronaut.

Here's a look at the most likely candidates for NASA's next generation of moonlanders.

With the crew of Artemis II  Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen  back on Earth, the countdown has begun to find NASA's moon landing crew

Dr Jessica Meir

In 2020, NASA unveiled what it called the 'Artemis Team', a list of 18 astronauts who were supposed to train for the moon landing.

The space agency appeared to have scrapped this list by choosing Reid Wiseman, who was not on the Artemis Team, as mission commander of Artemis II, but it still gives a good idea of who might be in the running.

Possibly the best candidate from those 18 is Dr Jessica Meir, a veteran astronaut with over 205 days in space and three spacewalks under her belt.

Dr Meir has a PhD in marine biology, specialising in the physiology of animals in extreme environments, and was selected for the astronaut programme in 2013.

During her mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Dr Meir also made history by taking part in the first allfemale spaceflight alongside Artemis II crewmember Christina Koch.

Her extensive mission experience and connection to Koch make her a natural candidate for Artemis IV.

The only potential snag is that Dr Meir is currently in space, serving as commander aboard the ISS for NASA's SpaceX Crew12 mission.

Jessica Meir: A veteran astronaut with over 205 days in space and three spacewalks under her belt. She made the first allfemale spacewalk alongside Artemis II's Christina Koch

Dr Jessica Watkins: In 2019, Dr Watkins became the first black woman to serve on the ISS for a long-term mission, spending a total of 170 days in space

The top contenders for the Artemis IV crew Dr Jessica Meir

Dr Jessica Watkins

Stephanie Wilson

Christina Koch

Dr Andre Douglas

Randolph 'Komrade' Bresnik

Suwa Makoto

Rosemary Coogan

But if she is back on Earth and ready in time, that extra leadership experience might make her an even better choice.

Dr Jessica Watkins

Another standout candidate from the Artemis Team roster is Dr Jessica Watkins, an astronaut who is no stranger to making history.

After completing her astronaut training in 2019, Dr Watkins was selected to serve as a mission specialist on the ISS during NASA's SpaceX Crew4 mission.

In doing so, she became the first black woman to serve on the ISS for a long-term mission, spending a total of 170 days in space.

Even more importantly, Dr Watkins is a highly accomplished geologist who served as chief geologist for a NASA analogue mission at the Mars Desert Research Station.

Given that NASA wants to assess the landing site near the moon's south pole for suitability as a longterm base, those skills could prove invaluable.

Stephanie Wilson

Stephanie Wilson: The longest serving astronaut in the 2020 'Artemis Team', Ms Wilson is a veteran of four shuttle flights with 42 days in space

Has NASA reused astronauts for moon missions? Although it wasn't common, NASA did use the same astronauts multiple times for the Apollo missions. In total, four people have been to the moon twice: Jim Lovell: Apollo 8 and Apollo 13

John Young: Apollo 10 and Apollo 16

Eugene Cernan: Apollo 10 and Apollo 17

John Young: Apollo 10 and Apollo 16 However, no one has ever walked on the moon more than once.

If NASA wants to prioritise experience on its next mission to the moon, Stephanie Wilson would be an ideal candidate.

Having been selected as an astronaut in 1996, Ms Wilson is the longestserving astronaut named on NASA's Artemis List.

After studying engineering at Harvard University and the University of Texas, Ms Wilson joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1992.

She is a veteran of three spaceflights aboard the shuttle and has logged more than 42 days in space.

In fact, Ms Wilson would have had more experience were it not for the infamous failure of the Boeing Starliner capsule in 2024.

NASA had announced that she would fly as a mission specialist on the SpaceX Crew9 mission, but Ms Wilson gave up her spot to make room for the safe return of the stranded Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams.

In another interesting connection, Ms Wilson actually served as ground controller at Houston during Christina Koch and Jessica Meir's first allfemale spacewalk.

Christina Koch

Christina Koch: Although Ms Koch flew on Artemis II, NASA has reused astronauts for moon missions in the past, and she is easily the agency's most experienced astronaut

Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? US citizenship required

Frequent travel will be required

Must complete a financial disclosure statement

Must meet all qualification/education and experience requirements by the closing date of the announcement (April 2)

Applicants may only select one discipline group to apply under

Selectees will be designated Astronaut Candidates and will undergo a training and evaluation period lasting approximately two years

Applicants must submit all STEM related transcripts

While it might seem odd for NASA to reuse an astronaut who has already flown on Artemis II, this might be a great choice for the space agency.

NASA has no rule against reusing astronauts and, while no astronaut has ever walked on the moon twice, astronauts frequently served on repeat missions during Apollo.

Christina Koch is by far the agency's most experienced candidate, having spent 328 days in space during the longest single spaceflight by a woman and undertaking six spacewalks.

Having returned to Earth after Artemis II, Ms Koch and her crewmates have already started conducting simulations, testing the equipment for the lunar landing while their bodies are still adapted to space.

This means that they are currently the only astronauts with experience of travelling on the Orion crew capsule, and using the scientific equipment NASA intends to deploy during Artemis IV.

That valuable experience may well prove to be something that NASA cannot give up on for future missions.

Dr Andre Douglas

One of the top contenders to be the first man on the moon since Apollo is Andre Douglas.

Dr Andre Douglas: The backup astronaut for Artemis II, who trained alongside that crew and was ready to step in if anyone could not make the final launch

Dr Douglas has a PhD in systems engineering from George Washington University and served in the US Coast Guard as a naval architect.

When he was selected for NASA's astronaut programme, he was a senior staff member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab researching planetary defence and space exploration.

Dr Douglas has been involved in some of NASA's most important scientific projects of recent years.

He supported the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) planetary defence mission for NASA and was part of the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium that worked to develop technology for a return to the moon.

But most importantly, Dr Douglas was selected as a backup crew member for the Artemis II mission.

That means he trained alongside Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen and could have stepped in to fill their position.

Although he lacks spaceflight experience, NASA was clearly ready to trust him with Artemis II and could be prepared to put their faith in him again.

Randolph 'Komrade' Bresnik

Randolph 'Komrade' Bresnik: One of NASA's most experienced astronauts, Mr Bresnik serves as the space agency's Assistant-to-the-Chief of the Astronaut Office for Exploration

Randolph Bresnik is one of NASA's most experienced astronauts and already has a critical role in the Artemis program.

Bresnik was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps in 1989, becoming a F/A18 Test Pilot.

He was eventually deployed to Kuwait to fly combat missions as part of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He has logged over 7,000 hours in more than 95 different types of aircraft, and 3,600 hours in spacecraft alone.

He has flown on multiple NASA missions, most recently serving as ISS commander for Expedition 53, logging over 149 days in space and 32 hours of space walks.

Critically, he is currently serving as the Assistant-to-the-Chief of the Astronaut Office for Exploration.

This means Bresnik manages the development and testing of everything that will operate beyond lowEarth orbit for the Artemis missions.

That means there is no other astronaut with a better understanding of what it will take to land on the moon in 2028.

Suwa Makoto: If NASA decides to partner with an international space agency, Japan's Suwa Makoto would be a strong contender

Suwa Makoto

However, there is a good chance that it won't just be Americans returning to the moon with Artemis IV.

Canadian Jeremy Hansen joined Artemis II, and the US space agency is likely to invite one of its international partners to send an astronaut again.

Scott Pace, Director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, told the Daily Mail: 'I believe Japan will have some future slots for its astronauts.'

Of those Japanese astronauts, one of the best candidates would be Suwa Makoto.

Having graduated from Princeton University with a degree in geosciences, he worked at the World Meteorological Organisation and the World Bank before becoming an astronaut.

Mr Makoto only completed his astronaut training in 2024, but has already joined the European Space Agency for a cave training exercise.

He has already been nominated for a longduration mission aboard the ISS, due to begin in 2027, and is in active training for that role.

That could mean he will be in top condition and fresh out of a mission working with NASA astronauts by the time Artemis IV is ready to launch.

Dr Rosemary Coogan: As Britain's only active astronaut, Dr Coogan would be the natural choice if NASA decides it wants to take a British crew member to the moon

Dr Rosemary Coogan

While Japan's space agency has a good shot at providing the first international astronaut for a NASA mission, Britain still stands a chance.

In 2022, then deputy NASA administrator Pamela Melroy said she felt 'very confident we'll have an international partner' and singled out the UK for its role in helping to develop the Lunar Gateway project.

If NASA does choose to partner with Britain, our best hope is Dr Rosemary Coogan  currently the only active British astronaut.

Dr Coogan graduated from the University of Sussex in 2019 with a doctorate in astronomy before joining the French space agency CNES.

In 2022, Dr Coogan was selected as an astronaut candidate in the European Space Agency and became certified in 2024.

While she is yet to gain any spaceflight experience, Dr Coogan is still a highly qualified scientist and Britain's best hope for landing on the moon.
Machine Gun Kelly has hit back at claims he exhibited 'disgusting and poor behavior' during an interaction with a fan at a club on Wednesday night.

A person has claimed they saw the rapper, 35, at Ric's Bar + Backyard in Fortitude Valley and approached him to ask for a photo for their friend.

MGK is said to have denied taking pictures with the person, who has since claimed on social media that the rapper continued to 'provoke' her after the interaction. However, the star shared a different version of events during his Brisbane concert on Thursday night, saying it was the other person who escalated their interaction.

Machine Gun Kelly, 35, has hit back at claims he exhibited 'disgusting and poor behaviour' during an interaction with a fan at Ric's Bar + Backyard in Brisbane on Wednesday night

The saga began when the clubgoer shared their story online, saying: 'My friend is a HUGE fan (I am not). He was not with me last night, so I decided to be a nice person and ask MGK for a photo for him!

'MGK's reply was: "Why would I want to take a photo if it doesn't make me happy?" I said that's fine, enjoy your night. [I] continued to chat to a friend that was standing next to him who I didn't notice prior and continued a conversation with her.

'I mentioned to her: "Wow, very strange behavior and kinda rude?"' the person added, saying they didn't know how interactions with celebrities 'normally go'. He then continued to provoke me, trying to argue with me about cameras and photos. He then mentioned who he was.

'I truly didn't care about the photos. I did care about basic human kindness and I couldn't understand why being famous gave you the privilege to be so rude. We are literally at [Ric's Bar + Backyard] in Brisbane on a Wednesday. (If you know Ric's, you know Ric's.)'

The clubgoer said they told MGK they 'didn't really know who he was', and insisted they 'weren't really a fan' and were just 'doing something kind' for their friend.

'[He] started arguing back with me and I just said human to human, you have no reason to be unkind other than you're famous and your ego is large,' they added.

Defense: MGK is said to have denied taking pictures with the person, who has since claimed on social media that the rapper continued to 'provoke' her after the interaction

The clubgoer went on: 'He said it had nothing to do with him being famous and I said it definitely did because otherwise you would have declined more politely.

'[I] added that I wasn't a fan again and added f*** off. He was rude to every single person he met at Ric's.'

The person went on to say they 'feel sorry for the people that were fans and wanted a kind interaction', adding: 'All goods if you're in a bad mood, having a s*** day. But don't come to one of the only open clubs and busier clubs if you don't want a social interaction with fans!'

They said they 'respected' MGK's request to not take a photo, but claimed 'to come back up and provoke an argument is what I find disgusting and poor behavior'.

However, MGK claimed during his Brisbane concert on Thursday that things went a bit differently than what the fan had claimed. He said he politely declined to take a photo with the fan, who allegedly said they had a friend attending one of his shows 'next week'.

The rapper said he corrected the person on his tour dates, telling them he didn't have a show next week, to which the person allegedly responded by swearing at him.

What really happened? MGK shared a different version of events during his Brisbane concert on Thursday night, saying it was the other person who escalated their interaction

MGK said: '[She asked,] "I just want a picture for one of my friends going to your show next week," so I thought about it. I was like look, respectfully I just want to hang, you know? Then I thought about it, and I was like, "Oh, hey, we don't have a show next week."

'She was like: "Well, I don't f***ing like you anyway. I don't even listen to you".'

MGK then went on to finish his story with a transition into his song F*** You, Goodbye, which he released with The Kid Laroi in 2020.

He added: 'You know, the only thing that popped into my head that I wanted to say to her the whole time? I wanted to look right in the soul of her eyes and go [the opening lyrics "F*** You, Goodbye" began to play].'

MGK was Down Under for the Australian and New Zealand leg of his Lost Americana tour. He played to a sold-out show at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Tuesday night before performing in Brisbane on Thursday.

His final stop will be in Auckland on Saturday.
After sharing a recent negative experience with online travel agent Booking.com - our Mother's Day weekend away was left ruined after we were greeted with an unclean property, and my mum was left 90 out of pocket - Daily Mail readers have contacted me with similar stories.

Thankfully, my mum has now been refunded - but other Booking.com customers say they're still battling for their money back after checking into 'unclean' holiday lets that they claim didn't match descriptions on the platform.

Earlier this week, the holiday giant made headlines after it suffered a major security breach that led to customers' data being leaked to a 'third party'.

And while there's no denying the site's popularity - Booking.com has millions of satisfied customers, the Daily Mail spoke to three users this week who all say they're struggling to get refunds.

Earlier this week Booking.com found itself as the centre of a fresh 'reservation hijacking' incident - after customers details were shared

'NEW YEAR IN DUBAI LEFT US THOUSANDS OUT OF POCKET - OUR CONCERNS OVER A FLIMSY LOCK AND MATTRESS STAINS FELL ON DEAF EARS...'

One Booking.com customer spending New Year in Dubai was greeted by a flimsy lock...and unclean bedding

A Booking.com customer, who does not wish to be named, told me she'd booked an apartment in Dubai for New Years Eve with her sister and the pair paid 1,300 for three nights.

However, when they arrived, they realised the property wasn't quite what they envisioned. After dropping off their bags quickly to spend the evening with family, they returned to the flat and noticed one bed was 'dirty'.

The sisters, from Warwickshire, decided to properly inspect the property in the morning and realised it needed a 'deep clean'.

The customer explains: 'When we had a look around, it was really unclean and the door handle for the actual place was really flimsy and unsecured.'

Initially, Booking.com was, she says, 'really helpful' and it seemed like a refund would be possible.

Keen not to spend New Year's Eve in their sub-standard holiday let, they were left scrambling to find a new hotel at such short notice - but then they were told no refund was possible after all.

After contacting the owner over WhatsApp, someone came to the apartment with fresh bedding and offered to clean, and Booking.com promptly closed the case.

However, the sisters, 34 and 35, didn't feel comfortable staying at the property and felt a quick clean was insufficient - with no solution offered for the property's flimsy lock, so they decided to spend 870 on a new room at a hotel.

With Booking.com and the owner of the property refusing to refund, they attempted to do a credit card chargeback but this was unsuccessful - leaving them thousands of pounds out of pocket for their three-night New Year's trip.

What has Booking.com offered? A 243.35 voucher as a gesture of goodwill.

'THE PRIVATE APARTMENT WAS DIRTY AND LOOKED DIFFERENT TO THE PHOTOS ONLINE - AND THE OWNER BECAME AGGRESSIVE WHEN WE TOLD HIM...'

Martina Andretta's surprise birthday trip organised by her boyfriend in January got off to a bad start.

The pair jetted to Tenerife and were let into the private apartment they'd booked by the host.

Martina, 33, explains: 'The flat just looked, immediately as I came in, dirty, badly kept, just awful... but I didn't quite know what to say there and then, because I didn't know anything.

'So we waited for the host to leave, and then I saw that my boyfriend is on his phone checking that we are even in the right place.'

A photograph of the property from the listing Martina's boyfriend had booked

Another Booking.com customer, Martina Andretta, saw her surprise birthday trip to Tenerife spoiled by a filthy holiday let

The Italian, who lives in London, admits she even asked her boyfriend if the situation 'was a joke' because of how dire it felt.

'He showed me the pictures of the listing that he thought he was booking, and it looked so different,' Martina continues.

'A lot of the furniture had been changed, and some of the stuff that was there was much more scuffed and old,' she says.

'In the kitchen, the sponge was dirty, the fridge was dirty, the bed sheets were dirty.'

The couple noticed scuffs and marks on the walls and there were stains on the sofa.

The kitchen was 'dirty' and they found dust on the floors throughout the apartment, they say

'It was late in the afternoon, so our first thought wasn't to alert the host because we thought even if somebody comes and cleans, we're not going to be able to sleep here tonight,' Martina explains.

'So immediately, we just found alternative accommodation, moved there, and then alerted the host and Booking.com.'

However, she claims the owner was 'immediately very aggressive' about her complaints.

Martina and her boyfriend have only managed to get 36 in travel credit from Booking.com and a partial refund of 220 (110 per night).

They're still missing the first night's cost and cleaning fee of 70 (61) - totalling 180 (156).

'IN 42 DEGREE HEAT, WE HAD TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO STAY AFTER OUR 300 MADRID STAY CAME WITH NO BEDDING AND NO TOILET ROLL...'

The listing on Booking.com for the Madrid property showed a clean apartment with bed linen

Another customer, who would like to remain anonymous, had booked accommodation through the platform in Madrid, towards the end of a road trip across Spain in July 2025.

When she arrived, with her husband and three children, they couldn't properly access the property for 45 minutes.

After eventually being let inside the apartment, the holidaymaker says the family found it 'filthy'.

The mother-of-three explains: 'There was no linen, there were no bed covers, there were no toilet rolls,' despite it being advertised as a fully furnished apartment.

The customer managed to get hold of the property owner after some time and was told linen could be brought the next day.

'We told them we couldn't sleep in the bed, there was no bedsheet, and they said, "Well, there's a problem, we can't do anything about it",' she recalls.

However, when the family-of-five checked in, there was no bed linen in the property

Feeling they had no choice but to vacate or face an uncomfortable night, they paid around 550 (478) for a new hotel, as well as the taxi there.

The family had already spent 343 (298) on the Booking.com rental.

The holidaymaker says: 'We just had to leave the apartment that we paid for and find somewhere for five people in 42 degree heat.'

Booking.com did offer the customer a 35 (30) voucher but she insists she'll never use the site again.

'I'd recommend people to stay clear of them, I would use them now as like a search engine. It can be cheaper to book direct anyway. I would never, no matter how good of a deal it was, use them. I wouldn't give them my bank details.'

A Booking.com spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We have stays for every budget, and to help customers find the right one for them, there are a few things they can check before booking - including the reviews and the property score that is calculated based on customer feedback.

'The apartment or hotel is responsible for making sure their property lives up to expectations, and for providing a refund if a customer is dissatisfied.

'We'd expect our accommodation partners to be on hand for everyday issues, like bed linen and towel availability, to put them right, which we understand did happen when the host was contacted in the cases shared.

'If more support is needed, customers can reach out to Booking.com, so we can provide assistance.'
When travellers set off to the airport for a flight, they usually don't spend too much time dwelling on other passengers' germs.

However, hygiene experts have suggested that the international transport hubs are amongst the grubbiest.

From disgusting tray tables to questionable toilets both in the airport and on board a plane, the list of unhygienic spots you might pass through while travelling is long.

We may all know the basics - wash your hands, take hand sanitizer on board, wear shoes when heading to the toilet on a flight.

But it turns out, planes and airports might be even filthier than you think - with hidden crevices you might not have considered often harbouring serious grime.

Here, the Daily Mail examines why airports and planes are dirtier than you might imagine.

The key reason? There isn't a standard 'rule' all planes must follow to maintain cleanliness.

Elliot 'Mo' Kreitenberg, infection prevention specialist and co-inventor of GermFalcon, a UV cabin treatment system, said: 'Airlines aren't required to meet any standardised hygiene benchmark.

'What happens between flights is trash removal and a visual wipe-down - that's it.

'Hundreds of different passengers cycle through the same cabin surfaces every day, and there's no restaurant-style sanitation standard holding anyone accountable for what germs might get left behind.

'We fly with culture plates (like petri dishes) and our tests show the aisle seat is generally dirtier, which is just a product of contact volume.'

So what else are germ magnets when catching a flight? Here's a rundown of the worst offenders...

SECURITY TRAYS

When going through security, you might not realise how dirty the trays are

It's one of the first things you'll do at the airport but security checkpoints are some of the dirtiest areas located there, Dr Darin Detwiler, who previously served as a public health expert for the FDA, told the Daily Mail.

A 2018 study found that the plastic trays used at airport security checkpoints harbored more germs than the airport toilets.

Researchers took eight samples from the trays used at the Helsinki airport over the course of three weeks.

When the results came back, they found that half of the samples carried some kind of respiratory disease, including influenza A, rhinovirus, adenovirus and coronavirus.

In comparison, viruses were not detected in most of the samples collected from toilets.

The scientists said this may be due to people paying particular attention to hand hygiene when in the bathroom.

'Much like old days when public pay phones were the most handled (and contaminated) surfaces, today those plastic security bins harbor more respiratory viruses than public toilets,' Darin told the Daily Mail in response to the findings.

To prevent the spread of germs in the security area, he recommends using hand sanitiser immediately after touching security bins, conveyor belts or fingerprint scanners.

AIRPORT BUFFETS

Fancy a trip to the airport lounge to enjoy a buffet? You might want to think twice

Darin said premium airport lounges may offer a quieter atmosphere, but they're not immune from contamination, 'especially when it comes to shared food stations and high-touch surfaces.'

He advises avoiding self-serve buffets and opting for packaged or made-to-order meals instead.

He also recommends disinfecting tables and seating areas before eating.

BAGGAGE CLAIM BELTS

Another airport spot that's full of germs is the baggage claim area

Think you're safe once you've landed? Think again.

Darin revealed the baggage claim area, customs and ground transportation all present new risks.

Baggage claim belts come into contact with thousands of suitcases and hands, making them potential areas for bacteria to gather.

Studies have also shown that suitcases - particularly their wheels and bases - can carry significant amounts of bacteria, sometimes exceeding levels found on surfaces like public toilet seats.

Plus, 'exhaustion can make you more vulnerable as you are less alert and it is easy to let your guard down'.

To keep your guard up, he recommends sanitising your hands after collecting luggage, as your 'bag has been tossed around and handled by multiple people, moving along on conveyor belts, trolleys and cargo holds.'

He also suggests keeping your mask on in customs and baggage claim as these areas are still crowded with travelers.

After returning home or arriving at a hotel, shower and change into clean clothes as soon as possible, especially after long-haul flights.

THE AISLE SEAT

Choose your seat wisely - and with hygiene and cleanliness in mind

Usually, picking a seat for a flight is based on personal preference - do you want to enjoy views from the window? Or are you keen to sit on the aisle in case you need the bathroom?

Beyond convenience and comfort, your choice of seat could have an impact on hygiene.

Infection prevention specialist Elliot said: 'Every passenger walking to the bathroom, every crew member steadying themselves during turbulence - they grab the aisle seatback.

'The top of the seatback is consistently, and far and away the most quantitatively contaminated surface in the passenger cabin. The window seat doesn't get touched by nearly as many strangers.'

As such, the aisle seatback harbours far more germs than the middle or window seat.

SEATS IN GENERAL

Other seat choices can also affect the standard of cleanliness in your journey

Dirty and germ-ridden seats can affect not just your general sense of hygiene, but also your skin.

Annabelle Taurua, beauty expert at the world's leading beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha, says: 'It is common for people to sanitise their seat tray when getting on a flight, but what they don't realise is that that is not enough, and they should in fact be sanitising their whole seat as well.

'It might look clean, but it can harbour bacteria and residue from previous passengers that will then be in very close contact with your skin.

'Touching any of the unsanitised surfaces in your seating area, whether it be the tray, your seat, the arm rests and then touching your face will very quickly undo all the effort you put into your skincare routine, potentially leading to breakouts.

'Cabin air is very dry, and this can weaken your skin barrier, making it much more prone to irritation and sensitive to bacteria.

'So sanitising the whole area is really important and will help your skincare actually work as opposed to having to fight against new impurities every time you touch your face.'

TOILETS

Plane toilets are one of the dirtiest places you can find on board an aircraft

This one's hardly a surprise.

A former flight attendant who spent years working for a major airline said: 'The aeroplane loo is essentially a cupboard, with no clean air. There is no window and the air ventilation is poor.

'This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have "done their business" before you (especially if it's a long-haul flight) but you could also be breathing in potential faeces particles, circulating the air after a toilet flush.'

She added: 'It sounds dramatic but I highly recommend you avoid direct contact with as many surfaces as possible, in the aeroplane loo cubicle.'

That starts from opening the door. Instead they advise using your foot or wearing plastic, disposable gloves to touch the handle.

In addition, most plane loos have wipes next to the sink, which are there to be used.

According to the former air steward: 'The worst time to use the aeroplane loo is right before take-off and at the very end of a flight, especially if it's long-haul.'

They explain that the on-flight bathrooms are equally bad after a bumpy spot of turbulence during which time the seat belt signs would have to be turned on.

As soon as the signs are turned off an influx people needing the loo, as well as those who feel they may be sick will rush to the bathroom.

SEATBELT BUCKLES

Buckle in - but perhaps consider giving the seatbelt a wipe down first?

On every flight, passengers will repeatedly fasten and unfasten their seatbelt, touching the buckle each time.

Touched over the years by thousands of hands, the seatbelts are rarely cleaned or replaced.

Previously, researchers uncovered the presence of human bacteroides  germs which can cause real damage to health - here.

SAFETY INSTRUCTION CARDS

Instruction cards are a vital part of aircraft safety - but they can also be covered in germs

It's designed to help save your life in case of an emergency - but the instruction card in your seat pocket could be ridden with germs.

Josephine Remo, a travel blogger who has worked as a flight attendant, told Travel + Leisure: 'The dirtiest spot on a plane is the safety instruction card in the seat pocket.'

These cards are not usually cleaned by cabin crew. As such, using wipes to clean them before giving yours a read could be a good idea.

OVERHEAD LOCKER HANDLES

Overhead locker handles can harbour bacteria from everyone touching them

Josephine also recommended wiping down the overhead lockers, because they are 'rarely cleaned' and get 'touched by a lot of people'.

If you think about it, they are opened and closed every flight - and no one cleans there hands right before doing so.

Alternatively, you could use gloves or hold a wipe while opening the compartments to avoid contact.

SEATBACK POCKETS

Unless someone throws up or spills something, it's unlikely the seatback pocket gets cleaned

While airplane toilets have a bad reputation for having urine-stained floors, the dirtiest parts of the plane are in fact the seatback pockets.

Brenda Orelus, from Miami, has been a flight attendant for nine years and previously said this is the filthiest part of a plane.

These, she says, are 'dirtier than the lavatories, they're dirtier than the seat cushions and they're dirtier than the tray tables.'

According to the globetrotter, who has visited more than 90 countries during her career, the seatback pockets are 'never cleaned unless somebody vomits or there's something ooey... coming out of there'.

She concludes: 'All the cleaners do is go in and take out the trash so all of those germs have accumulated and there's no real regular maintenance or cleaning of those surfaces whereas lavatories are regularly wiped down and sanitized.'

FOLD AWAY TABLES

It's no surprise that tray tables are one of the dirtiest parts of a plane

Research in 2015 revealed that fold-down tables are the dirtiest surfaces on a plane  with more germs found on tray tables than toilets and seatbelt buckles combined.

The study, which was created by Travelmath, found tray tables have 2,155 colony-forming units (CFU) per square inch, far more than the lavatory flush button (265 CFU), overhead air vent (285 CFU) and seatbelt buckle (230 CFU).

Plus, there have been many reports of passengers flying with their feet up on the tray table - so you'll definitely want to give it a wipe down in case!

TV SCREENS

Feel like watching a movie? You might want to clean the screen first

According to Travel + Leisure, TV screens can be filthy.

After all, think of how many people before you will have touched the screen. How many will have had perfectly clean hands?

Even though it may be disinfected from time to time, it's still worth giving it a wipe down.

HOW TO STAY PROTECTED?

There are plenty of ways to minimise contamination while flying

Elliot says: 'Seat choice is a pretty minor variable. What you actually do when you sit down matters more. Wipe your zone - tray table top and bottom, armrests, touchscreen, seatbelt buckle, overhead controls, your seatback and the one in front of you.

'But make sure you follow the instructions on your disinfectant. Most people don't check the dwell time on their wipes, which is where they fail: the surface must stay visibly wet for 30+ seconds to actually disinfect.

'Wiping and it immediately air-drying doesn't get you there.

'Also, bring hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant are different products and do different jobs.

'Until aviation is held to real hygiene standards, personal prep is the most reliable layer of protection you have!'
If you're an Agatha Christie fan and looking for a murder mystery series to binge this weekend, Disney+'s latest release, If It's Tuesday, It's Murder could be right up your street.

Perfect for those who are also sick of the Great British rain, the show is set in sunny Lisbon, Portugal, and follows an eclectic group of tourists whose holiday goes very, very wrong - kicking off with a murder on the first day.

The show's IMDb synopsis reads: 'A diverse group of tourists on an organised trip to Lisbon find themselves investigating a murder after one of them is killed on the first morning.

'Set out to find the killer among the group as they visit beautiful Lisbon sites.'

Originally released in Spanish, the show consists of seven parts and was described as 'fun to watch' by the Daily Mail.

With a cool IMDb rating of 6.4 out of ten, the show is available with English dubbing or subtitles.

If you're an Agatha Christie fan and looking for a murder mystery series to binge this weekend, Disney+'s latest release, If It's Tuesday, It's Murder could be right up your street

Perfect for those who are also sick of the Great British rain, the show is set in sunny Lisbon, Portugal, and follows an eclectic group of tourists whose holiday goes very, very wrong - kicking off with a murder on the first day

The show's IMDb synopsis reads: 'A diverse group of tourists on an organised trip to Lisbon find themselves investigating a murder after one of them is killed on the first morning. Set out to find the killer among the group as they visit beautiful Lisbon sites'

The show has also received some impressive critical praise, with The Guardian admitting that even though it has a 'ludicrous' premise, it is a 'breezy crime-fighting adventure.'

Described as a 'cosy crime' drama by Hello Magazine, If It's Tuesday, It's Murder is reportedly perfect for fans of shows like Only Murders In The Building too.

However, if this series alone isn't enough for you to get your mystery fix, Netflix is also catering well to Christie fans at the moment with its Marple series, which recently shot to the top of the streaming service's charts.

Originally released between 2004 and 2014, it sees the iconic detective Miss Marple come out of retirement.

Geraldine McEwan played the title role for series one through three, with Julia McKenzie taking over for the latter three series.

Viewers can also spot recognisable faces pop up in the show, including Joanna Lumley, Benedict Cumberbatch and Timothy Dalton.

Other examples include Keeley Hawes, Brian Cox, Richard Armitage and Amanda Holden, to name a few.

The programme experiments with Christie's work, with some episodes placing Miss Marple into stories where she originally did not feature.

A much-loved Agatha Christie TV adaptation has soared to the top of the Netflix charts at the time of its January release

Agatha Christie's Marple began airing in 2004, ultimately leading to six series comprising 23 episodes

One viewer wrote on IMDb: 'I love the original book, and I love this adaptation. All-star cast (best hits of the actors of Britain).

'Naturally it's very different to the original, but I enjoyed how it had been adapted, beautiful location as well!'

Another added: 'I am an Agatha Christie scholar who has researched her work for years.

Does that make me a better viewer? Not necessarily, but a more attentive one.

I can honestly say this is one of the best TV adaptations and definitely worth 10 stars.

'Its got everything and more. Please give it a chance and stop comparing it against other productions.'

If It's Tuesday, It's Murder is available to stream now on Disney+ and Marple is available to stream on Netflix.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century (BBC1)

Rating:

One word was repeated by almost everyone: 'Duty.' Former U.S. President Barack Obama described the late Queen's 'combination of a sense of duty with a very human quality of kindness and consideration'.

Dame Helen Mirren, describing how she studied one particular clip of Her Majesty getting out of a car, as she prepared to play the monarch on screen, said: 'She naturally had a sense of self-control and duty.'

The present Queen, Camilla, expressed it most emphatically: 'I think duty has overridden everything. I don't think I've ever seen anybody have a sense of duty like she had.'

Camilla may inadvertently have revealed more than she intended. One inference of her comment is that neither King Charles nor his heir, Prince William, can match Elizabeth II for her commitment to duty.

But that's hardly a criticism. And I think we can all agree Prince Harry doesn't have quite the same single-minded devotion to his royal role.

Trawling the palace archives for home cine-clips, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century discovered a scattering of previously unseen moments.

Some of it was from her childhood, almost certainly filmed by her father, George VI  'Lilibet' with her pony, or laughing with a bird perched on her shoulder, or adopting an air of mock gravity as she danced with her younger sister, Margaret.

We also caught rare glimpses from the 1969 documentary Royal Family, about their private life, unrepeated on television for almost 50 years. Gyles Brandreth commented astutely: 'It was the beginning of them being seen as celebrities.'

Queen Elizabeth II, pictured in 2004, is the subject of a new documentary featuring some previously unseen footage

The Queen on her coronation day in 1953. A previously unseen ten-second clip included in the programme was shot on the day she ascended to the throne

Helen Mirren, speaking on the programme, said the late Queen 'naturally had a sense of self-control and duty'

Sir David Attenborough, born a couple of weeks after Her Majesty, recalled the first time he saw her, in 1947. He was a naval officer, and she was a new bride: 'One evening there was a formal dinner, and Prince Philip brought this beautiful princess on his arm. I was standing there as she walked past with a beaming smile.'

Perhaps the most moving segment was a scrap of colour footage, less than ten seconds long, shot by the Duke of Edinburgh on the day that his young wife became Queen.

Filmed in Kenya, in a darkened room, the 25-year-old Elizabeth sat with her face half in shadow. She wore three strands of pearls around her neck, a single pearl stud in each ear, and a blue jacket that intensified the startling blue of her eyes.

Her lips were parted in that smile the English do after tears, the one that says, 'There! This is silly. Crying won't do any good, will it?' Earlier that day, she had learned of the death of her father.

With his passing, she assumed the throne. The grief in her face, though, was for her personal loss, and as she turned, she looked directly into the lens with a gaze of imploring love  plainly adoring her husband, and asking for his support. It was all written there, fleeting as a breath.
It's been 15 years since Game of Thrones first launched on HBO.

The hit fantasy novel series turned into a global phenomenon and the launched of careers of several stars, including Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington.

It archived record-breaking viewership and won 59 Primetime Emmy Awards.

With many of its child stars just starting their careers, they have gone on to have very varied paths after their series finished.

From going on to land leading roles to launching an app to disappearing from the spotlight, there have been no two paths the same.

As Game of Thrones celebrates its anniversary this week, the Daily Mail takes a look at what the show's child stars are up to now.

Sophie Turner was 13 when she made her debut in GOT and went on to land a leading role as Lara Croft in the Amazon Prime Video's Tomb Raider series

Sophie Turner

Sophie was just 13 years old when she was cast as Sansa Stark in GOT.

She continued the role for all eight seasons before its conclusion.

Following the series, she has starred as jewel thief Joan Hannington in the ITV drama Joan (2024) and acted in The Staircase.

Now 30, she is set to play Lara Croft in Amazon Prime Video's Tomb Raider series.

She was married to Joe Jonas for four years before their divorce in 2023 and the pair share daughters Willa, five, and Delphine, three.

Kerry Ingram

Kerry Ingram was 15 in Game of Thrones and went on to focus on writing and working in theatre

Kerry shot to fame as Shireen Baratheon on the series when she was 15 years old.

She made her first appearance in season three, with her character's final appearance in season five.

After her stint in GOT, she went on to star as Becky in the Netflix series Free Rein and its spin-off movies.

She later focused on writing and became a patron of the Berkshire Arts Academy, and continued working in theatre.

Jack Gleeson

Jack Gleeson was 17 in the series and went on the appear in The Sandman and House of Guinness

Jack was 17 when he began playing Joffrey Baratheon in GOT.

He was a main cast member from season one straight through to season four.

After his character was killed off in the series, he stepped away from major screen acting.

The actor wanted to take a break from fame and went on to study philosophy and theology at Trinity College Dublin.

In 2020, he returned to acting in the BBC series Out of Her Mind.

He has since appeared in The Land of Saints and Sinners, The Sandman and the House of Guinness.

Maisie Williams

Maisie Williams was 12 when she played Arya Stark and went on to have various acting roles and even launch an app

Maisie was 12 years old when she was cast as Arya Stark, who she ended up playing throughout the show's eight seasons.

Following GOT, the actress initially felt 'lost' and struggled with the transition, later focusing on varied acting roles, fashion and tech.

She went on to star in The New Mutants, Two Weeks to Live, Pistol, and The New Look.

In 2019, she co-founded the app Daisie, which is a creative networking platform designed to help young artists connect and collaborate.

Isaac Hempstead Wright

Isaac Hempstead-Wright starred throughout every season of GOT and then stepped back from acting to focus on science work

Isaac was ten in the series, making him one of the youngest cast members.

The actor, who played Bran Stark, made his debut in season one and continued to star in GOT until the final season.

After the series wrapped up, he went on to focus on higher education, pursuing a BSc in neuroscience at the University College London.

He briefly stepped back into acting for the 2021 sci-fi film Voyagers but quickly moved back into science work.

According to reports, he now works in clinical training.

Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey secured their breakout role in the series when they were ten and went on to gain critical acclaim in HBO's The Last of Us

Bella secured their breakout role as Lyanna Mormont when they were ten.

They played their character for three seasons, between six and eight, appearing in a total of nine episodes.

After GOT, they went on to star in The Worst Witch, voiced the lead in Netflix's Hilda, and took roles in Judy and Resistance.

The actor, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, also gained critical acclaim as Ellie in HBO's The Last of Us, for which they earned 2023 and 2025 Emmy nominations.

The third season is planned for release in 2027.

Lino Facioli

Lino Facioli was ten when he first starred in GOT and went on to star in Sex Education and dabble in theatre

Lino was ten when he starred as Robin Arryn.

He appeared in seasons one to four with a final return in season eight.

After the series, he went on to star as Dex Thompson in the Netflix hit series Sex Education.

He also dabbled in theatre with To Drone in the Rain and portrayed Lt. Adams in the Apple TV+ World War II miniseries Masters of the Air.

Aimee Richardson

Aimee Richardson was 13 in the series and continued acting after

Aimee was 13 when she appeared as Myrcella Baratheon in season one.

She continued her role up until season two.

After GOT, she continued acting, starring in Fright Shorts, The Break, and Haunted Ulster Live.

Art Parkinson

Art Parkinson was nine when he made his debut in the series and went on to become a barista in his family cafe alongside acting

Art was just nine when he played Rickon Stark in season five.

His character returned for the final time in season six.

After GOT, he worked as a barista in his family's cafe, The Coffe Tree.

He has also continued to act, with credits in Zoo, The Bay, and Kubo and the Two Strings.

Brenock O'Connor

Brenock O'Connor was 16 in the series and went on to star in more films and has even pursued music

Brenock was 16 when he starred as Olly in season five and six.

Following the series, he played Tom Harris in Alex Rider, appeared in the film The Bromley Boys, and played Conor Lawlor in the musical adaptation of Sing Street.

Away from acting, he's pursued a career in music under the name McGovern.

Eros Vlahos

Eros Vlahos was 15 in GOT and went on to transition into writing and directing

Eros appeared as Lommy Greenhands in GOT when he was 15.

He starred in season one and season two.

Since his appearance in the series he has continued acting and transitioned into writing and directing.

His short film Meat Puppet premiered at SXSW 2024, where it won the Special Jury Prize and the Audience Award.

Ben Hawkey

Ben Hawkey was 15 in the series and went on to step away from the spotlight

Ben was 15 when her shot to fame playing Hot Pie in the series.

He starred in seasons one, two, three, four and seven.

Following his role, he transitioned into the food industry by opening a pop-up bakery in London called You Know Nothing John Dough.

He briefly returned to acting with a role in the film The Drowning of Arthur Braxton.

Callum Wharry

Callum Wharry was ten in GOT and then stepped away from acting

Callum was just ten when he played Tommen Baratheon in GOT.

He played the role for the first two seasons before he was later replaced by Dean-Charles Chapman for the role in Season four.

Since his appearance on the series, Callum has stepped away from acting.
There's no denying that Eric Roberts is one of the hardest-working men in Hollywood.

At 70, the star has over 800 acting credits and has become infamous for never saying 'no' to a role, appearing in a range of films and roles, after kicking off his career five decades ago.

Eric made his acting debut at just 17 years old, appearing on the soap opera How to Survive a Marriage in 1974.

His big break came when he was cast in his first film, playing the lead role in 1978's King of the Gypsies, and seemed poised to end up a bona fide star, after scoring a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

And while his career has been notable he has faced his fair share of turmoil in his personal life and has had complicated family relationships with his actress sister Julia and daughter Emma.

Earlier this month he revealed where he stands with his famous daughter, 35, - after previously laying bare a painful breakdown in their relationship.

In an interview with Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson, Eric insisted their relationship is only 'complicated' to outsiders as he gushed about the actress he has grown 'so proud' of.

The complex legacy of the hardest working man in Hollywood: How Eric Roberts juggled 800 TV and film roles amid estrangement from sister Julia (seen together) and 'complicated' relationship with daughter Emma

Earlier this month he revealed where he stands with his famous daughter, 35, after previously laying bare a painful breakdown in their relationship

Eric said the relationship wasn't particularly complex, adding: 'It's only complicated to outside eyes because they don't get any of it, so they have their own take, whatever that is, and it's not a straight line because they aren't really involved.

'So it's just thoughts, possibilities, interests, fantasies, whatever it is. But it's not a real relationship with the subjects. So how can it be anything but a thought?'

At the time Emma was born, Eric said emotionally he 'was a wash rag. I was not to be dependent on emotionally because I was a car wreck.'

'I was a car wreck because of many things, but I take full responsibility for it... in that understanding the horrible negative things about my father and realizing I had to accept them as a child to get past him and realizing that what he drilled into me as loyalty was absolute recklessness.'

As Robinson attempted to probe deeper into the 'complicated' emotions surrounding their relationship, Eric said: 'Probably, but that's not an issue and that's not anything I'm here to discuss with you,' he said.

'I mean, just it is what that is, but that's a whole other issue in my life. That's not we're talking about today.'

Eric, who is the brother of Julia Roberts, welcomed Emma with ex Kelly Cunningham but the pair split soon after and he lost the custody battle over his only child due to his admitted drug use.

In 2024 he admitted to a rift in his relationship with Emma.

Speaking on an episode of the Inside You podcast, the star was asked about the 'toughest time of his life' and said: 'Probably the loss of relationship with my daughter.'

Roberts - who wrote about their complex dynamic in the memoir Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far - said his relationship with Emma is 'indefinable.'

'There's not a pain. There's a sadness for the, most likely, misunderstandings we'll all have forever. Because we're human.'

He's had somewhat of a late-career renaissance with supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (pictured), Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice and Damien Chazelle's Babylon opposite Margot Robbie

Eric said becoming a grandfather had enabled him to realize the true magnitude of what he had lost in his relationship with Emma. He has two step-grandchildren from his marriage to Eliza Garrett and a grandson from Emma's relationship with Garrett Hedlund.

He said: 'I started accepting that about myself with the birth of my grandchildren. Especially the 5-year-old, she was first and she was a girl and took a liking to me in a very strong way.

He said his eldest granddaughter 'looks like Emma which reminds me of what I didn't have.'

Roberts has called losing custody of a young Emma as the biggest consequence of his drug use.

A feud erupted between Eric and Julia - who sided with Kelly in the custody battle - a move which Eric now agrees with.

Elsewhere in his memoir Roberts made a public apology to Oscar-winner sister Julia for previously saying: 'If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.'

He writes: 'I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said.'

Eric's candid memoir covers his arrival in Tinseltown at the age of 17, his extensive career and his struggle with substance abuse disorder.

The actor and his sister had always been close until he made a sarcastic comment in the early 1990s while discussing the success of her classic film, Pretty Woman.

The Runaway Train star has always insisted that it was taken out of context, a sentiment that he reiterated in 2022 on the Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast.

'Julia and I have always been fine,' he said. 'I think years and years ago, I was doing a press tour for some movie It was just when Pretty Woman just got released and so they're asking a bunch of questions about Julia. And I said, "Hey, excuse me. Can we talk about me?"'

The Suits alum explained that his comment was misinterpreted as he added: 'Of course, then it's like, "Oh, they have a problem."'

While the siblings 'don't agree about a lot of things,' the actor insisted that they still have a close bond.

'I love knowing my sister,' he said. 'She's a cool chick, my sister. I just stay out of her hair with the press. That's all. Simple. And she stays out of mine.'

Eric claims the only thing that ever caused a rift with his sisters Julia and Lisa was his past drug addiction.

He told Vanity Fair previously: 'I wouldn't characterize it as a falling-out. I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them. They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness.

'We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself.'

The actor continued: 'I was exhausting to be around: complainy, blamey, unable to enjoy enjoyment. Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia.'

However, he explained that after years of estrangement, the siblings reunited in 2004 when Julia welcomed Hazel and Phinnaeus.

Julia Roberts is Eric's sister and Emma's aunt (pictured together in 2012)

Eric said that he visited the hospital after his younger sister gave birth 'to drop off gifts.'

He added: 'Instead I was ushered into their room and was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love.'

The performer went on to say that after that visit, they spent several Thanksgivings together and became 'email buddies.'

Back in May 2020, he spoke fondly about how much he loved to see the bond between Julia and his daughter Emma.

He told Us Weekly: 'It's really cool to look at them. I love seeing them together.'

Eric has previously revealed Emma and Julia have told him not to talk about them in interviews.

He said: 'I love my sister, but I can't talk about her. She doesn't wanna talk about it.'

'My daughter told me also not to talk about her, but I stumble and do. I'm not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do.'

Careerwise, Eric's first big break came when he was cast in his first film, playing the lead role in 1978's King of the Gypsies, and seemed poised to end up a bona fide star, after scoring a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

He was nominated again five years later for his performance in Bob Fosse's Star 80, and third in 1986 for playing runaway redneck, Buck McGeehy in Runaway Train, which landed him an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor.

Eric began to appear in an increasing number of projects in the mid-1990s, with the number steadily rising in the noughties, going from five a year to 25 to 45, with his record year being in 2017, where he had 74 screen credits.

Notable films he's appeared in include The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), Best of the Best (1989), The Cable Guy (1996), National Security (2003), The Expendables (2010), Lovelace (2013), Inherent Vice (2014) and The Human Centipede 3 (2015).

He has also had somewhat of a late-career renaissance with supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice and Damien Chazelle's Babylon opposite Margot Robbie.

But despite his extensive filmography and their shared careers, Eric has only made one film with Julia - the 1989 Western, Blood Red, in which they played brother and sister onscreen.

While he's also starred on a slew of television shows, including reoccurring roles in Heroes, Suits, The Young and the Restless and The Righteous Gemstones - which he has named as his favourite job he'd ever had.

Eric has even appeared in a mini-movie pretending to be a resident in a multi-million-dollar house, to help it sell.

But thought it seems like he says yes to everything, he has revealed that he did turn down the lead role in 9 1/2 Weeks - which ended up being played by Mickey Rourke - and came to regret the decision.

He said: 'I always wished I had [taken that role], but I thought Mickey was awesome in that movie.'

As well as starring in film and TV, Eric has also appeared in music videos for the likes of Rihanna, Ja Rule and Enrique Iglesias, as well as megahits Mariah Carey's We Belong Together, Smack That by Akon ft. Eminem and The Killers' Mr Brightside.

And he has even ventured into reality TV, appearing on The Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls back in 2018 and last year competing on Dancing with the Stars, where he was partnered with Britt Stewart and came in 11th place.

Despite looking like he'd go on to be an A-list star at the beginning of his career, Eric has seen his star eclipsed by that of both his sister and his daughter.

While he's appeared in a wide range of projects, from blockbuster hits to independent productions, the majority of his movies are direct-to-digital or direct-to-video.

Eric has admitted that his career was stalled by his substance abuse, with him blowing important meetings with famed directors because he was high (seen in Dark Angel)

His complex career was influenced by his issues with drugs, with his biggest vices being cocaine and marijuana.

Eric has admitted that his career was stalled by his substance abuse, with him blowing important meetings with famed directors because he was high.

Detailing how he first began racking up the screen credits, Eric told Vanity Fair in 2018 that it came about after offers for big roles dried up.

He said: 'I start making a bunch of B movies - bam bam bam bam bam bam - one after the other, and then suddenly two, three years have passed, and I made like 30 films in two, three years.

'Now, in the past two years, I've made around 70 movies. I started having fun at the craft. I'm a f***ing groupie for it! I can do it every day, all day.'

He added: 'I went from being a joke that'll do anything to being "Is there anything he can't do?"'

Eric has admitted he'd long lost track of how many films he'd been in and resorts to checking IMDB when he wants to know what projects he has coming up, saying: 'I don't really know what I have out there that's still in the can because I'm always working, so I don't keep track of what's where.'

But he has insisted that despite his prolific career, he only works 'around 200 days a year' and has 'never been happier'.
Laura Henshaw has hit back after facing backlash for filming an episode of her podcast while breastfeeding her newborn son.

The 32-year-old entrepreneur recently hosted the latest episode of KICPOD in her studio, while breastfeeding her four-month-old son Atlas.

In the clip, Laura discussed the challenging reality of parenting a baby boy as she tenderly cradled her newborn, telling listeners: 'We haven't always got it right. There have been weeks where I have said I need more help.'

The footage was shared to social media and quickly drew criticism from some followers, who claimed it was inappropriate to breastfeed a baby while on camera.

'Imagine a guy did this. Because he was in a rush, he just had to film a podcast with his p***s out. 'I know this is brave and stunning and all,' one person sniped.

'I have also been around children, they don't need to be fed 24/7. Is it possible that you could feed your baby and then do a podcast five minutes later? And keep your t***ies in. Or do you just have to be brave and show everybody?'

Laura Henshaw has hit back after facing backlash for filming an episode of her podcast while breastfeeding her newborn son

However, Laura was having none of it and quickly shared an update to her Instagram Stories, clapping back at the hurtful comments.

'I'm not "brave", I'm just doing my best and feeding my child. I'm learning so many things in our world are not really designed for mothers,' Laura sniped.

'I'm too tired to go into why these comments on a video of my breastfeeding is so so very wrong.'

Many of Laura's celebrity followers took to the comments section to offer her their words of support.

'I wanted to share that I went to reply to some of the misogyny here and then I remembered: We don't need to reply to men in comments who are sexualising a woman who is feeding her child,' wrote British women's rights activist Gina Martin.

'Love that you are normalising breastfeeding, be proud!' another person added.

In December, Laura and her partner Dalton welcomed their first child.

The KIC founder took to Instagram to reveal that she had given birth to a baby boy with her partner by her side.

The 32-year-old entrepreneur recently hosted the latest episode of KICPOD in her studio, while breastfeeding her four-month-old son Atlas

The footage was shared to social media and quickly drew criticism from some followers, who claimed it was inappropriate to breastfeed a baby while on camera. However, Laura was having none of it and quickly shared an update to her Instagram Stories in which she clapped back

'Our whole world, baby Atlas,' she captioned the post, which showed the new parents beaming from ear to ear with their new bundle of joy.

Laura held her newborn, who wore a sweet blue knitted hat, tightly in her arms as she lay in a hospital bed, with her husband of four years wrapping his arm around her.

Laura made headlines last year after she revealed she had booked herself in for an elective caesarean.

The Keep It Cleaner founder shared her birthing plan on her KICPOD podcast in October alongside her co-host Steph Claire Smith.

In the episode, she talked listeners through the various reasons she had decided to undergo a caesarean instead of a natural birth.
An Australian band has issued a heartfelt apology to their fans after their shocking comments about a popular Usher song were slammed online.

Last week, Melbourne punk band Radio Free Alice appeared on Triple J's Like A Version program, where music acts are invited into the station's studio and asked to play a cover, and revealed their bizarre reason for choosing an Usher song, claiming they wanted to improve 'the ugliest duckling'.

After their remarks were slammed online, the band posted a statement to social media apologising for the comments they made.

'We've taken some time to sit with the response to our Like A Version interview and want to address it personally. We've done a lot of reflecting and it's clear we didn't consider the hurt our words about Usher's song could have caused,' they began.

'To black artists and other communities, and for that we are sorry. Our intention was for it to be tongue-in-cheek, which isn't an excuse for misjudging how it would land, particularly as a band of four white Australian males.'

The band finished by saying they would be more careful about what they said in the future, considering the context of their words.

Melbourne punk band Radio Free Alice has issued a heartfelt apology to their fans after their shocking comments about a popular Usher song were slammed online

'We now better understand the issues many of you have raised, and we will continue to learn from them. We care a lot about the music we make and the community around it, and we don't take your criticism lightly,' they wrote.

Last week, the group sparked controversy when they revealed the reason they were covering the hit 2010 Usher song, DJs Got Us Fallin' In Love.

'We have always felt that good songs don't need good covers. Bad songs need good covers,' they began.

'This song is the ugliest duckling of bad songs! So, we thought it was a fun challenge to see if we could turn it into a good song, if that was physically possible.'

The band's blunt remarks about the hit dance song quickly enraged listeners, who took to social media to eviscerate them.

'It's not too late to apologise for at best the clearly thoughtless comments,' one person wrote.

'Are they calling. DJs got us falling in love again by THE USHER a bad song? Who tf are they WHAT???!!' a second added.

'Just watched the cover... They DO NOT have the talent to back these remarks,' a third person chimed in.

After their remarks were slammed online, the band posted a statement to social media apologising for the comments they made

Last week, the group sparked the controversy when they revealed the reason they were covering the hit 2010 Usher song, DJs Got Us Fallin' In Love

'The Usher song is a product of the time, but it was WILDLY successful and went multi-platinum in a dozen countries. Their cover is awful, they took an ugly duckling and turned it into a dead duck,' another said, while one raged: 'The audacity to disrespect USHER and I don't even like Usher.'

'Their next song should be how to destroy your music career in one sentence,' one simply added, while several said they had 'never heard' of the band.

Triple J's Like A Version program is one of the station's most popular and long-running segments.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The government has confirmed that Monday, April 20, 2026, will be a normal working day, despite Independence Day falling over the weekend.Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary Raphael Faranisi explained that under Section 1(i) of the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act, a substitute public holiday is only granted when an official holiday falls on a Sunday. In such cases, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday.Since Independence Day this year falls on a Saturday, no substitute holiday will be applied.The Act establishes Zimbabwe's official public holidays and regulates the suspension of business on designated days in the national interest. It also empowers the President, through statutory instruments, to declare additional public holidays when necessary.Officials emphasized that the clarification was issued to avoid confusion among workers and businesses ahead of the Independence Day weekend.
The top candidates to replace axed 9News presenter Georgie Gardner have been revealed, with 60 Minutes reporter Amelia Adams emerging as a leading contender for the coveted weekend news role.

A generational battle is now looming inside Nine, as executives weigh up whether to usher in a younger face or stick with a more seasoned hand following Gardner's emotional departure.

Adams, 43, representing the millennial cohort, is understood to be firmly in the mix, with her strong reporting credentials and assured on-screen presence making her an attractive option for decision-makers.

With the broader media landscape increasingly favouring younger and more cost-effective talent, her appointment would reflect a wider industry shift.

But she is far from the only name under consideration.

Veteran Nine reporter Mark Burrows is also said to be in the running, bringing decades of experience and a commanding presence.

The top candidates to replace axed 9News presenter Georgie Gardner have been revealed

60 Minutes reporter Amelia Adams has emerged as a leading contender for the coveted weekend news role

A respected figure in the newsroom, Burrows represents the Baby Boomer generation and remains a popular choice among insiders.

In an interesting twist, his potential elevation could have wider implications, with some suggesting it may place added pressure on weeknight anchor Peter Overton.

Meanwhile, Gen X contenders Deborah Knight  long viewed as Gardner's understudy  and Jayne Azzopardi are also being considered, offering familiarity and continuity for viewers.

Knight's deep ties to the network and Azzopardi's steady rise have both positioned them as credible options in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested race.

The shake-up follows Gardner's final 9News Sydney bulletin on Friday night, where the veteran broadcaster, 55, fought back tears as she signed off after more than three decades in the industry.

'Watching that reel is a reminder of what hideous hair I've had over the years, but also how much fun I've had,' she quipped, after a montage of her career played.

She went on to reflect on the responsibility of delivering the news, describing it as 'an enormous privilege' and thanking viewers for their trust over the years.

Her departure leaves a significant void at Nine  and the choice of her successor is expected to signal the network's direction as it balances experience with the push for a new generation of talent.

Veteran Nine reporter Mark Burrows is also said to be in the running, bringing decades of experience and a commanding presence

Meanwhile, Nine News presenter Deborah Knight is also being considered

It comes after Gardner marked the end of an era on Friday night, delivering her final 9News Sydney bulletin

The veteran broadcaster was almost overcome with emotion as she bid farewell to viewers.

Weather presenter Sophie Walsh spoke about the influence she had on her own career.

'Tonight [is] a sad night for all of us here at Nine, as Georgie, you read your last bulletin. The place isn't going to be the same without you  I'm going to get a little emotional here,' Sophie said, fighting back tears.

Prior to her final farewell, a montage package played, showing highlights from Gardner's long and storied career as Cold Chisel's Ian Moss played the classic Georgia On My Mind over the footage.

An emotional Georgie said that she was 'blown away' by her colleagues' words before taking a self-effacing dig at her throwback package.

'Watching that reel is a reminder of what hideous hair I've had over the years, but also how much fun I've had,' she said.

'And of course, covering the news. The pace and the complexity of the news cycle, and how delivering it to you, has been just such an enormous privilege.'

Gardner announced her departure in March, thanking Nine for her long and varied career, and expressing her gratitude to colleagues and viewers.

The presenter joined Channel Nine in 2002, before eventually being appointed the primary presenter for the 6pm Friday and Saturday bulletins, replacing Mark Ferguson.

In 2006, she replaced Leila McKinnon on National Nine News Morning Edition and would go on to work on Today for eight years.

She left her role at Today in 2014 to spend more time with her family, before later returning to replace Lisa Wilkinson as co-host alongside Stefanovic.

Gardner later co-hosted the show with Deborah Knight in 2019 before Stefanovic returned in 2020 with co-host Allison Langdon.
Fans of Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes got a glimpse into their spicy nights out in a new interview.

The 52-year-old actress  who has been in a relationship with Gosling since 2011  teased that her regular date-night routine includes 'all the unmentionables' while chatting with People on Friday.

'Yeah, we do have date nights regularly,' she told the publication, but she was noticeably tight-lipped when it came to what she and her longtime partner do with their time together.

When asked, she replied suggestively: 'All the unmentionables.'

Mendes laughed and added, 'I don't know what else to say.'

The actress added that she and the 45-year-old Project Hail Mary star  who share daughters Esmeralda, 11, and Amada, nine  often enjoy a flick when the kids are with a sitter.

Fans of Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes got a glimpse into their spicy nights out in a new interview; pictured on The Tonight Show on March 5

The 52-year-old actress  who has been in a relationship with Gosling since 2011  teased that her regular date-night routine includes 'all the unmentionables' while chatting with People on Friday; Mendes and Gosling are pictured in Paris in August 2024

'We like movies and we like going to the movies so we try to keep that alive,' she said.

For the lovebirds, who are rarely pictured together in public, trying to stay under the radar is important.

'People are usually cool,' she said of her public date nights with Gosling. 'If you want attention, you go to certain places, and if you dont, you know where to go. We do the latter.'

The couple's love for the movies isn't surprising, considering their profession.

In fact, it was film that brought the two together, as they met in 2011 while filming the drama The Place Beyond The Pines.

The dark crime film, which was directed and co-written by Derek Cianfrance, starred Gosling as a motorcycle stuntman, while Mendes played his ex, who still harbored feelings for him after giving birth to a son with him after they had broken up.

Gosling's character later leads a series of bank robberies, leading to a disastrous confrontation with a police officer (played by Bradley Cooper).

Gosling and Mendes have been together ever since their fateful collaboration, but they have never publicly revealed if they tied the knot at any point.

Mendes laughed and added, 'I don't know what else to say.' She added that they like to go to movies, though they tend to find spots where they can move unnoticed; pictured in March 2013

It was film that brought the two together, as they met in 2011 while filming the drama The Place Beyond The Pines (pictured)

Mendes set off marriage rumors in 2022 when she called Gosling her 'husband' in an interview and revealed a tattoo reading 'de Gosling,' but they have never confirmed if they tied the knot; pictured in 2012 in Toronto

In a 2023 interview with GQ, Gosling revealed that it was their work on The Place Beyond the Pines that made him want to have a family of his own.

'I wasnt thinking about kids before I met her, but after I met Eva, I realized that I just didnt want to have kids without her,' he admitted. 'And there were moments on The Place Beyond The Pines where we were pretending to be a family, and I didnt really want it to be pretend anymore.'

Fan rumors that they might have secretly married began spreading in 2022, after Mendes debuted a tattoo on her wrist that reads 'de Gosling,' and she even referred to him as her 'husband' in an interview that year.

'Everyone is so welcoming here and my husband Ryan is here, and we are having the best time,' she said in an interview with Today on Australia's Channel Nine in November 2022.

However, in an interview on the Kyle And Jackie O Show, Mendes downplayed the tattoo-based rumors and claimed it was an old design that fans had only recently noticed because she had posted a photo of it.

'I got it years ago, but I posted a picture, and I've gotten a lot of funny questions,' she said, while teasing that she prefers to keep her relationship with Gosling 'mysterious.'
Maura Higgins is reportedly set to earn an eye-watering 5million after cracking the US market.

The Irish TV personality, 35, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2019, has since made quite the name for herself Stateside, with shows and brands across the pond said to be lining up to work with her.

A source told The Sun: 'Maura may have missed out on the cash prize on The Traitors but thats small change compared to whats coming her way.

'Shows and brands in the US are lining up for a piece of Maura and shes got more opportunities than time right now. Its an exciting place to be.'

Meanwhile, beauty brands are also said to be keen to snap up the star, thanks to her stunning looks and huge fan base.

Another source said: 'Shes in talks to become the face of one of the biggest cosmetic brands in the US in a deal that will be at least seven-figures.'

Maura Higgins is reportedly set to earn an eye-watering 5million after cracking the US market

The Irish TV personality, 35, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2019, has since made quite the name for herself Stateside, with shows and brands across the pond said to be lining up to work with her

Elsewhere, insiders claim a fly-on-the-wall series documenting Maura's rise in America could be the obvious next step, with the star reportedly already in talks with TV bosses.

However, it's not just reality TV and beauty brands on Maura's radar. The star is also said to be in talks with Disney after making her acting debut in the film Spin.

Daily Mail has contacted Maura's representatives for comment.

It comes after Maura wowed in a burgundy latex co-ord as she enjoyed a day out in London and posed for Instagram snaps on Friday.

The TV personality recently blamed her 'changing' face on 'make-up and lighting'.

Maura wore a full face of snatched makeup, including contour and blushed cheeks, and styled her long brunette tresses with a matching coloured headband.

She was joined by close friend and influencer Luke Hamnett, whom both took part in a carefree TikTok video.

It comes after Maura revealed the tweakments she has undergone after leaving fans stunned by her equally ageless and unrecognisable appearance.

A source told The Sun: 'Maura may have missed out on the cash prize on The Traitors but thats small change compared to whats coming her way. Shows and brands in the US are lining up for a piece of Maura,'

However, it's not just reality TV and beauty brands on Maura's radar. The star is also said to be in talks with Disney after making her acting debut in the film Spin

The reality star opened up last week about her changing face but denied going under the knife during an Instagram Q&A with followers last week.

Maura explained that she gets regular Botox but no longer partakes in filler, before claiming her drastically different appearance was in fact down to 'make-up and lighting'.

When one fan asked her secret, the star replied: 'I've always been very open about this, I do get Botox every 6-8 months, and I had lip filler years ago but haven't had any in over 3.5 years now. Other than that, I haven't had anything else done'.

'I see so many videos online breaking down all these different procedures people think I've had and honestly it's not true. We all change over the years,'

She went on: 'And things like make-up lighting, angles, even how you do your brows or contour can completely change how your face looks. There are so many factors that go into it'.

'I also don't sunbathe, which I genuinely think is one of the biggest factors in keeping your skin looking youthful, and I take my skincare very seriously'.

Meanwhile Maura is reportedly in talks for a project with Disney fresh off her success on The Traitor US.

She has been attempting to crack America in recent months after she made it to the final of the murder mystery show.

It comes after Maura wowed in a burgundy latex co-ord as she enjoyed a day out in London and posed for Instagram snaps on Friday

According to The Sun, the Irish model has been telling friends she is in talks for a role in a Disney project.

The insider said: 'Maura is keeping her cards close to her chest but she couldnt help but tell pals shes reading scripts for Disney.

'Everyone  including Maura  is stunned at how well her career in the US is going. This is just the beginning.'

Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Maura Higgins for comment.

Maura is also reportedly being lined up for another huge gig - the next season of The Bachelorette after the show was axed in the wake of Taylor Frankie Pauls domestic violence arrest.

The Love Island star is said to be among the names being considered following the sudden cancellation of the upcoming season.

Season 22 of The Bachelorette had been due to premiere on March 22, with Mormon Wives star Taylor, 31, set to lead the series.

However, the network pulled the show just days before launch after a shocking 2023 video surfaced of Taylor attacking her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, 33, with her minor daughter present.

Now, according to gossip site Deux Moi, an anonymous tip has suggested that Maura could step in as a replacement, following her growing popularity in the US.

It claimed: 'ABC exec friend said that they are looking into getting Maura Higgins to be the new Bachelorette and do a live shooting of it.

'They shut down Layla and Miranda as a dual season and are trying to steer away from the SLOMW girlies.'

The video, which was first published by TMZ, has sparked a backlash and saw Taylor's season of the Bachelorette canned just three days before it was due to air.

In a statement, Disney executives blamed the decision to cancel the series on the clip and said their focus was on 'supporting the family'.

The statement said: 'In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.'

The bombshell decision to cancel the show could cost ABC up to $28 million, with filming costs for The Bachelorette totting up to $2 million per episode.
Sheridan Smith is bulking up for her new role as a troubled police officer in Australia.

Throwing herself into preparations for ITVs Two Birds, which will soon begin filming in the Outback, Ms Smith has signed up to an upmarket 2,350 bootcamp programme to gain muscle that has placed her on a strict eating plan along with a hardcore exercise regime.

The Mrs Biggs and Cilla star, 44, is playing Constable Izzie Cornwell, who moves Down Under to rebuild her life after she is widowed.

In the six-parter, Ms Smiths character, who has a self-destructive streak, is assigned to the murder investigation into a death in a notorious local crime family.

Photographs on the versatile actresss Instagram account show her working out, and last week she was pictured learning to ride a motorbike. Ms Smith told her social media followers that she has no days off.

Talking to comedian Romesh Ranganathan on his podcast, Ms Smith said that she was looking forward to the action-packed project, adding: My next job is a drama in Australia. I have to learn to ride a motorbike and have combat training  Ive got to beef up.

Sheridan Smith took part in a workout bootcamp worth 2,350 to bulk up for her new ITV role

The star was pictured at the UK premiere of her new show The Cage, in which she plays a crooked casino croupier

Sheridan last bulked up for the BBC drama The Moorside in 2017, winning rave reviews for her portrayal of Julie Bushby in the story about Shannon Matthews disappearance in 2008.

She recently finished her stage run in Glasgow of Alan Ayckbourns Woman In Mind, and had been looking increasingly thin during her stint playing a housewife on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

But as well as signing up to the intense programme with 1st Class Bootcamp to get in shape, the star has been undergoing a gruelling schedule of stunts and fight choreography.

Ms Smith will be back on TV on Sunday night in The Cage, a BBC thriller in which she plays a crooked casino croupier falling foul of gangsters.
Dr Chris Brown has opened up about his budding relationship with former TV publicist Lorraine Monforte, revealing they are keeping things low-key despite growing public interest.

The TV vet, 47, told this week's Stellar magazine that they first met through work - and have known each other for years.

'Yeah, I'm in a relationship and really happy. The great thing with Lorraine is that she was a publicist for a TV network for 13 years. That's how we first became friends,' Chris began.

'And that's essentially all it was for quite a period of time. But she "gets" TV and she gets the media landscape. So she understands when the phrase "hard launch" is used, where that's coming from... she's able to laugh at it.'

Chris added that Monforte's background in television has helped them navigate attention around their relationship, which became public after they were photographed together at the Australian Grand Prix in March.

He has also long been the subject of speculation about his personal life  something he says he no longer takes too seriously.

Dr Chris Brown has opened up about his budding relationship with former TV publicist Lorraine Monforte, revealing they are keeping things low-key despite growing public interest

The TV vet, 47, told this week's Stellar magazine that they first met through work - and have known each other for years

'Occasionally Ill run into the women I've supposedly been in a relationship with... we have a good laugh. That's the only way you can deal with it... I could be rumoured to be in a relationship with someone one week, then separated the next,' he joked.

'And the following week, I'm having a baby with someone else. It's hard to keep up. Sometimes I need my dad, or a friend of the family, to remind me who I'm supposed to be in a relationship with.'

Chris said that ability to laugh it off is also the main piece of advice he'd give to Robert Irwin, who has stepped into his former role hosting I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2023.

'I don't think he needs too much advice, to be honest. We chatted when he first started the role. I was obviously very keen to wish him all the best with it, and really remind him of just how much of a fun show it is to work on,' he revealed.

He said Robert has been around television his whole life and is already well prepared for the spotlight.

'Robert and his family had visited the set a couple of times when I was hosting, so he was familiar with the show. And he's been on camera his entire life,' he said.

When it comes to handling public scrutiny, Chris says perspective is key: 'Try to find the funny side of it.'

Beyond his personal life and television roles, Chris is also fronting new Seven projects, including My Reno Rules, where he says the stakes are higher than they appear on screen due to a major cash prize.

Chris said that ability to laugh it off is also the main piece of advice he'd give to Robert Irwin, who has stepped into his former role hosting I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2023

He and Monforte are understood to be splitting their time between Sydney and Brisbane, but are largely keeping their relationship out of the spotlight for now, despite what industry insiders describe as an open secret

He said that unpredictability carries through to his upcoming wildlife series Once In A Lifetime, where he takes Australian celebrities into extreme environments.

One of the most dangerous moments came while filming in Colombia, where Chris and comedian Mick Molloy encountered a growing population of feral hippos descended from animals once owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar.

'On day one of shooting, Mick and I are getting charged by Pablo Escobar's cocaine hippos!' he said.

Chris left Channel Ten in 2023 after more than a decade on I'm A Celebrity and moved to Seven, where he now fronts a number of new projects.

He and Monforte are understood to be splitting their time between Sydney and Brisbane, but are largely keeping their relationship out of the spotlight for now, despite what industry insiders describe as an open secret.
Charlize Theron is delving into the dark details of the night her mother killed her father in self-defense in their home in South Africa.

In an interview with the New York Times that was published on Saturday, the 50-year-old actress recounted how a seemingly minor social infraction one night in 1991 led her father, Charles Theron, to shoot up their home as her mother stepped into action to defend them.

In telling the tale, Theron, who took a swipe at Timothee Chalamet in the same interview, admitted that she once believed that she and her heroic mother, Gerda Jacoba Aletta Maritz, were the only people who had experienced such a horrific trauma.

'I never knew about a story like that,' she said. 'When this happened to us, I thought we were the only people.'

Theron said the kind of domestic violence she and her mother were subjected to 'should be talked about because it makes other people not feel alone,' and she added, 'Im not haunted by this stuff anymore.'

The future Oscar winner, who was only 15 at the time, recounted how the fatal confrontation was set off by a seemingly innocuous family visit to her uncle's home.

Charlize Theron, 50, delved into the horrific night in 1991 when her mother Gerda shot and killed her father in self-defense after he shot up their home in a drunken rage in an interview with the New York Times that was published Saturday; pictured in September in Las Vegas

Theron's mother, Gerda, was never charged for the fatal shooting, which was determined to be in self-defense, as her father Charles had fired multiple shots at the them and was trying to obtain more firearms when he was killed; Gerda and Charlize Theron seen in 2019 in Hollywood

She and her mother had just gone to see a movie, but they weren't able to get back into their home, which was filled with locked steel doors due to the violence engulfing South Africa at the time, because her father had taken the key with him.

So they headed over to his brother's house, where she said Charles could often be found drinking.

'I had to pee really badly,' Theron admitted, 'So I ran into the house to get to the toilet...'

However, her father interpreted her behavior as being 'rude,' as she hadn't stopped to greet everyone in the house before rushing to the bathroom.

She explained that it's a 'big thing in South Africa, the kind of respect that you have to have for elders.'

For the rest of the night, her father  whom Theron previously revealed had been drunk that night  'was in a state where he just spiraled.'

Theron recalled him pestering her with questions about the visit to her uncle's home, 'Like: "Why didnt you stop? Who do you think you are?"'

Once she and her mother left the gathering and headed back home, she asked Gerda to help smooth things over.

After going to the movies, Gerda and Charlize realized their father had locked them out of their house, so they found him drinking at his brother's house; pictured in 2019 in NYC

Theron said her father stewed all night after she rushed without saying hello to anyone because she desperately had to use the bathroom, which was a breach of South African decorum; pictured in 2020 in Hollywood

'I knew he was mad at me. So I said to her, "When he eventually decides to come home, please tell him Im asleep."'

Theron recalled how 'scared' she was even after she got home, and she remembered going into her room and turning all the lights off to make it look as if she was sleeping.

'My window faced the driveway, and I could tell the level of anger, frustration, or unhappiness by the way he drove in,' she said. 'I just knew something bad was going to happen.'

Her father  who was carrying a gun and had brought his brother along  signaled that she was correct by shooting through the steel door to the house, 'making it very clear that he was going to kill' them.

Gerda realized just how 'serious' the situation had become, and Theron said she rushed to a safe to retrieve her own gun.

'She came into my bedroom. The two of us were holding the door with our bodies because there wasnt a lock on it,' Theron recalled, noting that her father made his intentions clear when 'he just stepped back and started shooting through the door.'

'And this is the crazy thing: Not one bullet hit us,' Theron marveled to the Times. 'Its insane when you think about it that way.'

'But the messaging was very clear,' she added, saying that her father appeared to be signaling, 'Im going to kill you tonight. You think I cant come into this door? Watch me. Im going to go to the safe. Im going to get the shotgun,' all with the 'encouragement from the brother.'

She and her mother returned home, but she feared something terrible would happen. When her father returned later, he was joined by his brother and began firing a gun through the door to their home; pictured in October in Paris

After her broke in, she and her mother barricaded themselves behind her bedroom door. Charles began firing through the door, but the bullets miraculously missed them; pictured in 2004 in LA

According to Theron, her mother ended up shooting both her father and his brother in her bid to save their lives.

As Charles ran to the safe to retrieve more firearms, Gerda opened the bedroom door and saw his brother, who ran down the hall away from her.

'She shot one bullet down the hallway that ricocheted seven times and shot him in the hand,' Theron recalled.

'Its stuff you cant explain,' she marveled.

'And then she followed my father, who was by then opening the safe to get more weapons out, and she shot him,' Theron continued.

Her father died of his injuries, but the shooting was later determined to be justified by self-defense, and Gerda did not face charges over the shooting.

Theron also mused on how the verbal abuse that she and her mother experienced from him was tolerated and overlooked in South African society.

'Women really get a very, very unfair shake, even in this country. Nobody takes it seriously, the situation that theyre in,' she said. 'And I dont think anybody took my mom seriously.'

Theron said Gerda used her own gun to wound Charles's brother in the hand, and when her husband tried to open the safe to get more guns, she shot and killed him; pictured in June 2025

She added that the drinking culture for men allowed people to overlook her father's behavior because so many other men were also heavy drinkers.

'I have memories from when I was really young, seeing really drunk people, and it scared me,' the actress said, adding that it was so bad that there were 'people crawling on the floor drunk.'

'That became so consistent that it was every Friday, Saturday, maybe even every Wednesday,' she said, while noting that her father had built a bar inside their home to accommodate his partying.

Theron, who described her father as an alcoholic years earlier, said he 'would go missing' after drinking, before finally returning 'in a state that was pretty severe,' which led to 'a lot of verbal abuse.'

'He was scary. He didnt hit me, he didnt throw me against a wall, but he would do things like drive drunk,' Theron said. 'There was a lot of verbal abuse, a lot of threatening language that just became normal.'

Following the shooting, Theron described how determined her mother was not to let it affect their lives.

'The next morning, she sent me to school. She was just like, "Were going to move on,"' Theron recalled, admitting that the strategy was 'not necessarily the healthiest thing, but it worked for us.'

'She wanted me to forget about it. She didnt want me to sit in it,' she continued, adding, 'We didnt have therapists around, so in her head the best therapy was, "Weve got to move on."'

The shooting was ruled to be in self-defense, and Gerda was never charged. But Charlize recalled feeling intense shame for years before she learned of other women and families who had been similarly abused; pictured in June 2025 in North Hollywood

Theron, who would leave South Africa just a year later for a fresh start, said there was a 'lot of shame surrounding [the shooting] because everybody knew.'

'I felt like kids had this attitude towards me,' she said, adding that the 'only time I became violent' was a confrontation with a girl at school who taunted her about having seen her late father when he was intoxicated.

When she was just 16, Theron and her mother set off for Europe, where she launched a modeling career.

After some early success, she moved to New York to enroll at the Joffrey Ballet School before a knee injury made becoming a professional ballet dancer impossible.

In 1994, she moved on her own to Los Angeles in the hope of getting into the film industry, and it was there that she was discovered by a talent agent after he witnessed a confrontation she had with a bank teller.

Theron would go on to score early roles in blockbusters like The Devil's Advocate (1997) and critically acclaimed films like The Cider House Rules (1999), before she won an Oscar for starring as the real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003's Monster.
Nicole Kidman emotionally recalled the 'harrowing' moment that she learned of her mother's death while attending the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

The 58-year-old actress - who recently revealed that she is learning to be a death doula - opened up about the topic while speaking at HISTORYTalks 2026 in Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Oscar winner's mom Janelle passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84 - just hours before she accepted the Volpi Cup award at the ceremony for her performance in Babygirl.

'I'd won best actress at Venice Film Festival. This seems to be such a common theme through my life,' she expressed to the crowd inside the Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center, per The Hollywood Reporter.

'I was about to go on stage, and I found out my mother had died,' she remembered.

Kidman explained that she quickly returned to her hotel room in Venice and had been left 'completely devastated.'

Nicole Kidman, 58, emotionally recalled the 'harrowing' moment that she learned of her mother death while attending the Venice Film Festival; seen in March in NYC

Kidman explained that she quickly returned to her hotel room in Venice and had been left 'completely devastated'

The actress got candid about the struggles she faced because her late mom had been 'so much a part of my existence, so the idea of being there at that particular moment was harrowing.'

Kidman added, 'I remember getting into a boat in the canal, and literally at night trying to find my way to the airport, and then turning around and going, I can't even do this.'

The Moulin Rouge actress said that she had felt so 'alone' since her then-husband Keith Urban and their children did not accompany her to Venice at the time.

'I'd gone to win an award. What should have been a beautiful thing, ended up with that.'

She continued, 'But there is the contrast of life, and that's what I always say to people. I say that's when I know I'm resilient. That's when I know I can survive pretty much anything.'

The star then said her recent revelation that she was learning to be a death doula had left people 'confused or intrigued.'

Kidman discussed her interest in the practice while attending University Of San Francisco's Silk Speaker Series earlier this month.

She told the crowd that it 'sounds a little weird' but explained she wants to help people during their last few weeks on Earth.

The actress got candid about the struggles she faced because her late mom had been 'so much a part of my existence, so the idea of being there at that particular moment was harrowing'; Kidman with mother in 2018 in Sydney

The Moulin Rouge actress said that she had felt so 'alone' since her then-husband Keith Urban and their children did not accompany her to Venice at the time; seen above at 2024 Venice Film Festival

'My father was very involved with palliative care. There are birth doulas and recently I learned about death doulas,' she said at the event attended by The Daily Mail.

'As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide.'

Kidman shared that both she and her sister Antonia had hired a death doula to be with their mother before her passing.

'That's when I went, "I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care." I feel it's really important to have care on earth for the beginning and the end.'

The Eyes Wide Shut actress later reflected on how she has grown throughout hardships in her life.

'Sometimes you're going to have to take it on the chin and that's okay. It's your life and you define it.'

She added, 'Who cares what someone else thinks? Don't give your power to anybody else. They don't get to define you.'

At the time of their mother's death in September 2024, both Kidman and her sister shared an emotional tribute in a joint statement.

The star then said her recent revelation that she was learning to be a death doula had left people 'confused or intrigued'; seen in March in Beverly Hills

At the time of their mother's death in September 2024, both Kidman and her sister shared an emotional tribute in a joint statement

'My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,' they expressed.

'Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express. Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other.'

Upon learning of her mother's death, Kidman left the Venice Film Festival early.

Babygirl director Halina Reijn shared a statement from Kidman at the time which read: 'Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed.

'I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me, and she made me.'

The message concluded with, 'I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina, the collision of life and art is heart-breaking, and my heart is broken. We love you all.'

The following month, Kidman was seen being comforted by ex-husband Keith Urban at her mother's funeral in Sydney, Australia.

The actress's father Antony died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 75 in 2014.

'I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me, and she made me,' Kidman said; seen with mother Janelle and father Antony in 2003

Kidman reunited with Sandra Bullock as they teased their upcoming sequel Practical Magic 2 at CinemaCon on Tuesday in Las Vegas (seen above)

And last month in March, Kidman shared a moving tribute to mom Janelle on what would have been her 86th birthday.

She uploaded a throwback photo of herself with her mother and wrote in the caption, 'Remembering my Mumma on her birthday. Always in my heart Mumma.'

Before making an appearance at the HISTORYTalks 2026 event over the weekend, Kidman attended 2026 CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week on Tuesday.

She reunited with Sandra Bullock as they teased their upcoming sequel Practical Magic 2.
Don Schlitz, the country music songwriter and performer best known for penning the iconic hit The Gambler, has died at 73.

Schlitz's death was announced Friday in a statement by the Grand Ole Opry, according to Page Six.

He was said to have died after a sudden illness, though his cause of death was not disclosed.

'We are heartbroken by the news of the passing of Don Schlitz. Don loved his family, his home state of North Carolina and, above all, songs and songwriters,' said Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern in the statement. 'He carried that love into every room, every stage and every lyric he ever wrote.'

Trahern recounted a dinner she attended with Schlitz, at the end of which he 'picked up a guitar and began to play.'

'That is how I will always remember him, smiling and with a guitar in his hand,' she continued. 'His legacy lives on through his music and the many artists and writers he inspired. He will be deeply missed.'

Don Schlitz, the country music songwriter and performer best known for penning the iconic hit The Gambler, has died at 73. Schlitz's death was announced Friday in a statement by the Grand Ole Opry, according to Page Six; pictured in 2012 at his Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

He was said to have died after a sudden illness. Kenny Rogers had a career-changing hit in 1978 with Schlitz's tune The Gambler, which was the first of 20 hits for the songwriter; Rogers (L) is seen presenting Schlitz with the ASCAP Creative Achievement Award in 2007

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young added: 'Don Schlitzs place as a songwriting great would be secure had he never written The Gambler or had he only written The Gambler. Nashville was richer for his presence and is lesser for his absence.'

Schlitz, who was born in 1952 in Durham, North Carolina, sealed his status as a star of country music when he wrote The Gambler in 1976.

The song, which he later said was inspired by the death of his father that year, took two years for him to pitch it around Nashville before it was first recorded by Bobby Bare.

That version was only featured on Bare's self-titled album and attracted little attention, so Schlitz went on to record it himself in 1978.

Without any hits to his name, Schlitz's own recording was mostly ignored, though it helped elevate the song's profile enough to encourage Johnny Cash to cover it on his 1978 album Gone Girl.

Kenny Rogers, who had only recently gone solo after disbanding his country-rock group The First Edition, was also attracted to the tune, and it was his version of The Gambler that became the hit best known today.

Schlitz would later credit Rogers and his producer, Larry Butler, with adjusting the song to fully realize its commercial potential, and the song skyrocketed to the top of the US Hot Country Songs Chart.

It also topped out at number three on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart, and it reached a respectable number 16 on the Hot 100 singles chart.

For his contributions, Schlitz was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame; pictured in 2012 in Nashville, Tenn.

In 2022, his status as country royalty was cemented when he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, after making his debut at the Opry in 2017. The legendary venue paid tribute to Schlitz with a show dedicated to him on Saturday; pictured in 2017 in Nashville

The Gambler was eventually certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and it proved to be a major crossover hit with mainstream audiences.

Rogers, who inducted Schlitz into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012, praised his old collaborator by saying, 'Don doesnt just write songs. He writes careers.'

After notching his first hit, Schlitz would go on to pen 19 more, including Randy Travis's Forever And Ever, Amen (co-written with Paul Overstreet), The Judds' I Know Where I'm Going, Mary Chapin Carpenter's He Thinks He'll Keep Her and When You Say Nothing At All, which proved to be a hit for multiple artists.

For his contributions, Schlitz was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

Schlitz would collaborate again with Rogers in 1998, when he wrote the hit song The Greatest, and Rogers would return to his tunes again for his 2013 album You Can't Make Old Friends.

Schlitz continued to record his own music with two studio albums: 1980's Dreamers' Matinee and the 2010 LP Allergic To Crazy. He also released a live album, Live At The Bluebird Cafe, in 2001.

In 2022, his status as country royalty was cemented when he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, after making his debut at the Opry in 2017.

The legendary venue paid tribute to Schlitz with a show dedicated to him on Saturday.

Schlitz is survived by his wife Stacey, as well as his daughter Cory Dixon, his son Pete Schlitz, his four grandchildren, and two siblings, his brother Brad Schlitz and sister Kathy Hinkley.
Roxy Horner has shared her first snap from her lavish wedding to new husband Jack Whitehall, hours after the couple tied the knot.

The model, 34, married the comedian, 37, in a lavish 250,000 ceremony at the 17th-century Euridge Manor in the Cotswolds.

After what's been dubbed the celebrity wedding of the year, Roxy shared the first glimpse of the celebrations on Instagram Stories, as she reposted a snap shared by her sister Yasmin.

The image showed Roxy dressed in white satin bridal pyjamas and she got ready for her big day.

Following Jack and Roxy's lavish nuptials, sources have revealed to The Mail On Sunday that the influencer wore not one but two bridal gowns made by Belarusian wedding dress designer Galia Lahav, which are thought to have cost up to 16,000 each.

One was more formal for the official part of the wedding, while she was understood to have later changed into another that was 'easier to dance in.'

Roxy Horner has shared her first snap from her lavish wedding to new husband Jack Whitehall, hours after the couple tied the knot

The model married the comedian in a lavish 250,000 ceremony at the 17th-century Euridge Manor in the Cotswolds on Saturday

Roxy, who has been dating Jack since lockdown in 2020, had spent 'a long, long time' trying to find the perfect dress in which to say 'I do'.

The security team at the venue, owned by Jigsaw founder John Robinson, went to great lengths by shielding her with umbrellas so she couldn't be seen by the public.

Adding to the glamour were the Essex-born beauty's bridesmaids, fellow models Sophie Longford and Milly Slinger, who wore ankle-length champagne-peach dresses.

Jack wore a traditional black tie suit, flower buttonhole and a pair of 800 Christian Louboutin shoes for the big day, which began at 4pm and was due to go on to at least 2am.

He was seen arriving at the venue clutching what was thought to be his groom's speech, with friends revealing he was 'extremely nervous' about delivering it.

Jack's best man was thought to be his younger brother, television producer Barney, while he was joined by his A-list friends, who went to great lengths not to be seen, with many arriving in a blacked-out people-carrier.

James Corden, Jamie Redknapp, Freddie Flintoff and David Beckham's best friend David Gardner were all expected to be there.

Yasmin also shared a snap of the swanky bridal suite at the Cotswolds manor where Roxy began her pre-wedding preparations

Jack was briefly seen arriving for his big day over the weekend, in what was dubbed the celebrity wedding of the year

Corden, Redknapp and Gardner went on Jack's stag do in London's Soho three weeks ago during which the groom-to-be appeared worse for wear with a blow-up crown on his head.

After the wedding formalities, guests sat down to dinner before an evening disco.

The wedding party was understood to have been warned to 'keep it down' because in 2023 the venue found itself in trouble with the council for being too noisy.

Jack, who shares a two-year-old daughter, Elsie, with Roxy, has enjoyed a colourful love life.

He split from actress Gemma Chan in 2017 after they met six years earlier on the set of his comedy-drama series Fresh Meat.

He has also been linked to British actress Kate Beckinsale, who he was seen kissing in a corner of Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood in 2018.

Jack was also reported to have enjoyed flirtations with American socialite Paris Hilton and spent much time at her Beverly Hills mansion in 2019 after he met her while hosting the BRIT awards that year.

However, friends have said that Jack is only interested in one woman: his new wife. 'Jack was so giddy in the run-up to the wedding,' said one.

'He is besotted with Roxy.'
Vogue Williams has revealed she had two miscarriages before she fell pregnant with her fourth child, including one 'awful and heartbreaking' loss a year ago.

The presenter, 40, and her husband Spencer Matthews shared the happy news on Thursday that they are set to welcome another child to their family.

Vogue spoke about her pregnancy for the first time in a new video posted on her YouTube channel, telling her followers she felt like 'her body had failed her' when she suffered her baby loss.

She said that while she and Spencer are excited to be welcoming a new addition to their family, the miscarriages have made her 'nervous' during her fourth pregnancy.

The couple married in 2018, and are already parents to Theodore, seven, Gigi, five, and Otto, three, tied the knot in 2018.

Vogue shared that her first miscarriage, which happened at around four weeks, was 'really upsetting,' but she and Spencer went on to welcome their daughter Gigi in 2020.

She said they suffered further heartache last year when she went for a 12-week scan after falling pregnant, only to be told it 'wasn't really a pregnancy' as the embryo hadn't grown.

Vogue Williams has revealed she suffered two miscarriages before she fell pregnant with her fourth child, including one 'awful and heartbreaking' loss a year ago

The presenter and her husband Spencer Matthews shared the happy news on Thursday that they are set to welcome another child to their family

Vogue said she was 'really embarrassed' and 'upset' by the second loss, and she admitted she felt like 'her body had failed her.'

Speaking about their baby news at the start of the video, Spencer shared: 'We're so happy. We feel very... hard this time round to get to where we wanted.

'Definitely more bumps in the road in order to actually get pregnant, but obviously we feel really fortunate anyway to have three kids, but this one's been harder to get to that, well this bit, the announcing, but also just to actually get to where we wanted to be, has been been rough.'

Vogue then opened up about her first miscarriage, sharing: 'It happened to me before I had Gigi. It was so early on, like so so early on. We hadn't had any scans. We hadn't had anything like that.

'I must have been maybe a month if even, and it was just one of those things and it was, it was awful, but it was everything happened quite quickly after it as well.

'So, I never really kind of thought about it much. It was really upsetting at the time, but then I was pregnant quite quickly after, but it actually happened to me last year as well. And it was, just I was literally about to tell the kids.

'You could kind of start telling I was three months and I just didn't go for an early scan. I just never even thought about it because I kind of didn't want to make a fuss - stupid now!'

'I went to the 12 week scan on my own, I told quite a few people about it, like my parents, my brother, and my sister, and some people at work. And I just hadn't told the kids.'

Vogue shared that when she visited the hospital for the 12-week scan, she immediately noted the concern from her doctor.

She explained: 'And basically what had happened was, he had the pregnancy sack. I forget what the whole thing was called, but basically the embryo hadn't grown, my body still thought it was pregnant.

'And usually you just naturally get a miscarriage, but I didn't. It just kept like it would have eventually happened, but it just didn't at the time.

'I was three months along and [the doctor] was just like, ''I'm really sorry, it's just, it's not it's not really a pregnancy and you're going to have to get well, there's a couple of options.''

'So the very nice people at Chelsea and Westminster NHS, thank you so much. They were really amazing with it.

'Obviously when I found out I was like ''I just don't want to have to feel pregnant anymore'' because it was awful feeling it and not being it, because I still had the symptoms.

'I was just like, I just want to start again and just not have to deal with it.

'We were really upset. I was really upset. Stupidly I felt embarrassed having to tell everybody, and it's not an embarrassing thing but that was just an emotion I had.

After miscarrying before conceiving their second child, Vogue said they had further heartache last year when she went for a 12-week scan, only to be told the embryo hadn't grown

Vogue spoke about her pregnancy for the first time in a new video posted on her YouTube channel, with Spencer saying it had been a 'hard' journey to conceive again

The post showed the pair heading to the hospital for an early scan, and were reassured to see the pregnancy was progressing well after their heartbreaking loss

'I was really upset and then I felt like ''oh God I have to now tell everybody who I've told'' and I just feel stupid, like my body has kind of failed me kind of thing.

'And then I went in to the doctor and they said, ''Well, we could give you tablets,'' but I was going to Spain at the end of the week and I was just like: ''I just don't want to have to change all that for the kids and for myself and I don't want to be stuck here on my own and I just want to be done.'

'So they offered me a DNC as well, which you go in, you have an operation.

'It's really quick. I went in and I did that and it was really quick and then the whole thing was just like, I was so happy to be going away because at least then I didn't have to be, I was kind of able to just be on my own in my own thoughts and be able to think about it.'

Vogue then shared that her heartbreaking loss meant she had felt 'nervous' throughout her fourth pregnancy.

She continued: 'I wasn't sure if I was going to say it now, but I'm going to be just, I feel like this this pregnancy now I'm just always going to be, I'm always nervous, and sometimes I'm grateful that I feel so sick all the time because then I know it's there and it's what it should be.

'I just thought that I would tell that story and hopefully it helps other people who that happens to and there can be light at the end of the tunnel.'

'I wasn't sure if we wanted to try again, because I just felt like, I really don't want to have to go through that again.

'I'm glad we did obviously, but now I just have this constant nervousness around hoping that everything is going to be all right.

'I think that I was like. I got looked after very well. I know it doesn't always happen with people, but I think that I was just I was in and out very quickly within two days and then I got to go away.

'Because I got to go away, I got to just be with in my own thoughts. I wasn't at work all day, so it was quite good and now I'm very happy that we are pregnant again.

Vogue's video also featured the heartwarming moment she and Spencert told their three children they were going to have a new little brother or sister

The star said that while she Spencer were excited, the heartbreaking loss meant she felt 'nervous' throughout her fourth pregnancy; Pictured telling friends she is pregnant

'But as I said, the nerves will kind of always be there. And I keep saying, and it's so annoying, but I just I don't know why.

'I find I'm never sure if I should say this, because so many people go through really bad things like this and sometimes worse.

'I have friends who have had very very late pregnancies go wrong like six months down the line. So it was three months and obviously it's still heartbreaking for anyone. But I just feel lucky that we're able to be here now and be pregnant again.

'I'm starting to I feel like, when you get to that stage, 12 weeks - what's it called? The second trimester. How do I forget? I'm forgetting everything!

'I'm kind of getting to that stage of I've got my energy back. I'm starting to feel slightly better. So yeah, I just thought I would share that. I don't really know how to end this, but thank you for listening to the vlog.'

Later in the video, Vogue shared that she was heading to the hospital for an early scan after her previous miscarriage, and all had gone well.

The video also featured the sweet moment Vogue and Spencer told their three children they were going to have a new baby brother or sister.

The couple shared their pregnancy news with their social media followers on Thursday, alongside sweet snaps of them from their family trip to St Barts.

In a series of sweet beach snaps, Vogue showed off her growing bump in a black and white bikini and matching sarong, while Spencer gazed adoringly at her.

Beaming for the cameras on the white sandy beach with their three children, the couple wrote: 'BABY NUMBER 4 INCOMING .'

Podcaster Vogue and her former reality star husband Spencer, who share three children, Theodore, seven, Gigi, five, and Otto, three, tied the knot in 2018.

However, they suffered split rumours after they failed to publicly mark their seventh wedding anniversary  months after Spencer stepped down from their joint podcast, Spencer & Vogue, to focus on his own project, Untapped.

But Vogue previously insisted that she and her husband are 'happy' and that their marriage is secure, while dispelling past rumours of a potential crisis.

Speaking to The Sun, the presenter said she has reached a point in her life where only 'their truth' matters, stressing that they remain very much a happy couple.

She recalled: 'When he left our podcast, everyone was like, 'What's going on?''

Vogue also admitted to worrying about their children hearing the 'baseless and cruel' gossip at school.

She had previously addressed the claims in an Instagram post, telling followers: 'It's with great sadness that I have to let you know that Spen and I are NOT breaking up!

'I usually avoid addressing baseless and cruel rumours, but this just keeps coming up.

'It's disappointing to see this narrative being pushed almost daily when it's absolutely not true, and much more importantly, I don't want my children hearing these lies in the playground.

'We're not sure what the angle is or where it's coming from, but the whole thing feels very strange and mean. We're very happily married and in love and I hope posting the truth on my own platform might make it stop.'

Asked whether her denial had helped silence the rumours, she told The Sun: 'Of course not! I'll probably not bother next time.'

If you have been affected by this story, you can seek advice at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or by calling 01924 200 799
News / National

by Staff reporter

Prominent publisher Trevor Ncube, who was a member of Emmerson Mnangagwa's Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), has issued a stark warning over Zimbabwe's political trajectory, drawing parallels between current developments and the events that led to the dramatic end of Robert Mugabe's rule in 2017.In a social media post, Ncube argued that a new group of politically connected elites has emerged, displaying patterns of influence and confidence reminiscent of the G40 faction, whose dominance collapsed during the military intervention of November 2017.He named business figures Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Paul Tungwarara, Scott Sakupwanya and Wicknell Chivayo as part of what he described as a new influential network. According to Ncube, the accumulation of wealth and proximity to power has fostered a perception of political invincibility among some elites, raising concerns about governance and accountability.Ncube also expressed unease over growing public disillusionment, suggesting that some citizens may increasingly view the military as a stabilising force in the absence of a strong opposition. "That is not a democracy," he wrote, warning that reliance on non-civilian institutions reflects deeper structural challenges within Zimbabwe's political system.His comments come amid debate over proposed constitutional changes and the broader direction of governance in the country. Ncube cautioned that failure to learn from past political developments could come at significant cost, urging reflection on Zimbabwe's recent history.Ncube, who was the controlling shareholder of the Mail & Guardian Media Group from 2002 to 2017, is founder and executive chairman of Alpha Media Holdings, which publishes NewsDay, the Zimbabwe Independent, and The Standard.
Roxy Horner looked on cloud nine as she excitedly greeted her new in-laws the afternoon after marrying TV star Jack Whitehall.

On Sunday the model, 34, emerged from the 17th-century Euridge Manor in the Cotswolds looking stunning in a feathered white jacket layered over a slinky dress and accessorised with a white Chanel bag.

She greeted her new husband's parents Hilary, 64, and Michael, 86, with a huge smile and hugs as friends and family gathered back at the wedding venue for a Sunday lunch.

Hilary looked lovely in a floral print dress and silver jacket after wowing onlookers with her glitzy red sequinned halterneck dress during the 250,000 ceremony on Saturday.

Jack, 36, exchanged vows with Roxy before celebrating into the early hours with a black-tie 'fizz and frolics' theme.

After the wedding formalities, guests sat down to dinner before an evening disco which reportedly went on until 2am.

Roxy Horner looked on cloud nine as she excitedly greeted her new in-laws the afternoon after marrying Jack Whitehall

The model, 34, emerged from the 17th-century Euridge Manor in the Cotswolds looking stunning in a feathered white jacket

The wedding party was understood to have been warned to 'keep it down' because in 2023 the venue found itself in trouble with the council for being too noisy.

The nupitals didn't go without a hiccup or two. Last week Hilary confessed that Jack gave her a dress code 'several weeks ago' only for her to learn his instructions were totally wrong and she had to hurriedly find another dress.

She said: 'When I asked Jack what the dress code was several weeks ago, he gave me the wrong one. I got the wrong dress, [then] the wedding invitation arrived with a completely different dress code on it. He said: "Sorry about that, Mumsy."'

Meanwhile sources have revealed to The Mail On Sunday the bride wore not one but two bridal gowns made by Belarusian wedding dress designer Galia Lahav, which are thought to have cost up to 16,000 each.

One was more formal for the official part of the wedding, while she was understood to have later changed into another that was 'easier to dance in'.

Roxy, who has been dating Jack since lockdown in 2020, had spent 'a long, long time' trying to find the perfect dress in which to say 'I do'.

The security team at the venue, owned by Jigsaw founder John Robinson, went to great lengths by shielding her with umbrellas so she couldn't be seen by the public.

Adding to the glamour were the Essex-born beauty's bridesmaids, fellow models Sophie Longford and Milly Slinger, who wore ankle-length champagne-peach dresses.

The new bride was still in white, opting for a statement jacket layered over a slinky dress and accessorised with a white Chanel bag for the Sunday festivities

Jack's mother and father Hilary, 64, and Michael, 86, arrived back at their son's wedding venue

Roxy gave her father-in-law a warm hug as she greeted her guests back the wedding venue

The bride looked stunning after her night of celebrations, which reportedly continued until the early hours

Hilary looked lovely in a floral print dress after wowing onlookers with her glitzy red sequinned halterneck dress during the 250,000 ceremony

Jack was briefly seen arriving for his big day over the weekend, in what was dubbed the celebrity wedding of the year

Roxy shared a joke with Michael as the family gathered for another day of festivities

Theatre agent Michael was looking dapper in a trilby hat and brown jacket for the Sunday gathering

Jack wore a traditional black tie suit, flower buttonhole and a pair of 800 Christian Louboutin shoes for the big day, which began at 4pm and was due to go on to at least 2am.

He was seen arriving at the venue clutching what was thought to be his groom's speech, with friends revealing he was 'extremely nervous' about delivering it.

Jack's best man was thought to be his younger brother, television producer Barney, while he was joined by his A-list friends, who went to great lengths not to be seen, with many arriving in a blacked-out people-carrier.

James Corden, Jamie Redknapp, Freddie Flintoff and David Beckham's best friend David Gardner were all expected to be there.

Corden, Redknapp and Gardner went on Jack's stag do in London's Soho three weeks ago during which the groom-to-be appeared worse for wear with a blow-up crown on his head.
Holly Willoughby has shared a video from lunch with 'her girls' Emma Bunton and Christine Lampard as she gushed over their Sex And The City style friendship.

The British TV personality, 45, looked happier than ever as she was seen laughing away at a lunch outing with a group of pals.

Holly, Emma and Christine were joined by close friends Shiarra Bell and Nicole Appleton, who also looked in top spirits.

In the clip, Holly looked effortlessly chic in a burgundy shirt and styled her blonde tresses into loose waves.

Meanwhile, Emma looked incredible in a pink shirt and Christine looked effortlessly chic in a white top.

Alongside her post, Holly penned: ' As Carrie Bradshaw said They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style. . Love my girls'

Holly Willoughby, 45, has shared a video from lunch with 'her girls' Emma Bunton and Christine Lampard as she gushed over their Sex And The City style friendship

The British TV personality looked happier than ever as she was seen laughing away at a lunch outing with a group of pals

Holly's post comes after her new online show was revealed as she gears up to tackle the digital industry after turning her back on terrestrial ITV.

The Daily Mail's Katie Hind previously wrote that the broadcaster, 45, would be producing and presenting her new project with the help of husband Dan Baldwin's company, which is behind Gladiators and Michael McIntyre's Big Show.

Now according to reports the show will be called Together and in her application to the Intellectual Property Office Holly revealed the series would would also sell clothes, seemingly echoing This Morning's magazine style format, which she presented for 16 years.

Holly has previously posted fashion and cookery videos to her Instagram account, seemingly preparing for her upcoming series.

An expert said: 'The eclectic mix of subjects very much chimes with this overarching theme of 'togetherness' which she's clearly trying to embrace'.

'And of course the title is bound to heighten the sense that viewers are being reunited with Holly after a lengthy absence'.

They told The Sun: 'She was in our living rooms almost constantly for 16 years'.

Daily Mail have contacted Holly's representatives for comment.

Holly, Emma and Christine were joined by pals Shiarra Bell and Nicole Appleton, who also looked in top spirits

'Holly has done television for 25 years and now she wants to make her own thing,' a friend of the star shared with the Daily Mail.

'And now daytime television is very much on the slide and it's time for something new. She is excited, it is something so new and innovative, hopefully it will work.

'The television landscape has changed so much, people are consuming content on TikTok and other digital platforms.

'Holly has seen an opportunity now to start something new which has a future, unlike the kind of stuff she has done in the past.'

Such is Holly's determination to start afresh that she turned down the chance of hosting ITV's You Bet! for a third time, having hosted two specials with Stephen Mulhern in 2024. The series has since been axed.

You Bet! was one of three projects Holly had worked on since leaving This Morning in October 2023 following her torment at the hands of former security guard Gavin Plumb, who was last summer found guilty of a plot to kidnap, rape and murder her.

The sickening crime came just months after she fell out with co-presenter and friend, Phillip Schofield.

As well as her work on You Bet! Holly had hosted Dancing On Ice, which as of last year is 'rested' with were no plans for a future series.

She also presented Bear Hunt, which was cancelled by Netflix after just one season.

The source explained: 'While she still has a good relationship with ITV, she has walked away from shows there and she has no intention right now to go back.

'She was offered the chance to host You Bet but she declined and there have been other opportunities too: She could have taken them and carried on where she left off when she had that awful time with Gavin Plumb.

'But Holly has an idea and she knows if she doesn't do it now, she will never know if it will work. Of course it is a risk, but she wanted a change.

'Not only will she be in front of a camera but she will be in charge behind it, too, and that is very exciting.'
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster made a date out of the Sheep Detectives premiere in New York City on Sunday.

The 57-year-old actor and 51-year-old actress  whose reported wedding plans have hit a snag  put on a cozy display while posing for photos together.

Jackman looked stylish in a monochrome blue suit and button-up shirt, adding black dress shoes.

He was clean-shaven and his dark hair was neatly cut, with the sides shorter and a pompadour on top.

For her part, Foster dazzled in a pink dress covered in a blue sequin pattern and she teamed it with pale pink satin heels.

It comes nearly six months after the couple made their red carpet debut in October 2025 at AFI Fest in Hollywood.

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster made a date out of the Sheep Detectives premiere in New York City on Sunday

The 57-year-old actor and 51-year-old actress put on a cozy display while posing for photos together

Foster flaunted a glossy red manicure for the star-studded event held at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

She gazed lovingly at her beau as she supported his latest career endeavor.

The lovebirds' wedding plans have reportedly hit a snag, as the longtime actor is reportedly working on getting the two kids he shares with ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness on board.

According to sources, he has proposed to Foster  his former Broadway co-star  but getting to the altar has not been easy.

Jackman and Furness, 70, finalized their divorce in June 2025 after shocking Hollywood with news of their split in September 2023.

They share son Oscar, 25, and daughter Ava, 20.

Per the National Enquirer, the children remain 'steadfastly loyal' to Furness and are struggling to celebrate their father's next chapter.

'Even though Hugh is excited to start this next chapter with Sutton, he has to be sensitive to his kids. They're incredibly protective of their mother...he wants to be respectful of that,' a source said.

Join the discussion Should Hugh Jackman prioritize his children's feelings over his new romance with Sutton Foster?

Jackman looked stylish in a monochrome blue suit and button-up shirt, adding black dress shoes

Foster dazzled in a pink dress covered in a blue sequin pattern and she teamed it with pale pink satin heels

It comes nearly six months after the couple made their red carpet debut in October 2025 at AFI Fest in Hollywood

Jackman plays an Irish shepherd named George in The Sheep Detectives, a comedy that also stars Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon and Hong Chau.

In the film, George raises his sheep for their wool and every night reads a murder mystery aloud, pretending the sheep can understand.

Not only can the sheep understand him, but they argue for hours afterwards about who they think is the culprit behind the stories' crimes.

When George is found dead under strange circumstances, the sheep are sure it was murder and vow to use their newfound detective skills to solve the crime.

Written by Craig Mazin, the feature film is based on author Leonie Swann's 2005 novel of the same name.

The movie is slated to hit theaters on May 8.
The Facts of Life star Mindy Cohn said she is again battling cancer.

Cohn, 59, took to Instagram on Sunday with a picture of herself recovering in a hospital room as she updated her followers on her health battle.

'Have been off social media for awhile' cuz i had to go kick cancers ass,' said Cohn, who played the role of Natalie Green on 201 episodes of the sitcom from 19791988.

Cohn tagged the Santa Monica, California-based hospital Providence Saint Johns Health Center, thanking staffers at the medical facility for their care.

'I did so with the extraordinary help of Providence Saint John's hospital staff, especially my nurses Finja, Patty and Courtney and my hero, the phenomenal oncology surgeon @antonbilchik,' said Cohn.

She continued, 'Thank you to my family especially my cherished @tarakarsian @johnwstewart @gregoryzarian who have been my advocates and always on the ready to help me when it's "my turn."'

The Facts of Life star Mindy Cohn, 59, said she is again battling cancer with a picture of herself in a hospital room as she updated her social media followers on her health battle

Cohn said she will be focusing on 'recouping for another couple of weeks' at which time she will be 'ready for [her] next adventure.'

Cohn finished the post in saying, 'Onwards! F**K Cancer!

A number of Cohn's celebrity friends shared supportive sentiments in the adjacent comment thread, including Rosie O'Donnell, who wrote, 'U got this girl.'

Peri Gilpin said, 'Lots of Love to you Mindy! Im happy you are on the mend. Looking forward to coffee in the near future!'

Helen Hunt wrote, 'Sending Love your way,' while Sarah Paulson said, 'Sending love love your way.'

Other notable names to provide Cohn with kind words in response to her announcement included Octavia Spencer, Chelsea Handler and Ryan Phillippe.

Cohn's health battle comes less than a decade after she went public over a yearslong battle she fought with breast cancer - undergoing a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

Cohn at the Critics Choice Association's Inaugural Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television at Fairmont Century Plaza on June 7, 2024 in LA

(L-R) Kim Fields, Lisa Whelchel, Nancy McKeon, Charlotte Rae and Cohn in a cast shot

'I kept that secret for a long time,' Cohn said in a 2017 People piece. 'I've always been an optimist, but the cancer metastasized.

'It kept spreading and coming back. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then it would. And then I'd wait for another shoe to drop, and it would.'

Cohn at the time said she was 'frustrated and enraged' as she dealt with multiple health complications linked to the cancer: 'I couldn't control any of this - I couldn't fix it.'

Cohn on The Facts of Life played Natalie, a student at the Eastland School for Young Women.

She was classmates with Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel), Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey (Kim Fields) and Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon) under the watch of Edna Garrett (played by the late Charlotte Rae).

Cohn, appearing on Jeff Lewis Live in 2024, said that talks to reboot the show with the late Norman Lear prior to his 2023 passing fell apart due to one of her co-stars.

'It wasn't me, I'll put it that way,' Cohn said. 'One of the girls went behind our backs to try to make a separate deal for a spinoff deal just for herself and devastated the rest of us.

'I'm just saying, for a 40-year friendship and sisterhood, there was a tidal wave of emotion around it.'
A trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is magical... at least until the bills arrives.

With Disney World prices hitting record highs, savvy parkgoers are scrambling to cut costs without sacrificing the magic.

Enter David's Vacation Club Rentals, which makes Disney resort villas - often thought to be inaccessible to non-timeshare owners - available to the masses thanks to a little-known savings hack.

The company acts as a middle man between vacationers and Disney Vacation Club owners who have unused points, listing rooms at significantly reduced rates that can save guests up to 60 percent off regular Disney pricing.

And 60 percent off makes a huge difference for hotel rooms that cost hundreds or even thousands per night.

'In many cases, families can stay in larger villas with kitchens, more space and premium amenities for the price of what Disney would typically charge for a moderate or even value resort,' David's Vacation Club Rentals CEO Melissa Mullett told the Daily Mail.

Consider a weekend stay at the Grand Floridian this May. Booking through the Walt Disney World website would run guests an eye-watering $1,341 per night for a 1-bedroom villa.

But if you booked through David's Vacation Club Rentals, the exact same stay would drop to $1,058 per night - roughly $300 less that you can spend on Dole Whip and Mickey pretzels.

David's Vacation Club Rentals offers customers to pick their preferred room size and resort

Rooms at Disney's Grand Floridian resort can cost over $1,000 or more depending on the room size and dates

The bungalows at Disney's Polynesian come with their own private plunge pool and can sleep up to eight guests

Depending on availability, some of Disney's most coveted hotel rooms are available at a fraction of the cost, including the log cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Polynesian's new Island Tower.

How is this even possible? A dependable middleman, that's how.

Disney Vacation Club members own their annual allotment of points - they are deeded real estate - which means they may sell or transfer them at their own discretion, within certain limits.

If a member has leftover points, they can sell them to David's Vacation Club Rentals, which lets non-members reserve DVC-level rooms at a much lower rate than direct through Disney.

Everybody wins: Disney Vacation Club members make extra money on unused points and non-members get cheaper access.

Disney World has been cracking down on the resale market in recent months, warning that 'frequently or regularly' renting or selling reservations is 'strictly prohibited.'

However, it still allows 'occasional' sales of extra points - and that's the sweet spot David's Vacation Club Rentals operates in.

'David's is a real option to save money if you are willing to be patient and jump through some extra hoops to save money,' Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit, told the Daily Mail.

The Grand Floridian is one of Walt Disney World's original resort hotels, located next to Magic Kingdom

Melissa Mullett is the CEO of David's Vacation Club Rentals, taking over for her father, David

Doyle warned that availability is limited on David's Vacation Club Rentals, which offers far fewer options then booking through a Disney travel agent or direct with Disney.

'If you can find a reservation, this is a solid way to save money on trips,' he said.

The company even provides a 'cost calculator' so Disney fans may compare prices on different vacation dates.

The calculator helps them understand room costs and sizes - and for timeshare holders, how many 'points' each room translates to.

Melissa Mullett's father, David, is the namesake behind Davids Vacation Club Rentals.

He founded the company more than 20 years ago, inspired by his family's love of all things Disney.

'It was always our happy place growing up, and even when we didnt have much, those trips meant everything to us,' Mullett said.

Before snagging her current role, Mullett was answering customers questions at a phone bank. In 2010, she had the opportunity to pivot and she jumped on it.

'It felt like a natural next step,' Mullett said. Now, she's leading a global team and growing her father's business.

Disney resorts offer perks for vacationers that those staying off-property don't experience, like early park entry, outdoor movie nights and free transportation

When she's not working at David's Vacation Club Rentals, Mullett is often visiting Disney World at her own timeshare - and loves the 'home away from home' feeling she gets there.

'Its something I genuinely enjoy both personally and professionally - and it gives me firsthand insight into what makes a DVC vacation so special,' she said.

The Orlando, Florida-based theme park has over 20 different resorts to choose from, and each one offers its own unique dining and transportation options.

The theme park giant's 21 hotels are split into tiers: deluxe, moderate, value and deluxe villa.

It's not just accommodations that add up to a costly vacation. The company's annual pass will run Disney World fans $1,629 per person for unrestricted access to its Orlando theme parks.

While a 'fastpass' used to be an extra perk, the theme park has ditched their old 'skip the line' system in favor of the add-on Lightning Lanes.

The most flexible option of the skip-the-line options, the 'Premier Pass,' will set you back close to $500 per person just for the convenience of hopping on rides at will.

NerdWallet estimates the cost for a 'frugal' family of four to visit Disney World can easily reach $6,000 for a seven-night trip - and that's what makes David's Vacation Club Rentals so refreshing.

'Its true that a Disney World vacation can feel more expensive than ever, but it doesnt have to be,' Mullett said.
The tipping debate has taken another turn after a customer claimed they caught a Las Vegas waitress using a 'sneaky' tactic to secure a higher gratuity.

In a post shared online, the diner alleged that the server briefly took their card and pre-selected a 22 percent tip before handing the machine back for payment.

'Vegas restaurant - waitress took my card, entered "OK" for the amount, set the tip to 22 percent and handed it back to me for my PIN,' the customer wrote.

'Not a chance I'm falling for that.'

The diner said they ultimately left a smaller tip and raised the issue with management.

They sent an email after their dining experience arguing that no server should decide a gratuity on behalf of a customer or bypass the chance to review the total bill.

'I'm generally not opposed to tipping, but there is no way anyone should be choosing their tip amount for themselves,' they added.

The incident quickly sparked backlash online, with many commenters condemning the alleged tactic.

The tipping debate has taken another turn after a customer claimed they caught a Las Vegas waitress using a 'sneaky' tactic to secure a higher gratuity

In a post shared online, the diner alleged that the server briefly took their card and pre-selected a 22 percent tip before handing the machine back for payment (stock image)

'Yeah, that's a zero tip and a talk with the manager,' one person wrote, echoing the customer's frustration.

Another added: 'They should have refunded your meal.

'Always talk to the manager before you leave - especially in a place as transient as Vegas.'

According to the original poster, the move ultimately backfired.

They said they tipped less than they otherwise would have and reported the situation to management.

In a surprising twist, the customer later revealed the restaurant followed up and refunded the tip entirely.

'I'm shocked to report they contacted me and refunded the tip I ended up leaving,' they wrote. 'I'm surprised.'

The episode comes amid growing scrutiny over tipping practices in the US.

Supporters of tipping argue that suggested gratuities simply provide guidance and help ensure service workers - who often rely heavily on tips for income - are fairly compensated

One of the biggest frustrations among consumers is businesses adding increasingly aggressive gratuity prompts or service fees to bills.

In some cases, customers have even reported unexpected charges appearing on receipts after checkout - incidents that have sparked viral outrage online.

Critics say these tactics can blur the line between a voluntary tip and a hidden surcharge, especially when the calculations aren't clearly explained.

Supporters of tipping, however, argue that suggested gratuities simply provide guidance and help ensure service workers - who often rely heavily on tips for income - are fairly compensated.

Still, as diners increasingly scrutinize their receipts, even small discrepancies - 'just a dollar or two' - are quickly becoming a flashpoint in America's ongoing tipping debate.
McDonald's fans weren't loving this elusive onion-themed menu item.

Back in the 1970s, the fast food giant tested a quirky side called onion nuggets - bite-sized chunks of onion coated in crispy batter, pitched as a menu item for vegetarians.

But a throwaway decision inside the company helped kill them off and accidentally created one of its biggest money-makers.

The onion nugget's battered and chunky shape, as opposed the traditional ring-style sold at other restaurants, led to predictably low sales. Within about a year, the item disappeared from menus, with customers never getting to experience a true Burger King dupe.

According to company lore, a casual conversation in 1979 changed everything. Then-chairman Fred Turner suggested the company 'ditch onions and start working with chicken instead.'

That offhand pivot sparked the creation of the Chicken McNugget - which officially launched nationwide in 1983 and went on to become one of the chains most iconic and profitable products.

Since then, the fast food giant introduced dipping sauces like Tangy BBQ and Sweet 'N Sour, as well as a limited-time spicy version of their chicken nugget.

The menu item costs around $3.99 for a 6-piece and $10.49 for a 20-piece, making it one of the cheaper options at the chain restaurant.

McDonald's onion nuggets where the inspiration behind the fast food chain's Chicken McNuggets

McDonald's introduced the onion nugget in the 1970s, although it was a short-lived menu item

Chris Kempczinski has acted as McDonald's CEO since 2019

But the legacy of the onion nugget isn't lost among fast food fans. Disappointed customers took to social media, some sharing their disappointment that they'll never try an onion nugget.

'Bring them back,' one Reddit user said. 'McDonald's should do a promotion where they bring back a bunch of old items.

'These, the McTasty, McBrat, the salads, fruit and yogurt parfait, snack wrap. There are so many great discontinued items.'

'I'll stick with my chicken rings, thank you very much,' another said, referencing Burger King's fan-favorite offering.

Burger King is testing out a new version of their onion rings in Canada, swapping minced onions with a prickly coating for an actual onion with a smoother, less breaded outside.

Customers shared their reactions on Reddit, with one user saying, 'I actually like their current onion rings when theyre fresh.'

'I like the current onion rings,' another wrote. 'No need fixing what isn't broken. If I want a thick sliced onion ring where the onion pulls out of the breading on the first bite, I can go to just about any sit down restaurant.'

Others reacted to the price of the upgraded item, which rang up well over $5. Although the current onion rings vary in price based on location, a medium costs about $3.

Burger King's onion rings are an iconic and beloved menu item, with a medium size costing around $3

There's no word regarding when, or if, they will make their US debut, but the chain has been slowly improving its restaurants amid growing customer complaints. That includes updating its iconic Whopper sandwich.

Although the Whopper has been a restaurant staple for decades, diners complained that the quality has slowly been on the decline. As a result, Burger King elevated the item with new packaging and more premium ingredients.

This new burger still includes freshly cut onions and tomatoes, lettuce and pickles - along with what the company describes as 'better tasting' mayonnaise.

The chain also announced staff members would be required to wear AI-powered headsets that monitor how friendly employees are to customers. These headsets feature an AI voice, called Patty, that can send feedback to managers.

For example, if Patty detects an employee hasn't said keywords like 'welcome', 'please' or 'thank you,' it can flag it to their boss.

The changes were met with massive customer approval, forcing the chain to hire 60,000 new employees to meet growing demand.
Costco's reputation for bargain deals on bulk items and its sense of exclusivity have drawn millions of customers through its doors.

For an annual fee of $65, members can stock up on groceries, enjoy free food samples, fill their gas tanks, and take advantage of discounted perks like eyeglasses.

That appeal has helped drive massive growth - 145 million people held memberships in 2025, and more than 300 new stores opened nationwide between 2011 and 2024.

Despite Costco's consistent growth and strong future outlook, its membership model isn't for everyone.

Barriers such as annual fees, store accessibility, and infrequent shopping needs can limit its appeal. And Costco is far less present in underserved areas, including food deserts, and its locations are typically concentrated in higher-income, densely populated suburban regions.

But even for those who do sign up, membership isn't always guaranteed to last.

In some cases, customers can face involuntary cancellations at the discretion of management - raising the question: what exactly gets your card revoked?

The Daily Mail is taking a closer look at the policies and behaviors that could lead Costco to figuratively cut up your card.

Costco's reputation for bargain deals on bulk items and its sense of exclusivity have drawn millions of customers through its doors

The Daily Mail is taking a closer look at the policies and behaviors that could lead Costco to figuratively cut up your card

Abusing Costco's return policy

Costco is well known for its generous return policy, allowing customers to bring back items they're not satisfied with for a wide range of reasons.

One feature that sets it apart from many other retailers is that receipts are often not required, as purchases can be tracked through a member's account - whether bought in-store or online.

However, the policy isn't without limits.

Electronics, for example, must typically be returned within a strict 90-day window. Food items can also be returned - even if opened - though expired products are generally excluded.

Certain categories come with tighter restrictions. Items like cigarettes and alcohol may not be eligible for return in some locations due to local regulations.

Meanwhile, merchandise purchased through Costco's Special Order Kiosk or Custom Installed Program is non-returnable, and customized products are not eligible for refunds.

Ultimately, returns are often subject to managerial discretion. While many managers are flexible, repeated or excessive returns can raise red flags - and in extreme cases, could even lead to a membership being revoked for abuse of the policy.

While many managers are flexible, repeated or excessive returns can raise red flags - and in extreme cases, could even lead to a membership being revoked for abuse of the policy

Electronics, for example, must typically be returned within a strict 90-day window

Skipping the receipt check

Anyone who walks into Costco is familiar with the employee by the door - the receipt checker.

Many veteran members know the process of the checker meticulously checking the cart to make sure no items were missed during checkout.

And if you're lucky, they'll even occasionally put a smiley face next to their check mark on the receipt as a thanks for a customer's cooperation.

While many wouldn't dare to breeze past this essential Costco staple, attempting to dodge not only affects an accurate store inventory for the big box business, but also can cost you your membership as it violates store policy.

Stealing from Costco

This next warning ties directly to skipping the receipt check - and it may be the reason some shoppers try to breeze past it: theft.

Not only is stealing in bad taste, but it's also illegal and could result in legal issues and the loss of a customer's membership card.

While many wouldn't dare to breeze past the receipt checker, attempting to dodge not only affects an accurate store inventory for the big box business, but also can cost you your membership as it violates store policy

Costco has also been cracking down on self-checkout heists by limiting how many items shoppers can scan

The company is largely confident in its business model that keeps losses low but 'strictly controlling the entrances and exits', its 2025 annual report said.

Fewer entrances mean fewer blind spots. And because everyone inside has already paid to be there, there's far fewer anonymous shoppers - a key driver of retail theft.

While theft has never been a major problem for Costco, losses were more than twice today's level roughly 30 years ago, showing how the company's approach has steadily tightened.

Costco has also been cracking down on self-checkout heists by limiting how many items shoppers can scan.

A new proposal reportedly being discussed among Walmart, Costco, and Target would limit the number of self-checkout machines in operation at any given time to no more than eight.

Abusing the membership cancellation policy

Costco's famously flexible return policy even applies to its memberships, which can usually be canceled at any time for a full refund, no questions asked.

In most cases, store managers will process a cancellation without hesitation.

Treating the membership cancellation policy like a revolving door - cashing out a membership only to re-sign up right away using the refund - can become a red flag for workers

That said, treating the policy like a revolving door - cashing out a membership only to re-sign up right away using the refund - can become a red flag for workers.

Repeated behavior like that may be seen as taking advantage of the system and could make it harder to qualify for a new membership later on.

Mistreating employees

Costco is known for treating its employees well, offering competitive wages along with benefits such as health insurance, dental coverage, and retirement plans.

In return, the company expects customers to show the same respect toward its staff.

Many employees report enjoying their jobs, but that goodwill can quickly wear thin when customers become abusive.

Disrespectful behavior, such as verbally berating staff, bullying, or any physical confrontation, can result in serious consequences, including the possibility of having a membership revoked at the store's discretion.

This was rampant during COVID-19 when patrons would refuse to wear a mask as the policy indicated.

Repeated behavior like that may be seen as taking advantage of the system and could make it harder to qualify for a new membership later on

One Costco manager went as far as taking a customer's cart away and kicking him out of the store after he refused to wear a mask during the height of COVID in 2020.

Someone in your household violated Costco's policies

Many customers try to sneak their friends and family members into Costco to do the shopping without realizing there are multiple avenues to have your card cover more than one individual.

Costco has been clamping down on this sneaky tactic since 2024 by issuing scanners at the door in states like California, New York, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Guests who want to shop will now need to be accompanied by a member, ending the ability for parents to send their kids on a Costco run while they stay home.

Costco is also requiring customers to show a photo ID alongside their membership card if there isn't a photo listed on the card.

There are other ways to get your loved ones through the door.

If you're the primary cardholder, you can get an additional housegold card for someone who lives with you. This extends to spouses, children and even roommates.

Disrespectful behavior, such as verbally berating staff, bullying, or any physical confrontation, can result in serious consequences, including the possibility of having a membership revoked at the store's discretion

But if there are enough violations committed by those who go through the doors, that can negatively affect a customer's membership and even result in revocation.

You may not have read the fine print in your Costco membership agreement, but it does include specific terms governing membership use.

Costco explicitly states that it 'reserves the right to refuse, decline, or cancel a membership at any time.'

While the company is unlikely to revoke a membership without cause, it does retain full discretion over who is allowed to shop and remain a member.
The federal government reportedly plans to begin debt collection as soon as this summer for half a million borrowers who are in default on their federal student loans.

Up to 9 million borrowers have defaulted or are close to defaulting on their student loans, a mind-boggling figure that's due to the expiration of pandemic-era protections under the second Trump administration.

Last month, the Education Department disclosed that it would work closely with the Treasury Department to begin collections on defaulted student loans.

According to people familiar with the new plans who spoke to Politico, the two federal agencies would reportedly launch collections for around 500,000 borrowers by July.

The team effort comes as the Education Department continues to make itself obsolete per the administration's plan to liquidate the department - including handing over its $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury to sort out.

'I have the sense this is more of a pilot program,' Betsy Mayotte, president and founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, told the Daily Mail.

Last March, President Trump signed an executive order to 'abolish' the Education Department - although as with many similar pronouncements, only Congress has the effective power to dissolve a federal agency.

An Education Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail that both departments dispute the validity of the reports - and reiterated that the administration had delayed involuntary collections on federal student loans.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon smiles during the signing event for an executive order to shut down the Department of Education next to President Donald Trump

Last March, President Trump signed an executive order to 'abolish' the Education Department - although as with many similar pronouncements, only Congress has the effective power to dissolve a federal agency

According to people familiar with the new plans who spoke to Politico , the two federal agencies would reportedly launch collections for around 500,000 borrowers by July

'Both Treasury and ED are saying it's very ambitious,' one of the anonymous sources told Politico. 'We are really pushing for starting with a few hundred, then a few thousand and slowly ramping up instead of just turning the floodgates on.'

The sources said that aggressive collection tactics like wage garnishing would not begin right away, with the administration waiting to begin those efforts sometime after the midterm elections.

'It's worth noting that a similar pilot program was attempted back in 2015 under the Obama administration and it was found that the Treasury wasn't as effective in collections as the Education Department was,' said Mayotte.

The US Treasury knows how to collect debts: Since 1996, the Bureau of Fiscal Service has been the federal government's main debt collector for everything other than taxes.

Meanwhile, before the pandemic the Education Department had contracted with private debt collection agencies to pursue collections on student loan borrowers who were at least 270 days late on repayment.

According to policies outlined by the Education Department, if borrowers don't make scheduled loan payments for at least 270 days, their federal student loan goes into default.

And if you haven't made a payment on your loan for more than 360 days and don't take action to resolve the default status, the government can withhold money to collect on the debt you owe.

Involuntary collections methods include wage garnishment of up to 15 percent of defaulted borrowers's paychecks, or withholding tax refunds or other federal benefits.

Up to 9 million borrowers have defaulted or are close to defaulting on their student loans, a mind-boggling figure that's due to the expiration of pandemic-era protections under the second Trump administration

Student loan borrowers stage a rally in front of The White House to celebrate President Biden cancelling student debt and to begin the fight to cancel any remaining debt on August 25, 2022

Further consequences may include the suspension of professional licenses (nursing, teaching, law), and defaulted federal debt is a major red flag during background checks.

In 2025, President Trump had mentioned that the Small Business Administration would take over the student loan program, and hinted that the Education Department had explored selling off some of the portfolio to private companies.

And last April, the Education Department warned that more than five million Americans with defaulted loans would face wage garnishment starting shortly - although that plan never came to pass.

Administration officials are on the record calling the Treasury a better fit to manage the loan portfolio.

'Americans know that the Department of Education has failed to effectively manage and deliver these critical programs,' said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
Trifast plc (LON:TRI  Get Free Report) insider Clive Watson bought 973 shares of Trifast stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 71 per share, for a total transaction of 690.83.

Trifast Stock Performance

LON TRI opened at GBX 70.20 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.82, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.36. Trifast plc has a twelve month low of GBX 56.20 and a twelve month high of GBX 88.80. The company has a market capitalization of 94.75 million, a PE ratio of 80.69 and a beta of 0.73. The businesss 50-day moving average price is GBX 71.61 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 73.94.

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Trifast Company Profile

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About TrifastIn 2023, TR celebrated 50 years of business with a proud heritage of serving customers with engineered fastening supply chain solutions; Our skills lie in the design, engineering, manufacture, and distribution of high-quality engineered fastenings and Category C components principally for major global assembly industries.

As an international business we can provide customer support from across key regions in the UK & Ireland, Asia, Europe, and North America. In addition to our service locations, we operate manufacturing facilities focused on high volume cold forged fasteners and special parts.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Controversy has erupted in Zimbabwe after businessman and Zanu PF ally Wicknell Chivayo announced a US$3.6 million "donation" to Members of Parliament and senators, with critics accusing him of attempting to influence a crucial constitutional vote.Chivayo said the funds, amounting to US$10,000 for each of the country's 360 legislators, were an Independence Day gift to support constituency development projects as Zimbabwe marked its 46th anniversary of independence. However, the timing of the donationjust weeks before Parliament debates the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill (commonly referred to as CAB3)has drawn widespread criticism.The bill includes sweeping changes to Zimbabwe's constitution, most notably a clause that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term from 2028 to 2030 and eliminate direct presidential elections. It also proposes extending the current Parliament's term by two years and abolishing the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.CAB3 has already passed the public hearings stage and is now awaiting debate and a vote in Parliament, setting the stage for what could be one of the most consequential legislative decisions in recent years.The Zimbabwe Constitutional Movement condemned the donation, describing it as a calculated attempt to "buy the loyalty of lawmakers" at a critical moment."This manipulation comes at a critical moment as CAB3 is set to be presented in Parliament, amidst contentious findings from public consultations," the group said. "This so-called donation starkly illustrates the rampant corruption and misgovernance that plagues the current administration."Opposition figures and analysts have echoed these concerns. Senator Jameson Timba warned that the financial gesture raises serious ethical and constitutional questions, particularly given its proximity to the parliamentary vote."It is a politically consequential financial intervention targeted at sitting Members of Parliament at the precise moment they are required to exercise independent judgment on CAB3," Timba said. "Parliament must not be seen to be for saleespecially on a matter as fundamental as the constitution."Political analyst Reuben Mbofana described the donation as a "grotesque mockery" of the legislative process, arguing that it blurs the line between philanthropy and political bribery."When a benefactor with close ties to the ruling party distributes thousands of dollars to lawmakers at such a critical juncture, the line between private philanthropy and political bribery vanishes," Mbofana said.Meanwhile, activist Rutendo Matinyarare questioned the implications of such financial incentives on lawmakers' independence."If parliamentarians are given money by associates of the president at a time they are deliberating on constitutional amendments, what are the chances they will make impartial decisions?" he asked.The developments have intensified debate around CAB3, with critics urging Zimbabweans to reject the proposed changes, warning that they could undermine democratic principles and concentrate power within the executive.As Parliament prepares to deliberate, the controversy surrounding Chivayo's donation has added a new layer of tension, raising concerns about the integrity of the legislative process and the future of constitutional governance in Zimbabwe.
American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:DCH  Get Free Report) and ADOMANI (OTCMKTS:ADOM  Get Free Report) are both small-cap auto/tires/trucks companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares American Axle & Manufacturing and ADOMANIs top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio American Axle & Manufacturing $5.84 billion 0.25 -$19.70 million ($0.18) -33.91 ADOMANI $620,000.00 0.00 -$4.39 million N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

ADOMANI has lower revenue, but higher earnings than American Axle & Manufacturing.

91.4% of American Axle & Manufacturing shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 2.1% of ADOMANI shares are held by institutional investors. 2.1% of American Axle & Manufacturing shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 30.1% of ADOMANI shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares American Axle & Manufacturing and ADOMANIs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets American Axle & Manufacturing -0.34% 10.00% 1.17% ADOMANI -344.40% -12.40% -12.02%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for American Axle & Manufacturing and ADOMANI, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score American Axle & Manufacturing 1 2 0 0 1.67 ADOMANI 0 0 0 0 0.00

American Axle & Manufacturing presently has a consensus price target of $7.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.70%. Given American Axle & Manufacturings stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe American Axle & Manufacturing is more favorable than ADOMANI.

Volatility and Risk

American Axle & Manufacturing has a beta of 1.63, indicating that its share price is 63% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ADOMANI has a beta of 3.82, indicating that its share price is 282% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

American Axle & Manufacturing beats ADOMANI on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About American Axle & Manufacturing

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American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. is a leading supplier of driveline and drivetrain systems, modules and components for the light vehicle market world wide. It manufactures Driveline and Metal Forming technologies to support electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles. Its the primary supplier of driveline components to its major customers include General Motors, Stellantis and Ford. It also sells various products to Ford & Stellantis from Metal Forming segment. It has the 2 operating segments. Driveline segment comprises front & rear axles, driveshafts, differential assemblies, clutch modules, balance shaft systems, disconnecting driveline technology, and electric & hybrid driveline products and systems for light trucks, SUVs, crossover vehicles, passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Metal Forming segment comprises axle & transmission shafts, ring and pinion gears, differential gears & assemblies, connecting rods and variable valve timing products for OEM and Tier 1 automotive suppliers.

About ADOMANI

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Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and installation of zero-emission electric drivetrain systems for fleet vehicles. Its products and services include zero-emission vehicles and chassis; e-trikes; and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles that are enclosed vehicles with seatbelts, climate control, and fold-down rear seats. The company was founded by Edward Riggs Monfort on August 12, 2012 and is headquartered in Corona, CA.

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Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTY  Get Free Report) insider Tim Lawlor bought 42 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 356 per share, with a total value of 149.52.

Tim Lawlor also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, March 20th, Tim Lawlor sold 5,292 shares of Vistry Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 357, for a total transaction of 18,892.44.

On Monday, March 16th, Tim Lawlor bought 38 shares of Vistry Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 404 per share, with a total value of 153.52.

On Monday, February 16th, Tim Lawlor bought 21 shares of Vistry Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 721 per share, with a total value of 151.41.

On Friday, January 16th, Tim Lawlor bought 23 shares of Vistry Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 636 per share, with a total value of 146.28.

Vistry Group Stock Up 5.9%

VTY opened at GBX 367.60 on Friday. The company has a market cap of 1.17 billion, a PE ratio of 8.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.20 and a beta of 1.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.93, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 2.52. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 482.66 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 588.62. Vistry Group PLC has a 1 year low of GBX 321.30 and a 1 year high of GBX 746.40.

Vistry Group ( LON:VTY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 4th. The company reported GBX 59.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Vistry Group had a return on equity of 4.20% and a net margin of 3.82%. Sell-side analysts expect that Vistry Group PLC will post 108.4606345 earnings per share for the current year.

Vistry Group announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Monday, February 2nd that authorizes the company to repurchase 0 shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on VTY. Stifel Nicolaus raised shares of Vistry Group to a buy rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from GBX 670 to GBX 610 in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Vistry Group to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from GBX 803 to GBX 600 in a report on Thursday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Vistry Group from GBX 640 to GBX 530 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Vistry Group from GBX 475 to GBX 385 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on Vistry Group from GBX 490 to GBX 350 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 30th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 556.60.

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About Vistry Group

(Get Free Report)

Vistry Group is a leading homebuilder developing in partnership to deliver sustainable homes, communities, and social value, leaving a lasting legacy of places where people love to live.

Operating across 25 regions, we build homes for those who need them right across the UK. Our partners include Registered Providers, Local Authorities, Homes England and Private Rented Sector providers.

Our timber manufacturing capability, Vistry Works, is at the core of our strategy to deliver more quality homes, faster.

We sell homes on the open market through three respected brands: Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and Countryside Homes.

Further Reading

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The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC  Free Report) had its price objective boosted by Morgan Stanley from $263.00 to $267.00 in a research note released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the financial services providers stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $252.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Barclays increased their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $271.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $284.00 to $263.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $234.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $241.69.

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The PNC Financial Services Group Price Performance

PNC opened at $224.75 on Thursday. The PNC Financial Services Group has a 12-month low of $148.28 and a 12-month high of $243.94. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $215.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $206.54. The company has a market capitalization of $90.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.06, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.96.

The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 15th. The financial services provider reported $4.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.92 by $0.40. The PNC Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 12.10% and a net margin of 20.89%.The business had revenue of $6.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.21 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.51 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The PNC Financial Services Group will post 15.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The PNC Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 14th will be issued a $1.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 14th. This represents a $6.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The PNC Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.51%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Alexander E. C. Overstrom sold 2,500 shares of The PNC Financial Services Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $233.91, for a total value of $584,775.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 21,120 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,940,179.20. This trade represents a 10.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO William S. Demchak sold 50,000 shares of The PNC Financial Services Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.88, for a total value of $11,544,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 554,274 shares in the company, valued at $127,970,781.12. This represents a 8.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 64,186 shares of company stock valued at $14,840,973. 0.38% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 32.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 4,041 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $779,000 after purchasing an additional 984 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 8,261 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,452,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 50.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,331 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $807,000 after purchasing an additional 1,449 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 184,579 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,409,000 after purchasing an additional 2,808 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversify Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in the 2nd quarter worth $482,000. 83.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about The PNC Financial Services Group

Here are the key news stories impacting The PNC Financial Services Group this week:

The PNC Financial Services Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offering a broad range of banking, lending, investment and wealth management services. PNC operates a national banking franchise with a significant retail branch network and dedicated capabilities for commercial, institutional and government clients. Its services are designed to serve individuals, small businesses, corporations and public sector entities across the United States.

PNCs core business activities include consumer and business banking, residential mortgage lending, corporate and institutional banking, asset management and wealth advisory services.

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Venture Global (NYSE:VG  Get Free Report) and Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) are both large-cap energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

69.7% of Devon Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 86.7% of Venture Global shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Devon Energy shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Profitability

This table compares Venture Global and Devon Energys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Venture Global 18.38% 27.96% 5.25% Devon Energy 15.37% 16.28% 7.93%

Dividends

Analyst Ratings

Venture Global pays an annual dividend of $0.07 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Devon Energy pays an annual dividend of $0.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Venture Global pays out 8.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Devon Energy pays out 23.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Devon Energy has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Devon Energy is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Venture Global and Devon Energy, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Venture Global 0 9 8 0 2.47 Devon Energy 0 7 23 1 2.81

Venture Global currently has a consensus price target of $15.77, indicating a potential upside of 38.00%. Devon Energy has a consensus price target of $53.25, indicating a potential upside of 20.54%. Given Venture Globals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Venture Global is more favorable than Devon Energy.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Venture Global and Devon Energys gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Venture Global $13.77 billion 2.04 $2.73 billion $0.86 13.28 Devon Energy $17.19 billion 1.60 $2.64 billion $4.17 10.59

Venture Global has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Devon Energy. Devon Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Venture Global, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Venture Global has a beta of 1.84, meaning that its stock price is 84% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Devon Energy has a beta of 0.47, meaning that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About Venture Global

(Get Free Report)

Venture Global has fundamentally reshaped the development and construction of liquefied natural gas production, establishing us as a rapidly growing company delivering critical LNG to the world. Our innovative and disruptive approach, which is both scalable and repeatable, allows us to bring LNG to a global market years faster and at a lower cost. We believe supplying this clean, affordable fuel promotes global energy security and is essential to meeting growing global demand. Natural gas is one of the most important resources worldwide and is required to generate reliable electricity that underpins economic development and drives industry. Once natural gas is supercooled to -260F, it converts to liquid form and reduces to 1/600th of its original volume, enabling large quantities of natural gas to be loaded and shipped by LNG tankers. The resulting LNG can be transported to international markets that lack domestic supply, displacing more carbon intensive sources of energy such as coal, diesel, and heavy fuel oil, and serving as an integral part of a cleaner energy future. We believe our business model has demonstrated that in a competitive commodity market, lower cost and overall faster delivery wins market share. Our approach capitalizes on both of these advantages, supporting significant additional growth opportunities. Our Projects We are commissioning, constructing, and developing five natural gas liquefaction and export projects near the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, utilizing our unique design one, build many approach. Each project is designed or is being developed to include an LNG facility and associated pipeline systems that interconnect with several interstate and intrastate pipelines to enable the delivery of natural gas into the LNG facility. Our five current projects are being designed to deliver a total expected peak production capacity of 143.8 mtpa, which consists of an aggregate of 104.4 mtpa expected nameplate capacity and an aggregate of 39.4 mtpa of expected excess capacity. These amounts do not account for any potential bolt-on expansion liquefaction capacity. The expected nameplate capacity of our facilities measures the minimum operating performance thresholds guaranteed by the equipment providers, and the expected excess capacity represents the additional LNG that we aim to produce above such guaranteed amounts. Although COD has not yet occurred under the post-COD SPAs for any of our projects, we have been generating proceeds from the sale of commissioning cargos at the Calcasieu Project since the first quarter of 2022, and expect to do so at each of our other projects during commissioning prior to achieving COD for the relevant project or phase of a project. Our direct subsidiary, VGLNG, which owns all of our subsidiaries, was originally established in 2013 by our founders. As part of certain corporate reorganization transactions, or Reorganization Transactions, Venture Global, Inc. was formed in 2023 and became the 100% owner of VGLNG. We are a holding company and have no direct operations. All of our business operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, including VGLNG. Our principal asset is the equity interest in VGLNG, which, together with its subsidiaries, owns substantially all of our operating assets. As a result, we are dependent on the ability of our subsidiaries to generate revenues and to make loans, pay dividends and make other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our financial obligations and to pay dividends to stockholders, if any. Our principal executive offices are located at 1001 19th Street North, Suite 1500, Arlington, VA.

About Devon Energy

(Get Free Report)

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Eagle Ford, Anadarko, Williston, and Powder River Basins. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH bought a new position in shares of Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 14,954 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $1,049,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Flowserve during the 3rd quarter worth about $3,034,000. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its stake in Flowserve by 67.1% during the 3rd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 34,914 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,855,000 after acquiring an additional 14,025 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in Flowserve during the 3rd quarter worth about $2,343,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in Flowserve by 104.4% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,333,481 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $230,281,000 after acquiring an additional 2,213,406 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its stake in Flowserve by 19.2% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 128,436 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $8,911,000 after acquiring an additional 20,725 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.93% of the companys stock.

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Key Stories Impacting Flowserve

Here are the key news stories impacting Flowserve this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research nudged up multiple 2027 quarterly EPS estimates and raised its FY2027 view to $4.53, signaling modestly better forward profitability expectations for Flowserve. MarketBeat FLS page

Zacks Research nudged up multiple 2027 quarterly EPS estimates and raised its FY2027 view to $4.53, signaling modestly better forward profitability expectations for Flowserve. Positive Sentiment: Zacks published a separate piece highlighting Flowserve as a longterm growth stock, which can bolster investor confidence in the companys secular outlook. Why Flowserve is a Top Growth Stock

Zacks published a separate piece highlighting Flowserve as a longterm growth stock, which can bolster investor confidence in the companys secular outlook. Positive Sentiment: Recent reported results showed an EPS beat and company guidance that supports midsingledigit forward EPS targets, reinforcing the rationale behind the analyst estimate upgrades. Company / analyst context

Recent reported results showed an EPS beat and company guidance that supports midsingledigit forward EPS targets, reinforcing the rationale behind the analyst estimate upgrades. Neutral Sentiment: The Globe and Mail ran a ratingupdate story on Flowserve; media coverage can amplify the analyst actions but doesnt, by itself, change fundamentals. Globe and Mail story

The Globe and Mail ran a ratingupdate story on Flowserve; media coverage can amplify the analyst actions but doesnt, by itself, change fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Zacks downgraded Flowserve from strongbuy to hold, which may cap upside or reduce momentum among some buyside holders despite the modest estimate increases. Zacks.com

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird set a $98.00 price target on Flowserve in a report on Monday, February 9th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Flowserve from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c) rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a $90.00 price target (down from $100.00) on shares of Flowserve in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Zacks Research downgraded Flowserve from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $88.00 price target on shares of Flowserve in a report on Monday, February 9th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $89.70.

View Our Latest Analysis on Flowserve

Flowserve Price Performance

Shares of NYSE FLS opened at $83.93 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $10.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 2.03 and a quick ratio of 1.50. The stocks 50-day moving average is $80.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.44. Flowserve Corporation has a 1-year low of $39.85 and a 1-year high of $92.41.

Flowserve (NYSE:FLS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. Flowserve had a return on equity of 21.19% and a net margin of 7.32%.Flowserves revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.70 EPS. Flowserve has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.000-4.200 EPS. Analysts forecast that Flowserve Corporation will post 3.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Flowserve Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 27th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. This is an increase from Flowserves previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. Flowserves payout ratio is currently 33.59%.

Flowserve Company Profile

(Free Report)

Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS) is a leading provider of fluid motion and control products and services. The company designs, manufactures and services engineered and industrial pumps, mechanical seals, valves and related flow management equipment. Flowserves offerings are utilized across a broad spectrum of end markets, including oil and gas, power generation, chemical processing, water management, pharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturing, as well as mining and general industrial applications.

Flowserves product portfolio encompasses a wide range of centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, high-performance control valves, butterfly and ball valves, as well as mechanical seals and seal support systems.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FLS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS  Free Report).

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Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) shares traded down 1.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $64.08 and last traded at $64.2130. 9,401,727 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 6% from the average session volume of 10,025,398 shares. The stock had previously closed at $64.94.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup upped their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Barclays upped their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $65.88.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Altria Group

Altria Group Trading Down 1.1%

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $66.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $62.59. The stock has a market cap of $107.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.41.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.The company had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.30 EPS. Altria Groups revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 103.16%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of MO. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Navalign LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 62.9% during the 4th quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 510 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Miller Capital Partners Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the companys stock.

About Altria Group

(Get Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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Armanino Foods of Distinction Inc. (OTCMKTS:AMNF  Get Free Report) crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $10.85 and traded as low as $10.05. Armanino Foods of Distinction shares last traded at $10.25, with a volume of 23,971 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on AMNF shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Armanino Foods of Distinction to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Lake Street Capital upgraded shares of Armanino Foods of Distinction to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Roth Mkm assumed coverage on shares of Armanino Foods of Distinction in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $15.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $15.00.

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View Our Latest Research Report on AMNF

Armanino Foods of Distinction Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $318.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.37 and a beta of 0.12. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $10.81 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.86.

Armanino Foods of Distinction (OTCMKTS:AMNF  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 19th. The company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $19.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.40 million. Armanino Foods of Distinction had a return on equity of 48.35% and a net margin of 24.52%.

Armanino Foods of Distinction Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc produces and markets frozen food products in the United States. The company offers gourmet beef, Italian style beef and pork, and smoked turkey meatballs; grated parmesan and 3 cheese blend cheese; and various pesto, such as basil, artichoke, cilantro, dried tomato and garlic, roasted garlic, roasted red bell pepper, and southwest chipotle. It also provides frozen pasta, which includes beef cannelloni, cheese manicotti, cheese stuffed shells, cheese tortellini; pasta sheets, potato gnocchi, and tricolor cheese tortellini, as well as beef, butternut squash, four cheese, cheese and spinach, and wild mushroom ravioli; and various sauces, comprising creamy garlic, alfresco, Bolognese, chimichurri, harissa, and romesco.

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Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (TSE:BPF.UN  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, April 21st, TickerTech Dividends reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 30th will be paid a dividend of 0.124 per share on Thursday, April 30th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 21st. This is a 3.3% increase from Boston Pizza Royalties Income Funds previous monthly dividend of $0.12.

Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of TSE:BPF.UN opened at C$25.40 on Friday. Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund has a 52 week low of C$17.09 and a 52 week high of C$25.80. The companys 50 day moving average is C$24.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$22.80. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 17.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 44.35. The company has a market cap of C$540.49 million, a PE ratio of 12.83 and a beta of 0.57.

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About Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund

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Further Reading

The Fund is a limited purpose open ended trust with an excellent track record for investors since its IPO in 2002. Including the December 2025 distribution which is payable on January 30, 2026, the Fund will have paid out 276 monthly distributions and four special distributions totaling $485.7 million or $28.97 per unit. The Fund earns revenue based on the franchise system sales of the 372 Boston Pizza restaurants in the Funds royalty pool. Boston Pizza is the premier casual dining brand in Canada.

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Shares of Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSE:WCP  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Buy from the eleven research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and three have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$15.50.

WCP has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$16.00 to C$17.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of Whitecap Resources from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating and increased their price target for the company from C$15.00 to C$16.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$13.00 to C$15.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$14.00 to C$15.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, Desjardins increased their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$14.00 to C$15.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WCP

Whitecap Resources Stock Performance

Whitecap Resources stock opened at C$13.93 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.03. Whitecap Resources has a 1 year low of C$7.55 and a 1 year high of C$16.03. The company has a market cap of C$16.91 billion, a PE ratio of 14.07, a PEG ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 0.27. The companys 50-day moving average is C$14.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$12.30.

Whitecap Resources (TSE:WCP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported C$0.26 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$1.51 billion for the quarter. Whitecap Resources had a net margin of 18.38% and a return on equity of 10.14%. Equities analysts anticipate that Whitecap Resources will post 1.1226131 earnings per share for the current year.

Whitecap Resources Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a $0.0608 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 30th. Whitecap Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 73.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Whitecap Resources news, Director Grant Bradley Fagerheim sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$13.76, for a total transaction of C$68,800.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 3,278,099 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$45,106,642.24. This trade represents a 0.15% decrease in their position. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 6,100 shares of company stock worth $83,826. Company insiders own 0.84% of the companys stock.

Whitecap Resources Company Profile

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Whitecap Resources Inc is a leading Canadian energy company committed to delivering reliable returns to shareholders through the responsible development of oil and natural gas assets in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. With a strong track record of profitable growth and a sustainable dividend, Whitecap delivers long-term value to investors, supported by investment-grade financial strength.

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Commerzbank AG (ETR:CBK  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of 33.31 and traded as high as 35.62. Commerzbank shares last traded at 34.72, with a volume of 2,712,611 shares changing hands.

Commerzbank Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average price is 32.80 and its 200 day moving average price is 33.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.42 billion, a PE ratio of 18.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.82 and a beta of 0.61.

About Commerzbank

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Commerzbank AG provides banking and capital market products and services to private and small business customers, corporate, financial service providers, and institutional clients in Germany, rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Private and Small-Business Customers, and Corporate Clients. The company offers saving, checking, business, and current accounts; term deposits; pension; credit and debit cards; payment solutions; overdraft services; various loans; and insurance products.

Further Reading

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News / National

by Staff reporter

The trial of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his co-accused Tobias Matonhodze has been thrown into turmoil amid a dispute over alleged victim compensation and a missing firearm.Proceedings at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Friday turned tense when investigating officer Colonel CJ Raj denied facilitating any out-of-court settlement between the accused and the victim of a February shooting incident.His testimony directly contradicted claims by the defence, which had told the court that compensation was paid with the officer's knowledge after the families of the accused approached the complainant.Raj maintained that no such arrangement had been sanctioned and emphasized that authorities are still searching for the firearm allegedly used in the crime."Based on the attempted murder, a firearm was used to commit this crimewe are still looking for this firearm," he told the court, adding that the accused had "shown no remorse" by failing to assist investigators in locating the weapon.The case stems from a shooting incident in February in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, where security guard Sipho Mahlangu was shot twice in the back at a private residence.Both accused were found at the scene. While Matonhodze has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice, Mugabe has admitted to being in South Africa illegally and to pointing what his defence describes as a "toy gun."Defence lawyer Laurence Hodes argued for a financial penalty instead of custodial sentencing, suggesting both men are prepared to pay a "hefty fine" to resolve the matter and return to Zimbabwe."Should this court be inclined to impose a fine both accused are in a position to pay," Hodes said, adding that payment could be made immediately, alongside arrangements for their departure.However, co-defence lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni dismissed suggestions that Matonhodze was shielding Mugabe by accepting more serious charges."The parties are at liberty to plead to the charges put to them to suggest otherwise is to sensationalise the matter," she told the court.The case has been postponed to allow further investigation into the missing firearm, a key piece of evidence that could significantly influence the outcome of the trial.
Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED  Get Free Report) and ENGIE (OTCMKTS:ENGIY  Get Free Report) are both large-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Consolidated Edison and ENGIEs gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Consolidated Edison $16.92 billion 2.40 $2.02 billion $5.65 19.49 ENGIE $81.38 billion 1.04 $4.33 billion N/A N/A

Risk and Volatility

ENGIE has higher revenue and earnings than Consolidated Edison.

Consolidated Edison has a beta of 0.34, indicating that its stock price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ENGIE has a beta of 0.53, indicating that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

66.3% of Consolidated Edison shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Consolidated Edison shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Consolidated Edison and ENGIEs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Consolidated Edison 11.95% 8.50% 2.82% ENGIE N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Consolidated Edison and ENGIE, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Consolidated Edison 5 7 3 0 1.87 ENGIE 0 4 4 1 2.67

Consolidated Edison currently has a consensus target price of $108.00, indicating a potential downside of 1.94%. Given Consolidated Edisons higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Consolidated Edison is more favorable than ENGIE.

Dividends

Consolidated Edison pays an annual dividend of $3.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.2%. ENGIE pays an annual dividend of $1.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Consolidated Edison pays out 62.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Consolidated Edison has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years.

About Consolidated Edison

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Consolidated Edison, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan. The company also supplies electricity to approximately 0.3 million customers in southeastern New York and northern New Jersey; and gas to approximately 0.2 million customers in southeastern New York. In addition, it operates 545 circuit miles of transmission lines; 15 transmission substations; 63 distribution substations; 90,051 in-service line transformers; 3,788 pole miles of overhead distribution lines; and 2,314 miles of underground distribution lines, as well as 4,363 miles of mains and 380,870 service lines for natural gas distribution. Further, the company invests in electric and gas transmission projects. It primarily sells electricity to industrial, commercial, residential, and government customers. Consolidated Edison, Inc. was founded in 1823 and is based in New York, New York.

About ENGIE

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ENGIE SA engages in the power, natural gas, and energy services businesses. It operates through Renewables, Networks, Energy Solutions, FlexGen, Retail, Nuclear, and Others segments. The Renewables segment comprises renewable energy generation activities, including financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of renewable energy facilities using various energy sources, such as hydroelectric, onshore wind, photovoltaic solar, offshore wind, and geothermal. The Networks segment comprises the electricity and gas infrastructure activities and projects, including the management and development of gas and electricity transportation networks and natural gas distribution networks in and outside of Europe, natural gas underground storage in Europe, and regasification infrastructure in France and Chile. The Energy Solutions encompasses the construction and management of decentralized energy networks to produce energy and related services. The FlexGen segment operates flexible thermal generation and electricity, pumping, and battery storage facilities; solutions for decarbonizing industry with low-carbon hydrogen; and financing, construction, and operation of desalination plants. The Retail segment engages in the sale of gas and electricity to professional, individual, and residential clients. The Nuclear segment engages in the nuclear power generation activities. The others segment sells energy to companies and offers energy management services and solutions. The company was formerly known as GDF SUEZ S.A. and changed its name to ENGIE SA in April 2015. The company was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Courbevoie, France.

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YogaWorks (OTCMKTS:YOGAQ  Get Free Report) and New Oriental Education & Technology Group (NYSE:EDU  Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares YogaWorks and New Oriental Education & Technology Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets YogaWorks N/A N/A N/A New Oriental Education & Technology Group 7.40% 11.19% 5.81%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares YogaWorks and New Oriental Education & Technology Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio YogaWorks N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A New Oriental Education & Technology Group $4.90 billion 1.91 $371.72 million $2.36 25.12

New Oriental Education & Technology Group has higher revenue and earnings than YogaWorks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for YogaWorks and New Oriental Education & Technology Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score YogaWorks 0 0 0 0 0.00 New Oriental Education & Technology Group 0 3 4 1 2.75

New Oriental Education & Technology Group has a consensus price target of $65.84, suggesting a potential upside of 11.05%. Given New Oriental Education & Technology Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe New Oriental Education & Technology Group is more favorable than YogaWorks.

Summary

New Oriental Education & Technology Group beats YogaWorks on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About YogaWorks

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YogaWorks, Inc. operates yoga studios under the YogaWorks and Yoga Tree brand names in the United States. It primarily provides yoga classes, workshops, teacher training programs, and yoga-related retail merchandise. The company offers online yoga instruction and programming services through its MyYogaWorks.com Web platform. As of May 14, 2019, it owned and operated 68 studios in Los Angeles, Orange County, Northern California, New York City, Boston, Baltimore, the Washington, D.C. area, Houston, and Atlanta. The company was formerly known as YWX Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to YogaWorks, Inc. in April 2017. YogaWorks, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Culver City, California. On October 14, 2020, YogaWorks, Inc., a Delaware C-Corporation, along with its affiliate, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The plan was later approved as Chapter 11 liquidation on May 5, 2021.

About New Oriental Education & Technology Group

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New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of private educational services. It operates through the following segments: Educational Services and Test Preparation Courses, Private Label Products and Livestreaming E-Commerce, Overseas Study Consulting Services, and Educational Materials and Distribution. The company was founded by Min Hong Yu and Yong Qiang Qian on November 16, 1993, and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

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CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT lessened its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Free Report) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 7,991,600 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 220,000 shares during the quarter. Energy Transfer makes up 7.6% of CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTs portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTs holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $131,781,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in ET. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 3rd quarter worth $264,309,000. Alps Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 77,651,021 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,332,492,000 after buying an additional 3,366,734 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 57,862,666 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $992,923,000 after buying an additional 1,773,042 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 187.1% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 1,940,500 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $31,999,000 after buying an additional 1,264,627 shares during the period. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 223.7% during the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,690,769 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $30,654,000 after buying an additional 1,168,438 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.22% of the companys stock.

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Key Stories Impacting Energy Transfer

Here are the key news stories impacting Energy Transfer this week:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on ET shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Wednesday, December 24th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $21.60.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ET

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

ET opened at $18.85 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $18.85 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.58. Energy Transfer LP has a 1 year low of $15.80 and a 1 year high of $19.85. The company has a market capitalization of $64.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 0.90.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The pipeline company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.34 by ($0.09). Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.11% and a return on equity of 10.17%. The firm had revenue of $25.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.56 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.29 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 29.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 6th were paid a $0.335 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.1%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 110.74%.

About Energy Transfer

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Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) is a Dallas-based midstream energy company that develops and operates infrastructure for the transportation, storage and processing of hydrocarbons. The companys operations focus on moving and storing natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and refined products through an integrated network of pipelines, terminals, storage facilities and processing plants. Energy Transfer provides core midstream services such as gathering, compression, fractionation, processing, and bulk transportation to support production and downstream supply chains.

Its asset base spans an extensive network across the United States, connecting producing regions, processing centers, petrochemical hubs and coastal and inland markets.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Free Report).

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Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:DVDCY  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $9.85 and traded as high as $9.85. Davide Campari-Milano shares last traded at $9.85, with a volume of 3,900 shares traded.

Davide Campari-Milano Trading Up 5.5%

The business has a 50-day moving average of $9.85 and a 200-day moving average of $9.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market cap of $11.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.88 and a beta of 0.95.

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About Davide Campari-Milano

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Davide Campari-Milano N.V. is a leading global beverage company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of premium spirits, wines and ready-to-drink products. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, the companys portfolio features iconic brands such as Campari aperitivo, Aperol, SKYY Vodka, Wild Turkey bourbon and Grand Marnier, alongside a range of regional and craft labels. Through an integrated network of manufacturing sites and distribution offices, Campari serves consumers in over 190 markets worldwide, with a particularly strong presence in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

The companys core activities encompass brand development, production and global sales of alcoholic beverages across multiple price points.

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Net Savings Link (OTCMKTS:NSAV  Get Free Report) and Zhihu (NYSE:ZH  Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, dividends, earnings, profitability and institutional ownership.

Volatility and Risk

Net Savings Link has a beta of 2.21, indicating that its share price is 121% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Zhihu has a beta of 0.32, indicating that its share price is 68% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Net Savings Link and Zhihus top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Net Savings Link N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Zhihu $393.10 million 0.86 -$27.58 million ($0.36) -10.63

Net Savings Link has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Zhihu.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

28.9% of Zhihu shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Net Savings Link shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 13.6% of Zhihu shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Net Savings Link and Zhihus net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Net Savings Link N/A N/A N/A Zhihu -7.18% -4.82% -3.57%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Net Savings Link and Zhihu, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Net Savings Link 0 0 0 0 0.00 Zhihu 1 0 0 0 1.00

Given Net Savings Links higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Net Savings Link is more favorable than Zhihu.

Summary

Net Savings Link beats Zhihu on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Net Savings Link

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Net Savings Link, Inc. operates as a cryptocurrency, blockchain, and digital asset technology company. It holds interests in Cryptocurrency Trading Platform based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and offers a range of trading services, such as portfolio management and price search function. This platform supports various cryptocurrency exchanges. The company is based in London, the United Kingdom.

About Zhihu

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Zhihu Inc. operates an online content community in the Peoples Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services. It also offers information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit. Zhihu Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of China.

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First Horizon Corp raised its holdings in Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:TBLL  Free Report) by 1,446.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 89,072 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 83,312 shares during the period. First Horizon Corp owned approximately 0.42% of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF worth $9,410,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TBLL. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 7,000.0% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 4,828 shares of the companys stock worth $510,000 after buying an additional 4,760 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF during the first quarter worth about $711,000. Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 264.5% during the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 18,988 shares of the companys stock worth $2,004,000 after buying an additional 13,779 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 12.6% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 28,304 shares of the companys stock worth $2,987,000 after buying an additional 3,174 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 96.4% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 376,723 shares of the companys stock worth $39,759,000 after buying an additional 184,891 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF Price Performance

Shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF stock opened at $105.76 on Friday. Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF has a one year low of $105.39 and a one year high of $105.90. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $105.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.67.

Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF Company Profile

The Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF (TBLL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE US Treasury Short Bond index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of debt issued by the US Treasury. Remaining maturity must be between 1-12 months. TBLL was launched on Jan 12, 2017 and is issued by Invesco.

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FSR Wealth Management Ltd. reduced its stake in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF (NYSEARCA:BILZ  Free Report) by 17.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 35,967 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,861 shares during the quarter. PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF accounts for 4.3% of FSR Wealth Management Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. FSR Wealth Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.37% of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF worth $3,624,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of BILZ. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. lifted its position in PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 128.0% during the third quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 269 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Southland Equity Partners LLC increased its holdings in PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Southland Equity Partners LLC now owns 23,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,330,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the period. Visionary Wealth Advisors raised its position in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 3,968 shares of the companys stock valued at $402,000 after buying an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 7,308 shares of the companys stock worth $736,000 after acquiring an additional 456 shares during the period. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 13,766 shares of the companys stock worth $1,393,000 after acquiring an additional 568 shares during the period.

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PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:BILZ traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $100.86. The stock had a trading volume of 62,117 shares, compared to its average volume of 282,204. PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF has a 12 month low of $100.67 and a 12 month high of $101.27. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $100.89.

PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF Profile

The PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active Exchange-Traded Fund (BILZ) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is an actively managed fund that invests in treasury bills and notes, repurchase agreements, and cash collateralized by the US government. Securities selected have a maximum maturity of six months. BILZ was launched on Jun 21, 2023 and is managed by PIMCO.

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Shares of Gulfport Energy Corporation (NYSE:GPOR  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the fifteen brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $230.00.

Several research firms recently weighed in on GPOR. UBS Group cut their price objective on Gulfport Energy from $260.00 to $245.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Gulfport Energy from $228.00 to $229.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, March 16th. Wall Street Zen cut Gulfport Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. Weiss Ratings raised Gulfport Energy from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b) rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research cut Gulfport Energy from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Monday, January 5th.

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Insider Transactions at Gulfport Energy

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gulfport Energy

In other Gulfport Energy news, SVP Michael Sluiter sold 9,933 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.00, for a total value of $2,085,930.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 11,980 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,515,800. This represents a 45.33% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, CFO Michael L. Hodges sold 16,769 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.70, for a total value of $3,533,228.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 18,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,892,261.10. This trade represents a 47.58% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 876,258 shares of company stock worth $179,141,707. 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GPOR. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in Gulfport Energy by 1,281.6% in the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 426,034 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,104,000 after acquiring an additional 395,197 shares in the last quarter. Goldentree Asset Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Gulfport Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,665,000. Ninepoint Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of Gulfport Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,598,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Gulfport Energy by 50.3% in the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 527,393 shares of the companys stock worth $109,692,000 after buying an additional 176,386 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whitebox Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Gulfport Energy by 148.6% in the 3rd quarter. Whitebox Advisors LLC now owns 274,627 shares of the companys stock worth $49,702,000 after buying an additional 164,178 shares in the last quarter.

Gulfport Energy Price Performance

NYSE GPOR opened at $192.94 on Friday. Gulfport Energy has a twelve month low of $160.95 and a twelve month high of $225.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.48 billion, a PE ratio of 9.49 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $203.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $199.42.

Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $5.60 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.61 by ($0.01). Gulfport Energy had a return on equity of 21.85% and a net margin of 30.01%.The business had revenue of $398.19 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $373.24 million.

Gulfport Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Gulfport Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company focuses on the development of onshore natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil properties in the United States. Gulfport utilizes horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing techniques to maximize production and enhance recovery from its resource plays.

The companys primary operations are concentrated in two major U.S. resource basins.

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Verano (OTCMKTS:VRNOF  Get Free Report) and United Health Products (OTCMKTS:UEEC  Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk and profitability.

Volatility and Risk

Verano has a beta of 0.87, suggesting that its share price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, United Health Products has a beta of -0.69, suggesting that its share price is 169% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Verano and United Health Products, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Verano 1 0 0 1 2.50 United Health Products 0 0 0 0 0.00

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Verano $878.59 million 0.52 -$341.86 million ($0.98) -1.29 United Health Products N/A N/A -$2.00 million ($0.01) -8.49

This table compares Verano and United Health Productss top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

United Health Products has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Verano. United Health Products is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Verano, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Verano and United Health Products net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Verano -41.68% -9.54% -4.51% United Health Products N/A N/A -2,141.74%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

9.0% of Verano shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of United Health Products shares are held by institutional investors. 9.1% of Verano shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.5% of United Health Products shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Verano beats United Health Products on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Verano

(Get Free Report)

Verano Holdings Corp. operates as a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator in the United States. The company engages in the cultivation, processing, wholesale, and retail distribution of cannabis in Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It offers cannabis products under the Encore, Avexia, MUV, Savvy, BITS, and Verano brands for medical and adult-use markets. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

About United Health Products

(Get Free Report)

United Health Products, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets hemostatic gauze products for the healthcare and wound care sectors in the United States. The company offers HemoStyp hemostatic gauze products to absorb exudate/drainage from superficial wounds, as well as helps in controlling bleeding. It serves hospitals and surgery centers, clinics and physicians, military medical care providers, hemodialysis centers, nursing homes and assisted living, and veterinary hospitals; and EMS, fire departments, and other first responders, as well as dental, oral, and maxillofacial surgery offices. The company was formerly known as United EcoEnergy Corp. and changed its name to United Health Products, Inc. in September 2010. United Health Products, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

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Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ENR  Get Free Report) major shareholder Aqua Capital, Ltd. acquired 1,643 shares of Energizer stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 14th. The shares were bought at an average price of $18.90 per share, with a total value of $31,052.70. Following the purchase, the insider directly owned 7,021,015 shares in the company, valued at approximately $132,697,183.50. The trade was a 0.02% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Aqua Capital, Ltd. also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, April 15th, Aqua Capital, Ltd. acquired 4,200 shares of Energizer stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $18.85 per share, with a total value of $79,170.00.

On Wednesday, April 8th, Aqua Capital, Ltd. acquired 14,372 shares of Energizer stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $17.47 per share, with a total value of $251,078.84.

Energizer Stock Performance

NYSE ENR opened at $20.48 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $20.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.89 and a beta of 0.71. Energizer Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $16.00 and a fifty-two week high of $30.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.49, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.99.

Energizer Dividend Announcement

Energizer ( NYSE:ENR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $778.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $712.82 million. Energizer had a return on equity of 143.24% and a net margin of 7.11%.The companys revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.67 EPS. Energizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.300-3.600 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 0.400-0.500 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Energizer Holdings, Inc. will post 3.58 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.9%. Energizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.40%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energizer

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Energizer by 25.8% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 589,954 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,734,000 after purchasing an additional 121,051 shares in the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Energizer by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,608 shares of the companys stock valued at $470,000 after purchasing an additional 568 shares in the last quarter. VARCOV Co. purchased a new position in shares of Energizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,509,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Energizer by 69.4% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 903,293 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,966,000 after purchasing an additional 370,216 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SummitTX Capital L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Energizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $666,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.74% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ENR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on Energizer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group cut their price target on Energizer from $25.00 to $17.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Morgan Stanley set a $24.00 price target on Energizer in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Evercore set a $28.00 price target on Energizer in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Energizer from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $23.43.

Check Out Our Latest Report on ENR

About Energizer

(Get Free Report)

Energizer Holdings, Inc is a global consumer products company best known for its portfolio of portable power and lighting solutions. The companys primary business activities include the design, manufacture and marketing of batteries under the Energizer and Rayovac brands, as well as portable lighting products such as flashlights, headlamps and lanterns. Energizer also produces a range of automotive appearance and protection products, including tire inflators and repair kits, along with personal care offerings like aerosol insect repellents and sunscreen under licensed brands.

Founded in 2000 through the spin-off of the battery business from Ralston Purina Company, Energizer has grown through both organic development and strategic acquisitions.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Three men, including a father-and-son duo, briefly appeared in court on Wednesday following their arrest in an intelligence-driven operation targeting the alleged facilitation of illegal movement into Zimbabwe.The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi (45), Khonsou Seba Capo Chichi (18), and alleged facilitator Francois van der Merwe were arrested on 13 April 2026 in Brooklyn, Pretoria.The operation was carried out by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, specifically its Crimes Against the State unit, with support from Tactical Operations Management Section and Crime Intelligence's Counter Terrorism unit.Police said the arrests followed intelligence indicating that the suspects were involved in facilitating illegal crossings into Zimbabwe via the Limpopo River, a route often exploited for irregular migration."SAPS can confirm that the three accused were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation after information was received regarding the facilitation of illegal movement into Zimbabwe through the Limpopo River," police said in a statement.The suspects were intercepted during a sting operation at a shopping centre in Pretoria, where authorities believe a payment of about R250,000 had been made to assist the pair in crossing the border, with plans to continue onward to Europe.During the arrest, officers seized cellphones and approximately R318,000 in cash, which is now part of the ongoing investigation.Preliminary findings have also revealed that Stellio Capo Chichi is allegedly a wanted fugitive in both France and Benin for offences relating to crimes against the state. With assistance from Interpol, South African authorities have confirmed that he is wanted in Benin."The Hawks, working with Interpol, have confirmed the accused's status as a wanted fugitive in Benin," SAPS said.The case has been postponed to 20 April 2026, with all three accused remanded in custody as investigations continue. Authorities also indicated that extradition processes are underway.
iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (TSE:XBB  Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 0.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$28.17 and last traded at C$28.15. 276,035 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 24% from the average session volume of 221,746 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$28.02.

iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$28.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$28.31.

iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide income by replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index the Index, net of expenses. To achieve its investment objective the fund uses an indexing strategy to achieve its investment objective. Under this strategy, the Fund seeks to replicate the performance of the Index, net of expenses, by employing, directly or indirectly, through investment in one or more exchange-traded funds managed by BlackRock Canada or an affiliate and or through the use of derivatives, a replicating strategy or sampling strategy.

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Summit Financial Strategies Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Free Report) by 12.0% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 844,176 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 90,359 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF accounts for about 4.6% of Summit Financial Strategies Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Summit Financial Strategies Inc.s holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF were worth $55,716,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IJH. Networth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Davis Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. New Millennium Group LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 72.1% in the 3rd quarter. New Millennium Group LLC now owns 537 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 240.7% in the 4th quarter. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 552 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.60% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA IJH opened at $72.90 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $69.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.67. The company has a market capitalization of $115.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.00 and a beta of 1.04. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a 12 month low of $53.04 and a 12 month high of $73.38.

About iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Underlying Index consists of stocks from a range of industries. Components include financial, industrials, and information technology companies.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Free Report).

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JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited (NYSE:JKS  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Reduce from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $24.50.

Several analysts have recently commented on JKS shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of JinkoSolar from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, March 7th. Daiwa Securities Group raised shares of JinkoSolar from a sell rating to a buy rating and set a $28.50 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 24th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of JinkoSolar from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of JinkoSolar from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on JKS

JinkoSolar News Summary

Positive Sentiment: Company reported record shipments and reiterated expansion plans, which support longerterm growth in module supply and potential scale benefits. Read More.

Company reported record shipments and reiterated expansion plans, which support longerterm growth in module supply and potential scale benefits. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Revenue topped consensus and EPS slightly beat street estimates (quarterly EPS loss narrower than expected), showing higher topline demand even as margins suffered. Read More.

Revenue topped consensus and EPS slightly beat street estimates (quarterly EPS loss narrower than expected), showing higher topline demand even as margins suffered. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Managements Q1/2026 earnings call highlighted efforts to navigate pricing pressure, mix shifts and cost control initiatives; commentary gives context but no firm positive guidance that would immediately reverse the stock move. Read More.

Managements Q1/2026 earnings call highlighted efforts to navigate pricing pressure, mix shifts and cost control initiatives; commentary gives context but no firm positive guidance that would immediately reverse the stock move. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Adjusted Q4 net loss widened significantly yearoveryear and the company swung to a fullyear loss for 2025, raising nearterm profitability concerns and driving heavy downside pressure. Read More.

Adjusted Q4 net loss widened significantly yearoveryear and the company swung to a fullyear loss for 2025, raising nearterm profitability concerns and driving heavy downside pressure. Read More. Negative Sentiment: A shareholder lawfirm (Levi & Korsinsky) has launched an investigation into JinkoSolar, which can increase legal risk and investor uncertainty while the probe proceeds. Read More.

Institutional Trading of JinkoSolar

Here are the key news stories impacting JinkoSolar this week:

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in JKS. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of JinkoSolar by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,671 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $799,000 after acquiring an additional 3,394 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of JinkoSolar by 7,759.6% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,082 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $235,000 after purchasing an additional 10,941 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of JinkoSolar in the 2nd quarter valued at $47,000. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in shares of JinkoSolar by 63.0% in the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 66,997 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,610,000 after purchasing an additional 25,903 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp acquired a new position in shares of JinkoSolar in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,162,000. 35.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

JinkoSolar Stock Up 0.1%

JKS stock opened at $21.35 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $25.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $25.77. The company has a market capitalization of $1.10 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.78 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.02. JinkoSolar has a 12 month low of $15.55 and a 12 month high of $31.88.

About JinkoSolar

(Get Free Report)

JinkoSolar Holding Co, Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) is a vertically integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer headquartered in Shanghai, China. The company specializes in the design, development and production of high-performance solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells and related components. Since its founding in 2006, JinkoSolar has become one of the worlds largest solar module suppliers, known for delivering reliable products to utility, commercial and residential customers.

JinkoSolars product portfolio encompasses a broad range of monocrystalline and polycrystalline PV modules, including half-cell, bifacial and high-efficiency Tiger module series.

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KBC Group NV lessened its position in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT  Free Report) by 29.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 109,859 shares of the retailers stock after selling 46,361 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NVs holdings in Target were worth $10,739,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Target in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Target by 192.0% in the 4th quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 292 shares of the retailers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Target in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Tripletail Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Target during the third quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Key Financial Inc grew its holdings in shares of Target by 77.4% during the third quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 346 shares of the retailers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.73% of the companys stock.

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Target Stock Up 3.1%

Shares of NYSE TGT opened at $127.74 on Friday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $117.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $103.97. The company has a market cap of $57.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.16 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Target Corporation has a 12-month low of $83.44 and a 12-month high of $128.05.

Target Announces Dividend

Target ( NYSE:TGT Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The retailer reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.28. Target had a net margin of 3.54% and a return on equity of 22.25%. The company had revenue of $30.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $30.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.41 EPS. The companys revenue was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Target has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.300- EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.500-8.500 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Target Corporation will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 13th will be given a dividend of $1.14 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 13th. This represents a $4.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.6%. Targets dividend payout ratio is presently 56.09%.

Insider Transactions at Target

In other Target news, CAO Matthew A. Liegel sold 2,053 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total transaction of $240,591.07. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 12,143 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,423,038.17. This represents a 14.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on TGT shares. BNP Paribas Exane increased their target price on Target from $63.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Target from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their price target for the stock from $91.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Target from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Target from $91.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $108.00 price target on shares of Target in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $116.32.

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Target Profile

(Free Report)

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is a U.S.-based general merchandise retailer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company operates a network of full-line and small-format stores across the United States alongside a national e-commerce platform and mobile app. Targets retail assortment spans apparel, home goods, electronics, groceries and household essentials, plus beauty, baby and pet categories. The firm complements national brands with a portfolio of owned and exclusive labels and partnerships that help differentiate its merchandise assortment.

Target traces its roots to the Dayton Company, founded by George Dayton in 1902; the Target discount chain was launched in 1962 and the parent company later adopted the Target Corporation name.

Further Reading

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Lecap Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMG  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 3,685 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $1,062,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of AMG. US Bancorp DE raised its stake in Affiliated Managers Group by 1.4% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,561 shares of the asset managers stock worth $849,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Procyon Advisors LLC raised its stake in Affiliated Managers Group by 3.1% during the third quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 1,648 shares of the asset managers stock worth $393,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLC raised its stake in Affiliated Managers Group by 41.9% during the third quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 176 shares of the asset managers stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its stake in Affiliated Managers Group by 2.1% during the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,174 shares of the asset managers stock worth $757,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Finally, Glenmede Investment Management LP raised its stake in Affiliated Managers Group by 3.9% during the third quarter. Glenmede Investment Management LP now owns 1,792 shares of the asset managers stock worth $427,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.30% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on AMG shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Affiliated Managers Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, April 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Affiliated Managers Group from $300.00 to $341.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $408.00 price target on shares of Affiliated Managers Group and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $350.14.

Affiliated Managers Group Price Performance

AMG opened at $294.52 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $291.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $280.42. The firm has a market cap of $7.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.76, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.20. Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $151.30 and a twelve month high of $334.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE:AMG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The asset manager reported $9.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.75 by $0.73. The business had revenue of $556.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $578.54 million. Affiliated Managers Group had a net margin of 34.55% and a return on equity of 18.45%. The businesss revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $6.53 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. will post 22.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Affiliated Managers Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.01 per share. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. Affiliated Managers Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 0.17%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO Thomas M. Wojcik sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $286.30, for a total transaction of $2,290,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 159,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,654,829.50. This trade represents a 4.78% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, General Counsel Kavita Padiyar sold 2,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.24, for a total transaction of $612,128.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 42,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,873,057.28. This represents a 4.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 4.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Affiliated Managers Group Profile

(Free Report)

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc (NYSE: AMG) is a global asset management holding company that partners with boutique investment firms. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, AMG invests in and collaborates with independent investment managers to foster growth while preserving their entrepreneurial culture. Through equity stakes and strategic support, the company aims to enhance its affiliates distribution capabilities, operational infrastructure and access to capital.

The companys core business activities include providing capital solutions, distribution services and operational support to affiliated investment firms.

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Lecap Asset Management Ltd. lowered its position in The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL  Free Report) by 21.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,163 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 2,563 shares during the period. Allstate comprises approximately 0.8% of Lecap Asset Management Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Lecap Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Allstate were worth $1,907,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. South Plains Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Allstate by 41.5% in the 3rd quarter. South Plains Financial Inc. now owns 167 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Humankind Investments LLC lifted its stake in Allstate by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Humankind Investments LLC now owns 1,191 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $256,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. lifted its stake in Allstate by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 4,693 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,012,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Allstate by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,739 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Allstate by 79.7% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 124 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.47% of the companys stock.

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Allstate News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Allstate this week:

Allstate Price Performance

Shares of ALL stock opened at $216.46 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $208.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $205.52. The Allstate Corporation has a one year low of $184.62 and a one year high of $219.48. The company has a market capitalization of $55.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 0.22.

Allstate (NYSE:ALL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $14.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.72 by $5.59. Allstate had a net margin of 15.19% and a return on equity of 39.20%. The firm had revenue of $17.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $7.67 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Allstate Corporation will post 18.74 EPS for the current year.

Allstate Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd were given a dividend of $1.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. This is a positive change from Allstates previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. This represents a $4.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Allstates dividend payout ratio is currently 11.31%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on ALL shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $231.00 price target on shares of Allstate in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Allstate from a buy (b+) rating to a buy (a-) rating in a research report on Monday, March 23rd. Evercore set a $225.00 target price on shares of Allstate in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Allstate from $281.00 to $265.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a neutral rating and set a $220.00 target price on shares of Allstate in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $238.65.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Allstate

Allstate Profile

(Free Report)

Allstate Corporation is a publicly traded insurance company headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, and is one of the largest personal lines property and casualty insurers in the United States. Founded in 1931 as a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co, Allstate has grown into a diversified insurer that serves millions of consumers and businesses through a mix of distribution channels and product offerings.

The company underwrites a broad range of insurance products, with primary emphasis on auto and homeowners coverage.

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MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH lifted its stake in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT  Free Report) by 518.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,085 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,616 shares during the period. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbHs holdings in Vertiv were worth $1,493,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in VRT. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Vertiv by 25.9% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 11,557 shares of the companys stock worth $834,000 after acquiring an additional 2,377 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vertiv during the second quarter worth $567,000. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Vertiv by 19.8% during the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC now owns 1,390 shares of the companys stock worth $178,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its holdings in Vertiv by 49.7% during the second quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 29,239 shares of the companys stock worth $3,755,000 after purchasing an additional 9,712 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ossiam acquired a new position in Vertiv during the second quarter worth $50,000. Institutional investors own 89.92% of the companys stock.

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Key Headlines Impacting Vertiv

Here are the key news stories impacting Vertiv this week:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. HSBC started coverage on shares of Vertiv in a research note on Wednesday, March 25th. They issued a buy rating and a $325.00 price target on the stock. Evercore reissued an outperform rating and set a $280.00 price target on shares of Vertiv in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. TD Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Vertiv in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Zacks Research cut Vertiv from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on Vertiv in a report on Tuesday. They issued an outperform rating and a $345.00 price objective for the company. Twenty-one investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $249.62.

Check Out Our Latest Report on VRT

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Edward L. Monser sold 77,294 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.49, for a total value of $18,974,904.06. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 16,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,050,585. The trade was a 82.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Chairman David M. Cote sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.29, for a total transaction of $10,211,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman directly owned 22,258 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,682,244.82. The trade was a 64.25% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 489,761 shares of company stock valued at $123,356,815 in the last 90 days. 2.63% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Vertiv Price Performance

NYSE:VRT opened at $307.14 on Friday. Vertiv Holdings Co. has a one year low of $65.93 and a one year high of $312.46. The company has a market cap of $117.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 90.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 2.04. The firms fifty day moving average price is $259.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $204.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.22.

Vertiv (NYSE:VRT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.07. Vertiv had a net margin of 13.03% and a return on equity of 49.55%. The firm had revenue of $2.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.89 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.99 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. Vertiv has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.950-1.010 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.970-6.070 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Vertiv Holdings Co. will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Vertiv Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th were issued a $0.0625 dividend. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 17th. Vertivs payout ratio is currently 7.33%.

Vertiv Company Profile

(Free Report)

Vertiv is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions for data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial environments. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company designs, manufactures and services equipment and software that support power availability, thermal management and IT infrastructure management for a broad set of end markets, including hyperscale and enterprise data centers, colocation providers, telecom operators and industrial customers.

The companys product portfolio includes uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDUs), battery and DC power systems, precision cooling and thermal management equipment, racks and enclosures, and integrated modular infrastructure.

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MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH decreased its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 60.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,420 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 11,221 shares during the period. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbHs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $402,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 195,984,009 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,838,879,000 after buying an additional 1,058,803 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 96,595,232 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,356,445,000 after buying an additional 1,855,238 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 11.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 18,143,672 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $818,105,000 after buying an additional 1,873,618 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 17,075,743 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $770,116,000 after buying an additional 1,317,199 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 14,901,604 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $672,062,000 after buying an additional 58,129 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.41% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, EVP David V. Elkins sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.67, for a total transaction of $1,850,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 159,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,820,824.16. The trade was a 15.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Bristol Myers Squibb Price Performance

Bristol Myers Squibb stock opened at $60.21 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $122.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.45, a PEG ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 0.27. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 1 year low of $42.52 and a 1 year high of $62.89. The business has a 50-day moving average of $59.82 and a 200-day moving average of $53.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32.

Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.65 by ($0.39). The company had revenue of $12.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.24 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 69.65% and a net margin of 14.64%.Bristol Myers Squibbs quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.67 earnings per share. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.050-6.350 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current year.

Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. Bristol Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 73.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BMY has been the topic of several research reports. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $75.00 price target (up from $66.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $70.00 price target on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, March 23rd. Guggenheim restated a buy rating and set a $72.00 target price on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Leerink Partners upped their target price on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.71.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BMY

About Bristol Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on discovering, developing and delivering medicines for serious diseases. The companys core activities include research and development, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals across multiple therapeutic areas. BMS concentrates on advancing therapies in oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease and specialty areas through both small molecules and biologics.

BMSs marketed portfolio and latestage pipeline reflect a strong emphasis on cancer and immunemediated conditions.

Further Reading

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Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (NYSEARCA:AAAU  Free Report) by 10.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 571,600 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 52,000 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.s holdings in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF were worth $24,322,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of AAAU. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the third quarter worth about $36,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the third quarter worth about $38,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the second quarter worth about $67,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the second quarter worth about $146,000.

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Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Trading Up 1.3%

AAAU opened at $47.89 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $48.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $44.67. Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF has a twelve month low of $31.27 and a twelve month high of $54.71.

Trending Headlines about Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF

About Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF

Here are the key news stories impacting Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF this week:

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the LBMA Gold Price index. The fund tracks the gold spot price, less expenses and liabilities, using gold bars held in vaults located in the UK. AAAU was launched on Jul 26, 2018 and is issued by Goldman Sachs.

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Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) by 214.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 87,762 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 59,835 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.s holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $21,603,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of IWM. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 87,732 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $19,385,000 after purchasing an additional 2,221 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 12,233 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,703,000 after purchasing an additional 1,431 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 16.3% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,300 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,855,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the last quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 416.6% during the 2nd quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 22,515 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,859,000 after purchasing an additional 18,157 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 22.3% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 16,320 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,522,000 after purchasing an additional 2,975 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Up 2.2%

Shares of IWM stock opened at $275.78 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $257.06 and a 200-day moving average of $252.69. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12-month low of $180.76 and a 12-month high of $277.63. The firm has a market cap of $77.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.09.

About iShares Russell 2000 ETF

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa's advisor, Edwin Isaac Manikai, is locked in a bitter legal battle with journalist and politician Jealousy Mawarire, following allegations of defamation stemming from a post on X (formerly Twitter).Mawarire had claimed that "a huge sum of money was personally delivered to former Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo by Manikai." Manikai responded with an urgent chamber application under case HCH 1677/26, seeking relief from the High Court. However, Justice Esther Muremba dismissed the application, ruling that the matter lacked urgency and that the post did not uniquely identify Manikai.Manikai has since filed a notice of appeal under case HCH 1762/26, arguing that the earlier ruling was interlocutory and therefore appealable. Mawarire, through his lawyer Mkhuhlani Chiperesa, opposed the appeal on April 17, 2026, calling it an "abuse of process" and accusing Manikai of attempting to silence critics by leveraging his proximity to the president.In his affidavit, Mawarire described the application as "a political attempt to muzzle" his right to free speech, noting Manikai's role as Mnangagwa's personal lawyer and chair of the presidential advisory council. He argued that the courts should not aid efforts to restrict public opinion in Zimbabwe's current political climate.The dispute began with an exchange of letters earlier this month. Manikai's lawyer, Selby Hwacha, demanded a retraction of what he called a "false and malicious" post. Mawarire responded dismissively, insisting he had never mentioned Edwin Isaac Manikai by name and pointing out that "Manikai" is not a unique identifier, citing multiple professionals with the same surname.The case has drawn attention for its political undertones, particularly as Jonathan Moyo, the figure at the center of the disputed claim, has been linked to debates over proposed constitutional amendments to extend Mnangagwa's term beyond 2028  allegations Moyo has denied.
Moran Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM  Free Report) by 60.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 30,613 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 11,504 shares during the quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Toyota Motor were worth $6,553,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. DeDora Capital Inc. raised its stake in Toyota Motor by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. DeDora Capital Inc. now owns 2,141 shares of the companys stock worth $458,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky raised its stake in Toyota Motor by 18.4% in the 4th quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 296 shares of the companys stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB raised its stake in Toyota Motor by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 1,020 shares of the companys stock worth $195,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. J2 Capital Management Inc raised its stake in Toyota Motor by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. J2 Capital Management Inc now owns 2,125 shares of the companys stock worth $455,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC raised its stake in Toyota Motor by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 1,444 shares of the companys stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.48% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

TM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. DZ Bank raised shares of Toyota Motor from a strong sell rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Zacks Research raised shares of Toyota Motor from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Toyota Motor in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Toyota Motor from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 2nd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage on shares of Toyota Motor in a report on Thursday, February 12th. They issued an outperform rating and a $290.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Toyota Motor has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $290.00.

Toyota Motor Price Performance

TM stock opened at $217.49 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Toyota Motor Corporation has a 12 month low of $167.18 and a 12 month high of $248.90. The firm has a market cap of $283.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.46 and a beta of 0.66. The companys 50-day moving average price is $222.29 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $214.10.

Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, February 7th. The company reported $6.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.35 by $1.91. The company had revenue of $76.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $82 billion. Toyota Motor had a net margin of 7.32% and a return on equity of 9.67%. On average, analysts anticipate that Toyota Motor Corporation will post 19.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Toyota Motor Profile

(Free Report)

Toyota Motor Corporation is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. Founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda as an offshoot of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, the company builds and sells a broad range of vehicles and related products under the Toyota and Lexus brands. Toyotas operations encompass vehicle design, manufacturing, parts supply, and distribution through a worldwide dealer network, as well as complementary businesses such as vehicle financing and mobility services.

The companys product lineup includes passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, along with engines and vehicle components.

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Plimoth Trust Co. LLC trimmed its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 48.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,286 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 3,977 shares during the quarter. Plimoth Trust Co. LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,415,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% in the 3rd quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 83 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the period. 1248 Management LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Hurley Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 81.6% during the 3rd quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 89 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 2.4%

Shares of UNH opened at $324.08 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $294.16 billion, a PE ratio of 24.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a fifty day moving average of $286.84 and a 200 day moving average of $317.36. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $234.60 and a 52-week high of $453.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.02. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 14.79% and a net margin of 2.69%.The company had revenue of $113.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.38 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.81 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Groups revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th were paid a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 9th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 67.02%.

UnitedHealth Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

Positive Sentiment: Analysts and bulls point to a better-than-feared Medicare Advantage outlook  the final 2027 CMS MA rate (reported at ~2.48% in coverage) is seen as adding roughly $1B of incremental operating profit and supporting a margin recovery that could re-rate the stock. Buy Before Earnings

Analysts and bulls point to a better-than-feared Medicare Advantage outlook  the final 2027 CMS MA rate (reported at ~2.48% in coverage) is seen as adding roughly $1B of incremental operating profit and supporting a margin recovery that could re-rate the stock. Positive Sentiment: Technical/bull commentary suggests UNH is set to challenge resistance around $360, which can attract momentum traders ahead of earnings. Poised To Challenge $360

Technical/bull commentary suggests UNH is set to challenge resistance around $360, which can attract momentum traders ahead of earnings. Neutral Sentiment: Market positioning ahead of Tuesdays pre-market Q1 release: traders are pricing a meaningful post-earnings move and the possibility UNH returns to YTD gains if results beat expectations. Expected Move After Earnings

Market positioning ahead of Tuesdays pre-market Q1 release: traders are pricing a meaningful post-earnings move and the possibility UNH returns to YTD gains if results beat expectations. Neutral Sentiment: Multiple earnings previews (Yahoo Finance, Zacks) flag mixed Q1 signals: rising costs and modest membership headwinds could pressure margins, but services revenue growth and steady insurance operating income may allow an earnings beat  a classic near-term uncertainty around the print. Is It Time To Reassess?

Multiple earnings previews (Yahoo Finance, Zacks) flag mixed Q1 signals: rising costs and modest membership headwinds could pressure margins, but services revenue growth and steady insurance operating income may allow an earnings beat  a classic near-term uncertainty around the print. Neutral Sentiment: UnitedHealthcares community program backing a housing fund is positive for ESG/community reputation but likely immaterial to near-term valuation. Seabury Housing Stabilization Fund

UnitedHealthcares community program backing a housing fund is positive for ESG/community reputation but likely immaterial to near-term valuation. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk persists: the governments delay of a MA payment overhaul postpones the pain but keeps uncertainty around future MA profitability and valuation  commentary warns investors betting on a swift return to rich margins may be disappointed. A UnitedHealth Reckoning Still Looms

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $411.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. HSBC upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a reduce rating to a hold rating and set a $300.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. UBS Group lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $408.00 to $361.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Evercore upgraded UnitedHealth Group to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $363.42.

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UnitedHealth Group Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the companys benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.

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Canadian Natural Resources, Celsius, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce are the three Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are equity securities issued by companies that are incorporated in or primarily operate out of Canada, giving investors a fractional ownership stake and a claim on the companys assets and earnings. They are typically traded on Canadian exchanges (like the TSX and TSXV) or listed abroad as ADRs, and are used by investors to gain exposure to the Canadian economy and sectorswhile carrying country- and currency-specific risks (for example commodity and financial-sector concentration). These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days.

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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

Celsius (CELH)

Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Symmetry Partners LLC increased its stake in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 54.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,739 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,871 shares during the quarter. Symmetry Partners LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $1,969,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Trilogy Capital Inc. increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Trilogy Capital Inc. now owns 6,289 shares of the companys stock valued at $901,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Emprise Bank increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Emprise Bank now owns 2,766 shares of the companys stock valued at $425,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Affiance Financial LLC increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Affiance Financial LLC now owns 2,803 shares of the companys stock valued at $431,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Beech Hill Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Beech Hill Advisors Inc. now owns 14,238 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,040,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aull & Monroe Investment Management Corp increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Aull & Monroe Investment Management Corp now owns 28,113 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,029,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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More Procter & Gamble News

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble

Analyst Ratings Changes

In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 5,549 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.29, for a total transaction of $917,194.21. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,029 shares of the companys stock, valued at $170,083.41. This represents a 84.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, Chairman Jon R. Moeller sold 162,232 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.45, for a total transaction of $26,354,588.40. Following the sale, the chairman directly owned 319,385 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,884,093.25. This trade represents a 33.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 348,618 shares of company stock valued at $55,462,643. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $171.00 to $162.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 30th. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Procter & Gamble from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $177.00 to $158.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $175.00 to $170.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $159.00 to $155.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $163.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PG

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PG opened at $147.05 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $151.80 and its 200 day moving average is $148.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $341.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.51 and a beta of 0.41. Procter & Gamble Company has a fifty-two week low of $137.62 and a fifty-two week high of $170.99.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $22.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.36 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 32.21%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.88 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.0885 per share. This represents a $4.35 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. This is a boost from Procter & Gambles previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 24th. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is currently 64.44%.

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

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Booking, Travelers Companies, Expedia Group, Trip.com Group, and MakeMyTrip are the five Travel stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Travel stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business depends on travel and tourismsuch as airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, car rental firms, online travel agencies, and related service providers. Investors typically view them as cyclical and economically sensitive plays because their revenues fluctuate with consumer travel demand, seasonality, fuel costs, and events like recessions, geopolitical tensions, or health crises. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Travel stocks within the last several days.

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Booking (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.

Travelers Companies (TRV)

The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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Expedia Group (EXPE)

Expedia Group, Inc. operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com.

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Trip.com Group (TCOM)

Trip.com Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a travel service provider for accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and in-destination, corporate travel management, and other travel-related services in China and internationally. The company acts as an agent for hotel-related transactions and selling air tickets, as well as provides train, long-distance bus, and ferry tickets; travel insurance products, such as flight delay, air accident, and baggage loss coverage; and air-ticket delivery, online check-in and seat selection, express security screening, real-time flight status tracker, and airport VIP lounge services.

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MakeMyTrip (MMYT)

MakeMyTrip Limited, an online travel company, sells travel products and solutions in India, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The company operates through three segments: Air Ticketing, Hotels and Packages, and Bus Ticketing.

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Tributary Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Origin Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:OBK  Free Report) by 6.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 367,767 shares of the companys stock after selling 27,350 shares during the period. Tributary Capital Management LLCs holdings in Origin Bancorp were worth $13,832,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in OBK. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Origin Bancorp during the third quarter worth about $25,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new stake in shares of Origin Bancorp during the third quarter worth about $47,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Origin Bancorp by 232.5% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,620 shares of the companys stock worth $94,000 after acquiring an additional 1,832 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Origin Bancorp by 90.1% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 6,003 shares of the companys stock worth $207,000 after acquiring an additional 2,846 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of Origin Bancorp by 128.9% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 6,621 shares of the companys stock worth $229,000 after acquiring an additional 3,729 shares in the last quarter. 54.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Origin Bancorp Trading Up 2.5%

Shares of OBK stock opened at $45.89 on Friday. Origin Bancorp, Inc. has a 52-week low of $29.77 and a 52-week high of $46.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $42.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $39.16. The company has a market capitalization of $1.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.12 and a beta of 0.68.

Origin Bancorp Announces Dividend

Origin Bancorp ( NYSE:OBK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.07. Origin Bancorp had a net margin of 12.58% and a return on equity of 6.21%. The business had revenue of $94.00 million during the quarter.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. Origin Bancorps payout ratio is presently 25.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on OBK. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of Origin Bancorp from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Origin Bancorp from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. DA Davidson set a $49.00 price objective on shares of Origin Bancorp in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Origin Bancorp from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $46.67.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Origin Bancorp

About Origin Bancorp

(Free Report)

Origin Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: OBK) is a bank holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the parent of Origin Bank, a full-service commercial banking franchise. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individuals, small and middle-market businesses, and institutional clients across the southeastern United States.

Through Origin Bank, the company offers a variety of deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit.

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Brent Crude closed on Friday at $92.694, and when the markets open, it will probably be much higher. With the US siege of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranians halting all movement once again, plus some further acts of intimidation on ships, as well as talks being rejected in Pakistan, oil could reach as high as $160/170 very soon.

An Iranian ship called the Touska has just been seized by the Americans (unconfirmed report).

The oil markets have been very volatile with sharp moves in all directions due to the current situation, as well as disinformation, Trump comments and a plethora of false data being churned out.

If you use indicators or trade with bots, the best policy is to take them all off the charts because nothing works under the current situation, which in military terms is called a clusterfuck.

Any motorists who hoped for oil price drops will be out of luck for some time, it seems.

Developing 
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's premier arts showcase, the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), is set to make a long-awaited return in 2026 after an eight-year hiatus.Organisers announced that the festival will run from August 3 to 9 in Harare under the theme "Up," signalling a renewed push to revive one of Africa's most celebrated cultural events.Beyond its comeback edition, HIFA unveiled an ambitious roadmap extending to 2028 as it seeks to reposition itself as a year-round creative platform rather than a once-off annual gathering. Dates for upcoming editions have already been confirmed, with HIFA 2027 scheduled for April 26 to May 2, and HIFA 2028 from May 1 to 7.As part of its expanded programming, organisers introduced a monthly stand-up comedy series titled "Laughter, the Best Medicine." The series will debut in Harare from June 26 to 28 before moving to Bulawayo on July 4, aiming to create a consistent platform for local comedians.In addition, HIFA announced a "Zimbabwe Independence" series of international tours featuring Zimbabwean artists, designed to build momentum toward the country's 50th anniversary of independence in 2030.Other key events on the calendar include the International Heritage and Arts Symposium (IHAS), set for September 20, 2026, and a separate festival, "The Right Stuff," which will run from December 7 to 13, 2026.Founded in 1999, HIFA became a cultural powerhouse at its peak, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year and showcasing a diverse mix of local and international talent across music, theatre, dance and visual arts.Its last edition was held in 2018, making the 2026 event a significant milestone for Zimbabwe's arts sector as it looks to recover and reconnect with audiences both at home and abroad.
The Ulster Orchestra makes a welcome return to Derry, bringing the magic of live orchestral music to the Guildhall on Saturday, April 25 at 7.30pm as part of its On Your Doorstep concert series.

This atmospheric programme takes audiences on a sweeping journey through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the northern world - from the rugged Scottish Highlands to the breathtaking Norwegian fjords - all without leaving their seats.

Felix Mendelssohn fell in love with Scotland on holiday and the resulting musical inspiration produced two of his best-known and loved works, the Hebrides Overture and his Third Symphony, nicknamed Scottish. From his depiction of the sea around the coast and even a bit of Hibernian thunder, both evocatively depict the dramatic scenery of Scotland. Few composers have captured a landscape in sound as vividly as Mendelssohn did in these two beloved works.

From the Scottish Highlands, we travel to the Norwegian Fjords. Griegs Holberg Suite is utterly delightful, while the Ulster Orchestras Second Violin Section Leader, Gongbo Jiang, stars in Christian Sindings lyrical Suite in the Old Style, conducted by Rolf Verbeek.

With soaring melodies, vivid scenery, and the Ulster Orchestra in full force, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of music that transports you far beyond the walls of the Guildhall.

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Tickets are 22.50 and are available online at www.ulsterorchestra.org.uk or by calling 028 7126 4455.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Botswana President Duma Boko is expected in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for a three-day State visit that will see him co-chair a key bilateral meeting and officially open this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).According to Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Boko will visit at the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.The two leaders are set to jointly preside over the Fifth Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC), the highest platform for structured cooperation between the two countries.Foreign Affairs spokesperson Philisiwe Chidawanyika said discussions at the BNC will focus on key areas including trade and investment, agriculture and food security, infrastructure development, energy, tourism, health systems, and skills development.She added that Mnangagwa and Boko are expected to provide bold and strategic direction" to accelerate implementation of joint programmes, particularly those aimed at unlocking cross-border economic opportunities and strengthening regional connectivity.As part of his itinerary, Boko will serve as guest of honour at the official opening of the 66th edition of ZITF on April 23 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre.The BNC meetings will begin with senior officials' engagements, followed by a ministerial session co-chaired by Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Minister Amon Murwira and Botswana's Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale.The leaders' summit will conclude the engagements.Chidawanyika described the visit as a reflection of the enduring bonds of friendship, solidarity and shared history" between Zimbabwe and Botswana, as well as both countries' commitment to regional integration under frameworks such as the Southern African Development Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area.The upcoming session follows the Fourth BNC meeting held in Maun, Botswana, in February 2024, where both nations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation.The BNC structurebringing together senior officials, ministers and Heads of Stateplays a critical role in translating political agreements into tangible projects, coordinating collaboration across sectors, and advancing joint investments and regional integration initiatives.
Micky English, father of Derry teenager Gary English killed by the British Army on Easter Sunday 1981, described his sons death as a deliberate, cold-blooded act of killing.

My son did not die as the result of a road traffic accident, added Mr English, speaking to The Derry News following Anatomy of a Cover-up: The Rule of Law on Trial in the Museum of Free Derry on Saturday afternoon.

All I ever wanted is what took place here today - to change the narrative of Garys death from a road traffic accident to a deliberate murder.

Marking the 45th anniversary of the deaths of Gary English (19) and Jim Brown (18) on April 19, 1981, the event was organised by the Pat Finucane Centre.

The Rule of Law on Trial' was narrated by Dr Brian Dooley, a Senior Advisor at Human Rights First, a Washington DC-based NGO, an Honorary Professor of Practice at Queens University, Belfast, and a Visiting Scholar at University College London.

For more than a decade, Dr Dooley has worked to support Human Rights Defenders in a range of contexts, including those in Ukraine, Bahrain, Poland, Hong Kong, the North and Egypt. For 16 years prior to joining Human Rights First, he worked at Amnesty International. He has written and spoken extensively on human rights issues and the conflict in the North.

Mr Micky English, father of Gary English.

Asked how he felt having watched The Rule of Law on Trial', Mr English said: Well, to be quite honest, I have been living with it for 45 years. I dont go to bed at night without re-running the whole trial and press and HET (Historical Enquiries Team) experience.

So, while it might come as a surprise to some people that didnt actually understand all the nuances surrounding Garys death and Jim Browns death, I have lived through it and I know each one of them intimately, he added.

I had an understanding having gone through it all, this experience, that the question of seeking justice was never, ever going to happen.

There were too many Bechers Brooks, fences to jump, for me to get justice. Too many lies were told and it was embedded.

All I ever wanted is what took place here today - to change the narrative of Garys death from a road traffic accident to a deliberate murder. Thats all I wanted to achieve.

I dont want anybody spending time in jail over it. I dont care care what happens to Buzzard or Smith [the British soldiers responsible]. All I want to do is, if I can set the record straight that my son did not die as the result of a road traffic accident but a deliberate cold-blooded act of killing, said Mr English.

Dr Brian Dooley began his moving presentation by drawing comparisons between Gary English and Jim Brown, and himself.

Dr Brian Dooley presenting 'Anatomy of a Cover-up' in the Museum of Free Derry.

"In 1981, I was 18, the same as Jim Brown. I remember what it was like to be a late teenager in the early 80s. Jim Brown and Gary English and myself would have been watching the same things on telly, we would have been watching the same sort of music, wearing the same sorts of clothes, and in those days we would be having probably similar hairstyles," he said. "But our lives were very different. I was growing up in South London, they were growing up here.

Anatomy of a Cover-up: The Rule of Law on Trial - Derry News (@DerryNow) digital report.



Marking the 45th anniversary of the deaths of Gary English (19) & Jim Brown (18) on April 19, 1981 - Easter Sunday - the event, organised by the Pat Finucane Centre (@FinucaneCentre), pic.twitter.com/JMBoAWJH4Q  Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) April 19, 2026

"About a week before they died, there was an outbreak of rioting in Brixton in South London. We were not being killed for being on the street. In fact, the British Home Secretary, when those riots broke out, said that, plastic bullets should not be used against us, should not be used in Britain, because they were too dangerous.

In that year, 1981, 30,000 plastic bullets were used in this week [in the North].

What hits me about these cases is how much time has gone, what they missed, the lives they missed out on. I have a very strong sense of that because of the life I have been lucky enough to lead, and which they never got to do, said Dr Dooley.

Turning to the circumstances which led to the deaths of Gary English and Jim Brown, Dr Dooley said: That Easter Sunday evening, a little before 7 oclock, two British Army landrovers, each weighing three quarters of a tonne, left Rosemount Barracks and drove at high speed down Creggan Hill.

In that first landrover, the driver was Lance Corporal Stephen Buzzard and his sergeant was with him, Sergeant Hugh Smith. They reached the crossroads of Creggan Hill, Infirmary Road, Marlborough Terrace where a group of civilians where, he added.

They went into the civilians and they killed Jim Brown and they killed Gary English.

Those facts arent disputed, said Dr Dooley who went on to assess how the State institutions performed in the aftermath.

The institutions, he said whose duty it was to find the truth, to present the truth to the public, and to hold to account those responsible - the Army, the police, the court process, the coroners inquest and the Historical Enquiries Team.

"Corporal Stephen Buzzard drove the first lead vehicle. Sergeant Smith told him to 'carry on through the junction'. They then reversed back up Creggan Hill, after they had hit Jim Brown and Gary English, and reversed over the body of Gary English in that three quarters of a tonne vehicle," said Dr Dooley.

The Brown and English families attanding 'Anatomy of a Cover-up' in the Museum of Free Derry on Saturday.

The Army account of what happened falsely claimed that the landrover had not been travelling at speed. But the eyewitnesses told a different story. Paul Clements was a BBC reporter and an eyewitness at the scene. He testified that the landrover had been travelling at what he estimated to be 50 miles an hour.

Other eye witnesses also corroborated Clements testimony.

The Army also falsely claimed that the vehicle was moving to a safer cover point, which doesnt bear any scrutiny, said Dr Dooley.

Turning to the police investigation of the killings, he added: The RUC classed the incident as a road traffic accident and they put traffic cop Sergeant Bradley in to head the investigation.

The night that those teenagers died, Sergeant Bradley interviewed both the Corporal and the Sergeant but he admitted he didnt take any interview notes, and the statements that he said they made were really a summary of the conversations he had had with each of them, which in total, each had amounted to about an hour.

This was a traffic cop, investigating what hed been told and the approach he took was a traffic accident.

He later admitted that before he interviewed the soldiers, he had not consulted with the eyewitnesses or the eyewitness testimony, which was available.

Somebody who had bothered to go talk to and listen to the eyewitnesses was Bishop Edward Daly. And after he had heard what the eyewitnesses said, Bishop Daly said: It appears the Army vehicle was driven at reckless speed. It seems to have been a stupid and cruel deed.
Stormont is in talks with the Treasury to secure a proper financial package for Northern Ireland.

The regions Finance Minister John ODowd said the decision by the Stormont Executive last week to allocate money towards helping families struggling with rising energy costs will place further pressures on the Executive budget.

He said he has had two meetings with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn over the last week, adding there is a united front from the Executive over the budget.

I have presented two papers to the Executive in relation to the budget for the next three years, all my Executive colleagues are telling me that they cant deliver the services that are required within the confines of that budget, we wont be able to support the economy to the level that the economy needs supported either, he told the BBC.

So on behalf of the Executive, I have been engaging with the British Government over this week as have my officials

I am satisfied that the British Government are now listening to us but we now need to move quickly into the mode of where they giving the financial whereforall to this Executive to do the job that the Executive needs to do.

Stormont ministers pledged 19.2 million to go with 17 million already set aside for the scheme from the UK Government.

The scheme will see up to 340,000 lower-income households receiving a 100 payment to go towards their heating oil bills.

We are talking directly to the British Government about securing a proper financial package for the Executive to allow us to fund public services, to support our economy and see us through what is going to continue to be a significant cost of living crisis for several months if not longer, Mr ODowd said.

Speaking on the BBCs Sunday Politics Northern Ireland, Mr ODowd said that despite the financial pressure the Stormont Executive is under, they made the decision that it is vitally important to support those families on low incomes.

We have received a 17 million pot from the British Government, and the decision was made collectively at the Executive that given the scale of pressures bearing down on families that we would inject a further, up towards 20 million into that fund, he said.

That funding will come directly from our budget allocation, there is no other separate pot where that money can from, its about decisions, and politics is about making decisions, and the Executive has made a decision in this instance that given the scale of pressures we will supplement that 17 million.

Mr ODowd went on to say the Executive deserves recognition for making the decision to support families in terms of rising energy costs.

We cannot plug every gap the British Government creates, the Executive cannot afford to bail out the British Government, that is the reality of the situation, and thats why Im involved in discussions with the British Government about securing a proper funding package for this place so we can support our community and voluntary sector, so we can support our public services and we can support our economy, he said.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently met local children and families during a recent whistlestop visit to Derry.

The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, visited Action for Children, which operates a range of services from its Ebrington Square base - including Waterside Sure Start, early intervention and family support programmes.

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The NI secretary said he was delighted to meet the staff, parents and children at Action for Children, and to hear about the invaluable services they provide to the community in Derry-Londonderry. He spent time speaking with a number of parents and their babies and toddlers as they enjoyed sensory playtime and a visit from the Easter bunny! He also met with staff and members of the charitys local Parents Forum.

Lorna Ballard, National Director at Action for Children in Northern Ireland, said: We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP.

Secretary of State Hilary Ben meeting local families during his visit to Ebrington

With four services under one roof, Action for Children in Ebrington provides wraparound support for thousands of local babies, children, young people and their families every year. This visit from the Secretary of State for NI was a wonderful opportunity for our staff to showcase their valuable work, particularly focusing on the importance of Early Years and Early Intervention.

Families spoke about how early years services, such as Waterside Sure Start, have helped their children develop social and emotional skills and highlighted some of the challenges facing families across Northern Ireland.

Secretary of State Hilary Ben meeting local families during his visit to Ebrington
AI has been evolving rapidly, and major companies in the space have debuted newer models within the span of a few months. The space has managed to quickly go from just a hype phase to something which is transforming the future. And it isnt going to stop here, as one of the major players in the race, OpenAI, may be about to pull its biggest upgrade yet. The companys next major AI model, codenamed Spud, likely to ship as the upcoming ChatGPT 5.5, could be released much earlier than we anticipated. The pretraining for the model was completed last month, and since then, speculation has been building around an April release window. Lets have a look at what to expect from the latest ChatGPT 5.5 Spud model, along with the expected release date.

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ChatGPT 5.5: Features

While most of the features would be unveiled upon its official arrival, we do have some idea of what to expect. It is expected that the model would bring advanced native multimodality, helping handle text, images, audio, and video within a single model. It is also expected to handle operations much smoother than the previous models.

As per reports, over two years of research went into making the latest model. OpenAI has said that their latest Spud model with Chat GPT 5.5 would be a major leap for the chatbot. The president of OpenAI, Greg Brockman, has even said that its not an incremental improvement, its a significant change in the way we think about model development.

Brockman has also stated that the model will better understand the context of requests without users having to spell out every detail.

Moving on, lets now talk about the release date for the latest model. As stated before, the pretraining for the model was completed last month in March. Traditionally, OpenAI models have typically required 3 to 6 weeks for safety evaluation before the public release. So in theory, the release window falls somewhere between mid-April and early May 2026.

The current prediction on Polymarket has placed the highest probability on April 23, with around 74% of trading volume placed on that date. Surprisingly, the date aligns with the ThursdAI theory. For those unaware, based on past announcements, it has been noticed that OpenAI has a tendency to make major announcements on Thursdays.

Do keep in mind that while the predictions have strong evidence of the launch, were still not completely sure if the release date could remain true. Thats because the chances of internal delays due to technical issues always remain a possibility. But so far, the AI community is treating the current predicted release window as the launch for the latest ChatGPT model.

Also Read: Motorola Edge 70 Pro to launch on April 22: Check expected price, specs and more
Drogheda councillors clashed during a fiery debate on the future of the Government.

It came after Mayor of Drogheda, Labour Cllr Michelle Hall tabled an emergency no-confidence motion in the Government at the April meeting of the Drogheda Borough District.

Mayor Hall accused the Government of doing Drogheda a "disservice that will have long term repercussions in the future".

"Since the last Borough District meeting was held, the D hotel contract was renewed, the omission of Drogheda Schools from the Deis+ programme and operation encompass will commence in Drogheda schools in September.

The lack of planning for future events led to this weeks countrywide protests. It [the motion] calls on the Government to listen to the elected representatives of Drogheda when they say, in earnest that these actions have a detrimental effect on our community," she said.

However, it was subject to two counter-motions from Fianna Fail councillor James Byrne and Fine Gael councillor Ejiro O'Hare Stratton.

Cllr Byrne labelled the motion "contradictory" and called on the Government to "listen to the elected representatives of Drogheda without further delay".

Cllr Byrne's counter motion was selected to be debated during the meeting winning with four votes to three.

He said he would be "seriously disappointed" if the renewal of the D Hotel contract as an IPAS centre continued beyond its 12 month extension and said it would be "unacceptable".

Cllr Byrne also said he didn't believe measure introduced by the Government to cut excise duty on fuel had "gone far enough",

"Were all hurt. The two reductions in excise duty go far, but in my opinion havent gone far enough. But you have to weigh up in terms of cost of implementing those measures. Its easy to say they havent done enough and they should do more. But the money has to be found for it but they still could do more," he said.

In response Mayor Hall said "when some of the language is 'seriously unacceptable' and 'very disappointed' thats just not good enough".

She said she would engage with the relevant ministers and called on the Government to "step down or step up".

"I would obviously engage with the Government if they engage with us. Weve requested meeting with the Minister for Transport and Minister for Justice to talk about the D Hotel and none of those request were followed through.

So thats where I felt that as mayor of Drogheda we had to make a statement," she said.

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Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan launched a scathing attack on the Government in which he accused it of "ignoring Drogheda" and "squandering money".

He said "the time for talking is over" and said "we need to mobilise again".

Ultimately Cllr Byrne's motion was rejected, but Mayor Hall labelled the debate a "constructive discussion".

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Louth County Council's plans for a major Dundalk road have been labelled "anti-car" amid concerns it could cause "serious backlogs".

The local authority was seeking Part 8 planning permission from councillors to carry out works to the Dublin Road in Dundalk from Xerox to Greengates.

Concerns were raised that four new bus stops along the road would not include bays for buses to pull in.

The Council confirmed the decision prioritises public transport ahead of private vehicles, resulting in more reliable journey times for bus users.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council told the April meeting of the Dundalk Municipal District said the plans were created in consultation with bus drivers and Bus Eireann.

"What bus drivers complain about is that when they pull in, all of the cars behind them then jump in front of them and the bus is delayed. Were trying to encourage the bus transfers to be as efficient as possible," he said.

Independent councillor Ciaran Fisher labelled the plans "anti-car" and said the council wants "people sitting behind the bus, wishing they were on the bus".

Councillors raised concerns that buses stopping in the middle of the road would cause traffic congestion.

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However, Green Party councillor Marianne Butler defended the proposals and said it takes "a matter of seconds" for people to get on and off buses.

"I understand peoples concerns about the bus bays but look at whats happening around the town. If you hop on a bus down at Smyth's chemist, Sean OMahonys, the Blackrock road, theres no bus bays and the world doesnt end.

People get on and off the buses and it takes a matter of seconds. I dont think Ive ever been delayed because people were getting on and off the bus," she said.

Fianna Fail councillor Shane McGuinness warned the new bus stops could cause "serious backlogs" for motorists.

"I know we can talk about a lot of different bus stops around the town and people are jumping on and off but were talking about a road that is seriously, seriously busy."

"I mean putting four bus stops between Greengates and Meehans Garage, youre looking at a serious backlog," he said.

Cllr Butler acknowledged that bus bays are needed in "high-frequency areas" but said bus shelters should be a higher priority.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS), in partnership with the Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) with the support of Research Ireland, has developed a new book All About Water to help group water schemes around the country to educate pupils across rural Ireland on all things water.

The newly updated curriculum linked 2026 edition, featuring two new H2O Heroes mascots, Drizzle and Misty brings interactive learning to the next level. Packed with puzzles, quizzes and real-world science activities, new areas of focus include the importance of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and climate action, among other important topics.

St Brigids National School, Meath Hill, became the first school in the country to unveil the refreshed All About Water schoolbook and brand-new world of water education. This vibrant, bilingual (English and Irish) learning resource is designed to inspire young environmental stewards through a freshwater and drinking water education programme which will be delivered across Irelands primary schools. The initiative comes at a time of increasing focus on water conservation, climate resilience and community-run water services.

NFGWS CEO Mark Farrelly said: The All About Water schoolbook celebrates everything that makes group water schemes special, including community management of water, local science and a real pride of place. By teaching children how their own community provides and protects its water, along with the importance of freshwater to all life on earth were helping them understand the vital role they can play in safeguarding it for the future.

Caroline Gilleran Stephens, Research Theme Lead, Environmental Education, Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies (CFES) at DkIT said: We are delighted to bring the All About Water resource to schools, with our H2O Heroes helping children understand where their water comes from and why it matters. By building water literacy from an early age, we are empowering young people to protect this vital resource for the future.

To mark the launch, pupils visited the Meath Hill Group Water Scheme pumphouse, where committee member Tom Lynch explained how his own scheme extracts and safeguards local drinking water. Back at the school, Tom and NFGWS development officer James McElearney showcased the newly installed drinking water refill station with the local pupils.

The learning continued indoors with an NFGWS-led presentation and energetic water-themed quiz, followed by a lively kick-sampling demonstration from Dr Caroline Gilleran Stephens and Dr Suzanne Linnane (DkIT), using samples from Ballyhoe Lough.

In their H2O Heroes lab coats, the pupils identified aquatic insects and explored how scientists measure water quality. The launch also shone a spotlight on the Meath Hill Group Water Scheme, a volunteer-run scheme supplying over 325 homes and recognised nationally for excellence in water safety, biodiversity, community engagement, and climate action.

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The NFGWS is encouraging more group water schemes to deliver the All About Water curriculum to their local schools, and, with the support of NFGWS development officers, aims to involve even more schools across GWS networks in this important educational initiative.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has launched a manhunt for a 30-year-old man wanted in connection with a shooting incident that left three people injured in Chimanimani.Police identified the suspect as Francis Makuma Magirayano, who is being sought over an attempted murder case that occurred on April 18, 2026.According to authorities, Magirayano allegedly shot three victims following a domestic dispute involving his wife, Mercyline Mahembe (26). She sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the cheek, hand and thigh.The other victims include his sister-in-law, who was shot in the leg, and a shopkeeper at Kopa Business Centre who was also caught in the incident.All three victims are currently admitted to a hospital in Chipinge, where they are receiving treatment.Police say the suspect, who is believed to have recently returned from South Africa, was driving a silver Toyota Fortuner with registration number JV 70 SM GP at the time of the incident.The ZRP is urging members of the public with information on the suspect's whereabouts to come forward and assist in the investigation.Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the ZRP National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, send a WhatsApp message to 0712 800 197, or report to the nearest police station.
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Louth Tidy Towns groups who won awards in the 2025 SuperValu National TidyTowns Competition attended the Midlands & East Regional awards ceremony in the Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on the 13th April 2026. On the night the awards were presented to the winners by Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

All photos: Julien Behal

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West Cork businessman Damien Long has acquired the iconic Viaduct Inn, with plans for a multi-million-euro investment to create a transport and travel hub.

Currently operating as a restaurant, the site will now host a roadside plaza with a 24-hour convenience shop, toilet facilities, food court and bar.

Two bus services will run from the site, one to Dublin city and airport, and a park-and-ride to the city centre operating every 30 minutes from 6am to midnight.

Mr Long, owner of transport companies including West Cork Connect, said the project has been driven by a long-standing ambition to improve how people travel to and from West Cork while investing in a landmark location.

The plans will create more than 50 direct jobs and a substantial number of indirect jobs.

Mr Long told The Echo that the plan was to begin with 200 car parking spaces and add more if needed.

Current plans are for the Cork to Dublin service to run 12 daily services up and down. Passengers booking their bus journey online will be able to add car parking, and leave their vehicle there for the duration of their trip.

Mr Long said: When we started West Cork Connect in 2019 and designed the logo, the Viaduct arches are the most prominent feature on it. The viaduct is the gateway to West Cork to me. Were planning a big welcome to West Cork sign outside.

While changes will be made to the inside of the building, Mr Long said:

The outside of the building we love, its never going to change. Its been there since I was a small boy.

The site already has planning permission for car parking, a bar and food business, so only very minimal permission needs to be applied for. The turnaround will be very short, we can start 80% of it without any planning, he said.

Cliste Hospitality said that The Viaduct Restaurant will close on Monday, May 25, but that there will be no disruption in day-to-day operations until then.
One of the founding pioneers of the Dubai International Financial centre, Cork man Cormac Sheedy, has witnessed the extraordinary growth of the Gulf city since moving there in 2003.

But Dubai, the biggest city in the United Arab Emirates, has been significantly impacted by the ongoing US/Isral-Iran war since the conflict commenced on February 28.

Mr Sheedy, who attended Christian Brothers College in Cork and also was one of the founding original members of the Irish Business Network in Dubai, feels the holding of the ceasefire and a longer term solution to the ongoing tensions will be key to restoration in the region.

In terms of what life has been like in Dubai in the midst of the war over the last few months, he told The Echo.

I think initially it was quite scary for people, you know, very loud explosions, particularly at night time. People were very naturally scared and not used to experiencing such a thing, being in effectively a war zone.

The UAE defence system was extremely good. Theyve invested tens of millions into the technology around stopping these missiles coming in. They have pretty well stopped all the missiles coming in.

Since the ceasefire was announced, it is a lot calmer. The drones have all stopped because of the ceasefire, so people are sort of getting back to normal, getting back to work.

So you will see them announcing, no doubt, a number of measures to try and get business back on track, to try and get things back to normal.

A black plume of smoke rises from a warehouse at the industrial area of Sharjah City in the United Arab Emirates following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 1. (Picture: AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The big concern for everyone is that this ceasefire holds and that a longer term solution is found to de-escalate it.

Mr Sheedy added that it may take a little longer for the well-renowned tourism and hospitality sector in Dubai to get properly back on track.

I think the bit that will take a bit longer to fix will be the whole tourism and hospitality side of things. People will be naturally nervous and theyll need to see that theres a proper ceasefire, that the flights are back to normal and that it feels safe again to travel

Ive lived there over 20 years and weve always felt Dubai was one of the safest places in the world where you could be. I believe that is sort of still the case. But no one wants to be in effectively a war zone. Its just not natural to any of us.

Dubai is a holiday destination. People love to come for winter sun there. They feel safe there and theres no crime really.

The famous Dubai marina and beach with a view of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Photo: iStock

People have always felt it is very safe. But on a bigger scale, theyll have to feel that its safe again and that there is peace there, before theyll consider coming back.
A Cork man who was stopped while riding a motorised bicycle has been convicted in the district court of having no insurance or licence to ride the vehicle.

Sergeant Linda OLeary told Youghal District Court that 18-year-old Andre Sassen, with an address at OBriens Terrace, Youghal, Co Cork, was observed riding a bicycle with a petrol engine attached to it in Youghal on May 21, 2025.

The court heard it was the noise of the vehicle, which was described as a pedal cycle with a petrol engine attached, that initially attracted garda interest.

The vehicle was examined and assessed to meet the criteria of a mechanically propelled vehicle which is legally required to be insured for use in a public place, and also operated by a rider with an applicable licence.

Defence solicitor, James Moore, said Sassen was pleading guilty to both charges.

He said his client had purchased the adapted bike for 180 and did have a learner permit at the time he was stopped, but accepted he did not have a licence to ride the bike and also accepted it was not insured.

The court was told Sassen had no previous convictions and was now working as an apprentice fitter with a plant hire company. Mr Moore said Sassens employer had provided a reference for him and was also in attendance in court.

The court was told losing his driving licence would almost certainly mean Sassen would also lose his job.

Judge John OLeary said Sassen needed to get his act together and be more careful in

future. He convicted and fined Sassen 120, allowing him three months to pay the fine.
Pairc Ui Chaoimh could be in contention as the site for the planned Cork event centre after developer Michael O'Flynn raised the prospect on Friday.

Mr O'Flynn, chair and CEO of the O'Flynn Group, made the proposal at an event attended by Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O'Donovan.

He said Cork GAA must maximise the earning potential of Pairc Ui Chaoimh, and that adjacent land at the current 4G pitch could accommodate a new event centre.

Two proposals have already been confirmed for the stalled project: the BAM Beamish and Crawford site on South Main Street  the originally planned location  and a Docklands site proposed by Marina Market owner Tom Coughlan.

A third proposal at the 4G pitch at Pairc Ui Chaoimh would now also be considered, with backing from Mr O'Flynn.

Addressing guests at the Annual One Cork Dublin lunch at the Clayton Burlington Hotel, Mr O'Flynn said a key goal for Cork GAA is to develop its own Centre of Excellence, but challenges remain in managing the stadium debt, which is believed to exceed 30m.

Concept

Speaking to The Echo, Mr O'Flynn said the proposal has been in the offing for a while.

"We are putting the concept out there. If it is not of interest, thats fine. I can assure you it is a serious proposal. It is a concept that should be considered."

He said that what is being looked at currently in Cork is an event centre only.

This proposal is very different. The scale is much greater than an events centre. An exhibition centre would have a lot more options open to it, like trade and sport, a whole range of activities. Thats something thats not currently available in Ireland. Other countries have them, we dont.

Mr OFlynn, who is a director of the Pairc Ui Chaoimh stadium, said the proposal was not an OFlynn Group project. While the proposal has not been costed, he said the cost would depend on the appetite, the scale, the design and the structure.

Plans for the event centre have gained momentum under a new project development board, chaired by Cork City Council assistant chief executive Brian Geaney, which has met monthly since January 2025.

Approved

Last week, the preliminary business case for the project was approved, marking a key step in the tendering process.

"The city council will now begin the Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) process - the first of a two-stage process of procurement for the Event Centre" a council spokesperson said.

This stage precedes tendering for a final contract and will indicate that the construction value of the Cork event centre is expected to be in the region of 150m to 200m. The SAQ process will identify "suitably qualified and experienced consortia with the capability to build, partially fund and operate a project of this scale and complexity".

The SAQ process will be open across the EU, with submissions evaluated and shortlisted.

The procurement process is being overseen by global project management firm AECOM, which has an office in Cork.

Early proposals for the event centre suggested a capacity of 3,000 to 6,000, though the CEO of the Everyman Theatre has proposed a smaller venue of closer to 2,000 seats to attract major theatre and West End touring productions, warning a larger venue could risk becoming a "big empty room".
Plans for a major 200m mixed-use development investment at Mahon Point have been cleared by Cork City Council, subject to 52 conditions.

The project, dubbed Mahon Point 2.0 is a significant investment to include 251 apartments, an office block for up to 580 workers, a new civic plaza/market square for gatherings such as the weekly farmers markets, a multi-storey car park, a discount retailer, and eight to 10 additional bigger box shops  including a large unit to suit a major retailer.

The development will add around 13,000sq m/140,000sq ft additional demand-led retail space, on top of the existing 350,000sq ft gross footprint at Mahon Point, plus the existing 45,000sq ft Omniplex.

It will include almost 70,000sq ft of offices with 40 parking spaces at Mahon Point (adding to c 500,000sq ft of offices nearby at City Gate and City Gate Plaza, National Software Centre, etc) and 250 apartments (with 84 parking spaces), with a tenure type yet to be decided.

The centre is separate to Mahon Point Retail Park, which trades nearby. The development is expected to support more than 1,500 permanent jobs, alongside approximately 365 jobs during construction.

Exciting next step

Welcoming the granting of planning permission, Justin Young, centre director at Mahon Point, said it was an exciting next step.

Since first opening its doors in 2005, Mahon Point has firmly established itself as a leading shopping destination for both locals and visitors from across Cork and the wider Munster region, he said.

Beyond retail, it has evolved into a vibrant community hub, a place where people come not just to shop, but to meet, connect, and spend time together, he said.

The planning approval for Mahon Point 2.0 represents a natural and exciting next step in that journey.

With this evolution, Mahon Point is well positioned to look forward to a bright and sustainable future.

Director at Savills Ireland, Peter OMeara, who has been involved in tenanting the centre for 20 years, said it was a hugely positive and demand-led development for Cork, responding directly to the citys projected population growth of 5060% by 2040.

Mahon Point 2.0 will deliver much-needed homes alongside vital social infrastructure, creating a balanced and sustainable community.

It also represents a significant opportunity to enhance Corks economic output by attracting leading Irish and international brands, while strengthening the citys appeal as a destination for visitors and tourists.

Growing city

"By prioritising public transport and the 15-minute city model, the development is designed to support how people want to live and move in a growing city, while minimising traffic impact.

The city council received an application from Deka Immobilien in July last year for the 200m mixed-use investment in Mahon Point and subsequently sought assurance on concerns such as traffic impacts in the area.

Currently, Mahon is relatively car-dependent, with 2,000 parking spaces, the reordering of which will see retail units built on current surface-level parking, as well as a multi-storey replacement that will add just 125 more parking spaces than are currently provided.

Conditions

Several of the conditions attached to the provisional planning grant relate to ensuring the safe operation of the road network. Transport Infrastructure Ireland previously warned that it could add to a deteriorating traffic situation in the area.

Other conditions relate to the preparation of a car-park management plan, landscaping, green roofs on retail units, drainage, disposal of building waste, and noise control.

Deka acquired the 60-unit shopping centre with cinema and restaurants from Irish developer Owen OCallaghan in 2005 and now have 1.5bn in Irish assets.

When Mahon 2.0 is fully developed, it will have a value close to 500m in its own right, according to Mr OMeara.

He has previously described it as the countrys premier centre outside of the M50.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

As Zimbabwe marks 46 years of independence, a section of opposition voices has urged citizens to observe the day as a moment of reflection rather than celebration, arguing that many of the country's founding aspirations remain unfulfilled.In a strongly worded statement circulating under the hashtag #noto2030 , the message asserts that "it is not yet UHURU", claiming that Zimbabwe has yet to fully realise the ideals of freedom, democracy and prosperity envisioned at independence.The statement calls for the anniversary to be treated as a "day of sombre reflections", urging citizens to focus on what it describes as the "unfinished work" of nationbuilding and the need to secure a better future for coming generations.Zimbabwe attained independence on 18 April 1980, ending white minority rule and ushering in majority governance. The day is traditionally marked by national celebrations, including official ceremonies and public events.However, critics and opposition figures have increasingly used the occasion to highlight economic challenges, governance concerns and political reforms they say are necessary to fulfil the promise of independence.The circulating message also expresses support for Nelson Chamisa, describing his leadership as central to efforts aimed at achieving what it terms a "new Great Zimbabwe for everyone".While government officials and supporters continue to commemorate Independence Day as a historic milestone, contrasting views underscore ongoing political divisions over the country's trajectory and the meaning of independence more than four decades later.Independence Day remains one of Zimbabwe's most significant national events, but as this year's anniversary shows, it continues to evoke differing interpretations about the nation's progress and future direction.
Deepika Padukone is ready to welcome baby number 2! The actress took to social media to announce her second pregnancy. She shared a photo of her daughter Dua Padukone Singh holding a positive pregnancy stick. While Dua's face is not visible fully, the pregnancy stick has been highlighted in the click.





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Deepika captioned the post with two evil eye emoticons. Just yesterday, Filmfare broke an exclusive story about a leading Bollywood couple preparing to announce their second pregnancy. We kept our readers ahead of the curve, sharing the joyful news before it was officially revealed.



Dua was born on September 8, 2024. The couple announced her birth and name shortly after, sharing that Dua means prayer and signifies her as an answer to their prayers. Dua is the couples first child.



Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone got married on November 14 and 15, 2018, in a private ceremony at Lake Como, Italy. The couple tied the knot in two traditional ceremonies, one in the Konkani style to honour Deepikas heritage, and another in Sindhi style reflecting Ranveers roots. Their wedding was an intimate affair attended by close family and friends, away from media glare. Later, they hosted grand receptions in Bengaluru and Mumbai for friends, family, and members of the film industry.



On the professional front, Ranveer is enjoying the success of his recent film Dhurandhar: The Revenge. As per Sacnilk's estimates, the movie has collected over Rs 1748 crore worldwide gross. Deepika is gearing up to star in Shah Rukh Khan's KING and Allu Arjun's Raaka. The actress hasn't announced any other projects yet.





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We send our heartiest wishes to the couple and congratulate them on the wonderful news.



Also Read: Ranveer Singh Sparks Fan Frenzy Post Dhurandhar 2s Success, Babbar Sher Chants Go Viral


Pawan advised rest

Get well soon messages

Tollywood superstar Pawan Kalyan underwent a surgical procedure on Saturday evening following a health complication, which hasn't been disclosed to respect his privacy. The actor-politician had experienced severe discomfort on Friday while discussing administrative matters with government officials.After immediate medical evaluations, including an MRI scan, led doctors to recommend surgical intervention. Consequently, Pawan has been advised to observe a period of complete rest for seven to ten days and adhere to a strict series of post-operative precautions. Media reports indicate that the surgery was related to a recurring spinal issue, potentially made worse by past injuries. The procedure took place in Hyderabad after initial assessments in Vijayawada.Family members of Pawan Kalyan have provided reassuring updates regarding his status. His brother, Naga Babu, confirmed that he is currently safe and recovering well. He requires only a few days of rest and will soon return with renewed strength and energy, he stated. His nephew and actor Sai Dharam Tej, also shared a heartfelt message on social media. Along with the peoples love and prayers, I send my deepest affection for your speedy recovery. The surgery was successful, and I look forward to seeing you serve the public again very soon. Please prioritize your health, he wrote.Pawan Kalyan has maintained a strong presence in cinema despite his political commitments. His recent filmography features films that blend action with social themes. In 2023, he starred in the fantasy comedy Bro, which was a remake. He followed this with the historical action epic Hari Hara Veera Mallu in 2025. During the same year, he released the massive hit, They Call Him OG. Most recently, his film Ustaad Bhagat Singh arrived in theaters in March 2026. This film features him as a powerful police officer. On the other hand, Pawans fans are wishing him a speedy recovery.
Six $3 Million Prizes Awarded for Outstanding Discoveries in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics

Gene Therapies for Inherited Blindness, Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-Thalassemia

Discovery of Key Genetic Cause of ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia

Precision Measurement of Muon's Magnetic Moment

Advances in Mathematics of Waves and Nonlinear Systems

Special Prize for Pioneer of Theory of Strong Nuclear Force

Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Awarded to Jean Bennett, Katherine A. High and Albert Maguire; Stuart H. Orkin and Swee Lay Thein; Rosa Rademakers and Bryan Traynor

Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics Awarded to Frank Merle

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Awarded to Muon g-2 Collaborations at CERN, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Fermilab

Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Awarded to David J. Gross

Inaugural Vera Rubin New Frontiers Prize Awarded to Carolina Figueiredo

Six New Horizons Prizes Awarded for Early-Career Achievements in Physics and Mathematics

Three Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes Awarded to Women Mathematicians for Early-Career Work

Laureates to be Celebrated Tonight at Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Breakthrough Prize Foundation today announced the winners of the 2026 Breakthrough Prizes, honoring scientists whose discoveries are significantly driving growth of human knowledge. In the Life Sciences, their work has led to gene therapies for three devastating diseases - inherited blindness, sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, and identified a key genetic cause of two more - ALS and frontotemporal dementia. In Physics and Mathematics, they have constructed theories of the fundamental forces of nature and probed them to mind-blowing precision, and revealed deep truths about the mathematical behavior of waves.

The Breakthrough Prizes - popularly known as the "Oscars of Science" - were created to celebrate the wonders of our scientific age. Co-founded by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki, the prizes are now in their 14th year.

This year, six Breakthrough Prizes of $3 million each were awarded. In addition, the Foundation recognized 15 early-career physicists and mathematicians, who share six $100,000 New Horizons Prizes. Three women mathematicians recently completing PhDs each receives a $50,000 Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize.

This year's prize money totals $18.75 million, bringing the amount conferred over the 15 years of the Breakthrough Prize to more than $340 million.

"This year's laureates show what great science can do - deepen our understanding of the world and lead to discoveries that improve millions of lives," said Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan, founders of Biohub. "We're proud to recognize their work."

"The brilliant scientists who win the Breakthrough Prize," said Yuri Milner, co-founder of Breakthrough Prize Foundation, "Are building a cathedral of knowledge on foundations laid down by the giants who came before them. We owe our civilization - and its future - to them."

Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

Jean Bennett, Katherine A. High and Albert Maguire share the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. This prize recognizes work that led to the first FDA-approved gene replacement therapy. It has transformed the lives of people born with Leber congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited retinal disease that usually results in total blindness in early adulthood, enabling children who had been going blind to gain their independence, attend regular schools, play outside at night, and in some cases even qualify for driver's licenses. The therapy replaces the defective RPE65 gene, which produces a malfunctioning version of a protein critical to the visual cycle - the process by which the retina responds to light. The husband-and-wife team of molecular biologist Bennett and ophthalmic surgeon Maguire invented and developed the therapy from first conception to an effective treatment in animal models (including restoring sight to a number of Swedish Briard dogs which they went on to adopt). In 2005, High, a physician-scientist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) invited Bennett and Maguire to collaborate on a human trial. High's laboratory and clinical gene therapy expertise proved crucial in the development of the approved drug, including gaining regulatory approval to conduct the initial clinical trials, and in directing the production and characterization of high-quality viral vector preparations used to introduce the replacement gene. The three physician-scientists worked together to design the pivotal trial, including developing and validating a novel clinical endpoint to measure the vector's clinical effect.

Nearly all eligible Leber congenital amaurosis patients with RPE65 mutations in the United States have now been treated, and many others around the world are now gaining access to the therapy. The benefits have proved durable, with patients treated over a decade ago maintaining stable vision improvements. More broadly, this discovery demonstrated that the technology could work safely and effectively, establishing regulatory pathways and manufacturing approaches that opened the door to gene therapy approvals for a range of genetic diseases. Since their pioneering work, hundreds of trials, including over 100 retinal gene therapytrials have been conducted, with more than half a dozen currently in late-stage clinical testing.

Stuart H. Orkin and Swee Lay Thein share the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. Their research transformed the devastating blood disorders sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia from incurable to treatable conditions through gene editing therapy.

In beta-thalassemia the body fails to produce enough healthy hemoglobin; while in sickle cell disease, defective hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become stiff, sticky and sickle-shaped. But people who produce elevated levels of fetal form of hemoglobin as adults, rather than switching entirely to adult hemoglobin, have much milder forms of the diseases. This presented a tantalizing possibility for translational medicine: genetically switching fetal hemoglobin production back on, and so mitigating disease symptoms. Thein mapped the trait of persistent fetal hemoglobin production to chromosome 2, and subsequently identified the gene BCL11A as the key genetic player. Orkin demonstrated that BCL11A functions as the master repressor of fetal hemoglobin, shutting down its production after birth, and that inactivating it restored fetal hemoglobin production in mice and eliminated sickle cell disease symptoms. His laboratory identified a specific DNA enhancer region that controls BCL11A expression itself, but crucially only in red blood cells, providing a precise and safe target for therapeutic intervention without affecting other cells.

The translation of these discoveries into a CRISPR-based gene therapy (Casgevy) that edits this enhancer region in patients' own blood stem cells resulted in the first CRISPR-based medicine approved for any disease. This work has revolutionized treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, providing a potentially curative one-time therapy for conditions affecting millions worldwide.

Rosa Rademakers and Bryan Traynor independently solved a decades-old mystery in neurodegenerative disease by discovering the most common genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the second leading cause of early-onset dementia. Through multi-year, international collaborations, they collected large-scale data from families where both ALS and FTD appeared together; and through painstaking genetic analysis they zeroed in on a key genetic trigger for both diseases. In 2011, their labs simultaneously identified a mutation in the C9orf72 gene. It is an expansion mutation - a repeat of the same six-letter sequence of DNA, occurring hundreds to thousands of times in affected individuals.

The discovery represents a landmark moment in the study of these diseases. This single mutation explains about a third of familial cases of both diseases in European populations, as well as more than five percent of cases in patients with no family history of the diseases. It sheds light on the disease mechanisms, pointing in particular to multiple effects of toxic RNA and proteins in brain cells. It has established ALS and FTD - previously considered two largely separate disorders - on a disease spectrum, sharing risk factors and molecular causes. And perhaps most significantly it has enabled genetic testing for affected families, and opened new pathways for the development of treatments for these currently incurable diseases - including at least two therapies currently undergoing clinical trials. While ALS and FTD remain incurable, thanks to the C9orf72 discovery they are now conditions with plausible molecular causes and promising therapeutic targets.

Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics

Frank Merle's work has significantly advanced the modern understanding of nonlinear evolution equations - the mathematical descriptions of how waves, fluids, and other dynamic systems change over time. His work has a particular focus on singularities: points where solutions to the equations surge to infinity. Alone and in collaborations, he has solved several fundamental problems, including proving that certain equations long thought to be well-behaved actually "blow up" - become infinite - in finite time.

Working on the soliton resolution conjecture (which predicts that any wave disturbance will eventually decompose into a set of stable, shape-preserving waves), Merle and Carlos Kenig, joined later by Thomas Duyckaerts, developed the powerful channels of energy technique coupled with the concentration compactness method. With Yvan Martel and Pierre Raphael, he revealed how singularities form in the KdV type equation (which describes various wave phenomena from shallow waves to rogue waves). Perhaps most remarkable is his work on the nonlinear version of the famous Schrodingerequation from quantum physics. In early work, he made a complete classification of all the ways this equation's solutions can blow up. Later he proved, with Pierre Raphael, Igor Rodnianski, and Jeremie Szeftel, that the defocusing version of the equation - long believed to be inherently stable - can in fact blow up in finite time. This highly surprising result exploited an unexpected connection to fluid dynamics: it helped to resolve a major open problem, identifying smooth solutions to the compressibleEuler and Navier-Stokes equations where the fluid's density and velocity become infinite - representing a complete breakdown of the fluid description. Throughout his career, Merle's insights have overturned fundamental assumptions in the field, forged deep connections between mathematics and physics, and opened new avenues toward some of the most celebrated unsolved problems.

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Across more than six decades, scientists and engineers from three "muon g-2" collaborations, representing dozens of institutions, have pushed experimental precision ever higher in pursuit of a single, very significant number: the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The muon is a heavy, unstable cousin of the electron, and like the electron it can behave like a tiny magnet. The physicists are looking to capture how the muon's magnetic strength is subtly affected by the "foam" of virtual particles constantly popping in and out of empty space around it. Measuring the muon's magnetism and comparing it to theoretical predictions allows physicists to test whether any unknown particles or forces are hidden in this foam. In other words, to probe for new physics beyond the Standard Model, our most successful theory of particles and forces.

The CERN collaboration's pioneering storage ring experiments of the 1960s and 1970s first measured the anomalous magnetic moment with meaningful precision. Then in the 1990s, Brookhaven National Laboratory's reimagining of the experiment achieved a major improvement in precision. And after the audacious transportation of Brookhaven's 50-ton, 15-meter-diameter storage ring 3,200 miles by road and barge to Fermilab in 2013, the experiment was systematically refined to achieve a final precision of 127 parts per billion - a mind-boggling 30,000 times more precise than the first g-2 experiment in 1965. The results had shown a tantalizing discrepancy with the value predicted by theory; and in 2023, Fermilab's new results pushed that discrepancy close to the threshold considered evidence for new physics. Since then, the final, even more precise results, compared to newly evolved theoretical calculations narrowed the gap, but considerable uncertainty remains for the moment. Whatever the final verdict, this experiment represents a remarkable theoretical, experimental and technological endeavor, achieving extraordinary precision in the quest for fundamental understanding.

Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

David J. Gross has been a leading figure in fundamental physics for six decades. In the early 1970s, there was a gap in quantum field theory, our best theory of particles and forces. The theory could not describe or accurately predict the strong nuclear force, which holds the nucleus of the atom together. But in 1973, Gross and his graduate student Frank Wilczek (as well as, independently, David Politzer) solved the mystery. They discovered that the strong force works the opposite way to familiar forces like gravity: it gets weaker as particles approach each other, but stronger as they move apart. This explained why quarks, the particles inside the atomic nucleus, can never escape or be observed in isolation, and it enabled the development of quantum chromodynamics - the theory of the strong force and the final foundation stone of the Standard Model of particle physics.

Gross has gone on to make seminal contributions across multiple areas of theoretical physics. For example, he and his collaborators developed a simplified quantum field theory that helped explain how particles can acquire mass; and developed new theoretical approaches attempting to unify all fundamental forces, including gravity, in a single framework known as heteroticstring theory.

Alongside his theoretical work, Gross has a longstanding record of leadership in the physics community, in roles including Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, and President of the American Physical Society. He has helped establish physics institutes in India, China, and South America. He directed the Jerusalem Winter School in Theoretical Physics and chaired the Solvay Physics Conferences for the last 25 years. In 2025 he was one of the authors of an ambitious 40-year plan for physics on behalf of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. And over the course of his career, he has been a mentor to numerous brilliant students who became leaders themselves, passing on his vision of physics as a collaborative international endeavor.

Inaugural Vera Rubin New Frontiers Prize

A new physics prize, the Vera Rubin New Frontiers Prize, will be announced during the ceremony, along with the inaugural recipient, Carolina Figueiredo, from Princeton University. One $50,000 prize is awarded this year; from 2027 there will be 3 per year.

The prize is named in tribute to the great astronomer Vera Rubin, who discovered key evidence for dark matter, and in homage to whom NVIDIA's new chip platform is named. The new prize recognizes women physicists within two years of their PhDs who have already made important contributions to science.

Carolina Figueiredo discovered that three apparently unrelated theories - two governing nuclear particles called gluons and pions, and the third describing particles in a "toy model" that does not describe the existing world - all forbid exactly the same set of particle collisions. This was a big surprise, as the three theories are quite different, with no reason to think they are connected. Figueiredo's discovery revealed that the common behavior reflects a single underlying geometric structure: curves drawn on surfaces, within a framework now known as surfaceology. Intriguingly, this structure makes no reference to particles moving through space and time; yet it reproduces the predictions of conventional physics far more efficiently than the traditional approach, which tracks each particle's movement through these dimensions. Figueiredo's work thus advances - and perhaps brings closer to the real world - a broader program to reformulate the foundations of particle physics in purely geometric terms, with spacetime as an emergent phenomenon arising from a new set of principles.

New Horizons in Physics Prize

Benjamin R. Safdi has made wide-ranging contributions to the search for the axion, a hypothetical particle that would explain a long-standing puzzle about the strong nuclear force, and could account for the mysterious dark matter that makes up 85 percent of the Universe's mass. He has proposed ingenious new strategies for detecting axion-like particles using observations of astronomical objects, from radio emissions of neutron stars to X-rays from white dwarfs.

Clay Cordova, Thomas Dumitrescu, Shu-Heng Shao, and Yifan Wang have discovered and developed the theory of "generalized symmetries" in quantum field theory. Symmetries have long been among the most powerful tools in physics. The work of these researchers has shown that the Standard Model of particle physics, as well as other quantum field theories, possess previously unrecognised symmetry structures. Their work has opened a broad new field with applications ranging from falsifying theories beyond the Standard Model to simulating fundamental particles on a lattice.

Dillon Brout, J. Colin Hill, Mathew Madhavacheril, Maria Vincenzi, Daniel Scolnic, and W. L. Kimmy Wu have gleaned powerful new results from the two most important tools for measuring the expansion and composition of the Universe: the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation left over from the Big Bang, and light from exploding stars known as Type Ia supernovae. Hill, Madhavacheril, and Wu have pushed analyses of CMB data beyond previous limits, producing the most precise tests to date of the standard cosmological model as well as of gravitational lensing of the CMB - the subtle bending of light from the early Universe by the matter it passes on its way to us. Meanwhile Brout, Scolnic, and Vincenzi built and analysed the largest modern supernova datasets - including Pantheon+, now the most cited supernova analysis in cosmology - delivering tight constraints on dark energy and the rate of expansion of the cosmos.

New Horizons in Mathematics Prize

Otis Chodosh has settled several questions in differential geometry that had been open since the 1970s and 1980s. With Chao Li, he proved a central conjecture in the field concerning a broad class of higher-dimensional spaces known as "aspherical manifolds." With Christos Mantoulidis, he resolved a key problem in geometric analysis of minimal surfaces - surfaces that locally minimise their area, like soap films.

Vesselin Dimitrov and Yunqing Tang have solved long-standing problems in number theory that had resisted all previous approaches. With Frank Calegari, they proved the "unbounded denominators conjecture," about a fundamental class of objects known as modular forms, using methods that surprised experts in the field. Most recently, again with Calegari, they proved the irrationality of a number related to a basic infinite series - the first result of its kind since Apery's celebrated work forty-five years ago.

Hong Wang has resolved or made advances on a family of notoriously difficult problems in harmonic analysis - a branch of mathematics that studies functions by decomposing them into fundamental components. With Josh Zahl, she proved the Kakeya conjecture in three dimensions, one of the most famous open problems in the field: it concerns how much space is needed to rotate a needle through every possible direction.

Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize

Amanda Hirschi has produced a number of significant papers in symplectic topology, a field studying higher-dimensional surfaces with a geometric structure that generalises the mathematics of classical mechanics. With co-authors, she developed a powerful new framework that leads to major simplifications in the foundations of Gromov-Witten theory. Anna Skorobogatova has made notable contributions in geometric measure theory, which uses techniques from analysis to tackle geometric problems such as finding surfaces of minimal area. In a series of papers with collaborators, she resolved a long-standing question about the structure of singularities of area-minimising surfaces, completing a programme that spanned over sixty years. Mingjia Zhang works on higher-dimensional objects in number theory called Shimura varieties. She provided a way to better understand the geometry of Mantovan's celebrated "product formula" in number theory.

Citations for 2026 Laureates

2026 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

Jean Bennett, University of Pennsylvania

Katherine A. High, University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Rockefeller University

Albert Maguire, University of Pennsylvania

For developing a therapy for inherited retinal degeneration that became the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease.

Rosa Rademakers, VIB, University of Antwerp, and Mayo Clinic

Bryan Traynor, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health

For the discovery of the most common genetic cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia which charted the path for new mechanistic studies of these diseases.

Stuart H. Orkin, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Swee Lay Thein, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health

For elucidating the mechanism driving the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin and validating it as a therapeutic target for sickle-cell disease and beta-thalassemia.

2026 Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics

Frank Merle, CY Cergy Paris Universite and Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques

For breakthroughs in nonlinear evolution equations, with regards to their stability, singularity formation, or resolution into solitons.

2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

The Muon g-2 Collaborations at CERN, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Fermilab

For multi-decade, groundbreaking contributions to the measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment, pushing the boundaries of experimental precision and igniting a new era in the quest for physics beyond the Standard Model.

2026 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

David J. Gross, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara

For a lifetime of groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics, from the strong force to string theory, and for tireless advocacy for basic science worldwide.

2026 Vera Rubin New Frontiers Prize

Carolina Figueiredo, Princeton University

For contributions to the geometric structure of scattering amplitudes, revealing hidden relations among quantum field theories.

2026 Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize

Amanda Hirschi, IMJ-PRG, Sorbonne Universite

For contributions to symplectic topology.

Anna Skorobogatova, Clay Research Fellow and ETH Zurich

For contributions to geometric measure theory.

Mingjia Zhang, Princeton University and Institute for Advanced Study

For contributions to the theory of Shimura varieties.

2026 New Horizons in Mathematics Prize

Otis Chodosh, Stanford University

For contributions to differential geometry and the calculus of variations, including work on minimal surfaces and manifolds with positive scalar curvature.

Hong Wang, Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques and New York University

For work in harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, and geometric measure theory, including the local smoothing conjecture, Furstenberg set conjecture, and the Kakeya conjecture.

Vesselin Dimitrov, Caltech

Yunqing Tang, University of California, Berkeley

For work in Diophantine geometry, including the proof of the Atkin-Swinnerton-Dyer unbounded denominators conjecture and new irrationality results for special values of Dirichlet L-series (both joint with Frank Calegari).

2026 New Horizons in Physics Prize

Benjamin R. Safdi, University of California, Berkeley

For proposing new ways to seek axion-like particles with laboratory experiments and astronomical observations.

Clay Cordova, University of Chicago

Thomas Dumitrescu, Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics, UCLA

Shu-Heng Shao, MIT

Yifan Wang, New York University

For generalizing the notion of symmetry in various ways, and for exploring the consequences of these generalized symmetries, in quantum field theory, particle physics, condensed matter physics, string theory, and quantum information theory.

Dillon Brout, Boston University

J. Colin Hill, Columbia University

Mathew Madhavacheril, University of Pennsylvania

Maria Vincenzi, University of Oxford

Daniel Scolnic, Duke University

W. L. Kimmy Wu, Caltech

For advances in cosmic microwave background and supernovae cosmology.

Videos and Photos

Assets, including headshots of this year's winners, can be downloaded for media use here.

Images and select video from the 2026 Breakthrough Prize Gala - red carpet and ceremony - can be downloaded for media use here.

The show will premiere on YouTube on Sunday, April 26th at 3PM Eastern / 12PM Pacific.

For the 14th year, the Breakthrough Prize, renowned as the "Oscars of Science," recognizes the world's top scientists. Each prize is $3 million and presented in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics. In addition, up to three New Horizons in Physics Prizes, up to three New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes and up to three Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes are given out to early-career researchers each year. Laureates attend a gala award ceremony designed to celebrate their achievements and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The Breakthrough Prizes were founded by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki and have been sponsored by foundations established by them. Selection Committees composed of previous Breakthrough Prize laureates in each field choose the winners. Information on the Breakthrough Prize is available at breakthroughprize.org.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/breakthrough-prize-announces-2026-laureates-302746558.html
SeoulCeuticals published the first official layering protocol for its Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum, identifying incorrect retinol sequencing as the primary cause of irritation and poor results. The protocol establishes snail mucin before retinol as the critical adjustment most users miss.

Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 18, 2026) - Korean-inspired skincare brand SeoulCeuticals published today the first official layering protocol for its Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum, identifying incorrect retinol sequencing as the primary reason users fail to see results and experience avoidable irritation.

The Protocol Addresses a Documented Consumer Problem

Up to 52% of first-time retinol users experience skin irritation, and a separate clinical analysis found that up to 90% of people are applying retinol with incorrect product sequencing. SeoulCeuticals' published protocol identifies the specific point where snail mucin placement changes retinol tolerance. Clinical discussion data presented at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology meeting found that buffering retinol with a hydrating layer reduces irritation scores by up to 35%. The SeoulCeuticals protocol establishes that the correct placement is snail mucin before retinol, not after it.

When snail mucin is applied after retinol, its glycoprotein and allantoin content forms a film-forming barrier that traps retinoic acid compounds close to the skin surface, amplifying rather than reducing irritation risk. The reversal of this single step eliminates a cause of irritation that affects a significant portion of retinol users.

Why This Serum Requires Its Own Protocol

The Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum combines two actives with opposing solubility profiles within a single formula. Volufiline, a sarsasapogenin compound developed by Sederma and supplied at the clinical concentration of 5%, is oil-soluble and penetrates through lipid channels to the hypodermis, where it stimulates adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage. Snail Secretion Filtrate at 97.5% is water-based and operates at the upper dermal layers, delivering hydration, collagen support, and barrier repair.

Standard serum layering guidance does not account for a formula carrying both solubility profiles simultaneously. Users of isolated Volufiline concentrates are typically instructed to apply that ingredient last, after moisturiser, because of its oil-soluble nature. The SeoulCeuticals formula works differently. Volufiline in this product is carried within a water-compatible emulsion base using Jojoba Seed Oil as the penetration vehicle, placing the serum correctly at the serum step, after toner and before moisturiser. Users who apply it last are applying it at the wrong stage for this formulation.

In vivo clinical trials conducted by SPINCONTROL for Sederma, using a gel cream containing 5% Volufiline applied twice daily for 56 days, measured a mean volume increase of 2.2% at day 56, with participants in the top quartile reaching 8.4%. At 28 days, the mean was 1.4%, with top-quartile participants at 6.6%.

The Six-Step Morning and Evening Sequences

The published protocol establishes a six-step morning sequence: gentle cleanser, hydrating toner or essence, Vitamin C serum if using a separate L-Ascorbic Acid formula, the Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum applied to targeted zones first, moisturiser, and SPF 30 or higher.

The evening sequence runs: oil cleanser, water-based cleanser, hydrating toner or essence, the Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum, retinol on two to three nights per week for beginners, then moisturiser. This sequence positions the serum as the pre-retinol hydration buffer, allowing retinol to deliver its cell-turnover mechanism with reduced surface irritation.

The protocol also addresses targeted application: Volufiline's adipocyte-stimulating mechanism is most relevant at under-eyes, cheeks, temples, nasolabial folds, jawline, and perioral area, where subcutaneous fat loss is most visible with age. The full application guide is published at seoulceuticals.com.

"Users who have given up on retinol because of irritation are often one sequencing change away from tolerating it," said Yu-Jun Park, Head of Product Education at SeoulCeuticals. "Placing the snail mucin serum before retinol, not after, is the single most impactful adjustment most users can make."

Compatible Actives and Timing

The protocol specifies compatible active pairings. Niacinamide is fully compatible: snail mucin's pH of approximately 5.5 does not conflict with niacinamide's working range of 5 to 7. Peptide serums complement the Centella Asiatica component, which supports collagen synthesis through the TGF-B/Smad signalling pathway. PDRN products are applied before the serum in the layering order, targeting dermal tissue regeneration while Volufiline addresses the hypodermal level.

Chemical exfoliants are best kept to their own dedicated evenings rather than combined with retinol in the same session. On exfoliant nights, the serum can be applied after the exfoliant has absorbed, with snail mucin's allantoin content providing barrier-calming support following acid use.

Hydration and texture improvements are typically visible within one to two weeks. Volume changes at targeted zones appear for consistent twice-daily users at four to eight weeks, with the Sederma clinical protocol measuring peak effect at 56 days.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293238

Source: Plentisoft
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2026) - CozyCot.com ("CozyCot"), the Singapore-born beauty community and product review destination, today announced the launch of its revamped website to celebrate CozyCot's 25th anniversary under the theme "25 Years of Beauty Worth Coming Back To." The refreshed CozyCot.com experience brings together community reviews, product rankings, awards, editorial discovery, and improved individual product pages to help consumers explore beauty products with more confidence.

A central highlight of the revamp is The 25th Anniversary Edit, a curated discovery program featuring Anniversary Icons, Trending Now, and Community Loves. The Edit is designed to surface products that continue to matter to beauty consumers because of long-standing popularity, current momentum, or meaningful community conversation.

Website Revamp Highlights

A redesigned homepage created around the 25th anniversary theme, beauty discovery, rankings, reviews, and editorial product storytelling.

The 25th Anniversary Edit, featuring Anniversary Icons, Trending Now, and Community Loves as curated product discovery paths.

Improved individual product pages that organize existing CozyCot product content into a clearer decision-making experience, including ratings, review counts, descriptions, categories, review prompts, related products, and frequently asked questions.

A stronger review-led product discovery flow that helps readers understand what a product is, why people are discussing it, and where it may fit into their routine.

Amazon shopping links where available, including "Shop on Amazon" and "Find similar on Amazon" pathways, with appropriate affiliate disclosure on CozyCot pages where those links appear.

A free CozyCot community sign-up experience for weekly beauty finds by email and selected WhatsApp updates for launches, events, and special discovery moments.

A Beauty Website Built for Return Visits

CozyCot's 25th anniversary revamp is built around a simple consumer promise: beauty discovery should feel useful, trustworthy, and worth coming back to. The redesigned experience reduces clutter, brings community proof closer to the top of product pages, and gives readers more direct ways to continue from product research to shopping decisions.

The refreshed product pages are designed for the breadth of CozyCot's catalog. Pages with thousands of reviews can highlight community confidence and review patterns, while pages with fewer or no reviews can still support discovery through product descriptions, category context, related products, and clear review prompts.

The 25th Anniversary Edit

The 25th Anniversary Edit is the flagship editorial layer of the anniversary launch. It organizes selected products into consumer-friendly discovery paths that make the archive of community opinion easier to browse and more useful for today's beauty shopper.

The three core editorial paths are Anniversary Icons, featuring enduring favorites; Trending Now, featuring products with current attention; and Community Loves, featuring products that are gaining or sustaining meaningful community interest.

Retail Discovery with Amazon Shopping Links

As part of the revamped product experience, CozyCot product pages may include shopping links to Amazon where relevant and available. These links are intended to help readers continue from discovery to shopping more easily, including exact-product links and similar-product search paths.

Where Amazon shopping links appear on CozyCot.com, CozyCot intends to provide appropriate affiliate disclosures. Pricing, availability, delivery, returns, and customer service for purchases made on Amazon are handled by Amazon and are subject to the terms, policies, and conditions presented on Amazon at the time of purchase.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Selected sponsorship opportunities are available for beauty brands, retailers, distributors, and agencies that wish to participate in CozyCot's 25th anniversary program.

Sponsorship opportunities may include anniversary campaign visibility, product storytelling, editorial features, category participation, selected product-page integrations, email and WhatsApp discovery features, event-related opportunities, and social content support. Interested sponsors may contact CozyCot directly through the media contact listed below to request sponsorship information, availability, and next steps.

"CozyCot's 25th anniversary is a moment to celebrate the community that made the platform meaningful in the first place," said Nicole Yee, Founder of CozyCot.com. "The refreshed website is designed to make beauty discovery clearer, more beautiful, and more useful. Readers can explore what others have reviewed, understand why a product matters, and continue toward a purchase decision with greater confidence."

About CozyCot.com

CozyCot.com is a Singapore-born beauty community and product review destination founded in 2001. The platform brings together beauty product reviews, rankings, awards, events, and community-led discovery to help consumers explore products across skincare, makeup, fragrance, personal care, and related lifestyle categories. CozyCot continues to focus on beauty discovery shaped by community opinion, product context, and useful review-led information.

Media Contact

Closing Statement

CozyCot.com's refreshed 25th anniversary website experience is designed to help beauty consumers discover, review, compare, and return to products worth remembering.

Source: CozyCot.com

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293266

Source: CozyCot Pte. Ltd.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A new development has emerged in the case of Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) activist Charles Mzilankatha Potse Ncube, who has been located in police custody at a Zimbabwe Republic Police station in Kezi, Matobo District.Ncube, who was reportedly abducted on Thursday, was traced earlier today by two MRP members, Jabulani JB Moyo and Mpumelelo Mkhwanazi, who confirmed his detention after conducting a search following his disappearance.However, their attempt to access him was unsuccessful. According to their account, a police officer on duty denied them permission to see Ncube or provide him with food, citing security concerns and stating that she was alone at the station. They were advised to return on Sunday, when access might be facilitated.The officer also indicated that Ncube is expected to appear in court on Monday morning at the local magistrates' court.Police have reportedly charged Ncube with possession of mbanje and a knife  allegations strongly rejected by his associates, who argue the accusations are inconsistent with his character and may have been fabricated to justify his detention.The case has now shifted from what was initially described as an abduction to a formal police detention, though questions remain over the circumstances of his arrest, particularly reports that he was taken by unidentified individuals in unmarked vehicles.The MRP has raised concern over both the denial of access and the nature of the charges, calling for clarity on Ncube's condition and the legal basis for his detention. The party described the refusal to grant access as a violation of basic procedural and humanitarian standards.The incident has sparked unease within the community, with some drawing parallels to past abuses due to the manner in which Ncube was initially taken and the lack of transparency surrounding the case.Attention now turns to Monday's expected court appearance, which may provide further insight into the charges and the state's position.The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as more verified information becomes available.
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 / Press Release

by Infrastructure Africa

Financing infrastructure development

Transport in Africa

ICT & Telecommunications

Energy in Africa

Transboundary water in Africa

African infrastructure projects

"Who's who" of African infrastructure gather for Infrastructure Africa 2014Johannesburg - The annual Infrastructure Africa Business Forum (IABF) taking place in Sandton on Monday and Tuesday, the 21st and 22nd July, has drawn infrastructure heavyweights and decision makers from across the African continent, which is set to foster intra-African trade relations and investment opportunities between the continent's private and public sectors.Gauteng Premier David Makhura and MEC for the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID), Ms. Nandi Mayathula-Khoza will be opening the conference. Further participation has been confirmed from the nations of Angola, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius and Tanzania.The line up of speakers who will be addressing this strategic event include: Dr. John Tambi , Infrastructure Specialist, NEPAD Planning & Co-ordinating Agency (NPCA); Rieaz (Moe) Shaik, Group Executive - International Finance, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA); William Mzimba, CEO, Accenture; Sean Cleary , Managing Director, Strategic Concepts (Pty) Ltd and De Buys Scott, Global Head, KPMG Global Infrastructure Advisory, to name a few.These speakers promise to deliver interesting content and lively debate as the format of the event has a strong focus on audience participation. The importance of intra-African trade is scheduled to be one of the leading themes at the conference and is a top priority for African leaders and despite the introduction of free trade areas, customs unions, and common markets, the level of intra-African trade remains among the lowest in the world. Statistics show that only about 10% of African trade is within the continent, compared to about 40% in North America and about 60% in Western Europe."Forums such as the Infrastructure Africa Business Forum provide the opportunity to plan for and share best practice in the delivery of growth enablers such as energy, transport, water and ICT's," said MEC Mayathula-Khoza. "The timing of this growing premier gathering of public and private sector infrastructure leaders could not be more opportune."The third IABF, held in the heart of Africa's business hub, is hosted by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) and a number of other partners including the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), RMB, Santam, ACSA, Accenture and Werksmans Attorneys.The number of infrastructure experts confirmed to speak at this business forum demonstrates the importance and growth potential of infrastructure development across the continent. Panel discussions will debate various pressing issues, including how trade integration can accelerate economic growth as well as the critical steps required to scale up intra-African trade and job creation.Organised by Siyenza, who also organise Africa's most high profile energy event - the Africa Energy Indaba a Infrastructure Africa will provide both public and private sector stakeholders the opportunity to explore partnerships and to network with various industry leaders.In addition to a number of country sessions focusing on unlocking infrastructure opportunities in Africa's investment hotspots, topics to be featured at the 2014 event include:
Project Maven

Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (AWCFT)

Project Maven, officially the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (AWCFT), was established in a memorandum signed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work on 26 April 2017. The memorandum directed the Department of Defense to accelerate the integration of big data, machine learning, and computer vision into intelligence workflows, beginning with the processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) of full-motion video (FMV) from tactical and medium-altitude unmanned aerial systems. The program was initially funded at approximately $70 million, placed under the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)), and assigned a Director for Defense Intelligence (Warfighter Support) as its executive agent. Over the nine years that followed, an initiative conceived to reduce the backlog of unreviewed Predator and Reaper footage from the counter-ISIS campaign matured into the Department's flagship artificial intelligence program of record, the central nervous system of the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) architecture, and the analytical substrate on which the United States fought Operation Epic Fury against Iran in early 2026.

The trajectory from a $70 million pathfinder to what the Office of the Secretary of Defense publicly describes as a platform generating on the order of one thousand targeting recommendations per hour is the principal institutional story of machine learning in the American military. It is also a story about how an exploratory project assembled outside the conventional defense contracting base eventually consolidated under a single commercial prime contractor, how an initiative framed in its early years as a decision-support aid for human analysts has been progressively integrated into the kill chain, and how the ethical perimeter around military artificial intelligence has been renegotiated at each stage of the program's expansion.

On the Name

A maven is a recognized master of a domain, someone whose expertise is so deep, so internally coherent, and so consistently demonstrated that the surrounding community treats their judgment as both authoritative and generative. The word comes from the Yiddish meyvn, meaning "one who understands," and that etymology captures the essence: a maven does not merely know things; a maven comprehends the structure beneath the things.

In practice, a maven exhibits several intertwined traits that distinguish them from a simple specialist. A maven accumulates knowledge not as trivia but as a living architecture, a system of interlocking principles that allows them to interpret new information instantly and correctly. A maven becomes a gravitational center in their field, orbited by others for guidance, calibration, and clarity. A maven's reputation is built not only on mastery but on the ability to transmit that mastery -- through explanation, synthesis, or the uncanny ability to diagnose what others have overlooked.

Historically, the term has been applied to figures who shaped the intellectual or technical terrain around them. In archival contexts, a maven would be the person whose annotations become the reference standard, whose classifications stabilize a field, whose interpretations endure because they are structurally correct rather than merely fashionable. In technical domains, a maven would be the one who sees the hidden failure modes, the latent opportunities, the underlying geometry of a system. In cultural or artistic domains, a maven would be the one who can trace lineage, influence, and semiotic weight with precision.

A maven is not a guru, not a dilettante, not a polymath for its own sake. A maven is a deep specialist with panoramic awareness, someone who can move from micro-detail to macro-structure without losing coherence. The title is earned, not claimed, and it persists because the maven's work continues to illuminate the field long after the immediate moment has passed.

The choice of the word as the code name for the Department of Defense's first major artificial intelligence program carried an implicit claim. The AWCFT was to be the system that understood -- that comprehended the structure beneath the imagery, that exhibited the accumulated and architected mastery that human analysts did not have the time or bandwidth to produce. Whether a computer vision model trained on four million labeled images of military vehicles is plausibly described by the Yiddish word meyvn is a question the program's founders left to their audiences to resolve for themselves. The subsequent evolution of the program into the Maven Smart System, with its weapon-pairing recommendations and its sub-minute end-to-end targeting cycles, has made the claim considerably more ambitious than it was in 2017.

Origins and Mandate

The intellectual genesis of Maven predates the April 2017 memorandum. Robert Work, who had served as Deputy Secretary under Secretary Ash Carter and continued briefly under Secretary Jim Mattis, had been the principal advocate within the Department of the so-called Third Offset Strategy, an attempt to identify areas of qualitative advantage analogous to the nuclear weapons of the First Offset and the stealth and precision-guided munitions of the Second Offset. By 2016, Work and his inner circle had concluded that the most probable locus of a Third Offset was human-machine collaboration and the military application of commercial advances in deep learning. Will Roper, then director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, had been pursuing a narrower effort to apply machine vision to drone footage. The AWCFT represented the broader, institutionalized version of that line of thinking, explicitly framed against what Work viewed as an emerging Chinese lead in military artificial intelligence.

The memorandum assigned the AWCFT three formal tasks: identifying and developing or modifying algorithms to accomplish specified intelligence functions, identifying the computational infrastructure required to field such algorithms, and integrating the resulting capability into existing operational systems. The initial concrete mission was object detection, classification, and tracking in full-motion video collected by ScanEagle, Predator, Reaper, Gray Eagle, and Global Hawk platforms during the counter-Islamic State campaign. Analysts in the Distributed Common Ground System were overwhelmed by the volume of collected FMV, much of which was never reviewed. The computer vision models procured under AWCFT were intended to pre-screen the footage and flag frames containing vehicles, personnel, structures, or other objects of interest, thereby allowing analysts to operate on a filtered feed rather than a raw one.

Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan served as director of the project from April 2017 until December 2018, when he was confirmed as the inaugural director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). Marine Corps Colonel Drew Cukor, who had chaired the AWCFT working group during the program's formative period, provided much of the day-to-day direction and is credited by multiple accounts with articulating the vision that would eventually become the Maven Smart System. Early testing of vendor object-recognition tools against drone footage from Naval Special Warfare operations in Somalia produced disappointing results -- models trained on civilian datasets performed poorly against the hazy, off-axis, poorly labeled imagery typical of operational FMV, and different vendors' systems disagreed on basic taxonomy, classifying the same vehicle variously as a tank, a Soviet design, or a T-72. The early technical lesson was that usable military computer vision would require purpose-built training datasets. By the following year, AWCFT had labeled more than four million images of military objects for that purpose.

The Industrial Base

The AWCFT was deliberately architected to draw on commercial artificial intelligence capability rather than on the established defense contracting base. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), then called DIUx, assisted in identifying commercial vendors and in structuring the non-traditional contracting vehicles through which they could be brought into the program. Google, through an arrangement with Northrop Grumman, supplied TensorFlow-based computer vision models and engineering support. Palantir Technologies provided the data integration layer that would later become the foundation of the Maven Smart System. Amazon Web Services supplied commercial cloud infrastructure. ECS Federal served as the prime AI Integration contractor, a role it has retained continuously since 2017 and has recently branded as AI Interoperability Integrator, or AI3. Booz Allen Hamilton received a prime award worth $751.5 million in 2018, subcontracting elements of the work to a broader ecosystem. Maxar Technologies (formerly DigitalGlobe) supplied commercial satellite imagery and associated algorithms. L3Harris, Microsoft, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and more than twenty other firms contributed at various points. Anduril Industries joined the program in 2018, deploying its sensor-fusion platform and edge hardware; in December 2024 Anduril and Palantir announced a consortium intended to interconnect Anduril's Lattice Mesh with the Maven Smart System and Palantir's AI Platform.

This industrial arrangement was a departure from the pattern of the Cold War and post-Cold War defense sector, in which a small number of legacy primes supplied most major weapons and command systems through heavily negotiated cost-plus contracts. Maven's industrial base was commercial, polyglot, and iterative. Capability delivery was measured in weeks or months rather than years, and the program adopted a continuous-delivery posture modeled on commercial software engineering. The Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown has documented that during its deployment in Europe the program iterated through sixty-two distinct capability evolutions in ten months.

The Google Rupture

The most visible crisis of the program's first phase was the controversy over Google's participation. In March 2018, Gizmodo reported that Google engineers had been assisting the Department of Defense on computer vision models for drone footage. Within weeks, an internal petition signed by more than three thousand Google employees -- a figure that grew to roughly four thousand -- demanded that the company withdraw and commit never to build warfare technology. Approximately a dozen engineers resigned in protest. A parallel open letter from academic artificial intelligence researchers called on Google and Alphabet to exit the contract and to pledge against developing autonomous weapons. In June 2018, Google announced that it would not renew its Maven contract when the existing work concluded in 2019, and in parallel published a set of AI principles that precluded work on weapons or on surveillance technologies violating internationally accepted norms. Google subsequently withdrew from the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud competition on related grounds.

The Google episode was treated at the time as a rupture in the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Department. It was also a natural experiment in whether employee pressure could force a commercial prime out of a major defense contract. It could. What has been less frequently noted is that the departure of Google from Maven had no measurable effect on the program's trajectory. The work was reallocated to other contractors, the computer vision models continued to improve, and the program's budget increased in every subsequent fiscal year. Shanahan would later describe the Google controversy as a failure of public affairs rather than a failure of policy -- the argument being that the Department had failed to shape the narrative around what Maven was actually doing, allowing opponents to fill the informational vacuum. The ethical question that Google's engineers had raised -- whether computer vision optimized for drone footage would eventually be integrated into lethal targeting workflows -- was not answered on its merits. It was, in practice, answered by subsequent events.

Institutional Drift

The AWCFT's institutional history is a succession of reorganizations, each of which has complicated the question of who is actually responsible for the program. The establishment of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in June 2018 was the first consolidation, and Maven's parent office was formally JAIC from that point forward, though day-to-day operations continued under the AWCFT label. In February 2022, JAIC was absorbed into the newly created Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), alongside the Defense Digital Service and the Office of the Chief Data Officer. In April 2022, the Biden administration proposed a further restructuring under which portions of Maven would transfer to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, portions would remain under CDAO, and overarching oversight would move to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD(I&S)). The GEOINT-related lines of effort -- reported by NGA to constitute roughly eighty percent of the original program -- moved to NGA over the course of 2023, and NGA has since described Maven as its flagship GEOINT AI program and as a formal program of record within the agency.

The non-GEOINT lines of effort remained under CDAO, which simultaneously inherited responsibility for the so-called AI/ML Scaffolding intended to generalize Maven's software engineering approach to the rest of the Department. Through 2025 this tripartite arrangement was largely opaque to outside observers. Officials from all three organizations were reticent about the boundaries of their respective responsibilities, citing operational security considerations, and budget detail was either compartmented into the intelligence community budget (for NGA) or realigned under new program elements (for CDAO) that obscured year-over-year comparisons. A former senior defense official quoted by DefenseScoop observed that the ambiguity was itself a governance problem, because no single official could be held accountable for the program as a whole.

On 9 March 2026, Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg signed a memorandum that substantially collapsed this tripartite structure. The memorandum directed that the Maven Smart System transition to a formal program of record before the close of fiscal year 2026, that system administration and oversight responsibilities move from NGA to a newly constituted CDAO Maven Smart System Program Office within thirty days, that the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering assume authorizing official responsibilities for the associated commercial cloud enterprise infrastructure, and that all MSS contracts be transitioned to the existing Army Enterprise Agreement contract vehicle. In effect, procurement and contracting responsibilities would move to the United States Army, programmatic authority would consolidate at CDAO, and the GEOINT mission set that NGA had inherited in 2023 would be layered beneath a unified CDAO program office. The Army Combined Arms Command would integrate Maven into its training curriculum. Whether the NGA's own Maven GEOINT lines of effort would be folded into the same program office was, as of April 2026, an open question that the Department had declined to resolve publicly.

Maven Smart System

The Maven Smart System, or MSS, is the user-facing application that has become the program's principal deliverable. MSS evolved from the original AWCFT computer vision pipeline by progressive accretion. The earliest versions exposed a simple flagging interface in which yellow bounding boxes indicated objects that the algorithms had identified in FMV or satellite imagery, with blue markings for no-strike locations such as hospitals and schools. Successive iterations added multi-sensor fusion, so that electro-optical, infrared, synthetic-aperture radar, signals intelligence, geolocation metadata from communications intercepts, and commercially available automatic identification system (AIS) data for maritime traffic could be overlaid on a common map display. The system added target tracking, weapon-pairing recommendations through a module Palantir describes as the AI Asset Tasking Recommender, and tactical data link hooks through which a commander's decision to engage a target could be transmitted machine-to-machine to a firing platform.

MSS currently ingests data from more than one hundred fifty sources according to Palantir's public demonstrations. The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Cameron Stanley, has publicly described the system as the consolidation point for what had previously been eight or nine separate targeting and operational workflows. As of March 2026 the system reportedly had more than twenty thousand active military users, a fourfold increase since March 2024. Palantir has stated that MSS is at production level across Indo-Pacific Command, European Command, Central Command, Northern Command and NORAD, Space Command, Transportation Command, Africa Command, and the Joint Staff, with additional deployments at Cyber Command, Strategic Command, and Southern Command. NATO acquired a variant, designated MSS NATO, under a six-month procurement action concluded in March 2025; the NATO Joint Warfare Centre had by August 2025 incorporated it into alliance exercises such as STEADFAST DETERRENCE and STEADFAST DUEL, describing it as the alliance's first artificial-intelligence-enabled command-and-control system. The United Kingdom announced a parallel partnership with Palantir in September 2025 worth up to 750 million over five years.

The analytical layer of MSS, in at least some configurations, has been driven by large language models rather than purpose-built computer vision models alone. The NGA director, Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, stated in late 2025 that by June 2026 Maven would begin transmitting intelligence products that were, in his phrasing, entirely machine-generated to combatant commanders, with Booz Allen Hamilton serving as the contractor for the LLM integration phase. Anthropic's Claude model was integrated into MSS as an analytical and targeting-prioritization layer during 2025 and early 2026. The Claude integration would become a significant controversy in its own right during Operation Epic Fury.

Scarlet Dragon and the XVIII Airborne Corps

The operational proving ground for the transition of Maven from intelligence support to targeting was the series of Scarlet Dragon exercises conducted by the United States Army's XVIII Airborne Corps beginning in the autumn of 2020. The first Scarlet Dragon iteration paired soldiers from the XVIII Airborne with Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force at Fort Bragg (renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 and renamed Fort Bragg again in 2025). The exercise demonstrated an AI-flagged detection of a tank -- variously described by participants as an inflatable target or a decommissioned hull -- followed by human adjudication and an M142 HIMARS strike. The process consumed approximately 743 minutes, or slightly more than twelve hours, end to end. It was nonetheless described at the time as the first artificial-intelligence-enabled artillery strike in the history of the Army.

Successive Scarlet Dragon iterations compressed the targeting cycle dramatically. By 2024, the XVIII Airborne Corps was reporting end-to-end targeting cycles of less than one minute in exercise conditions and was claiming targeting throughput comparable to the approximately two-thousand-person targeting cell used during Operation Iraqi Freedom, but with a cell of roughly twenty personnel. The same senior targeting officer who quantified this efficiency estimated that with MSS an individual analyst could process approximately eighty potential targets per hour, against roughly thirty per hour under legacy workflows. The corps also developed a formal taxonomy of the kill chain into six stages -- identify, locate, filter to lawful valid targets, prioritize, assign to firing units, and engage -- and reported that MSS could automate or substantially accelerate four of the six, with the filtering and prioritization stages producing outputs that human analysts would adjudicate rather than originate.

The Scarlet Dragon process was overseen during its early iterations by the corps commander, Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla, who in April 2022 assumed command of United States Central Command. Kurilla carried the data-centric command approach and the MSS toolset with him to Tampa, and CENTCOM emerged as the most aggressive early adopter of MSS at the combatant command level. The CENTCOM chief technology officer, Schuyler Moore, stated in early 2024 that Maven had supported more than eighty-five precision airstrikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and had been used to locate rocket launchers and surface vessels in the Red Sea region. The Houthi shipping campaign in the Red Sea during 2023 and 2024 provided the first sustained demonstration of MSS in a hot naval environment.

Operational Employment in Ukraine

The most significant operational laboratory for Maven outside of CENTCOM has been the war in Ukraine. The XVIII Airborne Corps, under Lieutenant General Christopher Donahue, took command of the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine in 2022 and progressively expanded its role from logistics and training into direct operational targeting support for Ukrainian forces. Maven computer vision models and an MSS variant adapted to the intelligence constraints of a partner-force engagement were reported to have supported Ukrainian targeting operations, including strikes on Russian command and logistics nodes. The NGA publicly disclosed that Maven had been used in Ukraine to compress find-fix-finish cycles to durations reported as under ten minutes. Independent analysts have attributed a range of specific Ukrainian targeting successes to Maven support, including the reported targeting of a senior Russian military visit to a forward headquarters in 2022 and Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russian refining and energy infrastructure in 2023 and 2024.

The New York Times reported in 2024 that Ukrainian forces were operating with a constrained version of Maven that did not integrate the most sensitive American intelligence inputs, and that the system's performance had been mixed. Lessons from the Ukrainian deployment -- including the fragility of overhead collection in contested electromagnetic environments and the imperative of distributed, resilient sensor architectures of the kind associated with commercial low-Earth-orbit constellations -- have been reported to have reshaped Pentagon thinking on both satellite architecture and on the degree to which targeting pipelines should be designed to degrade gracefully under adversary action.

The Palantir Consolidation

The contractual history of Maven between 2020 and 2026 traces a progressive consolidation around Palantir as the prime systems integrator for the Maven Smart System, even as the broader Maven program ecosystem has retained a multi-vendor character for training data, algorithms, imagery, and edge hardware. Palantir received a $91.2 million contract running from September 2020 to November 2022 for its foundational work on MSS. In May 2024, the United States Army awarded Palantir USG a five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth $480 million to build the MSS prototype, with completion scheduled by 28 May 2029. In September 2024, the Army added a $99.8 million task order to extend MSS access to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps. In May 2025, the Department raised the MSS contract ceiling by $795 million to approximately $1.3 billion through 2029, citing adoption by combatant commands that had, according to industry analysts, exceeded expectations. The NGA simultaneously awarded a separate $28 million contract to expand MSS access for its analysts. In July 2025, the Army signed a $10 billion enterprise framework agreement consolidating roughly seventy-five existing Palantir contracts, a move that positioned the Army as the central procurement authority for subsequent Maven work. Industry reporting in early 2026 described the cumulative public-sector commitment to the platform as on the order of $13 billion.

The commercial logic of this consolidation is unsurprising. Palantir's Foundry platform, the underlying data integration layer that became MSS, has substantial switching costs. Once a combatant command has ingested its data into Palantir's ontology, trained its personnel on the interface, and connected its sensor feeds and targeting workflows to the system, substitution would be prohibitively disruptive. A former senior defense official quoted in April 2026 observed that if Palantir were to succeed in positioning MSS as what he called the platform of platforms for CJADC2, the effect would be to lock the Department into a decade-long dependency on a single commercial vendor for its central command-and-control infrastructure. This is a structural risk that has no direct analogue in the traditional defense industrial base, where platforms such as aircraft and ships are typically procured from multiple primes and where switching costs, while considerable, are at least measurable in units and dollars rather than in institutional knowledge embedded in proprietary software stacks.

Operation Epic Fury and the Claude Controversy

Operation Epic Fury, the joint United States-Israeli air and missile campaign against Iran that commenced on 28 February 2026, has been characterized by Department of War officials and by Palantir executives as the first major conflict in which an artificial intelligence targeting system served as the primary planning and execution substrate. Within the first twenty-four hours of the campaign, United States forces reportedly struck approximately one thousand discrete targets across Iran. Over the first three weeks, CENTCOM reported having struck between 5,500 and 6,000 targets. These figures have been attributed by both Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, and by the CDAO Cameron Stanley to the operational employment of MSS, which according to public descriptions had collapsed what had previously been an eight-or-nine-system targeting workflow into a single interface.

The analytical layer of MSS during Operation Epic Fury included Claude, the large language model developed by Anthropic. According to reporting by the Washington Post and by Wired, Claude generated prioritized target recommendations, produced location coordinates, and supported post-strike battle-damage assessment. The integration was simultaneously the subject of a significant political dispute. On 27 February 2026 -- one day before Operation Epic Fury commenced -- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk to national security and directed federal agencies to phase out use of Claude within six months. The designation followed Anthropic's refusal to remove usage-policy language restricting fully autonomous weapons applications and mass domestic surveillance applications of its model. CENTCOM continued to employ Claude within MSS during the opening strikes of the campaign on the basis that the phase-out timeline had not yet run.

The contradiction at the heart of this episode is significant. A commercial AI provider that declined to enable fully autonomous lethal applications of its technology was nonetheless providing the analytical substrate for the largest AI-assisted targeting operation in the history of warfare, while being simultaneously barred from further federal business for declining to go further. On 28 February 2026, the opening hours of the campaign included a reported strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Minab, in Iran's Hormozgan province, that killed at least 175 people, most of them children. Three members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Secretary of War asking what role MSS had played in the identification and validation of that target and whether the target had been verified by human review. A response was requested by 20 March 2026. Secretary Hegseth had, on 2 March 2026, publicly stated that Operation Epic Fury would be conducted without what he described as unnecessary rules of engagement. He had previously, in February 2025, dismissed the senior uniformed lawyers of the military services, whose responsibilities had included compliance oversight for the laws of armed conflict. An AI strategy document published by the Department of War on 9 January 2026 had framed commercial AI safety guardrails as ideological constraints inconsistent with warfighter needs, a framing under which the distinction between a guardrail against endorsing unlawful strikes and a guardrail against overconfident probability estimates collapsed into a single category of political obstruction.

The Autonomy Trajectory

It has been a consistent feature of official framing since 2017 that Maven is not an autonomous weapons system. Successive program directors -- Shanahan, Cukor, and their successors -- have emphasized that the system's outputs are decision-support products subject to human adjudication, and that no existing AI component fires on a self-designated target. This framing is accurate at the level of the individual strike, in that no Maven-equipped munition fires without a human actuation. It is less straightforward at the level of the workflow. Bob Work, in interviews following his departure from government, distinguished between what he called autonomy at rest and autonomy on the move. Autonomy at rest is the automation of the analytical and targeting pipeline that delivers a named target with associated weapon pairing and collateral estimate to a human decision-maker who retains trigger authority. Autonomy on the move is an armed platform that selects and engages a target without human intervention. Maven has, over nine years, produced a substantially complete version of the first. It has not produced the second, but the algorithms, sensor architectures, and training data developed under the program have been reported in early 2026 to be undergoing adaptation for precisely that purpose under the Replicator initiative, which aims to produce large quantities of attritable one-way attack drones for a contested Western Pacific scenario.

The distinction between human-on-the-loop and human-in-the-loop becomes operationally meaningful when the tempo of the kill chain approaches the limits of human cognition. If MSS generates one thousand prioritized targets per hour, the time available for meaningful human review of each target is on the order of a few seconds. At that cadence the human role shifts from adjudication to rubber-stamping, and the question of where accountability lies for an erroneous or unlawful strike becomes difficult to answer in any operationally honest way. The program has been presented throughout its history as preserving meaningful human control. The arithmetic of tempo is not obviously consistent with that presentation.

Assessment

Nine years into its existence, the AWCFT has accomplished most of what its original sponsors set out to accomplish, and more. It has introduced machine learning into the core workflows of American military intelligence and targeting. It has produced a software platform that combatant commands find genuinely useful, as evidenced by the adoption curve and the consistent upward revision of contract ceilings. It has demonstrated, in Ukraine and in the Red Sea and in Iran, that the compression of the kill chain from days to minutes is a real and operationally significant capability. It has also reconfigured the relationship between the Department and the commercial technology sector in ways that were probably underappreciated at the program's inception.

Four structural observations follow from the program's history. First, the original premise -- that commercial AI could be rapidly transferred into military workflows if the contracting and cultural obstacles were removed -- has been substantially validated, but the political and ethical obstacles have proven more durable than the technical ones. The Google departure in 2018, the tech-worker open letters of 2024 and 2026, the Anthropic designation of February 2026, and the congressional inquiries following the Minab strike all point to a persistent political friction around commercial AI in lethal applications that program management has not resolved so much as periodically absorbed. Second, the institutional history of Maven -- from OUSD(I) to JAIC to CDAO and NGA and back again, with procurement now consolidating at the Army -- reflects the Department's continuing difficulty in locating AI programs within a bureaucratic structure designed around platforms and commodities rather than around software. The Feinberg memorandum of March 2026 is the latest attempt at a stable settlement. It is unlikely to be the last. Third, the consolidation around Palantir as the prime systems integrator for MSS represents a form of vendor lock-in qualitatively different from anything in the traditional defense industrial base. The government has accepted this consolidation because it has produced operationally meaningful capability on timelines that the legacy contracting process cannot match. The long-term consequences of that acceptance remain unclear. Fourth, the framing of Maven as a decision-support system has eroded at each successive stage of the program's expansion. It is not accurate, in 2026, to describe MSS as a system that merely flags objects for human analysts. It is a targeting system. The framing is significant because it bears on the legal and ethical constraints that apply to the program's further development.

In the tradition of practitioner-adjacent analysis, it is useful to distinguish between the program's instrumental successes and the questions its expansion has raised. Maven works. It has compressed targeting cycles, reduced manpower requirements, and enabled operations at scales and tempos that legacy systems could not support. These are real achievements. They are also achievements whose governance architecture has lagged the capability by, at this point, the better part of a decade. The Department has not produced an adequate public account of what it means for an AI system to be in the kill chain at the tempo MSS now operates, nor of how accountability would attach to an erroneous or unlawful strike in which the analytical recommendation was generated by a commercial large language model, weapon pairing was suggested by a software module, and the human decision-maker had, in practice, seconds rather than minutes to adjudicate. These are questions the program will, one way or another, be required to answer.

References

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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 April 2026 - Day 1515

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 135 combat clashes.

Today, the Russian enemy made 47 aviacijnih strikes, dropped 135 controlled air bombs. In addition, Russian forces engaged 6140 kamikaze drones to impress and carried out 2553 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

Two combat clashes took place in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions; in addition, the Russian enemy launched one air strike, dropping one air bomb, carried out 58 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops, one of which was using a jet system of incendiary fire.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy three times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the settlements of Staritsa and Vovchansk.

In the Kupians komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian assaults in the direction of Novoplatonivka and in the area of Pi any. The two clashes are still ongoing.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops six times attacked the settlements of Lyman, Stavka, Novosergiyivka and in the area of the settlement of Drobisheve.

In the Slovak direction, the Russian opponent attacked three times in the area of yampol and towards rai-oleksandrivka.

In the Kramatorsky direction, the Russian enemy four times attacked the positions of the Defense Forces in the areas of the settlements of Nikiforivka, Minkivka and towards Mykolaivka.

Defense forces repelled 17 Russian assaults in the Konstantinivka direction in the areas of settlements of Konstantinovka, Pleshiyivka, Illinivka, Sofiyivka and towards Novopavlivka, Stepanivka. One battle is going on.

Russian forces committed 23 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements Rodinske, Mirnograd, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Grishine, Kotline, Udaachne and towards the settlements of Shevchenko, Bilitske, Novopavlivka. The two clashes are still ongoing.

According to preliminary calculations, today 72 Russian occupants were eliminated in this direction and 20 wounded; seven vehicles and three special equipment units, three REB vehicles were destroyed; two artillery systems, four vehicles units and 14 personnel shelters were damaged. Destroyed or suppressed 206 unmanned aircraft of different types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried to improve their position six times, attacking towards Kalinovsky, Verbovy and Oleksandrograd. Aviation strikes were suffered by Velikomihajlivka, Kolomijci, Andriyivka, Fedorivske, Wolf.

In the direction of Gulyaipils, 11 Russian attacks took place in the direction of the settlements of Svyatopetrivka, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Olenokostyantinivka, Gulyaypilske and in the area of the settlements Varvarivka, Pryluki, Tsvitkove. The enemy caused air strikes in the areas of settlements of Vozdvizhivka, Nizhenka, Zirnytsya, Upper Tersa, Charivne, Lyubytske, Kopani, Forest, Trudove.

In the Orihiv direction of air strikes, settlements of Mykilske, Yurkivka, Zarichne suffered.

In the direction of the Pridniprovsk, the Russian enemy carried out three futile attacks towards the Antonivs kogo Bridge.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. The Sever Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and two territorial defence brigades near Miropolye, Kondratovka, Bachevsk, and Sukhodol in Sumy region.

In Kharkov region, units of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade were hit near Izbitskoye, Veterinarnoye, Staritsa, and Zemlyanki (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 190 troops, 17 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, 12 materiel depots, and five ammunition depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. The Group's units inflicted losses on formations of three mechanised brigades of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade near Druzhelyubovka, Kutkovka, Borovaya, Novosergeyevka (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman, and Svyatogorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 210 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, one armoured fighting vehicle, 16 motor vehicles, four artillery guns, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire radar station. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. The Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade, and a security brigade of the General Staff of the AFU near Krivaya Luka, Stenki, Rai-Aleksandrovka, Artema, Konstantinovka, and Ilyinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy lost more than 160 troops, five artillery guns, including one 155 mm French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery system, two armoured fighting vehicles, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, two electronic warfare stations, and nine motor vehicles. An ammunition depot and seven materiel depots were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, and two national guard brigades close to Priyut, Belitskoye, Kucherov Yar, Grishino, Novoaleksandrovka, Lenina, Sergeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopodgorodnoye, and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 315 troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, two artillery guns, and one ammunition depot.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. The losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades, an air assault brigade, and an assault regiment of the AFU near Lyubitskoye, Shevchenkovskoye, Samoylovka, Vozdvizhevka, Charivnoye (Zaporozhye region), and Dobropasovo (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The enemy lost more than 225 troops, two artillery guns, including one U.S.-made 155 mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, six motor vehicles, and four materiel depots.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade near Zaporozhets, Novoandreyevka, and Orekhov in Zaporozhye region.

More than 45 servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicles, 30 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, three electronic warfare stations, three ammunition depots, and one materiel depot were neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted damage on the Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure, used in the interests of the AFU, storage and launch preparation sites for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 145 areas.

Air defence systems shot down nine guided aerial bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 568 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 135,370 unmanned aerial vehicles, 656 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,950 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,703 MLRS combat vehicles, 34,505 field artillery guns and mortars, and 59,669 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

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Featured

GTEC names 62 unrecognised institutions, warns public against fake certificates (LIST)

GraphicOnline Education Apr - 19 - 2026 , 09:07 4 minutes read

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has published a sweeping list of 62 institutions that are not recognised in Ghana, warning the public to exercise due diligence with regard to any certificates issued by these entities due to various quality assurance concerns.

In a public notice issued on Friday, 17th April 2026, GTEC named universities, colleges, and seminaries from across the globeincluding several operating within Ghanaas unrecognised, cautioning prospective students and employers against engaging with them.

The Commission's action is part of its ongoing mandate to protect the integrity of Ghana's tertiary education system and shield the public from substandard or fraudulent academic credentials.

Institutions in Ghana named

Among the 62 listed institutions, several are based in Ghana, including Debest College of Science, Arts and Business; Faith University Seminary (FUS) in Ghana; Doxa Open University; Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training School; Quest International University; Kingdom Living Bible Institute in Kumasi; and Global Professional College in Effiduase.

The inclusion of locally operating institutions raises particular concern, as these entities may be actively recruiting Ghanaian students under false pretences.

International institutions cited

The list also features numerous international institutions with grand-sounding names, including Universidad Azteca Mexico, Atlantic International University (USA), Selinus University of Sciences and Literature (Italy), Crown University International Chartered (USA), and Texila American University (Guyana).

Others include London Academy of Technology and Management (UK), University of Haana (Germany), East Bridge University (France), Dublin Metropolitan University (UK/Cyprus), and Swiss Management Centre University (Switzerland).

Several Bible colleges and theological seminaries also appear on the list, including Rhema Bible Training College (USA), Christian Leadership University (USA), New Life Bible College and Seminary (USA), and Logos University (USA).

Quality assurance concerns

GTEC did not provide specific details on the nature of the quality assurance concerns for each institution, but the Commission's action suggests that these entities either lack proper accreditation, fail to meet Ghana's educational standards, or have been found to operate with questionable academic integrity.

The notice serves as a critical warning to Ghanaian students, parents, and employers who may encounter certificates from these institutions.

Why this matters

For students who may have already enrolled in or graduated from these unrecognised institutions, the GTEC notice carries serious implications. Their qualifications may not be accepted for further studies in Ghana, for employment in the public service, or for professional licensing.

Employers are also advised to verify the accreditation status of job applicants' qualifications, particularly if those qualifications come from any of the named institutions.

Due diligence advised

GTEC urged the public to exercise due diligence before enrolling in any tertiary institution or accepting qualifications from unknown sources. Prospective students should verify the accreditation status of institutions through the Commission's official channels before committing time and money to any programme.

The Commission's notice is effective immediately.

Full List of 62 Unrecognised Institutions as at April 2026:
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KGL Foundation screens over 500 in Dambai, boosts blood bank in Oti Region

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Featured

ECG warns of rising vandalism and illegal electricity connections in Tema Region

Benjamin Xornam Glover Apr - 19 - 2026 , 11:30 3 minutes read

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Tema Region has raised concerns over a surge in vandalism and illegal electricity connections, warning that the situation is disrupting power supply and costing the company millions of cedis.

The company said persistent acts of vandalism targeting critical installations such as transformers, fuses and cables continue to interrupt electricity supply and inconvenience customers across several communities.

Rising incidents and financial losses

The General Manager of ECGs Tema Regional Office, Mr Emmanuel Ankomah, in an interview on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, described illegal connections and transformer vandalism as major operational challenges.

Mr Ankomah disclosed that between the last quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, eight transformers were vandalised, with each replacement costing close to GH200,000.

He explained that vandals typically target valuable components such as copper or aluminium windings and steel cores, which are removed and sold.

He said such activities place excessive strain on equipment, often resulting in faults and outages.

These illegal activities place undue stress on transformers and frequently lead to equipment damage and power interruptions, he stated.

He further revealed that some perpetrators disguise themselves as ECG personnel to gain access to installations and carry out theft.

Call for public support

The ECG official appealed to the public to support efforts to safeguard power infrastructure by reporting suspicious activities.

He cautioned against illegal connections and other unlawful practices, stressing that under Executive Instrument (EI) 38 of the Appointment of Public Prosecution Instrument (2010), ECG has the legal mandate to prosecute offenders.

We urge the public to remain vigilant. Anyone seen tampering with transformers, particularly at odd hours, should be reported to ECG or the nearest police station, he advised.

Mr Ankomah said ECGs loss control teams conduct regular patrols to clamp down on illegal connections, while new digital tools are being deployed to enhance maintenance and fault detection.

Infrastructure expansion and upgrades

On infrastructure expansion, he revealed that ECG is constructing new 11kV and 33kV feeders to ease pressure on existing lines, particularly in fast-growing areas such as Afienya, Mataheko and surrounding communities.

He added that overstretched distribution lines in areas like Afienya have been identified, with proposals submitted for upgrades to meet growing demand.

Mr Ankomah said that with the recent transformer upgrade at the Lashibi Primary Substation, ECG is better positioned to address rising electricity demand in the Tema Region.

"Our goal is to improve reliability and provide better service to our customers, he said.

He indicated that the project is expected to benefit approximately 20,000 customers upon completion.

To further improve service delivery, ECG has also established four additional operational centres to ensure quicker response to customer complaints.

He added that the upgrade is expected to raise total capacity to about 60 MVA, improving flexibility and reliability in power distribution.
Featured

Ghana to assist undocumented citizens in Spain to secure residency under new amnesty

Mohammed Ali Apr - 19 - 2026 , 07:59 3 minutes read

The Government of Ghana has said it will assist undocumented Ghanaians in Spain to obtain the documents required to qualify for legal residency under Spains migrant regularisation programme.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced this after talks with his Spanish counterpart, Mr Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, in Barcelona on April 18, 2026. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 4th High-Level Meeting of the In Defence of Democracy Initiative hosted by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Mr Ablakwa said Ghana would help facilitate access to the required official documents. He explained that Spains policy requires applicants to show they have no criminal record in their country of origin.

The move affects thousands of Ghanaians living and working in Spain without legal status. Spain finalised the amnesty on April 14, 2026, opening a path for many undocumented migrants to apply for residency. The policy applies to those who arrived before December 31, 2025, and can prove they have lived in the country for at least five months.

Applicants must show they do not pose a threat to public order or safety. Under the rules, the presence of a criminal record in a police report does not automatically lead to rejection, as each case is assessed individually.

Spains Migration Minister, Ms Elma Saiz, said online applications opened on April 16, with in-person submissions starting on April 20. The process will close on June 30. This leaves applicants with just over ten weeks to complete the process.

Immigration practitioners say securing the required documents can take time. A police clearance certificate from Ghana may take between one and four months, which could affect applicants working within the deadline.

Applicants must submit a criminal record certificate from their country of origin. The document must carry an Apostille stamp and be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Ghanas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees the embassy in Madrid and the consulate in Barcelona, is expected to play a central role in issuing and authenticating these documents.

Mr Ablakwa also said Ghana and Spain had agreed to strengthen ties in maritime security and to pursue labour mobility agreements as soon as possible. He said this could create formal migration pathways beyond the current amnesty.

Spain has presented the regularisation as both a social and economic measure. Prime Minister Sanchez has said immigrants contribute about 10 per cent of the countrys GDP while accounting for about one per cent of public spending. Spains central bank and the United Nations have indicated that the country requires around 300,000 migrant workers each year to sustain its welfare system.

Once an application is submitted, any pending expulsion orders are suspended. Applicants will receive temporary authorisation, allowing them to work and access public healthcare while their cases are processed.

Mr Ablakwa described the discussions in Barcelona as constructive and said the policy offers an opportunity for migrants to regularise their status while supporting Spains labour needs.

He added that Ghana and Spain reaffirmed their shared position on promoting global peace and stability.
See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Sunday, April 19, 2026

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Featured

Ibrahim Mahama unveils airport and road projects after Engineers and Planners' Damang mine takeover

GraphicOnline Apr - 18 - 2026 , 20:14 3 minutes read

Ghanaian mining firm Engineers and Planners Limited has taken over operations of the Damang Mine, with its Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Mahama, pledging a wave of infrastructure investments aimed at transforming surrounding communities and boosting local economic activity.

The transition marks a significant shift in the management of one of Ghanas major gold-producing assets, following a competitive bidding process supervised by the Minerals Commission after the expiration of the lease previously held by Gold Fields Ghana Limited.

At a handover ceremony held at the mine site on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, performed the symbolic transfer, officially ushering in a new phase of operations under a wholly Ghanaian-owned company.

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Mahama signalled an ambitious development agenda tied to the takeover, outlining plans that extend beyond mining into infrastructure and community development.

I want to pledge this, and I want to say it for everybody to hear. I got a text from one of our young men in here. It says we should build astroturfs for all the communities, which were looking to do, he said.

He added that the company was already considering major transport interventions to improve accessibility and stimulate economic growth in the area.

Weve applied for Damang to have an airport, and within six months, Damang will have an airport, such that we can fly to Accra easily. In the next two years, well be able to drive from here to Cape Coast on a concrete road or a natural road, he added.

Emphasising his commitment, Mr Mahama stressed that the plans were achievable and not mere rhetoric. I beg you, this is not political talk. This is real talk, he said.

He further underscored the broader vision behind the investment drive, positioning the takeover as a test case for Ghanaian capacity in managing large-scale mining operations and delivering tangible socio-economic benefits.

I would say that, look, if we all put our minds together, this is a success story. And the plan I have for Damang Mine is not a joke. I just want to prove that we can invest in ourselves in this country, he said.

The Damang Mine, located in the Western Region, has been a key contributor to Ghanas mining sector for more than two decades. Its lease expired in April 2025, but the government granted a one-year extension to allow for a structured transition before the final handover in April 2026.

Authorities opted not to renew the lease, instead opening the concession to competitive tender in line with efforts to deepen local participation in the extractive industry. Engineers and Planners emerged as the successful bidder after meeting stringent technical, financial and regulatory requirements, including demonstrating access to at least $500 million in funding.

Government officials say the move is expected to sustain production, protect jobs and strengthen indigenous ownership within Ghanas mining sector, while the new operators community-focused plans could redefine the relationship between mining companies and host communities.
Next article: Ghana to assist undocumented citizens in Spain to secure residency under new amnesty

Featured

President Mahama directs local funding for Tamale water project after EU withdraws 277m facility

Mohammed Ali Apr - 19 - 2026 , 11:11 4 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Finance to fund the Tamale water expansion project from domestic resources after the European Union withdrew a 277 million facility.

He announced this when he cut the sod for the construction of a 24-hour economy market at Kukuo in the Tamale Metropolis on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

President Mahama said the loan, which had been approved by Parliament for Tamale and Damongo water projects, was withdrawn following Ghanas debt default.

When we came, we met that Parliament had approved a 277 million facility for Tamale water and Damongo water, he said. Unfortunately, because the past government defaulted in debt payments, we declared that we could not pay our debts. The EU withdrew the loan and said they are waiting for the debt restructuring. We do not see any indication that it will happen soon, so I have directed the Minister of Finance that we will raise the 277 million in cedis and undertake the project ourselves.

The decision changes the financing approach for a long-standing water supply challenge in Tamale. The existing system, built in 1972 for about 50,000 people, was only slightly upgraded in 2008. The citys population reached 374,744 in the 2021 Population and Housing Census and has continued to grow.

Daily water demand is estimated at about 100,000 cubic metres, while supply from the Ghana Water Company Limited meets only about a third of that volume.

Water rationing has worsened, with some communities going months without supply. Residents have staged protests at the offices of the Ghana Water Company Limited, describing the situation as a public health and economic concern. Plans to build a new treatment plant at Yapei have yet to take off.

President Mahama said the government would address the situation in two phases. He said the first phase would involve replacing ageing pumps at the Dalong treatment facility, while the second phase would draw water from Yape into Tamale South to increase supply by about 30 million gallons a day.

He said he would return to Tamale to cut the sod for the water project when construction is ready to begin.

The sod-cutting at Kukuo also marked the start of construction of what officials describe as the largest 24-hour economy market in the country. The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly project will be built on a three-and-a-half-acre site and is expected to be completed within 24 months.

President Mahama said the facility would include 71 lockable shops, 132 open sheds and space for about 160 pavement traders. It will also have a police station, a fire post, a six-bed clinic, a pharmacy, a womens bank, a creche, a cold store, 12 guest rooms, two restaurants, a lorry terminal and an information office. Solar panels and a biodigester will be installed to support operations.

Addressing concerns about unsold farm produce, President Mahama said the government would establish five maize processing factories and a second rice mill in the Fumbisi Valley. He added that GH200 million had been allocated to the National Food Buffer Stock Company this year.

He said warehouses under the Buffer Stock Company still held last seasons maize as a new planting season approached, and noted that the planned factories would help absorb surplus produce for local use and export.

President Mahama also said a cardiac catheterisation laboratory would be installed at the Tamale Teaching Hospital on Sunday, April 19, 2026. He said the equipment, procured under the MahamaCare initiative, would reduce referrals from the northern sector to Kumasi and Accra for heart procedures.

On the economy, President Mahama said Ghanas gross international reserves had risen from $8.3 billion when his administration took office to $13.9 billion.

He added that the country was on track to exit its programme with the International Monetary Fund in May. He also said diesel prices had been maintained at GH16.10 per litre, compared with an estimated market rate of GH19.

Earlier on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the President performed a similar sod-cutting ceremony for a 24-hour economy market in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North Municipality.
Featured

Power supply to be affected as Atuabo Gas Processing Plant undergoes 5-hour overnight shutdown

GraphicOnline Apr - 19 - 2026 , 14:40 2 minutes read

The Ghana National Gas Company and Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) have announced a planned five-hour shutdown of the Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo from midnight to 5:00 am on Monday, April 20, 2026, to complete the replacement of a damaged Burner Management System controller.

The shutdown follows a major fault that developed in the BMS, which resulted in complete damage to the controller, necessitating its full replacement. The companies had earlier notified the public of the fault in a press release dated April 15, 2026.

According to a joint statement issued on Sunday, April 19, 2026, all enabling works toward replacing the BMS are approximately 90 per cent complete. To finish the installation, the planned shutdown of the plant will be required for five hours overnight.

GRIDCo and Ghana Gas assured the public that all necessary technical and operational measures have been put in place to ensure the works are completed within the scheduled timeframe. Measures have also been implemented to minimise the impact of the shutdown on consumers.

"We remain committed to maintaining a stable and reliable power supply. We assure the public of our commitment to operational excellence and system reliability, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this necessary exercise may cause," the statement, signed by the Corporate Affairs Directorates of both entities, read.

Why this matters

The Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo is a critical component of Ghana's power generation infrastructure, processing natural gas for use in thermal power plants that generate electricity for the national grid. Any extended outage could have implications for power supply across the country.

However, the overnight timing of the shutdownfrom midnight to 5:00 amappears designed to minimise disruption to industrial and domestic consumers, as electricity demand is typically lower during these hours.

Restoration of full capacity

The successful replacement of the damaged BMS controller is expected to restore the plant to full operational capacity, enhancing the reliability of gas supply to the country's thermal power plants.

The companies have assured the public that all works will be completed within the scheduled five-hour window.
Featured

Prez Mahama unveils major steps to end food glut, cuts sod for 24-hour markets

Mohammed Fugu Apr - 19 - 2026 , 11:24 4 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has outlined a raft of measures by the government to tackle the persistent glut of food crops, particularly maize and rice, in a move aimed at stabilising prices and protecting farmers incomes.

As part of the intervention, he said the government had allocated GH200 million to the National Buffer Stock Company to purchase excess maize and rice from farmers for onward distribution to public institutions, including secondary schools, hospitals, prisons and other state establishments.

He explained that the intervention was intended to absorb surplus produce from the market, reduce post-harvest losses and assure farmers of ready buyers.

Processing plants to absorb surplus produce

President Mahama said efforts were also underway to strengthen local processing capacity to deal with recurring surpluses.

He announced that a new rice mill currently under construction along the Yendi Road in Tamale, together with another planned facility in the Fumbisi Valley, would process locally produced rice for supply to the National Buffer Stock Company and the School Feeding Programme.

In addition, he disclosed plans to establish five maize processing factories across the country to absorb excess maize for both local consumption and export.

The President expressed confidence that the measures would significantly reduce the recurring glut and create fresh economic opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.

He recalled that last year, the government released GH100 million to enable the Buffer Stock Company to purchase excess maize from farmers.

However, he noted that the companys warehouses remained full as the country approached another planting season, raising concerns over further accumulation of unsold produce.

Resetting Ghana Tour

President Mahama made the announcement during his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Northern Region last Saturday.

The visit, he said, was to thank the people of the region for supporting his reset agenda during the 2024 general election, as well as to cut sod for new projects and inspect ongoing works.

24-hour economy markets

As part of the tour, the President cut the sod for the construction of 24-hour economy model markets at Bimbilla and Kukuo in the Tamale Metropolis.

The facilities are expected to include storage warehouses, security posts, healthcare services and food courts to support round-the-clock commercial activity.

President Mahama described the markets as critical hubs for economic growth and trade, stressing that the markets will strengthen the agricultural value chain by providing farmers with reliable market access, reducing post-harvest losses and improving incomes.

He said the project formed part of a broader national plan to establish similar markets in all 261 districts across the country.

Everywhere we have our traditional markets, traders gather once or twice a week, but we intend to build markets that operate around the clock to stimulate economic activity.

The plan is to establish similar markets in all the 261 districts across the country to promote continuous commercial activities, he said.

He emphasised that effective marketing remained central to agricultural growth, noting that farmers could not thrive without dependable market access.

Tamale water supply challenge

Touching on the water crisis in Tamale, President Mahama reiterated the governments commitment to resolving the long-standing supply challenges in the metropolis.

He explained that although a 277 million facility secured by the previous administration for the Tamale water project had been withdrawn following Ghanas debt default, the current government had resolved to mobilise resources locally to execute the project.

According to him, the new system would provide an additional 30 million gallons of water daily to the city.

As an interim measure, he said faulty pumps at the Dalun Water Treatment Plant would be replaced to improve supply, while efforts were also underway to draw water from Yapei to Tamale South Constituency and the wider metropolis.

Healthcare support

On healthcare, the President disclosed that a new catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) had been procured for the Tamale Teaching Hospital to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of heart-related conditions.

He said the facility would help reduce referrals to Accra and Kumasi.

President Mahama also clarified concerns over the distribution of tricycles under the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, explaining that the vehicles were meant to support health workers mobility in rural communities and not to serve as ambulances.

According to him, the tricycles would enable community health workers to move from one community to another to undertake outreach services such as screening and vaccination.

He further reiterated the governments commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline and strengthening the economy to support national development.

Warning to contractors

For his part, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, cautioned contractors against shoddy work and delays.

He warned that projects would be withdrawn from firms that failed to deliver on schedule.

President Mahama, who was accompanied by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, also inspected the progress of work on a 300-capacity three-storey hostel under construction at the Bimbilla EP College of Education.
All Guam Department of Education schools will remain closed on Monday because of continuing power, water and debris challenges related to Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

GDOE on Sunday said schools are actively working to address current facility and operational needs, including debris removal, stabilization of electrical systems, and ensuring the availability of safe and adequate drinking water for all students and staff.

In a statement, GDOE said it is coordinating with the Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority on the full restoration of power and water services across all campuses.

"Schools will remain closed as these critical recovery efforts continue to ensure campuses are fully prepared, safe, and ready for a successful reopening," GDOE said.

All 12-month employees are expected to report to work during their regular working hours, GDOE said.

"Teachers are invited to assess damages in their classrooms and report them to their school administrator," the department added.

Other educational institutions have yet to issue revised notices on whether they will resume classes on Monday.
Some $4.75 million worth of Super Typhoon Sinlaku local relief funds will go to Guams 19 villages through the respective mayors offices, but details on the balance of $20.25 million should come early this coming week, Bureau of Budget and Management Research Director Lester Carlson said.

At Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros request, senators allocated about $25 million in local funds for typhoon response ahead of Sinlakus agonizingly slow passover through the Marianas last week.

Numerous households still remained without power and water through Sunday, and utility issues have Guam Department of Education schools closed until further notice.

Carlson on Friday said each village mayors office would get $250,000 for relief, totaling $4.75 million.

Thats going into the Mayors Council account, were not going to touch it, he said.

He didnt have details on how the rest of the typhoon relief funds were allocated Friday. Carlson said he had just got back to work at BBMR that day, and GovGuams system had been down for the morning.

I should have something by early next week, once my staff is able to let me know what it was that was drawn down for, Carlson said.

Accounts were already set up Friday for the Department of Public Works, he said, to start cutting purchase orders and getting contract assistance for typhoon response.

The $25 million for disaster relief was requested by the governor when Guam was still eyeing a direct hit from Sinlaku.

But Guam was spared the worst of the storm, at one point a super typhoon, which shifted north and slammed Saipan and Tinian.

Legislative budget chairman Sen. Chris Duenas on Friday said the sum was appropriated in contemplation of a storm quite a bit worse and Guam was very blessed.

Duenas told the Pacific Daily News he was ready to shift whatever portion of the sum wasnt used for direct typhoon relief to put up matching funds for federal aid.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is already coordinating disaster relief for Guam, with President Donald Trump making an emergency declaration.

But Guam will still have to put up 25 cents to every 75 cents in federal aid.

Damage assessment ongoing

Carlson on Friday said it was too soon to say how much of the $25 million would be used, with a damage assessment ongoing and GovGuam surveying local businesses for damage.

Those reports well start seeing in the next, you know, week or two, as soon as theyre compiled, Carlson said.

Neither Carlson nor Duenas forecasted a major impact on GovGuams revenues or preparations for the upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget, in the wake of Sinlaku.

Were hearing good things from the federal side. Theyre mobilized here. And what we should have a lot of allowable costs, Duenas said of disaster relief. And so were going to lean heavy on the federal side.

BBMRs Carlson said GovGuam was in a good position financially, as it had the money on hand to put up for disaster relief.

Of the $25 million in relief funds authorized for Sinlaku response, about $7.1 million came from leftovers after GovGuam fronted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, program benefits during the federal shutdown late last year.

The balance of about $17.9 million came from the governments Rainy Day Fund, which is set aside to deal with emergencies.

Fully funded Rainy Day Fund

Carlson said the Rainy Day Fund still had a balance of around $70 million, after putting up for Sinlaku.

But for the storm, Carlson said GovGuam would have achieved something never done before in fiscal 2027: max out the Rainy Day Fund.

By law, the fund is capped at about 10% of GovGuams operating revenues.

Carlson put that maximum cap at about $93 million to $94 million.

GovGuam has never had a fully funded Rainy Day Fund, he said.

The governors budget request contemplated about a $6.8 million set-aside for the fund in fiscal 2027, to max it out.

That will leave a balance to make up in fiscal 2027s budget, with Guam law requiring that about 2% of the anticipated $1.03 billion in General Fund revenues go to the Rainy Day Fund, or about $20 million.

Duenas said a report on the use of the $25 million for disaster relief is due to senators within 30 days.

Well get that first report, and then well see where things are going, Duenas said. And I think that if that hasnt been expended for the actual (response), we can shut that down and then see what needs to be appropriated for matching funds for recovery.

The Rainy Day Fund can be replenished with excess tax and fee revenues that GovGuam sees this year, he noted.

GovGuam had about $48.2 million as of the close of February, though large amounts of that were tied up in appropriations, and a deferral of about $35.8 million in property tax payments to Dec. 31 due to issues at the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

Carlson said Sinlaku has delayed the tally of revenues for April, though hes previously said that he doesnt anticipate excess collections to let up.

Duenas said he doesnt expect lawmakers to get into a situation where theyre over-appropriating in fiscal 2027.

The Republican budget chairman said he eyes a conservative budget for fiscal 2027.

You have a new administration coming in, Im going to be as close to status quo as possible, Duenas said.

Duenas said he does not plan to repeat situations seen in previous legislative terms where lawmakers were appropriating tens of millions of dollars in unaudited excess revenues during budget talks in the lead up to local elections.

I got the majority of the body to stop doing that, because it was getting out of control, he said.

With audits of fiscal 2024 still pending, Duenas said bills that seek to tap unverified funding sources wont be heard.

The budget chairman said he still believes lawmakers can meet the aggressive timeline he set to have a budget bill voted on or before July 17.

That will put passage of the budget two weeks ahead of this years Aug. 1 Primary Election.

A budget hearing on the Guam Department of Education, the agency with the single largest budget in GovGuam, was postponed last week by Sinlaku.

Duenas said a new budget hearing date will be coming up fast.
The investigative arm of Congress said the option to place Guams customs operations under federal control would likely result in higher prices of imported products because of higher tariff rates, while maintaining its current model with increased passenger fees would likely mean higher cost of travel and fewer tourists to the island.

Dramatic changes would have to occur under a federalized customs system, the Government Accountability Office said in a 91-page report.

In the federalized model, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection would not inspect cargo from the U.S. customs territory.

Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency officials, according to GAO, said this could increase the risk of illegal drugs entering Guam, as most are smuggled from other parts of the U.S.

Also, in the federalized model, Guams ports would need to be upgraded to meet all federal security requirements, GAO said.

The GAO report was released on April 17 but was dated March 18. The reports release comes amid Guams Super Typhoon Sinlaku recovery.

Paper data

The Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency also still uses a paper-based data system, meaning cargo data are still stored in boxes that are prone to mold, water, fire damage, rat or termite infestation and human error.

Some of them were documents from 2007.

Theres approval to dispose of some documents as early as 2009 but as of February 2026, or 17 years later, none of the documents approved for destruction had been destroyed, GAO said.

A 2025 Guam Office of Public Accountability report stated that bills of lading, invoices, manifests and all passenger and cargo entry documents were filed in more than 5,000 cardboard boxes stored at Guam Customs warehouse.

Governor: No to federalization

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, in response to the GAO report prior to its release, said Guam does not support the federalization of customs operations or the transfer of customs jurisdiction away from the Government of Guam.

She said local administration of customs remains the most appropriate model for Guam given its unique geographic, economic, and security circumstances.

Guam serves as a strategic U.S. shipping and military hub in the Indo-Pacific region.

Being outside the U.S. customs territory, Guam administers its own customs operations. It imposes cargo inspection and visitor arrival fees, but not tariffs.

The Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency funds its operations through fees collected from incoming passengers and four cargo imports.

The local agency has reported declining revenues and other challenges to its operations since the pandemic in 2020.

In 2024, Del. James Moylan requested GAO to determine the feasibility of federalizing the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, particularly whether it would improve border protection and provide better control over the entry of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs.

Alternative customs models

GAO provided considerations for evaluating alternative customs models and their potential economic effects.

It looked at alternatives to Guams current customs model, including those used in other U.S. territories.

Adopting one of these options could require change in laws, funding sources, and technology, among other things, GAO said.

Changing Guams customs model could also affect its economy. For instance, imposing U.S. tariffs could make imports more expensive, and raising Guams visitor arrival fees could affect tourism, according to the GAO report.

GAO evaluated three selected alternatives to Guams current customs model and their potential economic effects if Guam adopts them.

Option 1: Federalized model

The first option is Guam joins the U.S. customs territory, with CBP administering Guam customs. This is the federalized model.

Under this option, Guam adopts the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

The implications, according to GAO, is higher tariff rates for imports.

Because manufacturing on Guam is limited, this would likely raise the prices of goods on the island.

GAO said the potential effects would be higher import prices; fewer imports; and more imports from the U.S.

Option 2: Hybrid model

The second option is for Guam to remain outside the U.S. customs territory, with CBP administering Guam customs. This is the hybrid model.

Option 3: Current model with higher fees

The third option is for Guam to retain its current customs model, with additional funding for Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency from higher fees for incoming passengers or cargo.

GAO said the policy change would mean Guam increases passenger inspection fees.

This would mean higher cost of travel to Guam, and its potential effects would be more passenger fee revenue, and fewer visitors from some countries.

GAO said the considerations include:

Legal changes and funding sources: In the federalized model, federal law would have to be amended for Guam to join the U.S. customs territory. In the federalized or hybrid model, a source of funding for CBP operations on Guam would need to be identified.

Jurisdiction and security: In the federalized model, CBP would not inspect cargo from the U.S. customs territory.

Fees unchanged in over 13 years

The governor said Guam Customs service fees have not been adjusted for more than 13 years, despite substantial increases in operating costs, security requirements, and technology standards.

The governor did concur with GAOs core findings that Guam Customs primarily challenges stem from:

paper-based systems and delayed automation

procurement inefficiencies

revenue instability following prolonged tourism decline

constraints on staffing, equipment acquisition, and technology modernization

Leon Guerrero said transferring authority to a federal agency would not inherently resolve these issues and could introduce new risks, such as job losses, jurisdictional gaps, and higher operating costs.

GovGuam has started efforts to automate its customs system, and has been trying to obtain new equipment and work with a newly implemented procurement system.

Revenue leaks

The Guam OPA raised deficiencies in Guam Customs systems and operations multiple times, including its paper-based system.

OPA pointed to significant amount of tax leakage because of the paper-based system that has affected the governments ability to record import data and to tax imports.

A 2020 audit report, for example, said Guam Customs collected only $136,000 in use taxed for GovGuam, out of incoming cargoes worth $1.6 billion. OPA said the collected taxes would have been $65.5 million. Guam Customs disputed the public auditors findings.

OPA recommended strengthening internal controls on use tax payments, collections and deposits to prevent potential fraud.

Other GAO findings

GAO said several factors limit Guam Customs operations besides the paper-based records of customs transactions that may compromise data reliability and result in reduced revenue.

Nonfunctional equipment and procurement delays limit Guam Customs operations, GAO said.

For the past three years, Guam Customs has had only one working x-ray machine, resulting in time-intensive manual cargo inspections.
Residents who still have no running water are having to go to one of 13 water tanks set up in central and northern villages as the Guam Waterworks Authority continues restoration efforts after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

Some residents the Pacific Daily News spoke with on Saturday said they are grateful for the tanks but wish water would come on sooner.

To help the community until it can get running water completely restored, GWA placed the water tanks at various sites in several villages.

This move follows multiple reports of low-to-no water pressure in the villages of Barrigada, Chalan Pago-Ordot, Dededo, Mangilao, Tamuning, Yigo, and Yona in the days following Sinlaku.

Barrigada resident Jerr Quicho, 33, said it was amazing for GWA to provide water and do what they can around the island, but she stressed peoples need for running water restored.

She said her home and others in the village are still making do with little to no water pressure despite others never losing connection or regaining it immediately.

Im trying to be patient, but at the same time, we live close by to GWA and GPA, but everyone I know that lives near the base had power on right away, Quicho said.

The GWA water tanks are found at 13 locations throughout seven villages:

Astumbo Senior Center in Dededo

Barrigada Mayors Office

Open field by Yona carabao

Gill Breeze, Yigo

Santa Teresita Church, Mangilao

Dededo Mayors Office

Mt. Santa Rosa, Yigo

Yigo Gym

Dero Road, Ordot

Jesus G. Cruz Street, Barrigada

Chalan La Chance, Yigo

Kayen Mamalai Piga, Dededo

Maina Church

Residents are advised to bring their own containers to store and haul water.

GWA has yet to share a timeline for when full water connection will be restored for the island. However, recent updates show that 83 wells are online, 66 of which are operating on standby power and 17 on island power.

A boil water notice is also in effect despite over 40 samples so far testing negatively for bacterial contamination.

Quicho said she prepared in advance and still has containers full of water, but she is running low.

I might need to use it tomorrow or the next day if no water is restored. I think its been helping people, like my sister. She has no bins full of water, so its awesome to have this available, Quicho said.

Although grateful for the water tanks, some residents who spoke with PDN were frustrated that GWA is always back to square one after every typhoon.

Families at the tank locations said they made sure to fill up gallons for their homes to use for cooking, hygiene, and hydration.

Water is lifesaving and important, said Mangilao resident Mark Ruch.

Ruch, 66, said he only uses the tank for drinking water and hopes other residents dont use the water wastefully, like to wash their car or something.

Akin to other residents comments, he appreciated GWAs efforts but was annoyed by the delay in full reconnection.

I dont have much criticism. Its a hard job, but its not exactly our first typhoon. You would think theyd have an idea of what kind of spare parts they need. They should know whats going to go wrong, but its a hard job. Every typhoon is different, and they do the best they can, Ruch said.

Ruch said he often sees GWA working in the streets and realizes some of them might not have water at home either, but theyre out here working and not disappearing.

All the same, he said the island shouldnt have to wait another couple of days until the water is restored.

To tell the truth, its not different in the states. There are plenty of municipal services lacking...and they dont have the manpower [so] maybe Guam is better prepared. I know people need water, so the mayor was on top of it. He had to be. Im grateful for that, Ruch said.
As Guam begins to assess the damage from yet another devastating storm, an important question must be addressed.

All eyes are on how recovery efforts will move forward, particularly following the severe impacts on Saipan, Guam, and our neighboring islands. We already know the reality. There is no way we can rebuild without the necessary manpower.

After COVID, after Typhoon Mawar, and now as this storm, our communities are once again facing immediate and ongoing impacts. Homes are being affected, businesses are at risk, and families are doing everything they can to secure what they have.

Yet even as we confront the current situation, the larger concern remains unchanged. The one thing we need most continues to be out of reach.

Manpower. This shortage did not happen by chance. It is the direct result of the military buildup, which has exhausted nearly all of our available workforce and led to the breakdown of our local construction industry.

The very sector we rely on to rebuild has been stretched beyond its limits, leaving the civilian community without the capacity to recover.

Instead, we continue to receive the same response. Federal priorities remain focused on the military buildup, while agencies are deployed to assess damage and determine levels of assistance.

But let us be clear. Assessment does not rebuild homes. Food assistance does not restore businesses. These may provide temporary relief, but they do not solve the fundamental problem before us.

We need manpower to repair, rebuild, and continue to build.

At the same time, thousands of temporary workers continue to be brought into Guam, but only for military related projects. The imbalance is undeniable. The priority is evident. And the civilian sector is left waiting.

So we ask again, directly and without hesitation. What is the problem with allowing Guams civilian sector access to the manpower needed to recover? Is the federal government going to continue to restrict the private sector from bringing in temporary workers? How is the federal government going to handle this widespread disaster situation?

We just need to know. Or are we expected to stand by while our recovery is delayed and resources are directed elsewhere?

We are American citizens. We are not second priority, and we are not an afterthought. If the federal government fails to act on this defining moment, then it will join a growing list of unresolved commitments to Guam. It will stand alongside the long-standing Compact Impact shortfalls, the inequities in Supplemental Security Income, the exclusion from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, and other promises that have been acknowledged but never fully delivered.

At some point, these are no longer isolated issues. They define a pattern. And that pattern forces us to ask whether Guam is truly treated as part of the nation it faithfully serves.

At some point, the question is no longer what Guam needs, but whether those needs are ever meant to be met.
It was intended as a technological milestone for youth protection: an EU app that verifies age without sacrificing privacy. However, just hours after its presentation by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the project came under fire. Security expert Paul Moore demonstrated on X how he cracked the system in less than two minutes.

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His analysis reveals that sensitive data remains unprotected on the device. PIN codes are insufficiently secured, rate limits can be circumvented by resetting simple configuration files, and biometric authentication can be deactivated with a single click. Moore warns: This product will be the catalyst for a massive data leak.

French hacker Baptiste Robert confirmed Moore's findings. It would also be possible to simply bypass the PIN code or Touch ID. Cryptologist Olivier Blazy sees a practical problem: Let's say I download the app and prove I'm over 18. Then my nephew can take my phone, unlock the app, and use it to vouch for his own age.

The Commission defends its tool. A spokesperson only admitted that things could still be improved. Brussels also stated that the hackers had tested an outdated demo version, which the hackers denied. Later, it was explained that the final version available online was still a demo. The final product for citizens will be offered later, and the code will be continuously updated.

Open Source as a corrective

The fact that these vulnerabilities were found so quickly is also due to the app being open source. Blazy praises this approach. However, he criticizes that the source code does not yet meet the expected security standards. A rushed launch could undermine trust in future projects such as the digital identity EUDI.

Furthermore, the anonymity promised by the Commission President seems questionable. Experts like Anja Lehmann from the Hasso Plattner Institute disagree. Since the app relies on pseudonyms, website operators could link user activities over longer periods. A promotional video causes irritation: it shows a biometric comparison between a facial scan and an ID document  a procedure that von der Leyen had always rejected for platform operators. Judith Simon from the University of Hamburg warns that non-linkability is the prerequisite for real privacy.

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Many experts wonder why the EU is building a parallel infrastructure to the already planned EUDI. Lehmann considers a separate app to be of little use as it deviates from established standards in important security criteria. Thomas Lohninger from the NGO Epicenter.works urges the Commission to rethink its initiative and focus on the overdue enforcement of existing online laws.

Finally, the problem of effectiveness remains. Tibor Jager from the University of Wuppertal describes the age verification as trivial to circumvent. Using VPN services, it is possible to simulate a location outside the EU where the rules do not apply. The researcher advocates for digital traffic education instead of technical barriers. The Commission, however, is sticking to the schedule. Eight heads of state fundamentally support the initiative to restrict social media for minors. Since the app is not yet in regular use, there is time for corrections. The path to the gold standard for privacy is still long.

(nen)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The agency said the two men, contracted to deliver clean water, were killed by Israeli fire on 17 April at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza. Two others were injured in the same incident during routine operations.

UNICEF has condemned the killing of two water truck drivers by Israel in Gaza and called for an immediate investigation, warning that the incident disrupts vital aid for hundreds of thousands of people.

UNICEF said it was outraged by the deaths and extended condolences to the families. The agency confirmed that the drivers were carrying out scheduled water deliveries with no changes to routes or procedures at the time.

The victims were killed by Israeli fire, UNICEF said in a statement. Humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted.

The Mansoura site serves as the only operational truck filling point linked to the Mekorot water supply line for Gaza City. Aid groups rely on the location several times each day to deliver water to large sections of the population, including displaced families and children.

Following the incident, UNICEF suspended all activity at the site. Contractors received instructions to halt operations until security conditions improve. The agency warned that the pause places pressure on an already limited water supply network.

UNICEF said the Israeli attack threatens the delivery of essential services. It stated that many residents depend on trucked water for daily use, as infrastructure across Gaza has faced sustained damage.

The agency called on Israeli authorities to open an investigation and ensure full accountability. It said the protection of civilians and those providing aid forms part of obligations under international humanitarian law.

The wider humanitarian community also condemned the killings. The Humanitarian Country Team, which includes United Nations agencies and aid partners, said the drivers were delivering essential water supplies at the time.

Such attacks not only cost lives but also disrupt critical services that communities depend on for survival, the group said in a statement.

The team urged all parties to take steps to protect civilians and humanitarian operations. It warned that continued incidents risk further disruption to aid delivery across the territory.

The killings come amid ongoing violence in Gaza. Palestinian health authorities report that more than 72,000 people have died since Israel launched its genocidal war against Palestinians in October 2023. Hundreds have also been killed by Israeli forces since a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Qatar took effect last year.

In the occupied West Bank, separate incidents continue to be reported. Palestinian officials said a 25-year-old man, Muhammad Ahmad Suwaiti, was shot dead by Israeli forces. The Israeli military said it had killed a person it described as an attacker near a settlement, without confirming identity.

UNICEF said the latest incident in Gaza highlights the risks faced by those delivering aid. It repeated its demand for accountability and stressed that humanitarian work must proceed without threat.

HT
Bonesteel's George Masa film is launched with free showings

A new documentary exploring the life of George Masa, a Japanese immigrant photographer whose images helped shape early conservation efforts and the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be featured in a series of special free screenings across western North Carolina this week ahead of its national broadcast premiere on PBS next month.

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A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story, directed by Asheville-based filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, will begin airing May 1 on PBS stations across the country and PBS WORLD Channel. A North Carolina broadcast on PBS North Carolina is scheduled for May 12.

Drawing on newly uncovered research  including previously unknown letters  the film reveals long-hidden aspects of Masas life, challenging what was previously understood about one of the most influential yet elusive figures in American conservation history and offering a more complex portrait of the man behind some of the regions most iconic images.

The upcoming screenings offer audiences an opportunity to experience the film in a place central to Masas life and work, and hear from the producer/director himself.

Interacting with the audience after we've just seen the film together is a rewarding experience for me and always brings out great conversation, said Bonesteel, a Hendersonville native who is the son of Georgia and the late Pete Bonesteel.

Masa lived in Asheville in the early 20th century, where he worked at the Grove Park Inn, operated a photography studio and collaborated with influential figures of the era, including Edith Vanderbilt. His photographs not only captured the beauty of the Southern Appalachians but also helped build public support for what would become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Bonesteel will introduce the film and take questions following the screenings. Here's the dates and venues:

6 p.m. Monday, April 20: University of North Carolina Asheville, Alumni Hall Student Center, presented by the UNCA Department of Psychology and Ramsey Library Special Collections at Alumni Hall. The UNCA Ramsey library holds many important collections connected and related to George Masa.

7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22: Western Carolina University, UC Theater, 136 Hinds University Center, Cullowhee, presented by Western Carolina Universitys School of Stage and Screen. Western Carolina Universitys Hunter Library holds many George Masa photographs and artifacts, and is featured in the film.

6:30 p.m., April 29: Fine Arts Theatre, 36 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, presented by PBS North Carolina and Explore Asheville. This screening requires a ticket. Reserve seats at Fine Arts Theatre https://fineartstheatre.com/special-events

For more information about the film and screenings, visit www.georgemasa.com
Theres a reason your Social Security number feels like something you shouldnt say out loud. But in real life, people get asked for it in places that seem normal, even routine. A form here, a phone call there, maybe a quick verification that doesnt raise any red flags at the time. The problem is, most identity theft starts with small, everyday oversharing.

Your Social Security Number (SSN) is the primary "key" to your legal and financial identity. Because it was never designed as a universal ID, it lacks modern security features such as passwords or biometrics, making it highly dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. With your SSN and a few other basic details, such as your name and birthdate, a criminal can apply for credit cards, personal loans, and destroy your credit score.

Social security number example (Canva Pro)

1. Job applications

Many job applications still include a Social Security number field, even early in the process. But experts consistently warn theres no reason to provide it before youve actually been hired. The Social Security Administration notes that employers only need your SSN for wage reporting after employment begins, not for initial screening. If a company insists upfront, youre within your rights to leave it blank or ask why its necessary.

2. Rental applications without verification

In competitive rental markets, people rush to apply, and that urgency is exactly what scammers rely on. The FTC has warned about a rise in rental listing scams where fake landlords collect Social Security numbers and other personal data from applicants who never see the property. A legitimate landlord may eventually need your SSN for a credit check, but only after youve confirmed they actually own or manage the property.

3. Doctors offices

This one catches people off guard. Many medical offices request your Social Security number out of habit, not necessity. In most cases, they can use alternative identifiers tied to your insurance or patient record. That matters because healthcare data breaches are consistently among the largest reported each year, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. If they dont truly need it, thats one more place your data doesnt have to live.

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Exception: Some billing systems or insurance edge cases may request it, but its rarely mandatory.

4. Over the phone

Scammers have gotten very good at sounding legitimate, sometimes even spoofing real agency phone numbers, one of the terrifying parts of technology and it's impact on privacy. But agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration are clear in the fact that they dont call asking you to confirm your full Social Security number.

Dr. Ed Weir, a former Social Security Administration employee, described getting one of these calls himself while literally sitting at his desk. Someone told him his account would be shut down unless he acted immediately. He says trusting that phone call from a so-called Social Security officer saying your Social Security number is going to be suspended is one of the biggest mistakes people make.

5. Email or text forms

Even when a message looks polished, email and text are not secure ways to transmit sensitive information. The FTC continues to flag phishing as one of the most common entry points for identity theft, often disguised as routine account updates or delivery issues. If a link leads to a form asking for your SSN, dont fill it out; go directly to the companys official website instead.

6. Retail stores or loyalty programs

Youre at checkout, they offer a discount, and suddenly youre halfway through a credit application you didnt plan on completing. While legitimate credit applications may require a Social Security number, the environment matters. In-store pressure, rushed decisions, and unclear terms make it easier to give away more information than you intended. Its always safer to apply on your own time, through a verified channel.

7. Schools

Schools sometimes request Social Security numbers for identification, but the Department of Education recommends minimizing SSN use whenever possible. Unless its tied to financial aid, tax forms, or official reporting, you can usually ask for an alternative. The key difference is whether its required for a specific legal purpose or just a default field that no one questioned.

8. Online background check sites

Socked couple looking a computer (Photo credit: Canva Pro)

Theres a growing market of websites promising instant access to public records or background checks. Some are legitimate, but many are designed to collect personal data under the guise of a search. If a site asks for your Social Security number to look someone else up, thats a major red flag. Real services dont need your full identity to function and you should avoid entering personal information.

9. Acquaintances (and sometimes even family)

Sometimes, even people close to you would commit identity theft. In a Reddit post, someone dealing with fraud at the hands of a relative described going through a 4-hour Social Security Administration interview after credit accounts and inquiries were opened in their name, all while trying to recover their identity. In the comments, others experienced similar situations. One user shared that a relative had stolen their identity entirely, while another noted they were only told a SSN change might require a court order.

10. Social media

The truth of how little privacy you have online might shock you. Most people would never post their Social Security number outright, but identity theft doesnt work that way anymore. Scammers build profiles using small pieces of information like your birthday, hometown, pet names, and even answers to fun quizzes. When combined, those details can help them bypass security questions or verify identity elsewhere. Your SSN becomes easier to exploit when the rest of your profile is already out there.
Googles push into AI-powered search was supposed to make finding answers faster and smarter. Instead, its causing confusion. Across forums and comment threads, users are starting to question whether the tool they rely on most is getting a little too comfortable being wrong. As AI-generated answers take center stage, that trust is starting to feel less automatic, raising new questions about how reliable those instant answers really are.

Man working on a laptop (Shuttrstock)

A recent New York Times story reported on a growing issue inside Googles AI-generated search results. The feature, which surfaces AI-written summaries at the top of search pages, was designed to streamline information by pulling together answers from across the web. But according to the report, those summaries are increasingly producing incorrect or misleading information, sometimes with surprising confidence.

The Times documented multiple cases where Googles AI responses delivered factual errors, misinterpreted data, or presented outdated information as current. In some instances, the tool appeared to hallucinate, a known issue in generative AI where systems generate plausible-sounding but false information. Whats more concerning is that these appear authoritative, sitting above traditional search results, which can make them more likely to be trusted.

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Google has acknowledged the challenges and said that AI systems are still evolving and can make mistakes, especially when dealing with nuanced or ambiguous queries. The company says its actively working to improve accuracy and reduce these types of errors. Still, the scale of Googles search ecosystem means even a small failure rate can translate into millions of incorrect answers surfacing daily.

Reddit users are documenting the breakdown in real time

There are tons of hidden downsides of AI that most people don't know about. In a thread on r/technology discussing Googles AI search producing millions of wrong answers, users describe a growing pattern of answers that are completely off the mark.

One commenter said, And yet many people blindly trust these AIs. Others are less concerned with trust and more frustrated with use cases breaking down in real time. One user mentioned that what used to be simple searches has become harder, not easier. This doesnt work anymore, a user wrote, adding that AI answers now bury real answers and sometimes entirely miss what users are actually looking for. Another commenter put it more sharply and said, Its the worst iteration of Google search ever.

Several users pointed out that the system doesnt just make the occasional mistake, it confidently repeats them. One person shared how they tested Googles AI with a basic conversion question and received consistently incorrect answers, even after rephrasing. Another described asking about time calculations and getting two conflicting responses within the same exchange. If I turned in that many mistakes at work, I would get fired, one commenter wrote, arguing that the system is being treated like innovation despite its inconsistency.

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Theres also a growing sense that users are actively working around the feature rather than with it. Several commenters said they now skip AI summaries entirely or scroll past them in favor of traditional links or community discussions. I ignore it anyways and click on links. What stands out is how users are beginning to expect it, which is where the credibility problem comes in.

Why this matters

It's been reported that Google AI overviews are accurate 90% of the time, which sounds reassuring until you scale it across billions of queries. With roughly 5 trillion searches a year, even a 10% error rate means tens of millions of hallucinated answers every single hour.

The system has been shown to rely heavily on sources like Reddit and Facebook, sometimes linking to pages that dont actually support its claims. The Times magazine highlighted several mistakes, and everyday users share the same experience.

Even a small error rate starts to matter. If AI Overviews are producing incorrect or misleading responses even a fraction of the time, that can translate into millions of flawed answers circulating every day. The answers dont usually look wrong. They look confident, structured, and complete, and not everyone questions the information's validity.

That creates a trust problem. Users either accept the answer without question, or they start ignoring the feature entirely. Google search has historically been one of the most trusted layers of the internet. If that trust erodes, users begin to question the search engine's reliability.
CloudTalks AI Voice Agents offer businesses a solution to automate and enhance customer interactions through intelligent, human-like voice technology. Designed to handle both inbound and outbound calls, these AI agents aim to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Key Features

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: AI Voice Agents can communicate in over 60 languages and accents, facilitating global customer engagement. Customizable Interactions : Users can tailor the AIs tone, responses, and call flows to align with their brands voice and operational needs.

: Users can tailor the AIs tone, responses, and call flows to align with their brands voice and operational needs. Seamless Integration : The platform integrates with various systems, including CRMs and helpdesks, via simple API configurations, ensuring smooth workflow automation.

: The platform integrates with various systems, including CRMs and helpdesks, via simple API configurations, ensuring smooth workflow automation. 24/7 Availability: AI Voice Agents operate continuously, ensuring consistent customer support and engagement without downtime.

Who Is It For?

CloudTalks AI Voice Agents are suitable for businesses seeking to automate routine customer interactions, such as lead qualification, appointment scheduling, and basic support inquiries. They are particularly beneficial for teams aiming to scale operations without proportionally increasing staff.

Pricing

Build : 350 per month, including 1,000 minutes. Additional minutes are billed at 0.50 per minute.

: 350 per month, including 1,000 minutes. Additional minutes are billed at 0.50 per minute. Scale : 750 per month, including 2,500 minutes. Additional minutes are billed at 0.35 per minute.

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For businesses with fluctuating call volumes, a pay-as-you-go option is available at 0.50 per minute, with no minimum usage requirements.

Final Thoughts

CloudTalks AI Voice Agents provide a scalable solution for businesses looking to automate customer interactions while maintaining a personalized experience. With flexible pricing and a range of customizable features, they cater to various business needs, from startups to large enterprises.

Visit cloudtalk.io/ai-voice-agents for more.
The actress and model is celebrating that her absence from the HBO series has allowed her to choose projects that interest her, such as the remake of Faces of Death and the comedy Mile End Kicks

The trailer for the third season of Euphoria, released on April 13, ends by highlighting the achievements of its young stars. Emmy winner Zendaya; Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney; Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi, HBO proudly proclaims, before introducing Alexa Demie and Hunter Schafer without any further explanation. The name missing is that of Barbie Ferreira (New York, 29 years old), one of the few actresses from previous seasons who doesnt appear in this latest one. After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character, she announced she was leaving the show in 2022 on her Instagram Stories, where she currently has 4.8 million followers. The text appeared over a drawing by Schafer of Thunder Kit Kat, the dominatrix alter ego of Ferreiras character, Kat. I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today, she said in farewell.

The absence of Ferreira in the new season of Euphoria fueled theories about her alleged clashes with series creator Sam Levinson over disagreements about the direction they wanted Kat to take. The Daily Beast published an extensive report on the filming of the second season, highlighting the actresss reduced screen time and her absence from the premiere. Multiple sources within the production company stated that Ferreira left the set on at least two occasions. They also claim that a sex scene featuring Ferreira was cut from the final version of the episode, the report stated. The official version is that her departure was a mutual decision. I dont think [Kat] would have fit in on the show. I dont know if I would have done her justice, and I think we both knew that I really wanted to be able to stop being the fat best friend. I dont want to play that role, and I think they didnt either, she concluded on the Armchair Expert podcast in 2023.

After those statements, Ferreira has played a twenty-something who starts an online friendship with a man who has the same name as the father who has just abandoned her  in the film Bob Trevino Likes It (2024), based on a true story  a kitchen assistant in the psychological thriller House of Spoils (2024) or a music critic in the romantic comedy Mile End Kicks (released in U.S. theaters on April 17), of which she is an executive producer. The actress, of Brazilian descent, has managed to distance herself from scripts in which discomfort with her weight is inherent to the character, but some fans are now criticizing her for the fact that Ferreira, whom they considered a benchmark of body positivity  the social movement that promotes acceptance and self-love towards all bodies  has accompanied the path to that goal with evident weight loss.

From left to right, Zendaya, Sam Levinson and Barbie Ferreira, at the premiere of the first season of 'Euphoria' in 2019. Variety (Penske Media via Getty Images)

Because I have a larger body than other people, I get asked about body positivity no matter what I do, and its unnecessary. It doesnt help normalize things. People have always considered me a body positivity activist, but over the years, Ive found my own version of the movement, and its not all about size, she confessed to Vogue in 2020. The New Yorker still has the same preference for low-cut and tight-fitting looks as she did then, but in the last two years, her public appearances wearing them are usually accompanied by headlines highlighting her physical transformation, preceded by adjectives like brutal, shocking, or drastic. Her Instagram posts are filled with fire and heart emojis, but they also elicit comments such as Ozempic has claimed another victim or Her activism towards diverse bodies was only because she had a diverse body and when she no longer had it she made sure to enjoy her privilege.

Showing off her physique has never been embarrassing for Ferreira. Before becoming known as an actress, she began her career as a model in 2013, at the age of 16, when she received a message from American Apparel on her Tumblr profile encouraging her to audition. Randomly, I took a not very good quality selfie  I was sick  and sent it in to American Apparel. I heard back from them the next day; it was the weirdest experience of my life, she recalled in a 2016 interview with W Magazine, in the same year Time magazine included her on its list of the 30 most influential teens. That opened doors for her to work as a photo model for Adidas, ASOS, and Forever 21, but her breakout moment came in 2025 when she debuted as a Victorias Secret Angel. That was just not in my head at all to walk a runway, period, especially the Victorias Secret Fashion Show, which is the biggest show. I just remember being like, What? It took me a minute to process what that meant, because I just was not expecting that at all. And then I got so excited, she told People before the lingerie brands high-profile fashion show.

While the internet is divided between those who praise her and those who accuse her of betraying her supposed cause, shes enjoying life beyond the series that brought her fame in 2019. Now I feel free in a way where I get to really do what I want, and I get to produce stuff that I like and be in these stories that I probably wouldnt have had time for if I were on the show, she said in a 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. One of those projects is the remake of the horror film Faces of Death, which premiered in the United States on April 10. She plays the lead, an online content moderator who stumbles upon a series of violent videos that recreate death scenes from a movie. The cast also includes Dacre Montgomery  known for Stranger Things  and Charli XCX.

Zendaya, Sweeney, and Elordi have become the most sought-after figures on the red carpet and are considered strong contenders for future awards seasons. Ferreira, for now, feels more comfortable in independent cinema and, lately, in horror  the genre to which three of her last five films belong. We made a really sickening horror out this weekend, she said on Instagram regarding the premiere of her new film, where her bloody footwear was a hot topic. I make independent films that are literally made on a shoestring budget, but theyre great, real stories. I prefer that to being on the most-watched show in the world in the background, without being able to act, she said Tuesday in a preview of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast.

Dacre Montgomery and Barbie Ferreira at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Faces of Death' on April 6. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin (FilmMagic)

Aside from her film career, shes just launched a capsule collection with the lifestyle brand For Your Soul, featuring plenty of sweatshirts and tracksuits. Its billed as a limited edition inspired by everyday rituals and the little moments people return to, and Ferreira herself shared her morning rituals to promote it: I wake up, go straight into the empty bathtub, turn on the tap, and let it fill with me in it. Thats how I wake up.

The more famous Ferreira becomes, the less she elaborates on her private life in interviews. Its known that she grew up in New Jersey in a home with Brazilian immigrant women  her mother, her aunt, and her grandmother  without a father figure. It was tough, she said of her childhood in Cosmopolitan in 2020, where she recounted how her mother spent her days away from home, juggling her culinary studies with a grueling job at a restaurant, and how her grandmother entertained her by making up stories. As for romantic relationships, the only one shes been known to have was between 2019 and 2022 with musician Elle Pucket, who is currently part of Gracie Abrams backing band. I love being queer. I love being fat. I love being Brazilian. I love being from New York. [All my identities] are what make me Barbie, she said in a 2019 interview with the LGBTQ+ magazine Them.

Shes Barbie now, and shell never be Kat again. Even so, many remember the revealing speech her character delivers in Euphoria, which could very well summarize the actresss current situation, regardless of her weight: Can I be honest with you? Ive realized that... my whole life, all Ive ever tried to do is take up less space. Ive tried to hide from guys who might whisper to their friends when they saw me walk by. Ive spent my life afraid that people would find out I was fat. But honestly, who cares? Theres nothing more powerful than a fat girl who doesnt give a fuck.

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Mestiza de Indias, in the countrys southeast, protects 200 hectares of rainforest where rare plants also thrive. The project is part of an effort to push back against mass tourism

His father had recently passed away, and Gonzalo Samaranch, still young, left Barcelona to seek refuge in the only place even slightly deeper than his grief: the Brazilian Amazon. He spent eight months immersed in the jungle, spending his nights, alert and still, on platforms built in the treetops, waiting to hunt the animals he would eat in the morning. One day, he had a vision. I saw myself in the future, in a jungle, growing food, married to an Indigenous woman, and in a place with an underground river. Thats exactly what Im doing today, says Samaranch, now 50 years old.

He is the founder of Mestiza de Indias, a regenerative agriculture initiative he launched with his Mayan wife, Martha Elena Chan Tuz, which is based deep in the jungle of Mexicos Yucatan peninsula. There, on a beautiful aguada, they stumbled upon something extraordinarily rare: a kind of wild vanilla with a level of genetic diversity no longer seen in this climatethreatened plant  and of which they have become the guardians.

Through the project, the couple protects 200 hectares of jungle and has restored five of them, where hundreds of fruit trees and highquality organic vegetables now grow. Their products are sold to hotels and restaurants in the region, but only to those willing to go against the grain of the masstourism industry.

Samaranchs life has been a series of twists and turns. At 18, he was doing fashion photography in Paris and taking portraits of people with autism. He spent eight months in the Amazon and then returned to Barcelona to study journalism. After graduating, he edited Le Cool, an underground travel guide, and later became an art dealer to make a living. Then he had an existential crisis: he recognized his own privilege and decided he wanted to contribute to a better world. He sold everything and set off in search of inspiring projects, eventually arriving at Las Canadas, a leading agroecology center in Mexico, where he trained in order to replicate the model.

Jose Daniel Chuc holds a Mayan vanilla leaf. Ricardo Hernandez

In 2013, he moved to Tulum with the idea of practicing permaculture. He observed the tourism boom on Mexicos Caribbean coast and the growing dependence on imported food. Youth migration had led to the abandonment of the milpa (polyculture plot where Indigenous farmers grow several complementary crops)  once a source of healthy, local food  and young people were returning with money earned in tourism only to spend it on junk food. Samaranch concluded that an organic regenerativeagriculture project could help address those problems.

With his savings, he bought 200 hectares in Espita, between Cancun and Merida: far from tourist hubs and pollution, yet close to communities in need of jobs. I was interested in this plot because I didnt have to cut down jungle  it had already been degraded by poor cattleranching practices. We cleared it, installed an irrigation system, started planting, and began offering our products to restaurants in the region, he explains.

Agriculture, he adds, is generous: radishes grow in 20 days, tomatoes in three months, and with good planning, staggered production can begin within just a few weeks.

It was in Espita that Samaranch also met his nowwife, Chan, a communityproject leader, former municipal tourism secretary, who is now fully involved in the project. To reach Mestiza de Indias, you pass through San Pedro Chenchela, a tiny settlement in Espita. Once you cross the property gate, you see a wide stretch of land and, straight ahead, an apiary.

Samaranch immediately clarifies that these are Melipona beecheii, an endemic stingless bee  but not the only species. Meliponas are trendy, but theyre just one of many varieties. The beecheii are popular because theyre the most productive, he says. Its the same story again: always chasing maximum yield. And in the process, the other endangered varieties have been forgotten.

The project, he explains, also keeps the Nannotrigona perilampoides bee species and, thanks to guidance from the organization Miel Nativa Kaban, will soon incorporate others.

The 'milpa' in Mestiza de Indias, where a variety of vegetables are grown.

At the far end of the property lies the milpa, where they practice regenerative agriculture  rebuilding soil organic matter and biodiversity to create sustainable crops through methods such as crop rotation, keeping the ground covered with plant material to prevent erosion, and minimizing soil disturbance.

Samaranch walks through the milpa, pulling from the earth whatever he sees that can be tasted. Purple basil, asparagus, garlic blossoms, white eggplant. Then a crisp spinach leaf, yellow beet, another basil that tastes like cinnamon, sweet carrot, edible flowers, and okra  the caviar of vegetables. The seeds come from Las Canadas. Planting is continuous and free of agrochemicals, and the result is highquality produce. When you buy food, youre not just deciding what youre going to eat  youre also choosing a landscape: 20 hectares of agroindustry, or what you see here, Samaranch says.

At first, he sold wherever he could. But he later chose to work only with established venues. Among his allies is Andoni Luis Aduriz, the awardwinning, Michelinstarred chef now leading XAL on the Mexican Caribbean. Its a privilege to have access to people so committed and so good at what they do. Hes a close interlocutor, Aduriz says. Their production isnt massive. I dont find their products expensive  especially considering they open the door to the heaven of flavor and to the culture in which theyre grown.

Mayan vanilla

And here is the crown jewel, Samaranch announces after walking deeper into the jungle and descending about 50 meters toward a beautiful wetland. He points to the smooth, fleshy leaves of the Maya vanilla.

To convey the significance of the find, Samaranch turns to biologist David Moreno Martinez, founder of the organization Orquidea, Ciencia y Tecnologia and an expert on vanilla. Moreno explains that there are more than 25,000 orchid species: around 125 are vanillas, and only three have economic importance because of their aroma and flavor.

The bestknown species is planifolia, native to Mesoamerica and widely used as a flavoring. But it is now endangered because it is propagated through cuttings: a piece is planted and replanted endlessly, allowing it to flower in three years instead of the eight required when grown from seed. This cloning reduces genetic diversity and makes the plant more vulnerable to climate change.

At Mestiza de Indias they have integrated a kitchen, where they prepare food for visitors who are interested in taking a tour of the facilities. Ricardo Hernandez

That is why the wild vanilla Samaranch points to is so important: it is not a clone and may be genetically distinct from those in Veracruz or Chiapas, according to Moreno. Samples have already been sent to the University of Florida for genetic analysis. To protect and study this and other species, Samaranch founded the nonprofit Naat Lab Salud Planetaria.

A space to breathe

Four workers from nearby villages are employed by the project, among them Teresa de Jesus Cen Requena and Reyes Baltazar Cohou. Her son and his brother struggle with methamphetamine addiction  a drug that has reached even the smallest Indigenous communities. Mestiza de Indias has become a workplace where they earn more than the minimum wage and better pay than anywhere else nearby, and they regularly take home baskets of the produce they grow themselves. Its a space surrounded by nature that helps me take a breath and forget everything, says Jesus Cen Requena.

This, Samaranch believes, is why the project matters: to care for nature, but also to offer people a dignified alternative.

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JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military on Sunday released a map of a "buffer zone" it is working to establish in southern Lebanon, showing a broad area extending several kilometers inside Lebanese territory and forming a continuous belt from Lebanon's Mediterranean territorial waters to the Mount Hermon area near the Syrian border.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have said that Israel will not withdraw its troops from the area, despite a temporary ceasefire that took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT). Katz also said that Israel would level houses and buildings in the zone, comparing it to actions in the Gaza Strip, and warned that Israeli forces would kill anyone deemed a Hezbollah member.

Five divisions, alongside naval forces, are currently operating in Lebanese territory to establish what it calls a "Forward Defense Line," aimed at "thwarting direct threats to communities of northern Israel," the military said in a statement.

The map includes a maritime segment off the Naqoura-Ras al-Bayada coastline, indicating a naval component.

The buffer zone reaches north of key cities and towns including Bint Jbeil, Aita al-Shaab, and Khiam, and extends to the Litani River in some sectors, encompassing multiple villages and ridge lines. Lebanon and Syria have not accepted the move.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces intensified military operations in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

In Bint Jbeil, forces continued demolishing homes to "clear the security zone," with tanks patrolling the heavily devastated city. Troops also detonated houses in al-Bayada and al-Naqoura, blocked roads using earth mounds, and shelled the town of Kounine.

There was no immediate Israeli comment.

The map was released three days after Washington announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which had been engaged in deadly fighting since early March. During a previous ceasefire that began in November 2024, Israel continued near-daily strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon. 
A displaced man who has returned to his town inspects houses destroyed in Israeli attacks in Jibchit, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem said on Saturday the ceasefire with Israel must mean a complete halt to aggression, warning the group will retaliate against Israeli violations in southern Lebanon.

"There is no ceasefire from one side only," Qassem said in a statement, adding that Hezbollah fighters "will respond to violations of aggression accordingly."

He outlined five key steps: a permanent halt to hostilities across Lebanon, a full Israeli withdrawal, detainee releases, the return of displaced residents, and reconstruction with Arab and international support.

Hezbollah had not been defeated and would continue to pursue Lebanon's liberation and independence, he added.

Qassem also said Hezbollah is open to "a new page" of cooperation with the Lebanese government, stressing readiness to work with state institutions to strengthen national unity and safeguard sovereignty.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump.

However, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Saturday that it had struck militants approaching a "Yellow Line," which marks the northern edge of the "security zone" established by Israel in southern Lebanon, over the past day.

The Israeli army also began constructing a new military site on Saturday near Kfarchouba village in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon's border area, according to eyewitnesses and a Lebanese security source.

The Lebanese security source told Xinhua that an Israeli military unit, comprising bulldozers and excavators, and protected by a Merkava tank, was conducting earthmoving works on a hill southwest of Kfarchouba. Activities included ground leveling, excavations, and the construction of earth berms, indicating the establishment of a new military post administratively linked to Kfarchouba.

Eyewitnesses identified the site as "Rbaa al-Teben" hill, about 1.5 km from the Lebanon-Israel demarcation line and home to olive groves and vineyards. 

Displaced people who have returned to their town inspect houses destroyed in Israeli attacks in Jibchit, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Displaced people drive across a temporary bridge on their way home in Bedias, Lebanon, on April 18, 2026. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Displaced people drive across a temporary bridge on their way home in Bedias, Lebanon, on April 18, 2026. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Rescuers search for victims of Israeli airstrikes prior to the ceasefire, in Tyre, south Lebanon, April 19, 2026.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Displaced people from Lebanon return to their homes after a ceasefire, in Borj Rahhal, south Lebanon, April 19, 2026.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Displaced people from Lebanon return to their homes after a ceasefire, in Borj Rahhal, south Lebanon, April 19, 2026.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Rescuers search for victims of Israeli airstrikes prior to the ceasefire, in Tyre, south Lebanon, April 19, 2026.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Rescuers search for victims of Israeli airstrikes prior to the ceasefire, in Tyre, south Lebanon, April 19, 2026.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the attack that killed one French peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and injured three others earlier in the day, his spokesperson said in a statement.

"Attacks on peacekeepers must stop. They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and may amount to war crimes," said the statement, issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres reiterated his call on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law, ensure the safety of UN personnel and the inviolability of UN property and assets, and respect UNIFIL's freedom of movement, the statement said.

"All attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be effectively prosecuted and held accountable," it said.

The statement noted that according to a UNIFIL initial assessment, the peacekeepers came under fire from non-state actors, presumed to be Hezbollah, while investigating a location where suspected improvised explosive devices had reportedly been placed on a road between two United Nations positions in the UNIFIL area of operations in southern Lebanon.

This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL and occurred despite a 10-day cessation of hostilities announced on April 16, the statement said, urging all actors to respect the truce and cease fire.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the peacekeeper who died, and to the Government and people of the French Republic. He wishes a full and fast recovery to the injured peacekeepers," the statement said. 
Student learn to write the Chinese characters during a lesson at a school in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 10, 2020. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

by Murad Abdo

ADEN, Yemen, April 19 (Xinhua) -- In Yemen, where life has long been shaped by conflict and uncertainty, little remains constant. Cities change, plans are interrupted, and the future often feels fragile.

Yet amid this shifting reality, I have found something unexpected -- a connection to a language and a culture that has taught me not only how to endure, but how to hope. It is a journey that began in turmoil and continues to unfold with steady determination.

In 2011, as Yemen stood on the edge of instability, that journey quietly began.

I still remember walking into the Sanaa bureau of Xinhua, China's state news agency. It was my first real encounter with Chinese colleagues. I was filled with ambition and curiosity about everything around me. At that moment, I felt as if I had stepped into a different rhythm of life -- one shaped by discipline, mutual respect, and a quiet confidence that did not need to be spoken, but could be felt in every gesture.

From that time, I began working for Xinhua from Aden, the southern port city. By then, I had already learned a few Chinese words. They seemed modest, almost insignificant, yet they carried a quiet promise -- as if they belonged to a future I had not yet reached. I believed I would continue, and that this path would unfold naturally.

But history -- and perhaps destiny -- arrived suddenly, and everything changed.

Armed men loyal to the Houthi group participate in an armed tribal rally supporting the resumption of attacks against Israeli ships, in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

That same year, Yemen entered a period of upheaval. Protests, instability, and later chaos reshaped the country. Universities closed. Opportunities disappeared. As a young journalist, I found myself in the middle of events, documenting change as it unfolded, often at great personal risk.

By 2015, the internal conflict had reached Aden. Like many others, I was internally displaced. In those years, life became a series of urgent decisions. Dreams did not vanish, but were pushed aside, waiting for a quieter time that never seemed to come.

Years passed, and Yemen continued to face mounting challenges, sinking deeper into a prolonged conflict widely regarded as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. In such circumstances, long-term aspirations often fade into the background.

Yet the connection endured -- the path I had glimpsed remained, and the bridge I had begun to build still stood, waiting.

A building destroyed in conflicts between Yemen's government forces and the Houthi group is seen on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Aug. 11, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua)

In 2024, I made a decision that felt both simple and profound: I returned to learning Chinese, committing myself to regular, intensive classes at Aden University.

That year marked the first time Chinese was taught in Aden, a city ravaged by war, not as a formal academic major, but through a series of intermittent, month-long courses.

Classes are held under challenging conditions. Teaching materials remain limited, and access to native Chinese-speaking instructors is almost nonexistent.

We are fortunate to have one dedicated native teacher, a Chinese woman still living in Aden, who carries the responsibility of guiding us all. At times, she is clearly overwhelmed, yet her persistence reflects a quiet commitment that inspires her students to continue.

Around me is a small but determined group of nearly 30 young Yemenis who share the same aspiration.

We study in classrooms that are often stiflingly hot, especially during long hours of electricity outages that Aden regularly endures. At those moments, even the simple act of writing becomes a challenge, as drops of sweat fall onto our notebooks, smudging the Chinese characters we carefully form during dictation exercises.

We study for a short period, then pause for months due to circumstances beyond our control, before resuming again when conditions allow.

A displaced boy fills plastic containers with drinking water at a temporary displacement camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Aug. 11, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua)

The legacy of war continues to shape reality. Much of the educational infrastructure has been affected, and parts of Aden University's main campus still bear the scars of aerial strikes carried out during the 2015 conflict. At times, even securing a classroom is a challenge, as university facilities remain overcrowded with students from other academic disciplines.

Compared with most students, I face a more complicated path. I study in the middle of a life that can change at any instant - balancing my work as a journalist with my lessons, attending classes with my camera always within reach.

I cannot afford to keep my attention fully in one place. I listen not only to my teacher, but also to the distant wail of ambulance sirens after explosions, the sudden vibration of my phone with urgent alerts from the Coast Guard about attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden or the Red Sea, or brief, unsettling messages from residents reporting fresh strikes elsewhere in Yemen.

To continue my studies during breaks between classes, I have turned to online Chinese courses at personal expense. Even this form of learning is not without difficulty, as unstable internet connections and weak infrastructure frequently disrupt the process.

Against all odds, learning Chinese has become more than a pursuit of knowledge - it has become an act of perseverance. It gives me a way to regain focus, to restore a sense of continuity, and to remind myself that progress is still possible, even in the most uncertain moments.

Each Chinese character demands patience, each tone requires precision. Every word I have learned is hard-earned, every sentence forged through effort. There are moments of frustration, but also quiet breakthroughs that keep me going.

An old Arabic saying goes: "Seek knowledge, even as far as China." To me, the distance it speaks of is less about geography than about resolve -- the determination to continue, even when the journey is difficult.

In this journey, I have discovered something important: language is not only a tool for communication; it is a bridge between civilizations.

Yemeni teacher Mohammed al-Ansi writes on a board as he teaches students the Chinese language at a school in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 10, 2020. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

Chinese, spoken by over a billion people, connects cultures, histories, and perspectives. It opens doors to understanding a civilization that has endured and evolved over thousands of years. It creates opportunities not only for individuals, but for regions seeking partnerships in a rapidly changing world.

For the Middle East, this connection matters more than ever.

Often defined by conflict, the Middle East is searching for stability, development, and opportunity. It is here that China emerges not just as a partner, but as a direction -- offering a model of long-term vision and steady progress. Its diplomatic approach, grounded in mutual respect, shared benefit, and cooperation without political strings attached, speaks directly to the region's needs after years of disruption.

As Middle Eastern societies focus on rebuilding infrastructure, diversifying their economies, creating jobs, and restoring confidence, the trajectory of development increasingly points toward China as a key friend and partner in shaping what comes next.

Against this backdrop, I dream of one day pursuing higher studies in China, to deepen my understanding of its language and culture and to better grasp the forces behind its development.

This year, I took my first step by applying for a Chinese government scholarship. Now, I wait with hope and quiet determination. Like many students across the Middle East, I hold on to this moment, believing it could open the door to a long-awaited new beginning.

On the eve of United Nations Chinese Language Day, observed annually on April 20, I see it not only as a global celebration, but also as a personal reminder.

A reminder that even in places marked by hardship, learning can continue;

A reminder that engaging with other cultures and civilizations can inspire new perspectives, quietly but meaningfully;

And a reminder that the future is not simply something we wait for, but something we build, step by step, through our own choices.

My journey is still unfolding -- between the echoes of conflict and the cadence of a new language.
A teacher gives a Chinese language lesson at Nangarhar University in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2026. Under the framework of Afghanistan's Confucius Institute, a Chinese language course was established at Nangarhar University in 2018. Since then, it has provided opportunities for more than 130 Afghan youth to learn Chinese.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Every morning, with firm determination and hope for a bright future, 20-year-old Bakhtiar Aryubzi walks into the Chinese-language classroom at Nangarhar University in eastern Afghanistan.

For him and a growing number of young Afghans, mastering Chinese is more than a practical skill; it is a pathway to connect cultures, foster understanding, and open doors between Afghanistan and neighboring China.

The interest in learning Chinese is surging not only in the capital but also day by day across the east of the country. While job opportunities and scholarships draw many students, the deeper motivation for many lies in cultural exchange, the chance to share Afghan heritage while embracing Chinese traditions, history, and values.

"Learning the Chinese language has many job and practical opportunities," Aryubzi said. Beyond language study, he sees it as a bridge between peoples. "The Chinese language is not only a means of conveying and understanding, but also a way of entering a new culture and getting to know it. I can share our cultures by translating into this language and make exchanges happen."

Fellow student Abdullah Momand shares that vision. Passionate about Chinese for years, he hopes mastery of the language will spread cultures while strengthening political ties. "I want to pursue a master's degree in China and play an active role in the political relations between China and Afghanistan," Momand told Xinhua inside his Chinese class.

"I want to become familiar with Chinese culture and its ancient sites." Like his peers, he views learning Chinese as a guarantee of a bright future and encourages his brothers and sisters to join him. "Those who learn Chinese have many opportunities available to them," he said. "The more knowledge people gain, the greater their interest in learning the Chinese language becomes," he added.

Abdul Kabir Halimi, who journeyed hundreds of kilometers from the remote, mountainous province of Nuristan to Nangarhar University, is now at his HSK 4 level and already speaks Chinese fluently.

"From a long time, I was interested in learning Chinese, but because our province is remote, there were no educational opportunities there, so I came here," he said. He is witnessing the rewards of his year-long efforts and envisions even greater possibilities ahead.

"If we learn Chinese well, there are many job opportunities in embassies, mining, trade, and education," he added with enthusiasm. His ultimate goal reaches beyond employment: "My goal is to go to China; I can study Chinese literature there."

At the Confucius Institute in eastern Afghanistan, instructor Abdul Basir Baryal has taught Chinese at Nangarhar University for five years and watches the enthusiasm grow. "With each passing day, the interest of young people in learning Chinese in the eastern zone of the country is increasing," he told Xinhua.

He pointed to two main drivers: expanding job opportunities, especially in the mining sector and with Chinese companies, and the chance to study in China through government scholarships. "Currently, we have around 40 to 50 students whom we teach in three shifts," Baryal said.

Yet challenges remain. Baryal noted the lack of adequate facilities, including standard classrooms, sufficient teaching materials, and a dedicated building for Chinese instruction. "We are facing the lack of standard classrooms for learning Chinese; we make do with the basic facilities we have."

Hedayatullah Hakimi, deputy dean of the Faculty of Languages and Literature at Nangarhar University, confirms the nationwide surge. "Not only in this region (the East), but across all of Afghanistan, the entire new generation is striving to learn Chinese," Hakimi told Xinhua.

Under the framework of Afghanistan's Confucius Institute, a Chinese language course was established at Nangarhar University in 2018. Since then, it has provided opportunities for more than 130 Afghan youth to learn Chinese.

The growing fascination with the Chinese language among Afghan youth reflects broader aspirations for cultural dialogue and practical advancement in a country seeking stronger international partnerships.

Through language, students like Aryubzi, Momand, and Halimi see themselves not only gaining economic opportunities but actively contributing to mutual understanding, translating texts, sharing traditions, and building lasting people-to-people connections between Afghanistan and China. 

Students attend a Chinese language class at Nangarhar University in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2026. Under the framework of Afghanistan's Confucius Institute, a Chinese language course was established at Nangarhar University in 2018. Since then, it has provided opportunities for more than 130 Afghan youth to learn Chinese.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Young Wildlife Belong in the Wild

MONTPELIER, Vt.  Watching wildlife is enjoyable, especially when young animals appear in the spring. But it is best to keep your distance.

Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and it is also against the law.

When people see young animals alone, they often mistakenly assume these animals are helpless or lost, in trouble or needing to be rescued. Bringing young wildlife into a human environment often results in permanent separation from their mothers and a sad ending for the animal.

Handling wildlife could also pose a threat to the people involved. Wild animals can transmit disease and angry wildlife mothers can pose significant dangers.

Fish and Wildlife scientists encourage wildlife watchers to respect the behavior of animals in the spring and early summer, and to resist the urge to assist wildlife in ways that may be harmful. Here are some helpful tips:

Deer and moose nurse their young at different times during the day and often leave young alone for long periods of time. These animals are not lost. Their mother knows where they are and will return.

Young birds on the ground may have left their nest, but their parents will still feed them.

Young animals such as fox and raccoon will often follow their mother. The mother of a wildlife youngster is usually nearby but just out of sight to a person happening upon it.

Wild animals can carry rabies, parasites and other diseases that are harmful to humans. Healthy-looking young raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats may also be carriers of the deadly rabies virus. Rabies cases have been on the rise in Vermont in recent years, and several baby animals tested positive last year. For your safety and the safety of local wildlife, do not handle them or try to keep them as pets. Doing so could result in animals needing to be euthanized for rabies testing.

Many wildlife species will not feed or care for their young when people are close by. Obey signs that restrict access to wildlife nesting areas, including hiking trails that may be temporarily closed.

Keep domestic pets indoors, leashed or fenced in and vaccinate them for rabies. Dogs and cats kill many young animals each year, and pets that roam free are at higher risk for rabies.

Avoid projects that remove trees, shrubs and dead snags that contain nests during the spring and summer.

For the safety of all wildlife, taking a wild animal into captivity is illegal, even one you suspect is sick, injured or has been abandoned.

For information about what to do when you encounter an animal in the wild, and to discuss questions and concerns about rabies, please call the Vermont Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4RABIES (1-800-472-2437).
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The JammuSrinagar National Highway is the lifeline of the Kashmir Valley. Its the only all-weather link connecting the region to the rest of India and has carried the economic and social pulse of the valley for decades.

While two alternative routes, the Sinthan Road and the Mughal Road, exist, both remain closed during winter due to heavy snowfall, making the JammuSrinagar National Highway the sole supply corridor through which essential commodities reach Kashmir.

Last August, severe flash floods forced the highway to remain closed for 15 days. This caused a near standstill in life and trade. The closure resulted in significant economic losses, particularly for the horticulture sector, which relies heavily on timely transportation.

Trucks brimming with apples, pears and other fruits were stranded for days, resulting in significant financial losses for growers and traders.

In this challenging terrain, a local figure has become an invaluable source of information and reassurance for travellers: Tahir Ahmad Giri, better known as Tahir Banihali.

open image in gallery Tahir has become a trusted voice for thousands who travel this route daily ( Mir Musavir Shabir )

Tahir, a resident of Banihal, a town on the highway about 94km from Srinagar, has become a trusted voice for thousands who travel this route daily. His influence now reaches far beyond, boasting approximately 1.1 million Facebook followers and nearly 197,000 Instagram followers.

Initially working with a construction company, Tahir frequently travelled between Banihal and Ramban, another town on the highway, which has the most challenging stretch.

During these trips, he witnessed the constant hardships commuters faced. Landslides, shooting stones, and sudden weather changes caused long traffic jams. Drivers would often be stuck for hours with no clear idea of what lay ahead.

Tahir had an idea. Tahir began posting updates about road conditions on his personal Facebook profile. His updates were simple and grounded in first-hand observation. They quickly gained attention.

Travellers appreciated the accuracy and timeliness of his posts. Encouraged by the positive response, he eventually created a dedicated page under the name National Highway Updates to provide road users with reliable information about conditions.

Today, his live videos and posts are often the first source of information for passengers, truck drivers, and families planning journeys between Kashmir and Jammu.

open image in gallery Wreckage of vehicles damaged in different accidents on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, near Ramsoo Police Station ( Mir Musavir Shabir )

During winter, when snow and landslides frequently disrupt traffic, people travelling to Jammu routinely check Tahirs updates before finalising their plans.

For many, his word carries more weight than official bulletins because he reports directly from the ground.

I receive many calls every day, and I try my best to respond to all of them. If a driver needs a Hydra or any recovery machine to pull out a stranded vehicle, I personally contact the operator and even travel with them to the exact spot, Tahir says.

Despite his immense popularity, Tahir operates without any specialised equipment or official resources. He relies solely on his smartphone.

Whenever there is a landslide, traffic jam, or road damage, he reaches the location and goes live, showing viewers the exact situation. His real-time coverage allows drivers to make informed decisions.

Tahir is our guide. Whenever we call him, he is available day or night, even in harsh weather. Before social media, we would get stuck without knowing what was ahead. Now, we check his updates first, says Mohammad Amin, a cab driver.

He gives us confidence, and his information helps us keep our passengers safe.

open image in gallery A bulldozer clearing landslide debris on National Highway 44 ( Mir Musavir Shabir )

Over time, Tahir has made another unexpected contribution. The mountainous terrain along the highway previously lacked clear names, making it difficult for travellers to pinpoint locations during emergencies.

To improve communication, Tahir started naming certain spots himself, such as Chinar Point. Remarkably, even traffic police and official advisories have adopted some of his names.

For truck drivers, especially those transporting perishable goods like fruits and vegetables, Tahirs updates are invaluable. Timely delivery is critical in the horticulture trade, and delays can lead to spoilage and financial losses.

One truck driver explained that before Tahirs page rose to prominence, they relied solely on official information, which sometimes lacked detailed, real-time updates. Now, they primarily follow his live updates and decide when to load their trucks and when to hold back.

Earlier, before Tahirs updates, we depended only on the official traffic plan. Now we mainly follow his live videos and then decide when to load our trucks. When we are carrying fruits or vegetables, timely delivery is very important, says Omar, who plies his truck on this highway frequently.

If a landslide happens, he shows us the exact situation live. If its major, we wait. If its minor, we move ahead. His updates save us from huge losses.

open image in gallery Trucks halted at Qazigund following the traffic regulations on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway ( Mir Musavir Shabir )

In earlier times, if a landslide occurred, drivers would unknowingly drive toward it and end up stranded for hours or even days. There was no immediate way to assess the severity of the situation.

Now, Tahirs live videos show the exact scale of a landslide, whether it is minor and likely to be cleared soon or major and potentially blocking the road for an extended period.

This highway is our lifeline, and if I can help someone reach safely, that is my biggest satisfaction, Tahir says.

Producer: Zafar Dar

Camera: Mir Musavir Shabir and Zafar Dar

Additional Shots: Muzamil Bashir
A visitor observes a specimen during a festival celebrating the upcoming Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the United States, on April 18, 2026. An all-ages festival titled Earthfest was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, an annual event on April 22, with hands-on activities, science trivia, specimen identification stations, and more. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A boy looks at a specimen during a festival celebrating the upcoming Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the United States, on April 18, 2026. An all-ages festival titled Earthfest was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, an annual event on April 22, with hands-on activities, science trivia, specimen identification stations, and more. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Children visit a specimen identification station during a festival celebrating the upcoming Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the United States, on April 18, 2026. An all-ages festival titled Earthfest was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, an annual event on April 22, with hands-on activities, science trivia, specimen identification stations, and more. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People watch a video titled In Search of Earth's Secretes during a festival celebrating the upcoming Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the United States, on April 18, 2026. An all-ages festival titled Earthfest was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, an annual event on April 22, with hands-on activities, science trivia, specimen identification stations, and more. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People look at a globe during a festival celebrating the upcoming Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the United States, on April 18, 2026. An all-ages festival titled Earthfest was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, an annual event on April 22, with hands-on activities, science trivia, specimen identification stations, and more. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Children observe specimens during a festival celebrating the upcoming Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the United States, on April 18, 2026. An all-ages festival titled Earthfest was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, an annual event on April 22, with hands-on activities, science trivia, specimen identification stations, and more. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
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India summoned Irans ambassador after two Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon allegedly by Iranian navy while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a formal diplomatic protest from Delhi.

Indias foreign ministry summoned Mohammad Fathali after the incident and foreign secretary Vikram Misri conveyed the governments deep concern over the shooting involving two merchant ships bound for India.

Misri stressed the importance India places on the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers, noting that Iran had previously enabled the safe passage of several India-bound vessels.

Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, the foreign secretary urged the ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait, the ministry said.

It added that the ambassador undertook to convey these views to the Iranian authorities.

The two vessels were identified as Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald. Officials said there were no casualties and the ships suffered minor damages, except shattered glass in one of the cabins, reported local media. Both vessels turned back after coming under fire north of Oman.

According to Marine Traffic, Jag Arnav, a bulk carrier sailing under the Indian flag, had departed Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia and was heading to India. Sanmar Herald was travelling to India with crude oil loaded in Iraq.

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and is one of the worlds most important energy chokepoints. About one-fifth of global crude shipments normally pass through the narrow waterway. India is among the countries with the highest number of vessels transiting the route because of its dependence on energy imports from the Gulf.

Indian officials said the government was treating the alleged firing by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seriously and continued to support open and free navigation through the strait.

open image in gallery Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz ( Reuters )

The incident also occurred while the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan remained docked at Kochi after seeking refuge from India. Around 120 of its 183 crew members have been repatriated, while essential personnel remain aboard to maintain the vessel. The ship arrived after another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka on 4 March.

A distress transmission from Sanmar Herald later surfaced. In audio shared by Tanker Trackers and reported by NDTV, a crew member can be heard saying: Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back.

Video reviewed by NBC News appears to show the Sanmar Herald moving through a designated safe passage or Green Area in the Strait of Hormuz. While travelling east, the ship temporarily switched off its tracking signal (AIS), which is the system ships use to broadcast their location. Later, when the signal came back on farther east, the ship had quickly turned around and was heading back west.

The confrontation came amid wider uncertainty over a fragile ceasefire involving the US and Iran, which is due to expire on Wednesday. The war, entering its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and driven oil prices higher because of the effective closure of the strait.

While Iran has not officially acknowledged the attack on the Indian tankers, it has said it is restricting shipping because of a continuing US blockade of Iranian ports. Its Supreme National Security Council called the blockade a ceasefire violation and said Iran would prevent any conditional and limited reopening of the strait.

Earlier, Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali had told NDTV that the strait will remain open for Indian ships. "We have good contact with the [Indian] government for allowing their ships to sail through the Strait of Hormuz."

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would continue threatening commercial shipping through the waterway.

open image in gallery A Sri Lanka Navy vessel approaches an Iranian Navy vessel IRIS Bushehr during a rescue operation, a day after the crew of a distressed Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena, were assisted in waters south of Sri Lanka, off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 5 March 2026 ( Reuters )

It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot, Mr Qalibaf said.

In separate comments, he said recent talks with Washington had narrowed some differences but major gaps remained over nuclear issues and the strait.

We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us, he told state media. There are some issues on which we insist ... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.

US president Donald Trump said there had been very good conversations with Tehran, but also described Irans move over the strait as blackmail. He defended the US blockade and warned he was prepared to start dropping bombs again unless a longer-term agreement was reached before the ceasefire ends.

Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press: Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations, adding that the US is risking the whole ceasefire package.

The latest disruption followed a temporary reopening announced by Iran on Friday after a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday. Tehran then reversed course on Saturday and reimposed control over the route.
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Thousands of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed around 1,000 homes in a coastal village in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island on Sunday, the fire department said.

Authorities were notified of the fire in Sandakan district at around 1.32am, the district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung said in a statement.

Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water source, Mr Lagung said.

The fire broke out in one of Sabah's water villages, which feature wooden houses built on stilts and are home to some of the country's poorest communities, including many stateless and indigenous groups.

Over 9,000 residents have been affected by the fire, though no deaths have been reported, Sandakan police said, according to state news agency Bernama.

Malaysia's prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government was coordinating with Sabah authorities to provide basic assistance and temporary relocation for those affected.

"The priority now is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground," he said in a Facebook post.
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North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, in the countrys latest weapons testing activity this year.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches happened on Sunday morning from the Norths eastern Sinpo area. It said South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely exchanging information with the US and Japan.

South Korea's presidential office said its National Security Council plans to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the launches.

Japans Defense Ministry also detected the launches, saying the weapons were believed to have landed in the waters off North Korea's east coast. It said Tokyo strongly protested to Pyongyang, saying Sunday's launches threaten regional and international peace and violated UN Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic activities by North Korea.

( AFP/Getty )

Last week, North Korea said leader Kim Jong Un supervised missile tests from the countrys destroyer. After the test, Kim said his government remained focused on the limitless expansion of its nuclear forces and issued unspecified new tasks to sharpen the countrys nuclear attack and rapid-response capabilities.

International Atomic Energy Agency director General Rafael Grossi said last week that his agency has confirmed a rapid increase in activities at nuclear facilities in North Korea.

Pyongyang's intense missile activity - this was the fourth such launch this month and the seventh of the year - is meant to display its self-defence capabilities while gaining international leverage, some experts said.

"The missile launches may be a way of showing that - unlike Iran - we have self-defence capabilities," said South Korean former presidential security adviser Kim Ki Jung.

"The North also appears to be exerting pressure preemptively and make a show of force before engaging in dialogue with the United States and South Korea," he said.

The seven-week-old US-Israeli war against Iran, which has as one aim the curbing of Tehran's nuclear programme, could reinforce Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, experts and former South Korean officials say.

US President Donald Trump, preparing for a summit in China next month, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have repeatedly expressed interest in holding talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. There are no publicly known plans for any meetings.

Lee recently conveyed regret to the North for drone incursions from the South, receiving rare praise from Pyongyang.

It was not clear what kind of ballistic missiles were fired, but Sinpo has submarines and equipment for test-firing submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The North last fired a ballistic missile from a submarine in May 2022, and it flew as far as 600km (370 miles).

In late March, North Korean leader Kim said Pyongyang's status as a nuclear-armed state was irreversible and expanding a "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" was essential to national security.
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Baby food brand HiPP is recalling some of its baby food jars after samples in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic tested positive for rat poison, officials said Sunday.

Authorities believe the tampering occurred in 190-gram (6.7-ounce) jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-olds that were sold from SPAR supermarkets in Austria. The first sample tested positive on Saturday.

This recall is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition, HiPP said in a statement. The recall is related to a criminal act currently under investigation by the authorities.

Burgenland Police in Austria said the suspicious products likely have a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar. Other warning signs include a damaged or opened lid and an unusual or spoiled smell. There also might not be a popping noise when the jar is first opened.

HiPP said it is recalling all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets  which include SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores  in Austria as a precaution. Customers can get full refunds even without a receipt. Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic have removed all of the brand's baby jars from sale.

A customer reported that a jar appeared to have been tampered with, police said, though no one had consumed the baby food.

Rat poison typically includes bromadiolone, an anticoagulant that prevents the blood from clotting, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety. Ingesting rat poison could lead to bleeding like bleeding gums and nosebleeds, as well as bruising and blood in the stool.

Symptoms could appear two to five days after ingestion, the agency said.
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Counterterror police are looking into whether a series of arson attacks against Jewish sites in north London have been carried out by Iranian proxies, the Metropolitan Police said.

Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London, was the target of an arson attack on Saturday night, the latest in a spate of incidents targeting Jewish properties.

The Community Security Trust said the building sustained minor smoke damage to an internal room, but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.

Officers on deterrence and reassurance patrols in the wake of the previous incidents spotted damage to a window of the building at around midnight.

A bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window, and smoke was seen inside a room, a police spokesperson said.

The incident is being treated as arson and an investigation is underway led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, supported by local officers, it added.

Saturday nights arson attack came just 24 hours after a similar incident outside a former charity building in Hendon, and follows a series of attempted attacks at Jewish sites in north London in the past month.

open image in gallery A police forensic officer works inside a cordon set up near Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London ( AFP/Getty )

Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the incidents of arson have been similar in nature, targeting Israeli and Jewish premises within London.

She said at the scene on Sunday: Most have been claimed online by a group, Ashab al-Yamin, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right. The same group, in recent months have claimed attacks across Europe, also happening at similar premises, such as Jewish and Israeli premises.

I want to be clear, irrespective of the motivation of this group, to those who are facilitating this activity on their behalf and those who are committing the acts, we will not tolerate activity that seeks to intimidate and harm our communities. You will not succeed in creating division and hate.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, counterterrorism policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK.

We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran  as you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.

Ms Evans continued: Ive spoken previously about the Iranian regimes use of criminal proxies, and were considering whether this tactic is being used here in London.

This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crimes.

The prime minister has been urged to decry what the president of the charity behind the synagogue has described as an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate after the series of incidents.

open image in gallery A police officer outside the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London ( PA )

Saul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue, said: The prime minister should declare publicly what the Jewish community has known for some time: this is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate.

Sir Keir Starmer described the incidents as abhorrent, writing on social media: I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in north London.

This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain. We are increasing visible policing, and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.

About the incident in Harrow, a spokesperson for the Community Security Trust said: We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.

We want to thank the Met Police and London Fire Brigade for responding quickly and for all they are doing to protect the Jewish community during this unprecedented period.

We are supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police as they investigate and seek to identify those responsible.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called it a cowardly arson attack and said that a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

His statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, said: It follows the attack in Finchley on Wednesday and the attempted attack on what was the Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday night, making three Jewish sites attacked in London in less than a week.

He added: This sustained attack on our communitys ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.

open image in gallery Police officers patrol at a cordon near an incident at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London ( Jamie Lashmar/PA )

Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.

The incident in Harrow came hours after the Metropolitan Police deployed extra resources to parts of northwest London as it treated an attempted arson on Friday night as an antisemitic hate crime.

On Friday evening, a man was seen approaching a row of shops in Hendon carrying a plastic bag later found to contain three bottles of fluid, placing it down, before lighting the items inside.

The man fled the scene when they failed to fully ignite. The shopfront sustained minor damage, and no injuries were reported.

A police cordon was in place around a building, said to be formerly used by the Jewish community, on Saturday afternoon.

Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation into the incident in Hendon, as well as probes into other attacks because of the similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility, the Met said.

On Wednesday, bottles, one thought to contain petrol, were placed near Finchley Reform Synagogue in Fallow Court Avenue, Finchley.

Officers said two people, who were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas, were seen approaching the synagogue just after midnight.

Neither of the bottles were ignited and the people fled the scene, the force added, with no damage or injuries reported.

This came after four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green in the early hours of 23 March.
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The government is considering banning children under the age of 16 from using AI chatbots, as part of its consultation to keep young people safe online.

Technology minister Liz Kendall said the government is looking at whether the use of AI chatbots should be subject to age restrictions, similar to those being considered for social media.

Ministers have been under pressure to enforce an Australian-style ban on social media for young people, as concerns grow about the impact it can have on childrens welfare and development.

The government has launched a consultation to gather public opinion on a ban, which will also look at how to limit addictive design features on AI chatbots and games.

Asked on Sunday whether the government is considering banning AI chatbots for under-16s, Ms Kendall said: We are certainly looking at whether there should be those age restrictions overall, as well as the individual features.

open image in gallery Technology minister Liz Kendall says the government is looking at whether AI chatbots should be covered by age restrictions ( PA Media )

Speaking on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, she said: You had a whole programme about AI chatbots, and we are going to bring them under the Online Safety Act. Weve already legislated to say that AI chatbots are brought under the Online Safety Act in terms of whats illegal, and we will also bring them in for whats harmful for children.

She added: The issue is not, lets be clear here, if were going to act  but how.

Despite the governments consultation having received nearly 50,000 responses, Ms Kendall has called on more young people to reply before it closes in five weeks, because the respondents so far only include around 6,000 children.

Ms Kendall is set to meet with young people and the NSPCC to discuss how AI and technology are shaping childhood, at a Childhood in the Age of AI summit on Monday.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer hauled tech chiefs into Downing Street on Thursday, telling them that the risks faced by children on social media cant go on like this, but could not guarantee action by the summer to crack down on the issue.

Although there has been pressure from parents to ban under-16s from social media, some campaigners have warned lawmakers against rushing into the move after it emerged that the government had carried out no internal modelling of the key impacts of such a ban.

open image in gallery Peers have twice voted to introduce an age limit in the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, but MPs recently rejected another bid by the Lords to bar youngsters immediately from accessing social media ( Alamy/PA )

Peers have twice voted to introduce an age limit in the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, but MPs recently rejected another bid by the Lords to bar youngsters immediately from accessing social media platforms.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology revealed that it had not done any modelling or analysis on the impact such measures would have in areas such as mental health, access to news, and how young people might bypass any restrictions.

In response to a freedom of information (FOI) request submitted by the Press Association, the department said internal modelling had not been carried out because clear, agreed evidence does not currently exist.

Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, a charity that works to improve online safety for young people, said: Parents are rightly demanding action from government to protect children online, but they want solutions to be effective and safe.

It is crucial the government follows all the available evidence about an under-16 social media ban before rushing into it, and the consultation provides an opportunity to do this.
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Some residents who live on the street that won Nigel Farages controversial energy bills competition have said they have not been given their prize.

Reform said they would cover the energy bills from the winning home - and every address on the street - for a year.

June from Wigan was announced as the winner earlier this month. In a video posted on social media, Mr Farage could be seen handing over flowers to June and her husband in their foyer, as the partys treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick held a giant cheque.

The win faced scrutiny when social media users claimed Mr Farage already knew the winners, as a picture appearing to show him standing behind the couple at a 2019 Brexit Party event resurfaced.

Wigans local Reform UK branch also posted the news on Facebook later, congratulating the pair of staunch branch members on their win.

It is understood that the party followed the legal requirements of the competition, with a draw that picked June as the winner at random.

open image in gallery The Reform UK leader announced the winner of the controversial competition earlier this month, telling June from Wigan that the party would be paying for her entire streets energy bills for a year ( Facebook/Nigel Farage )

Now some people who live on St Malo Road in the Greater Manchester town have said they have been excluded from the prize, despite Reform saying it would pay for the energy bills for every home on the street.

The Telegraph has reported that only the homes in the same half of the street, which is divided by St Aubyns Road, as the winners that received a letter, which instructed them how to put in a claim to Reform.

Reform says they were not able to deliver all of the letters on the day of their visit, but they are now incoming.

Angie Ecclestone, 48, told The Telegraph that her sister rang her to congratulate her on the winnings but she has not received them.

I thought to myself Ill believe it when I see it but I didnt realise I had been excluded and that my neighbours had all received a letter and instructions, Ms Ecclestone said.

Nigel Farage said the whole street [would be included] but we havent heard anything. I am in shock. I am the first house on St Malo Road. Its the whole street or not the street. I am mortified.

Similarly, IT worker Matt Johnson, 53, learnt about the prize draw win when his sister got in touch with him.

We thought we would hear something from Reform by email or post but at the moment we havent heard anything, he said.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage on the campaign trail with local elections coming up next month ( PA )

I mean if Reform said at the time it would be the whole street, then we feel like we should be included in that.

Our energy bills keep going up and down but they are around 3,500 a year. Having them paid for would make a huge difference.

Fraser Hayes, 63, also said he has not received the winnings but would give them away if he does get them, as he is no fan of the insurgent right-wing party.

I have no qualms about depriving Reform of the money and giving to a local kids charity or maybe even the Labour candidate, he told The Telegraph.

[The stunt] is appalling. Its obviously a data grab. Theyre trying to get loads of people to write in and they ask, Who did you vote for last time. Who will you vote for this time?

I am absolutely not a Reform fan and I am appalled that anyone is.

When announced, the competition sparked calls for the information watchdog to investigate, after competitors were asked questions including who they voted for at the last general election and who they plan to back at the next.

Reform UK said it had been cleared by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

A Reform UK spokesman told The Independent: We posted letters physically through some of the doors on the day but werent able to deliver to all the addresses on the day. Letters are incoming for the remaining households. We always intended to pay for the whole road, as promised, and will do.
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Richard Tice said he is always happy to put things right and will pay what is owed if numbers need rechecking after reports he failed to pay almost 100,000 in corporation tax.

The deputy leader of Reform ran four shell companies that did not pay any tax on profits between 2020 and 2022, The Sunday Times reported.

That benefited his investment company, which went on to make huge donations to the party, the newspaper said.

Mr Tice said in a statement that a long career with multiple businesses was bound to feature some errors. He said he would be happy to pay what is owed if necessary.

It comes after Reform UK said last week the reported failure of Mr Tices company to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax on dividends was a minor administrative error.

open image in gallery Richard Tice is facing questions over his tax affairs ( PA )

The latest report claimed that Mr Tice had used his Quidnet property companys Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) status to save tax.

REIT companies are exempt from UK corporation tax on rental profits and on capital gains from property rentals.

Quidnet paid 514,000 of distributions to four companies, according to the report. While Quidnet, having REIT status, would have been exempt from corporation tax, the other companies would not.

The payments were wrongly treated as tax-exempt ordinary dividends, where they should have been treated as taxable REIT property income distributions, the newspapers investigation concluded.

That would mean some 98,000 of corporation tax was owed on the income, according to the report, compiled with Tax Policy Associates, a think tank that helped work on the investigation.

open image in gallery Tice with Reform leader Nigel Farage in February ( Getty )

Mr Tice said he had always paid everything that I was advised to pay but was happy to put things right if needed.

In a highly successful career spanning 40 years, I have done business in 12 countries across three continents, and been a director of more than 150 companies, he said.

Heres the reality: tax efficiency is a basic corporate responsibility and duty to shareholders. A long career with multiple businesses is bound to feature some errors.

Naturally, I am always happy to put things right, and if numbers need rechecking, of course, I will pay what is owed  be that more or less.

Mr Tice said just months ago that Angela Rayner should resign if she had any moral decency, after the then deputy prime minister admitted she had underpaid stamp duty when buying her 800,000 flat in Hove  something she blamed on legal advice received at the time.

open image in gallery Angela Rayner (pictured in February) admitted in September to underpaying stamp duty when she bought her home in Hove ( AFP/Getty )

Last week, Reform UK said the reported failure of Mr Tices company to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax on dividends was a minor administrative error.

Mr Tice received at least 91,000 because his property investment company, Quidnet REIT Limited, did not pay the required 20 per cent tax on the dividends before they were issued to him and his offshore trust in Jersey, The Sunday Times reported.

The Boston and Skegness MP said on X that overall HMRC received the correct amount of tax due and that any issue was due to complex tax technicality around dividends to certain shareholder classes in REITs.

The Labour Party previously asked HMRC to investigate his tax affairs after The Sunday Times reported he had avoided nearly 600,000 in corporation tax through his property company.

The Independent approached Mr Tice and Reform UK for comment.
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A Las Vegas veteran says his homeowners association targeted him for displaying vintage fire hydrants in his yard that commemorate his military service and decades-long firefighting career.

Brent Saba, a military veteran and longtime firefighter, has three non-functional, vintage fire hydrants on display on a patio outside his front door.

This hydrant right here, I brought this fire hydrant home from Iraq. I served over in Iraq for about a year, year and a half or so. So that one there was a special piece, Saba told KSNV.

Earlier this month, he received a citation from Antelope HOA claiming that the hydrants violated HOA rules that dictate front and side yard landscaping.

It was just kind of for me was the last straw and I was like Im not gonna go down without a fight, Saba said. Im hoping things actually improve for this neighborhood.

open image in gallery Brent Saba, a military veteran and longtime firefighter living in Las Vegas, says his homeowners association tried to bully him into taking down three non-functional fire hydrants he has on display outside his home ( KSNV )

The three vintage hydrants had been on display without issue ever since Saba moved to the neighborhood a little over a year ago, he told the news station.

How are they going to tell the guy with over 30 years in the fire service, you got to get rid of your fire hydrants? I mean, its not like its clutter. Its not like its defacing anything. I mean, its still  my neighbors all even think it looks good, Saba said.

Saba says the HOA told him he needed to apply for approval to keep the hydrants on his lawn. Even after submitting his application, along with written support from his neighbors, his request was denied.

First they told me that I had to apply for an architectural modification permit. Well, number one, this isn't architectural. These are just items to display. That's all they are, Saba said.

Saba says he later received a message suggesting that additional approval may be required from the homeowner.

Im a fire inspector and when I write up a violation on a building, imagine if I wrote up something that didn't even apply to what the write up was," he said. "I would look like a fool."

On Saturday, Saba told Fox Business that the HOA now says he may be able to keep the hydrants on display. It was not immediately clear when Saba would receive a final answer.

I mean this HOA in this neighborhood is out of control, Saba said. ...The HOA thought that they could bully me and manipulate me.

The Independent has contacted Antelope HOA for comment.
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NPR received its largest-ever donation from a living donor this week when billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer gave $80 million to the media organization.

Ballmer  a former member of the NPR Foundation's board told the Wall Street Journal that she poured money into NPR because we need fact-based journalism, and we need local journalism.

She told the paper that she's been a fan of the organization since her 20s and that she listens to it when I walk, I listen in the car, I listen at home and at work."

"I support NPR because an informed public is the bedrock of our society, and democracy requires strong, independent journalism," Ballmer said in a statement on Wednesday. "My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and the spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen its national network."

Connie Ballmer and her husband, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Connie Ballmer, a former member of the NPR Foundation board, donated $80 million to the network in April 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

Ballmer and her husband, LA Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, have donated more than $3 billion to charities in recent years, according to an interview they gave in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Steve Ballmer held onto most of his Microsoft stock after stepping down as CEO in 2014, and his net worth has since jumped past $100 billion. A year later, the couple founded the Ballmer Group to try and improve economic mobility for kids and families in disadvantaged communities, CBS News reported.

Last year alone, the group gave away more than half a billion dollars.

Her donation comes at an important time for NPR. Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending federal funding for public TV and radio organizations.

Approximately 1 percent of NPR's budget was funded through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, the Corporation was responsible for up to half of the operating budgets of some smaller NPR member stations in rural areas, according to the broadcaster.

NPR pushed back and sued the Trump administration, arguing that the executive order broke federal law. The broadcaster earned a win in March after a judge ruled that the Trump administration could not use its power to slash funding for NPR.

Despite the court victory, Trump's actions have left NPR to seek funding elsewhere.

This is a tough time for independent journalism, Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, told the Journal.

She told the paper that Ballmer's gift would allow the company to become "more sustainable."

Ballmer said that she understands the difficulties of running some of the smaller networks from her time on NPRs foundation board.

Helping them modernize and take advantage of the digital age is a great role for philanthropic dollars and something Im proud to support, she told the Journal.

Ballmer wasn't the only one dropping big money to keep NPR on the airwaves. The news organization also announced on Wednesday that it had received a $33 million donation from an anonymous donor.

In total, NPR received $113 million between the donations.

Maher said that the gifts would help the network and its member stations to prepare for the next 50 years, calling them catalytic investments" in NPR's future, according to the broadcaster.
A resident looks at a coastal village after a fire in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysia, April 19, 2026. Hundreds of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed over 200 homes in a coastal village in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysian authorities said on Sunday. The fire broke out at 1:32 am local time, Sandakan district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung told Bernama. (Bernama/Handout via Xinhua)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed over 200 homes in a coastal village in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysian authorities said on Sunday.

The fire broke out at 1.32 am local time, Sandakan district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung told Bernama.

"Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water source," he said.

No casualties have been reported so far, and local authorities have started arranging temporary shelters for the affected residents. 

An aerial drone photo taken on April 19, 2026 shows a coastal village after a fire in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysia. Hundreds of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed over 200 homes in a coastal village in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysian authorities said on Sunday.

The fire broke out at 1:32 am local time, Sandakan district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung told Bernama. (Bernama/Handout via Xinhua)

Residents transfer their property after a fire at a coastal village in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysia, April 19, 2026. Hundreds of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed over 200 homes in a coastal village in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysian authorities said on Sunday.

The fire broke out at 1:32 am local time, Sandakan district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung told Bernama. (Bernama/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 19, 2026 shows a coastal village after a fire in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysia. Hundreds of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed over 200 homes in a coastal village in the northern Borneo state of Sabah, Malaysian authorities said on Sunday.

The fire broke out at 1:32 am local time, Sandakan district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung told Bernama. (Bernama/Handout via Xinhua)
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A heroic Oklahoma high school principal, shot in the leg while taking down a school shooter, was crowned prom king this weekend.

A heartwarming video from Friday night showed students at Pauls Valley High School, 60 miles south of Oklahoma City, crowning Kirk Moore just weeks after he disarmed a former student who had plans of carrying out a mass shooting.

In the video from prom night, Moore walks through the crowd at the dance and high-fives cheering students. The DJ declared Moore our king and then played the Nickelback song Hero.

Moore has been lauded for his heroic actions after he wrestled Victor Lee Hawkins, a 20-year-old former student, to the ground after he entered the school and began firing a pistol earlier this month.

Surveillance footage captured Moore tackling Hawkins, disarming him and staying on top of him until police arrived April 7.

open image in gallery Oklahoma high school principal Kirk Moore was crowned prom king Friday after wrestling down a former student who was planning a mass shooting ( @DudespostingWs /X )

The video, released by the school district, showed the suspect in a dark hooded sweatshirt entering the school and pointing a handgun at two students in the lobby.

Moore can then be seen rushing at him and taking him to the ground. The footage also shows another teacher picking up the gun and taking it away.

No students were injured in the attack.

The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives today, Hunter McKee, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said after the shooting.

Hawkins was arrested and charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm, shooting with the intent to kill and pointing a firearm.

open image in gallery Surveillance video captured Moore tackling the would-be shooter to the ground earlier this month ( AP )

Hawkins told investigators that he had planned to kill students, Moore and then himself in a mass shooting like the Columbine shooters did, referencing the 1999 school shooting in Colorado that resulted in the deaths of 12 students and a teacher.

Hawkins has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges. His court-appointed attorney, Tyson Stanek, declined to comment on the charges, citing policies of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. He is being held on a $1 million bond.
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Philz Coffee, a California-based coffee chain, will reverse its plan to remove Pride flags from its cafes following public backlash.

Every Pride flag that is up stays up, and any Pride flag that was previously removed can be put back up, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier this month, the company confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle that it planned to remove Pride flags. Its baristas began circulating a petition calling for a reversal of the policy, which over 1,000 people signed by Wednesday, the Chronicle reported.

Mahesh Sadarangani, the company's CEO, issued a public apology for the planned flag removals.

I made a mistake, and I am sincerely sorry, he said. To our team members, to our customers, and to the LGBTQIA+ community that has been with us since the very beginning, the confusion and hurt we caused around our new policy for Pride flags failed you.

open image in gallery ( Getty )

Sadarangani said in his statement that the flags are a "symbol of safety and belonging for people who dont always find that in the world."

Philz Coffee was purchased by private equity firm Freeman Spogli in August, KQED reports.

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the U.S., celebrated the company's decision not to remove the flags.

Philz Coffee tried to take down our flags and tamp down our pride  but we served a hot cup of reality, HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement to The Advocate. LGBTQ+ people are part of every community and in every zip code, and over 14,000 HRC members and supporters spoke up to make sure Philzs leadership couldnt ignore us.

The HRC said it organized more than 14,000 of its members and supporters to put pressure on the coffee shop to change course.

This is a win not just for Philzs customers but for their LGBTQ+ and allied employees, their shareholders, and the public at large, Robinson told The Advocate. Our community spends over $1.4 trillion each year as consumers, and well be watching who stands with us today, tomorrow, and always.

Sadarangani said his decision came after meeting with a pair of San Francisco Pride leaders to discuss the policy.

"I had the chance to sit down with San Francisco Pride leaders Suzanne Ford and Jupiter Peraza, both are trans women who led this conversation with grace, directness and a genuine commitment to finding alignment on what matters," he said.

Ford, San Francisco Pride's executive director, issued a statement praising Sadarangani for being willing to listen and adjust his policy.

"What gave me reason to engage with Mahesh was something I don't always see from a CEO in this situation: genuine humility. He reached out, listened and understood that this wasn't about optics," she wrote. "Mahesh sat with our community members, heard their perspective and apologized, not as a formality but as a person who got it wrong and wanted to make it right. That matters."

The company said that going forward, it will "also feature locally created artwork shaped by the voices of Team Members and the neighborhoods they serve, a living expression of the diverse communities Philz is proud to be part of."
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When Anna Ginskys terrier mix Ellie needed a teeth-cleaning in 2014, she was quoted over $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs by her vet in San Diego, California.

I had just happened to get my tax return, and I had gotten around that amount back, Ginsky, 42, who was then working as a barista, told The Independent. But I was like, man, that's going to be a bummer that I'm going to have to give that money to this dental work that she needs.

Thats when a friend made an interesting suggestion. She was like, well, we get our dental work done in Tijuana do you think that they do dog teeth cleanings, too? Ginsky recalled.

The notion proved fortuitous  and cost-effective. After researching online, Ginsky discovered affordable veterinary care on the other side of the U.S.-Mexican border. Soon, Ellie was on her way to a dog dentist in Tijuana with Ginsky where she had dental cleaning, extractions and bloodwork done for around $400.

That first experience made me feel really good. I was like, Oh shoot, I can say yes to everything. I dont have to dread the vet because I know that I'm not gonna drain my whole savings account here, Ginsky said.

open image in gallery Page Ryland, a 27-year-old personal assistant from Los Angeles, was once quoted $22,000 for a surgery for her French Bulldog, Brody. Thats when she considered venturing south of the border ( Page Ryland )

Some 95 million American households own a pet, and prices for veterinarian services in the U.S. have gone up by over 300 percent in the last 30 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As a result, many are looking beyond the states to care for their furry friends.

The latest data from SENASICA (an agency covering part of Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture) reveals that over 33,500 pets crossed into Mexico from the U.S. in 2023, an increase of 68 percent in four years.

Traveling across the border for their own medical and dental care has become a frequent trip for many Americans with over 550,000 U.S. citizens going to Mexico for dental procedures in 2024, according to Patients Without Borders.

As well as Tijuana, cities including Los Algodones and Cancun have established themselves as dental tourism hubs, offering dozens of clinics with U.S.-grade medical equipment and bilingual staff to cater to American patients. Like veterinary care, procedures are often thousands of dollars cheaper in Mexico, according to consulting firm, Grand View Research.

open image in gallery After doing research online, Anna Ginsky realized there were much more affordable options across the U.S.-Mexico border. After settling on a vet, she and her dog Ellie travelled to the clinic where she had the dental work ( Anna Ginsky )

open image in gallery Vehicles crossing the US-Mexico border through the crossing at San Ysidro. Cities such as Tijuana, Los Algodones and Cancun have all become hubs for medical tourism as Americans look to save money on bills for themselves, and their pets ( AFP/Getty )

The American Veterinary Medical Association, which represents 111,000 U.S. vets, is strongly against the practice and noted that only one veterinary school in Mexico meets U.S. accreditation standards.

The initial savings may be appealing, but there are often hidden costs and risks that deserve careful consideration, AVMA president Dr. Michael Q Bailey told Intelligencer.

Pet-related horror stories are extremely rare, however, and growing numbers of people are considering making use of the services.

Page Ryland, a 27-year-old personal assistant from Los Angeles, was quoted $22,000 for nasal passage correction surgery for her French Bulldog, Brody, in 2023.

French Bulldogs are notorious for hurting the wallet, she told The Independent. I remember there being times where I would get the vet bill after Brody had one of his many medical issues and thinking, oh, my God, this is going to actually set me back. I mean, I'm talking like my entire paycheck and then some.

open image in gallery Anna Ginsky, left, founder of MexiVet Express with her lead driver Rebeca Altamirano. Ginsky founded the border crossing pet service in 2018 ( Anna Ginksy )

Though the surgery was not immediately necessary, Ryland has considered venturing south.

If that same surgery could be done the same way in Tijuana, or anywhere in Mexico, hopefully for less than half the price I would 100 percent go down there. Id just have to figure out the logistics, she said.

Fortunately, help with logistics is now precisely what Ginsky is offering.

After her own positive experience, she founded MexiVet Express in 2018 to connect pet owners in San Diego with affordable vet care in Tijuana. The companys packages include animal transportation and translation services between Mexican vets and American owners.

No pet passports or insurance is required for them to make the crossings  only proof of vaccines and a CDC dog import form, which the company fills out.

open image in gallery Brody the French Bulldog. His owner, Page Ryland, is one of many American pet owners who are increasingly considering veterinary treatments across the border as a result of exorbitant costs in the US ( Page Ryland )

MexiVet Express has 15 full-time employees, with seven drivers shuttling dogs between San Diego and Tijuana. Transporting three to five animals at a time, the drivers make several trips per day, and they are nearly always fully booked.

If somebody wants to use a vet in Mexico or Tijuana they definitely need to do their research, Ginsky said. The good thing is that we've done that work for you.

With business booming, competing services have sprung up, including PetMex international  run by two former MexiVet employees, which offers white glove cross border home-to-clinic pet transportation. The company promises customers can save up to 90 percent off their traditional vet bill.

Ginsky says she has heard of other sole proprietors running similar businesses with just one vehicle. They've heard about what we're doing and they've thought oh, that's a good way to earn some extra cash, she said.
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Rapper Tory Lanez has sued the California prison system, saying he never should have been housed with a fellow inmate who stabbed him 16 times last year.

Lanez, 33, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, filed the federal lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages on Tuesday against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the warden and guards at the prison in Tehachapi where he was being held.

The suit says he was stabbed 16 times in the back, torso, head and face in an unprovoked life-threatening attack by inmate Santino Casio, who used a homemade shank. Lanez had a collapsed lung and had to be airlifted to a hospital, it says.

Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence for shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in the feet after a dramatic and high-profile 2022 trial in Los Angeles.

Prison officials say he was attacked May 12, 2025, by Casio, who is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. Casio had another 2008 conviction for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon and another in 2018 for manufacturing a deadly weapon.

open image in gallery Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence for shooting the hip-hop star in the feet ( AP )

The choice to house Casio with Peterson was known or should have been a known danger, the lawsuit says. It alleges that correctional officers' response was slow, and no special measures like flash grenades or smoke bombs were used to stop Casio. It says the institution housed the men together despite the rapper's high-profile celebrity status, which made him a target.

There is no record of Casio being charged in the assault. An attorney who represented him previously did not respond to messages seeking comment at the time.

Lanez was transferred to another prison, the California Men's Colony, in San Luis Obispo County.

The lawsuit also says the defendants unlawfully seized his songbooks with unpublished lyrics that are of great future commercial value and refused to return them.

In response to a request for comment, Department of Corrections spokesperson Ike Dodson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit was first reported by TMZ.

Lanez was convicted of three felonies in December 2022: assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

A California court rejected his appeal in November.

Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, testified at trial that in July 2020, after they left a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood Hills home, Lanez fired the gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding.

She had bullet fragments surgically removed from both feet. It was not until months after the incident that she publicly identified Lanez as the person who fired the gun.

The 32-year-old Canadian Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major label albums, two of which reached the top 10 on Billboards charts.
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An Iranian businesswoman living in the United States on a green card has been arrested in Los Angeles after allegedly brokering arms deals for Tehran.

Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport by the FBI.

She is accused of brokering deals for the sale of drones, explosives, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran to Sudan, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.

Mafi, who lives in Los Angeles Woodland Hills neighborhood, became a U.S. permanent resident in 2016. She left Iran in 2013 and allegedly used an Oman-registered company to broker the arms deals, according to the New York Post.

One of Mafis contracts allegedly involved $70 million for Iranian-made Mojajer-6 armed drones, the Post reports.

open image in gallery Shamim Mafi, 44, an Iranian national living in the U.S. on a green card, was arrested by the FBI outside of LAX Saturday for allegedly brokering arms deals between Tehran and Sudan ( U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California )

Mafi allegedly had direct contact with Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025. She has denied having any involvement with Iran's intelligence agency or being directed to conduct business on behalf of Tehran, the Post reports.

She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.

Mafi was allegedly planning to sell drones and approximately 55,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese Ministry of Defense. Sudan has been in the grip of a civil war since 2023. In 2024, Iranian military officials told Reuters that drones and unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured within its borders were instrumental in turning the tide of the civil war in favor of the Sudanese military.

United Nations fact-finders reported that recent mass killings in Darfur, a region in western Sudan, have the "hallmarks of genocide." The Rapid Support Forces  the group opposing the Sudanese military in the civil war  have also been accused of genocide by the U.S. government.

open image in gallery Shamim Mafi, 44, an Iranian national living in the U.S. on a green card, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for allegedly brokering arms deals for Iran ( U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California )

In the final days of the Biden administration in 2025, Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the RSF of acts of genocide.

"Those same militias have targeted fleeing civilians, murdering innocent people escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies," Blinken wrote. "Based on this information, I have now concluded that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan."

Mafi is accused of violating the Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon in Los Angeles.

If she is convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
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A group of President Donald Trumps top allies has formed a coalition to push his team to resume its aggressive anti-immigration operation, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in cities, instead of focusing solely on deporting violent criminals.

The Mass Deportation Coalition, which includes MAGA figures, conservative groups and think tanks close to Trumps administration, wants to see the president deport all undocumented migrants in the country.

Targeting only violent criminals, gang members, and terrorists is a Clinton-Obama-Biden policy that has historically been a disastrous failure, the group said.

After the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minnesota in January, the Trump administration has pivoted its messaging on immigration and overhauled its leadership, with border czar Tom Homan replacing commander-at-large Gregory Bovino, and the ousting of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The coalition commissioned polling, conducted by a firm Trump has used in his presidential elections, to back its anti-immigration ideology and said that doubling down on the deportation push will ensure Republicans will win the 2026 midterm elections, Politico reports.

open image in gallery A group of President Donald Trumps top allies has formed a coalition to push his team to resume its aggressive anti-immigration operation, including raids in cities, instead of focusing solely on deporting violent criminals ( Getty )

According to the poll carried out by McLaughlin & Associates, 66 percent of likely 2026 voters support the deportation of any migrant who enters the U.S. illegally, and 58 percent said they supported deporting all eligible migrants, not only violent criminals.

Trump voters from the last election were asked whether they supported Trumps goal of exceeding former President Dwight D. Eisenhowers deportation effort in the 1950s  the largest in U.S. history that saw around one-third of illegal migrants leave the country.

In response, 87 percent said they supported that goal.

The poll also found that 74 percent of Trump voters would be more likely to vote for the Republican candidate for Congress if the president exceeded one million deportations of illegal migrants in 2026.

Chris Chmielenski, president of the conservative Immigration Accountability Project and a partner of the coalition, told Politico that Trump voters dont just support it, they expect it from the administration.

This is a good way to re-energize the base as we move into the midterms, the same way that Trump was able to do so in the lead up to the 2024 general election, Chmielenski added.

open image in gallery After the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minnesota in January, the Trump administration has pivoted its messaging on immigration and overhauled its leadership ( Getty Images )

The groups poll was at odds with a recent Fox News survey that found nearly six in ten of its viewers disapprove of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with almost half of voters wanting to slash the agency's funding.

The study also found that disapproval of ICE's activities is at a record high compared to any Fox poll conducted since 2018. Just 42 percent of respondents approve of the federal agency's performance.

It follows an internal Department of Homeland Security analysis, obtained by CBS News last month, that confirmed the share of immigrants with violent criminal histories arrested and targeted for deportation by the Trump administration is comparatively lower than the shares of detainees with nonviolent criminal histories or no previous arrests.

Less than 14 percent of immigrants arrested by ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and other agencies over the first year of Trumps second presidency had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson denied that the Trump administration was changing its immigration enforcement agenda.

President Trumps highest priority has always been the deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities, Jackson said in a statement. As the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly said, approximately 70 percent of deportations to date have been illegal aliens with criminal records.

Jackson added that approximately three million illegal migrants had left the U.S. because of Trumps policies.
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When President Donald Trump learned that two American pilots had gone missing in Iran on Good Friday, he screamed at aides for hours and was then kept out of the room while his team was given minute-by-minute updates, according to a report.

An F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran on April 3, prompting a high-stakes rescue mission for the missing airmen. One crew member was swiftly rescued by U.S. forces after ejecting before the aircraft went down - but the second crew member spent more than 24 hours behind enemy lines before he was safely extracted.

Back in Washington, D.C., Trumps fears about how the war was playing out were ramping up, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Trump screamed at aides for hours after he was informed the fighter jet had been shot down and two airmen were missing, the outlet reported, citing a senior administration official. Images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis  one of the biggest international policy failures of a presidency in recent times  had been looming large in his mind, WSJ reported.

Over the next 24 hours, Trumps most senior aides and administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, dialed into the Situation Room to receive updates.

Trump was not included in the meeting but was kept updated at meaningful moments on the phone, according to the WSJ, citing a senior administration official.

Aides kept the president out of the room as they got minute-by-minute updates because they believed his impatience wouldnt be helpful, the official told the newspaper.

open image in gallery Trump was not included in the meeting but was kept updated at meaningful moments on the phone, according to insiders ( Getty )

In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told WSJ that Trump had remained a steady leader our country needs.

President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation accomplishes, Leavitt said.

The Independent has contacted the White House for further comment.

After the first airman was recovered April 3, the U.S. was in a race against time to find the second crew member before the Iranians did.

More than 24 hours later, on the evening of April 4, the president was informed that the second airman had been rescued. A senior Trump administration official said at the time that the rescue was made possible by the support of the CIA, which alerted the Pentagon and the White House to the airmans location.

This was the ultimate needle in a haystack, but in this case it was a brave American soul inside a mountain crevice, invisible but for [the] CIAs capabilities, the official said.

The CIA reportedly engaged in a deception campaign, spreading false information that the airman had already been found and recovered.

open image in gallery Images shared by Tehran of what appeared to be the wreckage of U.S. aircraft ( IRGC )

Trump boasted about the missions success on Truth Social at around midnight and went to bed at 2 a.m., according to the WSJ.

This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, he said.

The next morning, Trump ordered Iran to open the F***in Strait, you crazy b*******, or youll be living in Hell, in an expletive-laden post that ended with Praise be to Allah.

On April 7, Trump threatened that a whole civilization will die tonight unless Iran agreed to open the strait.

When an adviser asked the president about his unusual messages, Trump reportedly said he came up with the idea to praise Allah himself in a bid to seem off-kilter and offensive, a type of language he thought the Iranians would respond to, administration officials told the paper.

The comments prompted global alarm and caused concerned lawmakers to contact the White House to inquire about the presidents state of mind, according to the newspaper.
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A decorated U.S. military veteran fell victim to an online sextortion scheme after sending compromising nudes to someone he met on a social networking platform for fetishists looking to match with like-minded kink friends, according to court documents obtained by The Independent.

In a previously unreported petition filed March 8 in Kings County Supreme Court that aims to unmask the alleged blackmailer, the Brooklyn resident is described as a highly accomplished soldier who has been recognized with several awards across multiple deployments.

John Doe, as the victim is being identified in the proceeding, was initially targeted last November while on FetLife, a site for members of the fetish community to connect. Users fall into some 600 different categories, FetLife tells visitors, listing such subsets as Boot Slut, Fallen Angel, Rubberist, and Pig.

Since then, several explicit selfies the veteran shared with the person  who posed as a woman but turned out to be a man  have turned up on Instagram, which is owned by Meta, using Does full name and an identifiable profile picture, the petition goes on. It says they told Doe that the shots would be sent to all of his Instagram contacts, including friends and family, if he didnt pay up.

Believing he had no other choice, Doe did as he was instructed to put an end to what the petition calls his extortion nightmare. But Does pursuer didnt stop, continuing to extract more and more from him with escalating threats. Doe now experiences panic attacks, engages in suicidal ideation, and continues to feel a deep sense of stress about his safety, wellbeing and the way in which this situation has and will interfere with his interpersonal relationships, according to the petition.

open image in gallery An online match went very wrong for one vet, according to court filings ( AFP via Getty Images )

The filing seeks a court order forcing Meta, along with WhatsApp, Gmail, Signal and Telegram, which were all used by the accused extortionist  or extortionists  to communicate with Doe, along with Zelle and CashApp, to unmask them so Doe can take further legal action.

Attorney Zaynah Chaudhury said on Friday that Doe certainly hopes that his experience will expose and warn others not to get drawn into a similar trap.

My clients experience in having his private images weaponized for profit is part of a thriving black-market of online exploitation, Chaudhury told The Independent. These schemes are intentional, coordinated, and devastating. The perpetrators may be temporarily faceless to the public, but they are not invisible to Meta. Meta has the data. Meta knows the identities behind the usernames. And Meta has chosen, so far, to allow this market to thrive on its platforms. The least Meta can do is give victims the information needed to hold these criminals accountable.

Does unfortunate saga dates back to late October 2025, when he was browsing FetLife and met someone seemingly compatible, the petition says. The two soon moved their conversation to Telegram, where they engaged in a consensual and sporadic back and forth conversation of sexual nature, according to the petition .

About a month later, Doe and his apparent match began to exchange intimate content with the understanding that the content would remain private between the two of them, the petition states.

This content consisted of nude images which partially included [Does] face, making him identifiable, it continues.

open image in gallery After 'John Doe' met someone on FetLife, he found his intimate photos posted publicly on Instagram, along with increasing demands for money, according to a petition filed in Kings County Supreme Court ( Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images )

Three days later, on November 28, 2025, Doe received a message on Telegram from the woman he met on FetLife, demanding he send $500 via CashApp, the petition says. If not, the intimate pics Doe had shared would be disseminated to his friends, family, and acquaintances, according to the petition. When he didnt, it says Does pursuer created a pair of Instagram profiles impersonating Doe and publicly posted the embarrassing photos anyway. To make sure Doe knew he had been exposed, the person sent Doe a screenshot of the posts, according to the petition.

Backed into a corner, Doe then sent four payments of $500 each to four different Zelle and CashApp accounts, believing that this would finally put an end to this extortion nightmare, the petition states.

However, the harassment and extortion did not cease, it contends.

At around 4 a.m. on November 30, 2025, Doe got a flurry of messages from the alleged extortionist requesting money for rent, the petition says. However, given the increased number of text messages and emails [Doe] was receiving simultaneously, it appeared that additional people had joined the scheme, according to the petition.

As a direct result of continuous threats and believing that noncompliance would make things worse and cause them to retaliate, [Doe] again sent a sum of $500 four times to four different accounts, a sum of $750 twice to two different accounts and a sum of $1000 once to Unknown Respondent(s) in response to their demands, via CashApp, the petition states.

Instead, the threats intensified. In response, Doe deleted Telegram, only to be bombarded by demands via email and WhatsApp, according to the petition. When Doe blocked the various numbers used to contact him on WhatsApp, the petition says his iPhone blew up with a tsunami of texts. After that, Does phone began to ring incessantly.

The harassment and swarm of messages were relentless and created a sense of urgency, fear, and panic in [Doe]  common tactics used in extortion schemes, the petition asserts.

open image in gallery In all, 'John Doe' sent $5,500 via CashApp and Zelle to his alleged extortionist, and is now asking a judge to ask both companies, along with Meta and Google, to unmask the suspect(s) ( Getty Images for Visa Cash App R )

By December 3, less than a week after Doe matched with the person on FetLife, he had already been drained of $5,500, according to the petition. As the clock approached 1 a.m., Does brother-in-law got a text, reading, Hey is this [Does sister]? Reaching out on behalf of [Doe].

At this point, the persistent harassment and endless contact had become too much and Doe changed his phone number and created a new personal email the following day, according to the petition. Although it put an end to the extortion demands, the petition says the experience left Doe in significant emotional distress, causing him severe anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, a deep sense of shame, guilt, anger, fear, internal chaos, overwhelm, dissociation, and a deep sense of stress about his safety, wellbeing and the way in which this situation has and will interfere with his interpersonal relationships.

According to the FBI, financial sextortion has been on the rise. The practice has resulted in an alarming number of deaths by suicide, the bureau said in a bulletin.

To bring a claim against the unknown person (or people) who targeted him, Doe needs to determine their true identities. His petition asks that the court order Meta, Google, Zelle, and CashApp to turn over the names, email addresses, addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses associated with the accounts in question.

A spokesman for Meta, the respondent named first in Does petition, acknowledged a request for comment but was unable to provide one by publication time.
Zelensky blames Iran was for stalled weapon supply as Russia continues to attack Ukraine

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Volodymyr Zelensky has hit out at Israel amid a burgeoning row over the purchase of grain stolen by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories.

The Ukrainian president said on Tuesday that Israels decision to buy from Russia cannot be legitimate business and that Kyiv was preparing sanctions against those attempting to profit from it.

A Ukrainian diplomatic source, speaking earlier on condition of anonymity, said that if Israel did not reject the latest cargo, Kyiv would reserve the right to deploy a full suite of diplomatic and international legal responses.

Ukraines foreign ministry said on Monday it had summoned Israels ambassador for not acting to stop Russian shipments of grain from entering the country. Kyiv confronted Israel earlier this month over another Russian ship allowed to dock in Israel with stolen grain.

Israels foreign minister said that Ukraine had provided no evidence to support the claims that the grain was stolen, accusing him of conducting diplomacy through the media.

Kyiv considers all grain produced in the four regions Russia claimed as its own since invading Ukraine in 2022, and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, to have been stolen by Moscow.
White House: Trump has met with team over Iran proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

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Donald Trump has said that Iran believes it is in a State of Collapse and wants the US to open the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington considers a new peace proposal.

Iran has just informed us that they are in a State of Collapse the US president wrote.

They want us to Open the Hormuz Strait, as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!), he added.

Insiders revealed today that Trump discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with his top national security aides on Monday, as the conflict remains in a stalemate with energy supplies from the region still disrupted.

Earlier, secretary of state Marco Rubio said Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz represents an economic nuclear weapon the regime is using to hold the worlds energy hostage.

Marco Rubio told Fox News on Monday that Iran is bragging about how it can hold a fifth of the worlds oil and gas hostage.

Tehran's latest proposal would see the Strait of Hormuz opened and an end to the war, but with talks on the Iranian nuclear programme postponed.
COLOMBO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's National Transport Commission (NTC) has fined 80 buses for overcharging passengers during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, the country's most popular holiday, an official said on Sunday.

Rohana Wattage, head of the NTC's mobile bus inspection unit, told journalists that officials inspected 680 buses between April 8 and 18 and found that 80 buses had charged passengers above approved fares.

Wattage said officials refunded the excess fares to passengers and imposed fines on the bus operators concerned.

He said officials inspected nearly 150 buses on April 18 alone and found that 12 had overcharged passengers.

Wattage said the NTC will continue the inspections until April 21. 
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

European allies are fearful over the U.S. approach to negotiations with Iran, fearing an inexperienced American team is prioritizing a rapid, high-profile agreement that could exacerbate underlying issues rather than resolve them.

Diplomats with extensive experience in Tehran believe Washington's eagerness to secure a diplomatic victory for President Donald Trump might result in a superficial accord on Irans nuclear program and sanctions relief.

This, they warn, could lead to protracted and technically intricate follow-up discussions.

"The concern isnt that there wont be an agreement," said a senior European diplomat, one of eight who spoke to reporters, having previously or currently worked on the nuclear file.

"It's that there will be a bad initial agreement that creates endless downstream problems."

The White House, responding to inquiries about the negotiating style, team, objectives, and risks of a swift deal, dismissed these criticisms.

"President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first," spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

Diplomats believe Washingtons eagerness to score a victory for Donald Trump might result in a superficial accord ( AFP/Getty )

Trump withdrew from 2015 nuclear deal

Diplomats from France, Britain and Germany  which began negotiating with Iran in 2003  say they have been sidelined.

From 2013 to 2015, the three worked with the United States to secure a deal on curbing Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Trump withdrew from the accord  the signature foreign policy agreement of his predecessor Barack Obama  in 2018, during his first term, calling it "horribly one-sided."

After 40 days of airstrikes, U.S. and Iranian negotiators opened talks in Islamabad earlier this month, again focused on the familiar tradeoff of nuclear restrictions for economic relief. There were some signs in the Pakistani capital on Sunday of preparations for a resumption of face-to-face negotiations.

Diplomats say deep mistrust and sharply different negotiating styles raise the risk of a fragile framework neither side can sustain politically.

"It took us 12 years and immense technical work, said Federica Mogherini, who coordinated the talks from 2013 to 2015. "Does anyone seriously think this can be done in 21 hours?"

A deal light on detail

The diplomats said a skeletal agreement may be achievable, built around a nuclear package and an economic package. But they warned the nuclear component remained by far the most contentious.

"The Americans think you agree on three or four points in a fivepage document and that's it, but on the nuclear file, every clause opens the door to a dozen more disputes," a second European diplomat said.

Talks are focusing on Iran's stockpile of roughly 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, material that could be used for several nuclear weapons if further enriched.

The favoured option is "downblending" inside Iran under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision. Another is a hybrid approach, with some material shipped abroad.

Turkey and France have been mentioned as possible destinations. Shipping material to the United States would be politically difficult for Iran, while Russia is unattractive to Washington, two of the diplomats said.

Even those options would require lengthy negotiations over recovering material possibly buried by airstrikes, verifying quantities and transporting it securely.

Iran has also floated storing material abroad for a fixed period.

"Whatever happens now is only a starting point, said a Western diplomat previously involved in nuclear talks. "Thats why the 2015 JCPOA ran to 160 pages."

Beyond stockpiles lies the deeper dispute over Irans right to enrich uranium at all. Trump has publicly pushed for zero enrichment, while Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes and denies seeking a bomb.

One possible compromise would be a temporary moratorium followed by resumption at very low levels under strict conditions.

Europeans stressed that a central role for the IAEA, including intrusive verification and unrestricted access, was essential.

"A negotiation with Iran is meticulous and subtle: every word matters," said Gerard Araud, Frances chief negotiator from 2006 to 2009. Thats not something you rush.

A focus on sanctions relief

The economic track focuses on lifting sanctions and unfreezing Iranian assets.

In the short term, Iran wants access to limited frozen funds overseas. Broader sanctions relief would come later and require European buyin, diplomats said, as Iranian leaders see European trade as critical over the long term.

Officials say Washington is again separating an agreement in principle from its painstaking followup, an approach they say risks misreading Iranian political culture.

"These talks aren't a realestate deal settled with a handshake, said a senior regional diplomat briefed by Tehran, referring to the background of Trump's main negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "They involve sequencing, sanctions relief and reciprocal nuclear steps.

The war has hardened Irans stance, diplomats said, showing it can absorb pressure even as it seeks financial relief.

Tehrans top demand is a nonaggression guarantee after being attacked by the U.S. and Israel during earlier diplomatic efforts.

The concern is shared among U.S. allies. Gulf states want Irans ballistic missiles and proxy activities addressed, while Israel is pushing for maximal constraints.

Iran, by contrast, sees its remaining missile capability as a vital deterrent after the war degraded its forces.

Diplomats say demanding total abandonment would be unrealistic without broader security guarantees.

A senior Trump administration official said Washingtons redlines included ending uranium enrichment, dismantling major enrichment facilities, recovering highly enriched uranium and accepting a broader deescalation framework involving regional allies.

Europe is on the sidelines

European officials acknowledge they sidelined themselves in part by pushing last year to reimpose U.N. sanctions and by designating Irans Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organisation.

But they say their decision to stay out of the conflict has not gone unnoticed in Tehran.

"Theres simply not enough expertise in this U.S. team, said one European official, noting that roughly 200 diplomats, financial and nuclear experts were involved in the 2015 talks. "Weve worked on this file for two decades.

A White House official said officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Defense Department were present in Islamabad and remained involved.
The battlefront in the war of words between the White House and Pope Leo over the Iran war has just been expanded by Vice President Vance. A Catholic convert in 2019, Vance has denounced the pontiff for having a poor grasp of his profession. He warned the Pope to be careful when talking matters of theology.

The extraordinary barrage of words, expletives, memes, and photoshopped images of Trump the saviour is telling  and not in the way Trump and his disciples would like. The overtones of messiah complex, the swearing and bluster, suggest two things: that the American war on Iran is in trouble, and that this is unhingeing the second Trump presidency and the Maga project.

The story of Trump and the messiah complex is  er  complex. It goes back to the rise of Maga, with Trump as its unlikely but redemptive leader. His version of performance politics, pioneered by Silvio Berlusconi in Italy decades before, offered a strange message of hope for the new age of anxiety. Through television and social media, it grabbed the anxious, lonely and disheartened.

Moving away from the iconography and motifs of Christianity, especially of the evangelical variety, it has become an astonishing exercise in hubris. Trump, the self-described stable genius, has become even more so in his second presidency  at least according to courtiers such as press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who recently suggested her master was about the best-read president in history.

On the Easter weekend in the Vatican, Pope Leo told worshippers he feared a delusion of omnipotence was clouding the war in Iran. He denounced Trumps threat to bomb the Iranian people back to the Stone Ages, and his vow that a whole civilisation will die tonight if the Revolutionary Guard didnt open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump replied with personal denigration in characteristic mode. Leo was not a good pope, he believed. WEAK on Crime, and terrible on Foreign Policy, he posted on Truth Social.

More brazen rhetoric was to come. Over Easter, a post allegedly from an official site appeared with the image of Donald Trump garbed as Christ in classic baroque mode: white tunic and red cloak, healing the sick. This angered some of the presidents formerly most fervent Christian, especially Catholic, supporters, including Ross Douthat, the heavyweight Catholic conservative commentator of The New York Times. Referring to Trumps depiction as Christ the Healer and his Easter jibes at the Pope, which included a sarcastic quip in praise of Allah, Douthat concluded: The compounding offence isnt against religious or papal dignity. Its a violation of the first and second commandments, where the offended party is Almighty God.

Trump himself remarked that he thought he was being depicted as just a doctor. The image was removed within hours. But this is no routine piece of crass Trumpian political narcissism; it has a big backstory in his own rise to power, and an even bigger one in the history of the world. The most ardent promoters of Maga, and its concept of Trump as the redeemer of white America, have habitually seen him in messianic terms. Curtis Yarvin, a blogger who uses the handle Mencius Moldbug, was a founder of an anti-democratic movement called the Dark Enlightenment. He promotes monarchy, and his chosen monarch is Donald J Trump, whom he has described as a gift of providence.

Back on earth, Trump is losing support among voters  and Pope Leo is far more popular among the American public ( AFP/Getty )

More famous is the promotion of Trump as sun king by the Breitbart founder Steve Bannon, still a part-time consigliere at the White House. A few weeks ago, he told a bewildered editor of The Economist in a podcast that Trump can and should get a third term, as his job of dismantling corporate America had just begun. He spoke of the Trumpian destiny in quasi-religious terms, describing the president as a vehicle of divine providence and an instrument of divine will.

This is in keeping with the millenarian radicalism peppering the story of Christendom and European politics. It focuses on the return of the redeemer to usher in a period of grace  the millennium, bastardised by Nazi ideology as the Reich of a thousand years. Often this has been coupled to the story of the sleeping emperor who disappeared only to return when the time of grace should begin  this is a powerful motif in the myths and stories of Byzantium and Crusader Europe, to which Pete Hegseth, Trumps war secretary, is addicted. It is a core legend of the cult of the Assassins, led by the Old Man of the Mountains, who disappeared in the land now being trashed in Israels latest foray into Lebanon.

Curiously, it is an important belief among Trumps opponents and victims in Shia Iran. Twelver Shias believe that Muhammad al-Mahdi, born in 869CE, was the 12th Shia Imam, and therefore a direct descendant of the Prophet, and that he went into hiding to avoid persecution. He is believed to have been in a state of occulation (ghaybah) since the year 941. Shias pray for him to reappear to fight for justice and restore true faith. Mahdi pretenders have appeared serially over the centuries  not least the one defeated at Omdurman in 1896, where one Winston Churchill joined in a cavalry charge.

The return of the messiah is key to the belief of radical evangelical Christian Zionists  many of them supporters of the Trump mission. Mike Huckabee, once a challenger for the White House and now the US ambassador to Israel, told Tucker Carlsons podcast that Israel should take over much of the Middle East. Israel is a land that God gave, through Abraham, to a people that he chose. It was a people, a place and a purpose, he said. It would be fine if they took it all.

Mike Pompeo, secretary of state in the first Trump term, also believes that the Middle East is subject to divine intervention. At his church in Wichita in 2015, he declared that to worship our Lord and celebrate our nation ... is not only our right but our duty ... a never-ending struggle until the rapture. This is a belief in the final rapture at the end of days, when the faithful will be snatched to live in a state of grace: We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, according to St Pauls Letter to the Thessalonians.

Back on earth, Trump is losing support among voters  and Pope Leo is far more popular among the American public. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 61 per cent of Americans think Trump has become more erratic with age. Former congresswoman and Trump superfan Marjorie Taylor Greene has joined a chorus calling for the use of the 25th amendment of the constitution, which provides for the removal of a president on health grounds. Alex Jones, the conservative conspiracy theorist blogger, recently ruminated that Trump does babble, adding that it sounds like the brains not doing too hot.

But what are the chances of removing him before the next election? So complicated is the procedure, involving all of Congress, the judiciary and the White House staff, that those pushing back at Trump, the Maga megalo-messiah, must realise they dont stand a prayer.

Of course, it cannot be left at that. People politics has often turned back to reason and understanding after episodes of disruption and cults of craziness. A brilliant parable of this is The Name of the Rose by former colleague and friend Umberto Eco. It is a monastic detective story set in the era of apocalyptic hysteria and anarchy  a metaphor for an Italy threatened by Red Brigades terror  driven by the doomster cult of the Spiritual Franciscans. The hero is Roger Bacon, the Franciscan who pioneered rational empirical science  one of the great figures of European scientific thought, Umberto used to tell me. The problem with ignorant people is that they cannot recognise the depth of their ignorance, Bacon is alleged to have remarked.

How does this sit with an America mesmerised by the Trumpian personality cult and political narcissism? It should start with the constitution, as a growing majority in Congress seem to recognise.

What makes this different from all other times, The New York Times has just written, is that [Trump] cannot post his way out of a war he started without congressional permission and without the support of voters.

At least thats a start.
Michael Houghton: My son hasnt quite realised that the 500 or so he might receive for his first communion represents only a fraction of what the day will cost us
Louise Duffy: I dont always have to be in front of a camera sharing. I dont just blast it all out there, which I think is why I havent been cancelled

With her intelligent interviews and deftly curated playlist, Louise Duffy has quietly become the queen of afternoon radio. Here, she reflects on carving her own niche in a competitive sphere, balancing publicity and privacy, and what she learned from a new project looking back 100 years

Behind the scenes with Louise Duffy

Chrissie Russell Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Beginning a question with Youre going to kill me for this one probably isnt the best tack, so I shouldnt be surprised when I hear Louise Duffy audibly inhale, bracing herself for whats to come. No, no, its positive, I add hastily, still suspecting that, even so, its probably something no woman ever really wants to answer.
By looking in their eyes, you can really see what war does to a person, it kills a part of you  A Kilkenny filmmakers journey into Ukraine

Filmmaker and photographer, Shane Hatton, travelled to Ukraine with an Irish convoy delivering aid, to document the war and the contrast of everyday life continuing under wartime conditions

Shane Hatton standing in what used to be someone's kitchen in the suburbs of Lviv in Ukraine. Photo credit: Diarmuid O'Riordan

Aisling Bolton-Dowling Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

As the minute hand crept towards midnight, Shane Hatton lay awake in his hotel room in Lviv in Ukraine as sleep continued to escape him. Every tick of the clock brought the Kilkenny man seconds closer to his birthday.
Daniel Kinahans final hours of freedom: How one of the worlds most-wanted men was captured in Dubai

Mobster (48) fled to UAE following the Regency Hotel attack in Dublin in 2016

Daniel Kinahans final hours of freedom

Maeve Sheehan and Ali Bracken Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

It was a glorious Friday morning in Dubai, 26C at sunrise and climbing to 30C by mid-morning. The temperature was also rising for Daniel Kinahan, one of the worlds most-wanted drug traffickers, as he went about his business in the glittering resort of Palm Jumeirah.
A garda superintendent who was acquitted of assaulting a bar manager but found to have caused a breach of the peace in a row at a popular gay pub in Dublin has been reinstated following his suspension.
The victim of a savage courthouse boiling water attack in Strabane, Co Tyrone has told how he could be left permanently disfigured.

Speaking to Sunday Life from his hospital bed at the burns unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Richard McCrossan described the assault as a dirty one and said he was in unbearable pain.
Galway by-election candidate Noel Thomas hits out at ex-taoiseachs claims

Galway West by-election candidate Noel Thomas has criticised shameful comments by former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said farmers are costing the country through a lot of subsidies and a lot of tax benefits that other people dont get.

Speaking on a live episode of Paths to Power podcast with Matt Cooper, Mr Varadkar said: People in rural Ireland are very quick to tell people in urban Ireland that we are the real workers, were the ones paying the bills, were the ones feeding the country.
Dermot Bannon on the homes of Joanne McNally, There were chairs that didnt fit. She sawed the legs off, and Vogue Williams: People coming in and out all the time

The architect on his new series where he visits celebrity houses

Architect Dermot Bannon is back on TV screens. Photo: Tom Honan

Donal Lynch Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 03:30

There is an idea in environmental psychology that suggests you can understand a person more quickly by walking through their home than by sitting across from them in conversation.
HARARE, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday led the nation in celebrating its 46th independence anniversary, calling for unity to achieve the country's "Vision 2030" goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy.

In his national address at Maphisa Stadium, Matabeleland South Province, Mnangagwa noted post-independence progress in various sectors of the country's economy, including efforts to modernize and industrialize the economy.

To accelerate growth, he emphasized the need for full economic emancipation through ownership of the means of production, the swift implementation of people-centered initiatives, and the adoption of advanced technologies and innovation.

The president noted that the government is intensifying efforts to unlock the potential of mineral resources by curbing raw mineral exports and promoting local value addition.

Regarding national infrastructure, Mnangagwa affirmed that the modernization of road networks remains underway, especially in the aftermath of recent flood damage.

Zimbabwe gained independence from British colonial rule on April 18, 1980. 
Revolutionarys self-description was not accepted by enumerators, while other entries include a future Israeli president

A lot had changed in Ireland between the 1911 and 1926 census returns. Against the backdrop of a suffragette boycott of the earlier census, many leading female campaigners were nowhere to be found then, insisting if they were invisible at the ballot box they would make themselves invisible in the census.
Displaced people make their way back to their homes in Lebanon after a 10-day ceasefire with Israel came into effect. Photo: Reuters

Of all Donald Trumps recent statements, his threeword message  Enough is enough  on Israels bombardment of Lebanon has been the most welcome.

After announcing a 10day truce, he said he had prohibited Israel from continuing its bombing campaign. The ceasefire is directly linked to parallel negotiations aimed at a USIran peace agreement.

It was therefore hardly a coincidence that Irans foreign minister soon announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for the remaining period of the ceasefire.

Thousands of civilians have been killed since the violence began at the end of February. A respite from death and destruction is a prerequisite for any serious engagement.

More than 2,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in the sixweek conflict. Israel says two of its civilians and 13 soldiers have died. According to Tehran, 3,636 people have been killed since the war started, including 1,701 civilians and at least 254 children.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk has expressed hope that the ceasefire could serve as the basis for a longerterm solution.

He said meaningful efforts must now focus on a durable political settlement that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures longterm protection for civilians on all sides.

But the challenges ahead should not be downplayed. Chief among them is Israels insistence that its troops will remain in a 10kmdeep security zone in southern Lebanon.

Im not afraid of the Trump administration and I will continue speaking with a loud voice against war

With mid-term elections looming in the US and opinion polls flashing red for Republicans, Mr Trump needs to disentangle himself from the wreckage created since the war began on February 28.

The hopes he harboured of a oneanddone operation have been shattered after six weeks of violence and global economic turmoil. Without a coherent strategy, Middle East confrontations have made a mockery of bestcase scenarios.

This week, Mr Trump also attacked Pope Leo for his forthright criticism of the war. To his credit, the pontiff has been the only world leader to openly stand up to the wave of conflicts now raging. He condemned what he described as a handful of tyrants ravaging the world. Unused to being called out so directly, Washington was clearly displeased, and Trump responded with a personal attack.

Yet the Pope has held his ground.

Im not afraid of the Trump administration and I will continue speaking with a loud voice against war, he said.

Earlier this month, he appealed to Mr Trump to find an offramp in Iran. This week, speaking in Africa, his tone has grown markedly more urgent, warning that the whims of the worlds richest threaten peace and condemning violations of international law.

Mr Trump now claims he has ended his 10th war. But the Middle East remains far from stable. We have heard much from the US president about his peace credentials  he must now seize this unprecedented opportunity to use them to their best effect.
Catherine Connolly at the In Defence of Democracy summit in Barcelona. Photo: Getty

Any fears that Catherine Connolly might give the government a diplomatic headache on her first official visit overseas were soon allayed in Barcelona yesterday  at least on one level.
Sean Kelly: Orban showed the danger of EU states having a veto  now we must seize our chance to scrap it

Ireland can be a real leader on policy and ensure union is not held to ransom again

Viktor Orban at an electoral campaign rally in Budapest. Photo: AP

Sean Kelly Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Viktor Orbans spectacular defeat in last Sundays Hungarian election has been music to the ears of those of us who have been frustrated by his incessant, cynical and often morally reprehensible abuse of Hungarys veto at the European Council.
Cygnum is one of the largest timber frame manufacturers in Ireland, with an estimated 2,500 housing unit installations per annum

Some 150 jobs have been created in Midwest Cork following an 8m expansion of Cygnums manufacturing facility in Macroom.

Cygnum is one of the largest timber frame manufacturers in Ireland, with an estimated 2,500 housing unit installations per annum.

The Macroom-based company was founded in 1997 and was recently acquired by Grafton Group, pending approval by the Competition Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

Grafton Group intends to operate Cygnum alongside Chadwicks, their market distribution business in Ireland.

Macroom-based Fine Gael councillor, Ted Lucey, welcomed the expansion by saying:

This is a very significant and positive development for Macroom and the surrounding areas.

The creation of 150 new jobs will be a major boost for local families and businesses, while the increased capacity at Cygnum will play an important role in helping to deliver much-needed housing.

It is great to see continued investment and confidence in our community, he said.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, John Paul OShea, attended the official opening of the impressive extension of Cygnum.

It was a pleasure to attend the official opening of this impressive new facility in Macroom. This is hugely positive news for the area and the wider Cork region.

The creation of 150 new jobs represents a significant investment in our local economy and provides real opportunities for workers and families locally.

It is a strong vote of confidence in the skills and talent available here, he said.

It is mooted that Cygnum will operate under its existing management team and brand ensuring continuity for customers and employees.

I want to pay tribute to the management and staff of Cygnum for their continued innovation and commitment to excellence, Deputy OShea said.

Their growth since being established in 1997 is remarkable, and this latest expansion marks another important milestone.

This development is exactly the type of forward-thinking investment we need  creating jobs, supporting sustainable construction, and delivering homes.

It is a win-win for Macroom, for Cork, and for the country as a whole, Deputy OShea concluded.
The high-speed data cable will run from Maryland in the US to West Cork.

Amazon has received planning permission from Cork County Council to construct a cable landing station to bring a high-speed transatlantic data cable ashore near Clonakilty in what a local councillor called a significant decision for the region.

The applicant, Amazon MCS Ireland Ltd, was granted permission to demolish two existing buildings and construct the one-storey station at Tullyneasky West, around 5 km from Clonakilty.

With a planned completion date of 2028, the cable would make landfall at Owenahincha beach before travelling around 5 km inland to the cable landing station on lands formerly used by Lisavaird Co-Op for storage sheds.

Amazon has said the fibre-optic cable originating in Maryland in the US and travelling across the Atlantic to make landfall in West Cork will be used to power global internet traffic and its data centres.

The company also requires a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) to allow it to occupy part of the seabed and permission from An Coimisiun Pleanala to install the cable, which wont be passing through the nearby Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Amazon said Cork was chosen because most other major transatlantic cables land in either Mayo or Dublin, giving the company an alternative pathway for critical internet traffic in the event of any problems or outages. Corks other main transatlantic cable, the EXA Express, has around one sixth of the capacity that the new cable will have.

The tech giant has committed to contribute to a local community fund and local STEM education. The Irish Independent understands that the amount will be in the region of 150,000.

This development will bring improved digital infrastructure, increased connectivity, and potential economic benefits, including local employment during construction and maintenance phases, West Cork Councillor Deirdre Kelly told the Irish Independent.

Strengthening Irelands role in global data networks will also enhance its attractiveness for further investment. While technological advancement is important, it must be balanced with preserving the environmental integrity and cultural value of the area, which Im sure will be factored into all decision making, she said.

There was one objection to the planning application for the cable landing station, expressing concerns about impact on residential amenity and property value, light pollution and visual impact, and safety and environmental implications. Objectors have four weeks to appeal the county councils decision to An Coimisiun Pleanala.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A Limerick resident has been remanded in custody following a spate of thefts across North Cork, as well as being caught driving while disqualified from the road.

Calvin OReilly (26), with an address at Kilbreedy East, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, was initially not in the courtroom when his case was called out but was brought in by gardai.

Why are you not here? asked Judge Roberts, when Mr OReilly entered the room.

I was in here, the defendant argued.

When your name was called, you werent here, said the Judge.

I was sitting on the bench outside, replied Mr OReilly.

Thats not in here! exclaimed the judge.

Mr OReillys mother then explained to Judge Roberts that the courthouse was initially too busy, and therefore the pair had to sit outside.

Excuse me, are you in this case? No, thank you, said the Judge.

When your case is called, you have to be ready. If your case is called. If you go outside, you could at least tell your solicitor,

I did tell my solicitor, I was talking to him outside, said Mr OReilly, before his solicitor, Cathal Lombard, informed the judge that there was a guilty plea forthcoming from his client, before the matter was suspended until after lunch.

On the return, the court heard that Mr OReilly was facing six theft charges, including over 500 from at a mens clothing store in Charleville across two days in October last year, as well as alcohol, groceries, and diesel.

Between July and October, the defendant stole 20.49 worth of alcohol from Dunnes Stores in Charleville, 64,97 worth of diesel from the Inver service station in Charleville, 11.10 worth of alcohol from Herlihys Centra in Mallow, and 30.05 in groceries from Centra in Charleville.

DV8, a mens clothing store in Charleville, had 200 worth of stock stolen by the accused on October 15, and a further 315 stolen by the same man two days later.

However, the court heard that Mr OReilly was also stopped by gardai driving a car in which he was the sole occupant. He was disqualified from driving at the time, following a previous four-year driving ban, which came with a six-month part-suspended sentence.

In total, Calvin OReilly had 124 previous convictions ahead of the court date, including 16 previous convictions for theft, and due to the ban was driving without a valid licence, or with valid insurance, an offence for which the accused also had six previous convictions.

Its a bit of a mess, Mr Lombard, Judge Roberts told the accuseds solicitor, before Mr Lombard said his client had a lot of offences at a young age due to a serious drug addiction. He had been doing alright, had been living in Mallow, was in a relationship, but had subsequently relapsed.

Bit of a spree, the Judge remarked. I have to send him to prison, so its really a matter of how long.

Judge Colm Roberts ordered Calvin OReilly to be taken into custody, where the case was adjourned until the next sitting of Mallow District Court on April 21 to decide his penalty.
Cork farmer who wiped out over nine acres of woodland did so for profiteering, says Judge

Daniel Finn of Dromina pleaded guilty in September 2024 to the deliberate destruction of natural habitat at Stream Hill in Doneraile

A section of a stream located in Stream Hill, close to where the incident took place. Photo: Google Maps

Kevin Galvin Sun 19 Apr 2026 at 06:30

A North Cork farmer, who was previously told his deliberate clearing of 3.7 hectares of trees, shrubland, and other habitats was barbarism, has been warned by the same Judge that he is bordering on getting cross after he contested reduced conditions proposed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Cllr Edel McSharry has said support measures put in place by the government in the wake of the fuel protests in insufficient

While she welcomed the existing 505 million package, including the cumulative tax and levy cuts of 32 cent per litre reduction on diesel, the 27 cent per litre on petrol, however, she said it is clear from direct engagement with constituents that these measures are not sufficient.

Having spoken with protestors earlier this week, Cllr McSharry said, Following early morning engagement with protestors, as well as ongoing representations, construction workers, sole traders and healthcare workers, particularly those delivering vital care in the community and travelling to visit patients; have outlined the real and immediate pressure they are under.

"Many have warned that they can no longer afford to sustain their work, with some questioning their ability to continue operating at all, raising serious concerns for housing delivery, small business viability and the continuity of patient care in the community.

Cllr McSharry emphasised that while supports for haulage and farming contractors are important and welcome, many other workers who depend on transport as a core part of their job are being left behind despite facing the same cost pressures. She stated that this is now compounding the wider cost-of-living crisis and, although influenced by geopolitical factors outside Irelands control, requires decisive domestic intervention.

She is calling on Government to introduce an expanded emergency package focused on those sectors most exposed to fuel costs, warning that without swift and targeted and timebound action with ongoing monitoring, the sustainability of essential services, workforce retention and project delivery will be increasingly at risk.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The webinar will also feature short presentations on work currently underway across the Wicklow Mountains, with a particular focus on an upcoming project in Glensoulan.

A leading Scottish river expert is set to share insights with a Wicklow audience on how to tackle growing environmental pressures on local waterways.

The upcoming free webinar will draw on lessons from successful restoration work in Scotland to explore how similar approaches could help protect and revive rivers in the county.

Dr Al Reeve of the River Dee Trust will share his first-hand experience of restoration and management work on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire.

The River Dee restoration project focuses on improving water quality, restoring natural habitats, and supporting the recovery of native fish populations such as Atlantic salmon.

Dr Reeves work focuses on monitoring and research, including smolt tracking, electrofishing, and habitat assessment, helping to build a detailed understanding of river health and the impacts of climate change.

Scientists use techniques like smolt tracking, which follows young fish as they migrate to the sea, and electrofishing, a method that briefly stuns fish so they can be safely counted and studied, to better understand river ecosystems.

Dr Reeve will also discuss the impacts of a changing climate, combined with long-standing pressures on the river system, and outline the lessons learned from ongoing efforts. He will also highlight future plans to protect and restore the eco-systems.

Also speaking is Edwin Third, of the Dee Salmon Fishery Board, and Mark Bilsby, chief executive officer of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, which focuses on research and initiatives to conserve and restore wild Atlantic salmon populations.

The webinar is being organised by the East Wicklow Rivers Trust, Wicklow Uplands Council and the Atlantic Salmon Trust, who all say they recognise that the experiences and insights from the River Dee project are highly relevant to Wicklow rivers and upland restoration initiatives.

Fisheries in Wicklows rivers are under pressure, with historically reduced salmon numbers and generally small, low-density trout populations reflecting ongoing environmental challenges, despite their potential to recover with improved water quality and habitat conditions.

The webinar will also feature short presentations on work currently underway across the Wicklow Mountains, including a particular focus on an upcoming project in Glensoulan, as well as recent changes in forestry guidance that may support riverbank planting and wider catchment restoration efforts.

The free webinar takes place on Thursday, April 23, starting at 7.30pm and continuing until 9pm. You can reserve your spot by visiting Eventbrite.ie.

The East Wicklow Rivers Trust is a local charity dedicated to protecting and improving rivers and wildlife habitats in the Wicklow area through community-led conservation projects. The Wicklow Uplands Council works to support sustainable development in upland communities.